Cushinstown advance
PETTITT’S SHC GROUP B AND THE COURTYARD FERNS IHC GROUP A
RATHGAROGUE-CUSHINSTOWN got the win they needed to progress from Group A of The Courtyard Ferns Intermediate hurling championship by seeing off Shamrocks in O’Kennedy Park on Sunday.
The Enniscorthy men were already through and the extra desire of the New Ross District side was evident early on as they held a 1-5 to 0-2 lead on 24 minutes.
John O’Connor chipped one point off that lead seconds later when firing over a placed ball, but within two minutes Shamrocks were left with an uphill task when the free-taker was shown a red card by referee John Diskin.
As is often the case for teams in adversity, the setback rallied the troops and they closed the gap to three points (1-6 to 1-3) at the break, with Harry Goff finding the net late in the half.
However, that was as close as they got and Rathgarogue-Cushinstown were able to pick off enough scores in the second-half to keep their opponents at arm’s length.
The eventual winners hit the ground running, and were 1-3 to nil to the good inside 13 minutes. Daire Bolger knocked over two frees, either side of a Jason Dunne point on the run before Oliver Bolger got the green flag waving.
A Daire Bolger free dropped short and the corner-forward was quickest to react and knocked the ball beyond goalkeeper Jim Jacob.
Good points from Bob Jacob and Jack Moorehouse were cancelled out by a Daire Bolger free and a Matthew Cody ‘65.
John O’Connor then converted a free and he was shown a red card in the space of two minutes, but after Brian O’Neill pointed for Rathgarogue-Cushinstown, Shamrocks finished the half on a high with a goal.
Eddie Weafer found Harry Goff in space and he made no mistake, bearing down on goal and clinically kicking the ball to the net.
Rathgarogue-Cushinstown quickly re-established their sixpoint cushion after the interval, with Jason Dunne, Robert Murphy and Brian O’Neill slotting over scores.
They comfortably held that advantage until the final whistle with Bernard Furlong and Daire Bolger (two) adding further points and Seán Wildes, Harry Goff and Podge Doyle replying for Shamrocks.
Rathgarogue-Cushinstown: Colin Whelan; Peadar Cody, Paudie McGrath, Francis O’Brien; Eoghan Whelan, Matthew Cody (0-1 ‘65), Peter Aspel; Bryan Cody, Robert Murphy (0-1); Jason Dunne (0-2), Bernard Furlong (0-1), Brian O’Neill (0-2); Daire Bolger (0-5, 4 frees), Daniel Martin Carroll, Oliver Bolger (1-0). Sub. - Patrick Murphy for B. Cody.
Shamrocks: Jim Jacob; Barry Dobbs, Mick Weafer, Philip Freeman; Lar McDonald, George Jacob, Podge Dwyer; Bob Jacob (0-1), Seán Wildes (0-1); John O’Connor (0-1 free), Anthony Wallace, Jack Moorehouse (0-1); Podge Doyle (0-1), Eddie Weafer, Harry Goff (1-1). Sub. - Dwaine Kelly for Dwyer.
Referee: John Diskin (Bannow-Ballymitty).