Gorey double bid on course
Hurlers overcome Buffers Alley to keep dream alive
NAOMH EANNA BUFFERS ALLEY 2-10 1-5
NAOMH EANNA added yet more silverware in a year that will be long remembered by everyone with connections to the club when their excellent Under-15 hurlers took home the Enniscorthy Guardian Premier championship title with a 2-10 to 1-5 victory over Buffers Alley in Saturday’s decider at a baltic St. Patrick’s Park, Enniscorthy.
These young men have made a habit out of winning throughout this campaign, usually in comprehensive fashion too, and although they ended up double-scores victors here, they didn’t necessarily have it all their own way against a Buffers Alley side brimful of typical determination.
Despite Lee Cushe pointing a wind-aided opener for Gorey after roughly 25 seconds, a well-adjudged free into the wind by Eoin O’Meara levelled things by the fourth minute.
And Buffers Alley went ahead from a clinically-taken goal on nine minutes as Michael Butler kept the sliothar alive along the floor and Cian Dobbs swiped first-time to the dressing-room end net to develop a 1-1 to 0-1 lead.
But then captain J.J. Twamley entered the stage to guide Gorey back to their efficient selves.
Firstly, he stepped away from close attention before firing over on ten minutes, while Brian Cushe’s relieving clearance two minutes later carried all the way to the net.
And when Rian Fitzpatrick’s free broke into the path of Twamley a minute later, he emphatically kicked to the top corner as the gap suddenly mushroomed to 2-2 to 1-1.
Cormac Doyle’s spadework teedup Twamley for another point, and the latter also pointed over his shoulder to help his side into a significant 2-7 to 1-2 half-time lead.
Buffers Alley registered the first three scores after the break, all frees from the reliable O’Meara, but they failed to trouble the scoreboard thereafter against a Naomh Eanna defence well screened by the impressive Shane Flood.
Meanwhile, Twamley eased any mounting pressure with his fourth point on 46 minutes, while late scores from the Cushes, Brian and Lee (free), ensured that their supporters continue to be on cloud nine as they toasted their latest success.
Naomh Eanna: Rory Tubritt; Conor Kelly, Cian O Tuama, Seán Egan; Kyle Kenny, Rian Fitzpatrick, Darragh Fitzpatrick; Brian Cushe (1-1), Shane Flood; J.J. Twamley (capt., 1-4), Lee Cushe (0-4, 3 frees), James McGraynor; Thomas Wheatley, Cormac Doyle, Scott Murphy (0-1). Subs. - Shane Mahon for McGraynor (32), Enda McCrea for Wheatley (60+3), also Luke Darley, Tiernan Black, Dylan Cooke-Leonard, Tadhg Byrne, Niall O’Dwyer, Harry McGuckin, Rúairí Sheil, Jamie Kinch, Ruadhan Comerford, Ross Kavanagh, Mark Kinch, Ryan Callaghan, Mylie Connors, Daniel Ennis, Jack Curley, Thomas Mythen, Stephen Smyth, Brandon Flynn.
Buffers Alley: Tristan Whelan-Byrne; Brian O’Meara, Edward Harney, Seán Kirwan; Adam Doyle, Jack Twomey, Dylan McEvoy; Pádraig Kinsella, Seamie O’Hagan (capt); Cian Dobbs (1-0), Jack Redmond, Tomás Whelan; Stephen Furlong, Michael Butler, Eoin O’Meara (0-5 frees). Subs. - Brian Doran, Colin Kinsella, Darragh Prendergast, Bryan Kirwan, Fiachra Fortune, Kevin Doyle, Shane Meleady, Tomás Walsh, Kevin O’Connor, Adam Black, Dan Doyle, Bobby Brady, John Burke.
Referee: Mick Lanigan (Shelmaliers).