Glynn’s troops steamroll Shamrocks for straightforward win
CRAANFORD SHAMROCKS 1-19 0-7
IT WAS all rather straightforward for Craanford at sunny St. Patrick’s Park on Sunday evening against struggling Shamrocks in this tame Intermediate ‘A’ hurling championship Group C opener.
A 23rd-minute Aodán Whitty goal supplemented a 1-8 to 0-4 interval advantage, and the north county side, managed by recent Wicklow dual star Leighton Glynn, prevailed at their ease.
Both sides have been experiencing flagging fortunes of late, with Shamrocks having suffered relegation from top-grade
Intermediate last season - just a year after the same fate had befallen Craanford.
Confidence appears to be a low ebb for the Enniscorthy town side, who have failed to avoid defeat in the championship since scoring a closing-round Intermediate group win over Askamore in 2018.
The game before that one yielded a 2-11 to 1-12 loss to Craanford, who retained six of that selection for this latest renewal of rivalries, while Shamrocks had ten survivors.
Fresh out of Minor grade to the Craanford adult wing are Patrick and Aidan Kavanagh together with Aodán Whitty, and the latter made the first real incision after a low-key opening 20 minutes.
Shamrocks utilised at least one sweeper from the start, but Craanford built a 0-6 to 0-3 lead mainly through free-taker Kevin
Poole before Whitty pounced.
In truth, a Shamrocks defender had the situation perfectly under control before fluffing his lines, and Whitty fastened onto the ball to whip a low finish to the town end net in the 23rd minute (1-6 to 0-3).
Shamrocks did have eight first-half wides, but Craanford were well worth their 1-8 to 0-4 interval advantage.
Centre-back Ollie Doran advanced quickly onto the throw-in to add to the lead with a point within seconds of the re-start, and Joe Conroy and Shane Kavanagh had it out to 1-11 to 0-4 as the blue and whites generated plenty of room for error after only 33 minutes.
Sadly though, Shamrocks were unable to shiver their timbers, even though the town team did try to get something going.
But the Craanford defence remained composed, and ‘ keeper Andrew Tighe had to be alert to deny substitute Anthony Murphy who got inside menacingly.
Murphy and Brandon O’Connor had quick points to peg it back to 1-13 to 0-7 on 41 minutes and generate expectations that Shamrocks might be able to chain together a meaningful burst of scores.
It wasn’t to be however, with the well-marshalled Craanford rearguard snuffing out any remaining danger, holding Shamrocks scoreless for the rest of the tie while adding 0-6 themselves.
The points could be huge for Craanford as they now face a stern examination against an Oulart-The Ballagh second string which is expected to be adorned with an array of recent county and Leinster Club championship-winning talent.
Craanford: Andrew Tighe; Patrick Kavanagh,
Pat Murray (capt.), Michael Lyons; Tony Kavanagh, Ollie Doran (0-1), Eoin Doyle; Joe Conroy (0-1), William Conroy; Kevin Poole (011, 8 frees), Niall Berney (0-1), Eamonn Doran; Aidan Kavanagh (0-1), Shane Kavanagh (0-3), Aodán Whitty (1-1). Subs. - Jim Kenny for Doyle (41), Ger Lyons for S. Kavanagh, inj. (51), Michael Sinnott for J. Conroy (57), Mick O’Loughlin for Whitty (57).
Shamrocks: Daithí Murphy; Barry Dobbs, Philip Freeman, John Murphy; Seán Wildes, George Wheelock, Karl Cullen; Bob Jacob (0-1 free), Maurice Casey; John O’Connor (capt., 0-1 free), Glen Nolan, Jack Moorehouse; George Jacob (0-1), Brandon O’Connor (0-2), Harry Goff (0-1). Subs. - Anthony Murphy (0-1) for Nolan (HT), Mick Weafer for Wheelock (38), Floyd Murphy for G. Jacob (43), Jim Jacob for Moorehouse (54).
Referee: Aidan O’Brien (Cloughbawn).