’Rocks have a point to spare
First-half goal the key score
THE DEFTEST of flicks from full-forward Eddie Weafer was enough to make Shamrocks the first qualifiers for the quarter-finals from Group A of The Courtyard Ferns Intermediate hurling championship when they pipped Ballygarrett by a point in Camolin on Saturday.
The number 14 appeared to get the last touch when John O’Connor landed a long-range free into the goalmouth in the 18th minute, and that was sufficient to establish a 1-6 to 0-6 interval lead and subsequent one-point victory.
The goal was all that divided the sides after an opening half featuring Shamrocks with wind advantage after winning the toss, with captain Mick Weafer in a sweeping role as Ballygarrett reinforced their defence.
The Gorey District side are still in the hunt for the knockouts, but their last round game against Oulart-The Ballagh now has a winner-takes-all look about it given the tight nature of the group, with so little dividing top from bottom and none of the teams below Shamrocks out of contention.
The Enniscorthy town team led by 0-3 to 0-2 midway through the half after points from John O’Connor (free), Bob Jacob and Maurice Casey, but six wides in that spell from an overall tally of eight before the break proved a concern.
Cormac Moore (free) and Colm Kennelly had kept Ballygarrett in touch, but the gap stretched to four when Eddie Weafer directed that O’Connor free to Shane Quinn’s net.
Shamrocks went on to enjoy a lead of five points (1-5 to 0-3) by the 22nd minute after O’Connor posted two points from play in quick succession, but the margin was down to three by the interval as Moore (free), Cathal Dunbar and Stephen Redmond (’65) replied for Ballygarrett.
Shamrocks resumed brightly into the wind with a brace of quick points from Bob Jacob, and they were still five to the good with eleven minutes left after scores from Maurice Casey and Seán Wildes.
Prior to that Wildes had converted a line ball from the left that provoked uncertainty between the umpires, but referee Eddie O’Sullivan awarded what proved to be a vital point after consulting with well-placed linesman Kevin Doyle from the host club.
While Shamrocks led by 1-11 to 0-9 entering the home straight, Ballygarrett made a valiant effort to reel them in. Indeed, the eventual victors had good reason to be thankful to netminder Daithí Murphy for a superb smothering save which denied Cormac Moore what could have been a game-changing goal in the 50th minute.
Ballygarrett did narrow the gap to one with points from Jack Hobbs (free), Cathal Dunbar, Stephen Redmond (free) and Eddie Redmond, but they also hit five late wides and saw a long-range attempt from Evan Dunbar batted out from crossbar height by Daithí Murphy deep into added time.
The game ended with losing players protesting to referee Eddie O’Sullivan that Hobbs had been fouled in a late incident, but with ten second-half wides they had more than enough chances to either win or at the very least draw the game.
Shamrocks: Daithí Murphy; Barry Dobbs, Mick Weafer (capt.), Philip Freeman; Podge Dwyer, George Jacob, Brandon O’Connor; Bob Jacob (0-3), Seán Wildes (0-2, 1 line ball); John O’Connor (0-4, 2 frees), Anthony Wallace, Jack Moorehouse; Harry Goff, Eddie Weafer (1-0), Maurice Casey (0-2). Subs. - Karl Cullen for Dwyer (HT), Podge Doyle for O’Connor, inj. (35), Jim Jacob for Goff (56), Cyril Thorpe for E. Weafer (57).
Ballygarrett: Shane Quinn; Gavin Walker, Eddie Redmond (0-1), Tom Sinnott; Darren Morris, Stephen Redmond (0-4, 3 frees, 1 ’65), Pat Naughter; Evan Dunbar, Colm Kennelly (0-1); Paddy Fleming, Kevin Jordan (0-1), Eoin Corcoran; Cormac Moore (0-2 frees), Cathal Dunbar (0-3), Jack Hobbs (capt., 0-1 free). Sub. - Jimmy Murphy for Jordan (45).
Referee: Eddie O’Sullivan (Ballyfad).