Doyle’s point earns draw

A LATE, late John Doyle point earned St. Patrick’s a draw with Duffry Rovers in the Top Oil Intermediate ‘A’ hurling championship in a very entertaining Group A table-topping decider in Monageer on Saturday.

Both sides went into the game with equally impressive unbeaten runs of form and, while they couldn’t be separated on the field or on points, the Duffry men take top spot due to their superior score difference.

The first-half of this game was a tightly-contested affair with both sets of defenders having the upper hand for the majority of play.

Eamonn Doyle and Tommy Dunne exchanged scores early on before John Doyle hit a brace of frees.

Indeed, Doyle was scorer in chief for St. Patrick’s for the remainder of the half and he continuously exchanged points with his rivals.

Liam Pender, Aidan Byrne and target-man, Jason Rackard, left the Enniscorthy District side ahead by the narrowest of margins at half-time.

The second-half was even more keenly fought with both sides refusing to go away with anything other than a win.

Doyle continued his prolific scoring, accounting for all but one of his side’s points, while Rackard was proving to be equally as effective at the other end.

St. Patrick’s found themselves ahead within four minutes of the re-start and held onto the lead until the 20th minute when two quick scores from Rackard and a great individual effort by Robert Frayne saw them take the lead.

This was when the real drama unfolded as Rackard and Doyle exchanged scores again before Rackard put the Duffry clear by two on the stroke of normal-time.

But that lead was never going to be safe with the mighty Doyle around, and he hit two late points to ensure the fairest result there could have been to the game.

Duffry Rovers: Stephen Watchorn; Craig Casey, Paul Nolan, James Nolan; Thomas Dunne, Johnny Flynn-O’Connor, Mattie O’Connor; Robert Frayne (0-1), Aidan Byrne (0-2); Liam Pender (0-2, 1 free), Eamaonn Doyle (0-1), Jason Rackard (0-9, 5 frees); Alan O’Neill, Joe Coleman, Gavin Watchorn (0-1). Subs. - James Codd for O’Neill, Donie O’Connor for G. Watchorn, Donie Doyle for D. O’Connor.

St. Patrick’s: Stuart Quinn; Peter Roche, Tynan Flynn, James Cousins; Hughie Doyle, Dermot O’Leary, Daryl Murphy; Tommy Dunne (0-1), Richie Flood; Andrew Doyle, John Doyle (014, 7 frees, 1 ’65), Shane Finn; Tommy Morris, Niall O’Brien, Tomás Morris (01). Subs. - Stephen Morris for O’Brien, Ashley Tully for Tommy Morris.

Referee: Pádraig Byrne (Ballyfad).