Doyle delivers yet again as Pat’s beat Rathnure

THE COURTYARD FERNS IHC AND TOP OIL IAHC

AN ACCOMPLISHED display from John Doyle helped St. Patrick’s continue their unbeaten run in Group B of the Top Oil Intermediate ‘A’ hurling championship when they saw off a game Rathnure side in an entertaining encounter in Oylegate on Saturday.

Both sides were evenly matched and the game involved a number of interesting duels, but Doyle, accounting for 1-7 of his side’s tally, proved to be the difference between them.

St. Patrick’s looked good from the start, accounting for the first three scores thanks to Shane Finn and Andrew and John Doyle, but it was a lead that was shortlived as Rathnure were right back in it within six minutes, with Colin Flynn and the ever-dangerous Trevor Hogan doing the honours.

Not much separated the sides for the remainder of the half, but the Camolin-based team had a bit more fire-power in front of the posts with Tomás Morris and Doyle adding three points each. Rathnure continued to depend on Hogan and Flynn for scores, a situation that saw them trailing by three at half-time.

In the new half, Hogan added a quick point, but that was quickly undone when Doyle ran onto a high delivery to flick the ball to the net in the 36th minute.

This didn’t dispirit the Blackstairs men however, and they continued to attack, with Flynn coolly slotting over three frees to leave two between them in the 41st minute.

It was the following eight minutes that proved to be a crucial period, as St. Pat’s put paid to any doubt over what the result would be.

Doyle added three quick points before Dermot O’Leary and Tommy Dunne sent over two gems, leaving Rathnure with just too much to do in the final ten minutes.

St. Patrick’s: Stuart Quinn; Peter Roche, Tynan Flynn, James Cousins; Hughie Doyle, Dermot O’Leary (0-1), Daryl Murphy; Tommy Dunne (0-1), Richie Flood; Tommy Morris, John Doyle (1-7, 0-5 frees), Shane Finn (01); Andrew Doyle (0-2), Niall O’Brien, Tomás Morris (0-3). Sub. - Ashley Tully for H. Doyle.

Rathnure: Seán Nolan; Eoin Byrne, Teddy O’Connor, Brendan Flynn; Aodhán Foley, Mick O’Leary, Eoin Higgins; Chris Redmond, Stephen Furlong; Ciarán Donnellan, Nigel Higgins (0-1), Trevor Hogan (0-4); Colin Flynn (0-6 frees), Jason Lawlor (0-2, 1 free), Anthony Westnott. Sub. - M.J. Murphy (0-1) for Westnott.

Referee: Philip Murphy (Faythe Harriers).