Alley and Ferns both march on
Doran dismissed near end
CONTROVERSY ERUPTED near the end of this Pettitt’s Senior hurling championship Group B game in Innovate Wexford Park on Sunday, and it had nothing to do with the result given the fact that both teams qualified for the quarter-finals: Buffers Alley by virtue of a win that was more convincing than the scoreline suggests, and Ferns St. Aidan’s on the strength of their head-to-head result versus Rathnure.
The major talking point occurred when a brief row developed in the 59th minute, at a stage when the Alley held an 0-18 to 0-14 lead.
Ferns defender Brian O’Neill was lying injured on the ground elsewhere at the time, so I’m not sure if this is what sparked a difference of opinion that was practically over before it started.
However, when the dust settled, referee Barry Redmond sparked outrage among the Alley support by showing a straight red card to Willie Doran and a yellow to Ferns midfielder Tommy Dwyer.
The dismissed player flung his hurl to the sideline in disgust, and no doubt his club will do all in their power to have his suspension over-turned before their quarter-final clash with Glynn-Barntown.
They did manage another point after the dismissal, from a Tomás O’Leary free, and it was an important one as it transpired given that Ferns scored 1-1 deep into added time to leave the minimum between them at the end.
Tommy Dwyer converted a free and then saw his hopeful shot deceive Oliver O’Leary, with Ciarán Roberts running into the netminder’s line of sight but not appearing to get a connection on the sliothar before it entered the net.
In truth, it would have been a travesty if Buffers Alley had lost this game, not because of the sending-off but rather the fact that they had played superbly early in the second-half to open up a 0-14 to 0-7 lead.
They were 8-6 up at the break and, after Tomás O’Leary and Christopher O’Connor swapped points on the re-start, the next five on the trot were registered by an Alley side playing into the town end.
John Lee Meyler, Andrew Kenny, Paul O’Leary, Tomás O’Leary (free) and Ross Donohoe all hit the target, but Ferns deserve credit for the strength of their response as four unanswered points from Paul Morris, Christopher O’Connor (free), Jonny Dwyer from long range and Tommy Dwyer (free) meant they weren’t out of contention just yet (14-11).
Two key men stepped up to the plate for Buffers Alley at that crucial stage though. Shane Grannell was very impressive at full-forward when he was needed most, picking off two fine points and setting up another brace in between for the very accurate Seán Og Whelan who finished with four in all.
Ferns could only manage one score in that same spell from Paul Morris, but they did narrow the deficit to four with points from Jonny Dwyer and Tommy Dwyer (free) before the Alley were reduced to 14 men for reasons unclear to this writer.
The many absentees among the Ferns ranks are well documented at this stage, and in the circumstances they will be happy to have reached the last eight although the prospect of meeting St. Martin’s is a daunting one.
They nearly goaled after a mere 40 seconds when Oliver O’Leary had to smother Christopher O’Connor’s pull after a Benny Jordan free came back off the post.
However, there was no goalmouth action of note then until added time at the end of the half when a Ross Donohoe delivery at the other end was batted down by Shane Grannell and John Lee Meyler got the last touch to the net, but a throw-in was the outcome after the referee consulted with his umpires.
The fact that just five of the first-half points (only one from Ferns) arrived from play sums up a lack-lustre opening, although Jonny Dwyer’s line ball was a stand-out score for the red and whites who trailed by 0-8 to 0-6 at the interval.
It was a much livelier affair thereafter, with the ending leaving a sour taste among the Alley contingent.
Buffers Alley: Oliver O’Leary; Seán Murphy, Ciarán Kenny (capt.), Barry Kenny; Bobby Kenny, Andrew Kenny (0-1), Kevin Roche; Seán Og Whelan (0-4), Pat Kenny; Ross Donohoe (0-1), Willie Doran (0-1), Tomás O’Leary (07, 6 frees); Paul O’Leary (0-1), Shane Grannell (0-2), John Lee Meyler (0-2). Sub. - Paudie Reidy for Roche, inj. (28).
Ferns St. Aidan’s: Michael Walsh; Pádraig Bolger, John Breen, Brian O’Neill; Tomás Hawkins, Declan Byrne, Ciarán Roberts; Benny Jordan (0-2 frees), Tommy Dwyer (1-3, 0-3 frees); Ryan Nolan (0-1), Jonny Dwyer (0-3, 1 line ball), Paul Morris (0-2); Paddy O’Leary, Christopher O’Connor (capt., 0-4, 3 frees), Derek Thorpe. Sub. - P.J. O’Neill for O’Leary (55).
Referee: Barry (Clonard). Redmond