Bunclody in control
HWH-BUNCLODY ADAMSTOWN
HWH-BUNCLODY preserved their one hundred per cent record moving into the quarter-finals of The Courtyard Ferns Intermediate hurling championship when they comfortably accounted for a depleted Adamstown side in this drab Group B clash in Bellefield on Sunday.
The losers were also through beforehand, so they won’t lose too much sleep over this defeat considering they were without key men Liam Stafford, Michael Furlong and Tony French among others.
The writing was on the wall for Adamstown at half-time when they trailed by 1-9 to 1-5 after playing with the wind, and they only managed one point from play after the break as the table-toppers coasted to an emphatic victory.
Peter Atkinson was in the kind of irresistible form that makes him one of the most potent forwards in the county at this level in the opening period in particular when he fired over three fine points from play.
Shane O’Gorman eventually moved to full-back in a bid to keep tabs on the ex-Wexford Senior who brought his personal tally to four with one additional effort after the interval.
Adamstown only led once, after Lorcan French (free) and Tomás Harrington responded to the opening point from the impressive Billy Kelly (free).
HWH-Bunclody then reeled off four on the trot from Atkinson (two), Matty Byrne and Jason Cowman, and midfielder Billy Kelly added a couple of eye-catching points before an exchange of goals at the end of the half.
Adamstown pounced first, when a long-range Lorcan French free was knocked to the net by Harry Cosgrave, but HWH-Bunclody responded in added time when a surging run and handpass by Eoin Kelly set up his first cousin, Cathal Doyle, for a tidy finish (1-9 to 1-5).
Although Seánie O’Neill pointed for Adamstown just 30 seconds into the new half, they didn’t score again from play and were instead restricted to three Lorcan French frees.
HWH-Bunclody looked very comfortable, with wily veterans Joe Kavanagh and Matty Byrne defending soundly down the right flank.
Conor Crean managed to race forward from the full-back line to grab a fine point, and Seán Kenny also registered from long range while Billy Kelly (three, two frees), Peter Atkinson and substitute Kevin Dunne kept the scoreboard ticking over.
Some icing was added to the cake in added time when Billy Kelly took a short free to Eoin Kelly whose shot was blocked, but he then passed across goal to Dunne who finished calmly to the net.
HWH-Bunclody will face Rathgarogue-Cushinstown in the quarter-final, while the John Mullane-trained Adamstown will be involved in an all-New Ross District clash with Fethard.
HWH-Bunclody: Arthur O’Neill; Joe Kavanagh, Colm Farrell, Conor Crean (0-1); Matty Byrne (0-1), Seán Kenny (0-1), John Dunne; Aidan Nolan (capt.), Billy Kelly (0-6, 3 frees); Eddie Black, Eoin Kelly, Jason Cowman (01); Cathal Doyle (1-1), Peter Atkinson (0-4), Tadhg Kelly. Subs. - Martin O’Connor for Dunne (HT), Kevin Dunne (1-1) for T. Kelly (39), Conor Hendrick for Black (47), James Moorhead for Doyle (54), David Reck for Kavanagh (56).
Adamstown: Paul Cooper; Michael Curtis, P.J. Carroll, John Whelan; Lorcan French (0-6, 5 frees), Shane O’Gorman, Brendan Furlong (capt.); Seán Barden, Tomás Harrington (01); Colum Feeney, James Delaney, Seánie O’Neill (0-2); Tomás French, Paddy Whitty, Harry Cosgrave (1-0).
Referee: David O’Leary (Rathnure).