Bannow-Ballymitty out-gun Monageer for second Junior success

BANNOW-BALLYMITTY outgunned Monageer-Boolavogue to earn their second win in Group A of the Permanent TSB Junior hurling championship in Killurin on Sunday.

The south county side got their noses in front early on and never really looked like relinquishing their grip against a misfiring Monageer-Boolavogue outfit thereafter.

Bannow-Ballymitty bagged their first goal inside three minutes when Mark Wallace floated a free into the danger zone, and David Currid picked up the pieces to boot the ball to the net.

Goalkeeper Morgan Gahan had an opportunity to wipe out that three-pointer moments later but his penalty flew over the crossbar, and the New Ross District side made the most of the let-off with Mark Wallace, Niall Harney, Gary Morton, Micheál Murphy and Pat Fitzharris all contributing points as they stretched their advantage to 1-8 to 0-4.

Things got even better in the 25th minute, when Fitzharris caught a beautiful delivery from Niall Harney and rifled a shot beyond Gahan.

Monageer-Boolavogue rallied briefly, scoring five points on the trot either side of half-time, with Stephen Lacey starting the mini-revival and Niall Finn knocking over four frees (2-8 to 0-9).

However, Bannow-Ballymitty put the foot down again and when the impressive Micheál Murphy pointed in the 55th minute it stretched the lead to 2-15 to 0-11.

Bertie Gahan grabbed a consolation goal when he powered a free through a sea of bodies on the line, but the Bannow-Ballymitty response was instant, with Micheál Murphy breaking the ball into the path of Gary Morton who drove the ball to the net.

Bannow-Ballymitty: Kevin Doyle; John Mernagh, John O’Leary, Clem Rossiter; Nicky Doyle, Arthur Sweetman, Conor Furlong; Mark Wallace (0-4), Niall Harney (0-1); Richie Walsh, David Currid (1-0), Micheál Murphy (02); Art Murphy (0-1), Patrick Fitzharris (1-5, 0-4 frees), Gary Morton (1-2). Subs. - David White for A. Murphy, Garry Jordan for Rossiter, Jack Farragher for M. Murphy.

Monageer-Boolavogue: Morgan Gahan (0-2, 1 free, 1 pen.); James Breen, Conall Nolan, Ray O’Brien; Paddy Walsh, Paddy Breen, Robbie Donnelly; Lee McHale, Seán McCabe (0-1); Stephen Lacey (0-1), Shane Kehoe, Bertie Gahan (1-2 frees); Niall Finn (0-4 frees), John Breen (0-1), James Sweeney. Subs. - Bryan Dwyer for James Breen, Ciarán Rochford for Finn, James Gahan for Donnelly, Adrian O’Loughlin for McHale.

Referee: Seán Slaven (Faythe Harriers).