Craanford’s first success
CRAANFORD MOVED themselves off the foot of the Group A table of The Courtyard Ferns Intermediate hurling championship in Bree on Friday and in doing so got right back into contention for a quarter-final spot.
The Gorey District side looked to be in big trouble at the break, leading by just two points after playing with a strong breeze in the opening period. However, there was something different about the victors after the change of ends.
That grittiness, so synonymous with Craanford in recent years, reemerged. Every ball was a battle, every chance St. James’ had they had to work doubly hard to create, and eventually the Ramsgrange side ran out of ideas.
It’s this type of performance that makes the ‘Ford a difficult match-up for opponents that might look stronger on paper. It was impressive that they more than held their own in key contests, and Ollie Doran led by example at centre-forward while Matthew Nolan was superb whenever the ball went within the range of his large wingspan.
They got off to the quick start with the breeze and netted within three minutes when Shane Kavanagh picked out Nolan with a long pass. He laid off to John Fleming and the Craanford corner-forward rattled the net.
With Jamie Myler and Kevin O’Grady causing problems with their pace, St. James’ created chances and soon moved themselves level at 1-3 apiece, partially thanks to O’Grady’s goal after a blistering run through the middle.
The New Ross District side did enough to stay in touch through the second quarter. Every time their opponents moved a little ahead, St. James’ hit back with important scores. Kevin Poole (0-7) and O’Grady (1-5) got into a personal battle as Craanford took a 1-10 to 1-8 interval lead.
Matthew O’Hanlon’s 32nd-minute free could have provided the kick-start to the second-half that his side needed but they would only add three further O’Grady scores with the breeze, including just a solitary point from play. Meanwhile, Craanford picked off the odd score to stay ahead.
There was three points between the sides when O’Grady scored that last one for his side in the 49th minute (1-15 to 1-12).
The game went twelve minutes without a score before Shane Kavanagh nailed an injury time dead-ball from distance, after another foul on the excellent Nolan, to secure two vital winning points for Craanford.
Craanford: Derek Finn; Michael Lyons, Pat Kenny, Ger Lyons; Michael O’Loughlin, Pat Murray, William Conroy; James O’Loughlin, Niall Berney; Kevin Poole (0-10, 7 frees, 2 ‘65s), Ollie Doran (0-2), Shane Kavanagh (0-2, 1 free); Jim Kenny, Matthew Nolan (0-2), John Fleming (1-0). Subs. - James Smyth for (41), Tony Kavanagh for Kenny (54).
St. James’: Luke Murphy; Brian Molloy, Jason Barron, Tommy Walsh; Paul Barron, Matthew O’Hanlon (0-2 frees), Darragh Lyons; David Doyle, Robbie Barron; Alan Walsh, Kevin O’Grady (1-8, 0-6 frees, 0-1 pen.), Daniel Keating; Donal Barron, Jamie Myler (0-1), Greg Doyle (0-1). Subs. - Peadar Murphy for A. Walsh (22), Shane Murphy for D. Barron (47).
Referee: Pat Kehoe (Rathgarogue-Cushinstown).