Third Ballymurn win
Much improved shooting after break
C’BEG-B’MURN SHAMROCKS
CROSSABEG-BALLYMURN put an indifferent first-half firmly behind them to ease clear of Shamrocks and record a third successive victory in Group B of The Courtyard Ferns Intermediate hurling championship in Taghmon on Wednesday.
The Wexford District side have major designs on finally winning this title after reaching the finals of 2015 and 2017 respectively, but shooting 13 wides in the opening half simply won’t suffice.
Seven players shared those missed chances as a tricky crosswind played havoc with finishing, but Crossabeg-Ballymurn still led by 0-8 to 0-7 at the break after their Enniscorthy rivals missed a couple of scoreable frees at the other end.
The type of slick, fluid service that one has come to expect from the winners re-emerged on the restart, with five unanswered points inside seven minutes suggesting that Shamrocks were in serious trouble.
And although Bob Jacob briefly stopped the rot from a placed ball, it was game over after the busy Murphy brothers pounced for the two Crossabeg-Ballymurn goals in the space of two minutes.
Ronan Devereux and Sam Kelly combined to set up full-forward Barry for the first, before midfielder Niall ghosted in behind the defence and did the needful after David Jackman picked him out with an astute pass (2-13 to 0-8).
The victory was enough to make sure of Crossabeg-Ballymurn’s place in the quarter-finals with two group games still to come, whereas Shamrocks have a battle on their hands as they are still seeking their first points.
Indeed, it looks like their next game on August 26 against fellow basement side Craanford will, in effect, be a head-to-head battle to avoid the dreaded relegation decider.
There was nothing wrong with Crossabeg-Ballymurn’s accuracy early on, with Barry Murphy, Niall Murphy, Sam Kelly and Niall Murphy (free) opening up a 0-4 to nil lead after five minutes.
And while they did have that tally doubled by half-time after further scores from Oisín Foley, Pádraig Foley, Niall Murphy (free) and David Jackman, but those wides were the main talking point.
Shamrocks settled down to level matters (0-4 each) by the 15th minute, with two Bob Jacob frees coming on either side of points from play by John O’Connor and Jack Moorehouse.
And they were level on two more occasions before their rivals edged one clear at the interval, with Harry Goff and two more Jacob frees increasing their tally.
Crossabeg-Ballymurn, wearing the Oulart-The Ballagh jerseys, were a much-improved side on the re-start, and those early points from Barry Murphy, Niall Murphy (two frees), Oisín Foley and Pádraig Foley (free) had created a gap before those two goals ended the contest.
Shamrocks might have been closer if a Seán Wildes shot hadn’t gone inches wide just 33 seconds after the re-start, and he later blazed over with a goal on his mind from a Jack Moorehouse pass.
Substitute Jim Jacob also missed the target with an attempt before his brother, Bob, scored a 59th-minute consolation goal with the aid of a deflection.
While two wins might rescue their season yet, survival rather than qualification is now the main priority for Shamrocks after their poor start to the campaign.
Crossabeg-Ballymurn: Mark Dempsey (capt.); Ronan Devereux, Bill Eviston, Seamus Carroll; Conor Devereux, Paddy Devereux, Pádraig Foley (0-3, 2 frees); Niall Murphy (1-7, 0-6 frees), Declan Byrne; Oisín Foley (0-3), Eoghan Kehoe, Shane O’Rourke; Sam Kelly (0-1), Barry Murphy (1-2), David Jackman (0-1). Subs. - Tony Murphy for Kehoe (39), Kehoe for Byrne (55).
Shamrocks: Jamie Dagg; Barry Dobbs, Podge Doyle, George Jacob; Lar McDonald, Brandon O’Connor (01), Emmet Quirke; Bob Jacob (1-7, 0-7 frees), Anthony Wallace; Seán Wildes (0-1), Philip Freeman, John O’Connor (0-1); Maurice Casey (capt.), Jack Moorehouse (0-1), Harry Goff (0-1). Subs. - Jim Jacob for Freeman (45), Cyril Thorpe for McDonald (55).
Referee: Pat Kehoe (Rathgarogue-Cushinstown).