Jimmies in super form
Fancied rivals sent packing
ST. JAMES’ 5-7 CROSSABEG-B’MURN 1-12
SHANE MURPHY was the destroyer-in-chief in O’Kennedy Park, New Ross, on Sunday when St. James’ delivered a massive statement of intent by dumping one of the pre-season favourites, Crossabeg-Ballymurn, out of The Courtyard Ferns Intermediate hurling championship at the quarter-final stage.
The man known to all and sundry as ‘Gerry’ finished with an impressive 3-4, and his two second-half goals from play rocked the opposition before a clinically-taken late penalty finished off the job.
However, the former county Under-21 attacker would surely be the first to admit that it was essentially an all-out team effort that got Fran Fitzhenry’s well-drilled charges over the line.
St. James’ frustrated Crossabeg-Ballymurn at every turn with their huge appetite for hard work, and it was a special day in the club’s history as they celebrated reaching the last four in only their second year as an Intermediate team.
Indeed, they won the lowest grade adult hurling title as recently as 2009, but they are now just two hours away from a potential rise to Senior ranks entirely on merit.
Their victory was all the more impressive because of the calibre of their rivals, twice runners-up and once beaten semi-finalists since coming up from Intermediate ‘A’ in 2014.
However, Crossabeg-Ballymurn didn’t do enough when wind-assisted in the first-half, and their 0-8 to 1-3 interval lead left them vulnerable.
The St. James’ goal was absolutely vital, and it arrived in the eleventh minute to push the underdogs into a 1-1 to 0-3 advantage.
Crossabeg-Ballymurn may have been surprised somewhat by the positioning of Matthew O’Hanlon at right half-forward, rather than in a central position.
And Wexford’s joint captain availed of a superb delivery from the left by Tommy Walsh to rattle the net at the scoreboard end, after grabbing the ball from the air while in full stride.
County colleague Pádraig Foley immediately replaced Paddy Devereux as his direct marker, and their personal battle was a case of honours even by the end of the game.
However, the fact that one man was pre-occupied by the other worked more in favour of St. James’ on a day when they got the very most out of some of their less heralded players.
Oisín Foley carried the chief attacking threat for Crossabeg-Ballymurn in the first-half with three of their eight points, while Eoghan Kehoe contributed a brace and Tony Murphy, Shane O’Rourke and Niall Murphy (free) featured on the scoresheet too.
Tony Murphy fired a goal attempt wide in the fourth minute, while Alan Walsh couldn’t get a decent connection on his pull at the other end after a Matthew O’Hanlon shot for a point rebounded off the post into his path.
The second-half opened with contrasting fortunes in front of goal, and Crossabeg-Ballymurn suffered a double body blow.
Firstly, David Jackman fired wide in the 33rd minute after Oisín Foley and Tony Murphy combined to put him in the clear.
A mere 40 seconds later, a teasing ball by Matthew O’Hanlon was cleverly flicked to the net by Shane Murphy, and St. James’ were in the driving seat (2-3 to 0-8).
Crossabeg-Ballymurn got back to level terms twice, but a burst of 2-2 without reply between the 42nd and 53rd minutes left nobody in any doubt that this was going to be the Jimmies’ day.
After an O’Hanlon point restored their lead, captain David Doyle did very well to prevent a long-range Graeme Molloy free from being cleared, and Shane Murphy made the most of his colleague’s spoiling work with another goal (3-6 to 0-10).
Paul Barron foiled Tony Murphy at the other end with a vital piece of defending before two inspired substitutes combined for the fourth major.
Mark Myler – just three minutes on the field – found Michael O’Grady who had been introduced a mere 60 seconds earlier, and the latter shook off a persistent challenge to beat Mark Dempsey.
Substitute Sam Kelly did try his best to revive Crossabeg-Ballymurn with a burst of 1-1 as the game moved into added time, but it was fitting that the final word should go to St. James’ given that they produced one of the best performances of the weekend in any grade.
Crossabeg-Ballymurn lost goalkeeper Dempsey to two yellow cards in quick succession, the second for dragging down O’Grady as he prepared to rattle the net again.
Oisín Foley went between the posts to face the penalty, but Shane Murphy gave him no chance with a composed finish to crown this eye-catching victory.
St. James’: Graeme Molloy; Paul Barron, Jason Barron, Tommy Walsh; Robbie Barron, Liam Murphy, Darragh Lyons; Brian Molloy, Mark Molloy (01); Matthew O’Hanlon (1-1), Daniel Keating, David Doyle (capt.); Alan Walsh (0-1), Shane Murphy (3-4, 1-0 pen., 0-2 frees), Donal Barron. Subs. - Mark Myler for T. Walsh (50), Michael O’Grady (1-0) for Keating (52), Robert Murphy for Lyons (57), Greg Doyle for M. Molloy (58).
Crossabeg-Ballymurn: Mark Dempsey (capt.); Matty Sludds, Bill Eviston, Alan Byrne; Ronan Devereux, Pádraig Foley, Paddy Devereux; Niall Murphy (0-2 frees), Declan Byrne; Oisín Foley (0-4), Eoghan Kehoe (0-2), Shane O’Rourke (0-2); Tony Murphy (0-1), Barry Murphy, David Jackman. Subs. - Sam Kelly (1-1) for Kehoe (42), Seamus Carroll for Sludds (48).
Referee: Pat Kehoe (Rathgarogue-Cushinstown).