Mary’s have it very easy
ON PAPER, what many would put down as a potentially close contest between two lively contenders for the Permanent TSB Junior hurling championship crown turned out to be a complete mismatch in Taghmon on Saturday.
St. Mary’s (Rosslare) were simply better all over the park in this Group B tie. They played with more pace to their game, looked fitter and spread the scores around.
In particular, the half-back line was superb and it was their quality that really helped make this contest a cakewalk.
A fantastic team build-up ended with Lee Devereux firing home the opening goal in the early stages.
The corner-forward was almost unmarkable and ended with a superb personal tally of 1-7.
With the Rossiters firing on all cylinders and among the points, and Peter Carr finding the net, Rosslare built a 2-8 to 0-2 interval lead.
At the other end Clongeen were struggling. Jamesie Rochford notched their first point, it was followed before the break by the second from Joe Toomey.
When Anton Stafford gathered Danny O’Grady’s pass in the 33rd minute and fired to the St. Mary’s net, Clongeen had a little hope.
However, that optimism was quickly wiped away when the experienced Paul Kinsella nipped in for his side’s third goal.
Enda Murphy and Rochford grabbed the second-half points for Clongeen but it was a procession for Rosslare as they scored ten of the last eleven minors and cantered to a comprehensive victory.
Clongeen will have plenty of time to think about this defeat, with the championship on hiatus for several weeks.
St. Mary’s, on the other hand, can enjoy the break and will come back as favourites in a group with a handful of potential title contenders.
St. Mary’s: Niall Walsh; Ned Power, Conor Cafferkey, Andrew Murphy; Kevin Driver, David Murphy, Tiarnan Rossiter (0-4); Naomhan Rossiter (03), Gearóid Byrne; Peter Carr (1-0), Robert Butler (0-2), Larry Morrissey; Philip Lambert (0-1), Paul Kinsella (1-3, 0-1 free), Lee Devereux (1-7, 0-1 free). Subs. - Ian Kavanagh for Devereux, Richard Bent for A. Murphy, Conal Grant for Power, Barry Quirke for Lambert, Derek Brohan (0-1) for Carr.
Clongeen: Ricky Rochford; Donal Whelan, Barry Foxe, Marty Reville; Richard Rochford, Danny O’Grady, Robert Farrell; Paul Curtis, Tom Donovan; Ger Foxe, Enda Murphy (0-1), Martin Delaney; Jamesie Rochford (0-2 frees), Anton Stafford (1-0), Joe Toomey (0-1). Sub. - Jamie Keating for Toomey.
Referee: Francis Neville (Shelmaliers).