Late Doran goal the catalyst as Alley win at the second attempt
BUFFERS ALLEY BLACKWATER 1-7 0-8
BUFFERS ALLEY were celebrating a welcome victory in the big ball code in Monageer as, after over two hours of trench warfare with Blackwater, their Under-13 footballers took home the New Ross Standard Division 2 shield with a 1-7 to 0-8 victory after an action-packed conclusion to a highly-competitive replay.
Blackwater forged early ascendancy with a point from captain Jamie Lambert after six minutes, although that was quickly cancelled by Brian Doran one minute later.
Cian Dobbs flighted over the Alley’s first lead point after twelve minutes shortly after Lambert had volleyed wide a goal chance at the other end.
In general, both defensive sextets were on top, and even when either side broke through for goal chances, both goalkeepers were in assertive form between the sticks.
Darragh Byrne restored parity for Blackwater on 24 minutes, although Doran converted a free before half-time to give Buffers Alley a slender 0-3 to 0-2 interval lead.
Caolán Sammon jockeyed a challenge before pointing for Blackwater two minutes after the re-start, and they looked set to bring home the shield for the first time since 2013 when scoring five of the next seven points to create an 0-8 to 0-5 lead.
Three of the scores during their dominant spell were frees from Ciarán Byrne, although Sammon also had a decent goal chance well saved at point-blank range by Callum Whelan-Byrne.
Still, neat points from Lambert and Ronan Malanouski off his right boot had them ahead 0-8 to 0-5. However, Buffers Alley summoned one last determined push and dramatically clinched the spoils despite operating with a player less when Dobbs was sin-binned with nine minutes to go.
The victory march was ignited on 56 minutes when a quick free from Tomás Walsh found Doran, who goaled with aplomb despite being pushed in the process.
They were ravenous thereafter, with Doran converting a free after Dan Doyle was pushed to edge them back in front, while Doyle chipped over a point himself when supplied by Brian O’Meara as the Monamolin-based boys secured the honours in riveting circumstances.
Buffers Alley: Callum Whelan-Byrne; Brandon Murphy, Tom Fanning, Rioch Fortune; Kevin Doran, Brian O’Meara (0-1), Niall Furlong; Cian Dobbs (0-2, 1 free), D.J. Cullen; Tomás Walsh, Dan Doyle (0-1), Eoin Fenlon; Ben Fanning, Brian Doran (1-3, 0-2 frees), James Kavanagh. Subs. - Sebastian Veal for B. Fanning, Seán Kavanagh for J. Kavanagh, Liam Hendrix for Fenlon, also D.J. Donnelly, Jason Hearne, Brandon Murphy, Ciarán Murphy, Pádraig Kirwan, Evan Tyrell, M.J. Fox.
Blackwater: Nathan Moran; Seán O’Brien, Adam O’Connor, Barry Whelan; Ultan O’Reilly, Eugene Clarke, Callum Mooney; Ronan Malanouski (0-1), Joe Rossiter; Jamie Lambert (capt., 0-2), Tristan Cashe, Darragh Byrne (0-1); Aidan Malanouski, Caolán Sammon (0-1), Ciarán Byrne (0-3 frees). Subs. - Callum Byrne, Callum Corrigan, Dennis Dempsey, Philip Byrne.
Referee: Martin Armstrong (Starlights).