Duffry in control of District derby
THE FIREPOWER of Duffry Rovers carried them to two more crucial points with an eventual seven-point victory over Rathure in this entertaining Top Oil Intermediate ‘A’ hurling championship Group A game played in St. Patrick’s Park, Enniscorthy, on Sunday.
Having survived a couple of early attacks from Rathnure, Duffry Rovers enjoyed a smart start to the game, racing into a 0-5 to nil lead inside the opening twelve minutes through points from Liam Pender (two, one free), Robert Frayne after a fine run and shot off the sideline, Alan O’Neill and Cian Fitzhenry, with Rathnure having to wait until the 13th minute for their opening score, a Fran Murphy pointed free.
Then it was the turn of Rathnure to take the initiative with veteran Nigel Higgins pointing, while Teddy O’Connor lofted over two longrange frees to leave the minimum separating the sides (0-5 to 0-4) at the end of the opening quarter.
The sides went on to trade points approaching the break, with Fitzhenry converting a free for his side, while O’Connor stepped up with two further long-range pointed frees to leave the teams level (0-6 each) at the interval.
While Nigel Higgins pointed his side in front for the first time within two minutes of the re-start, the Duffry despite their outfield dominance were failing to translate their possession into scores, until Pender and O’Neill stepped up to the mark with points.
After Teddy O’Connor (free) and Eamonn Doyle had exchanged points, Duffry Rovers got the crucial breakthrough ten minutes from the end when Thomas Dunne found the net from 14 metres having been played in by Robert Frayne.
Frayne, a constant torment to the Rathnure defence, decided the destination of the points with five minutes remaining when he knifed his way through the defence to fire home a superb shot to the corner of the net.
That left no way back for the Blackstairs men as the Duffry continue their march towards the knockout stages.
Duffry Rovers: Stephen Watchorn; James Nolan, Donie Doyle, Craig Casey; Aidan Byrne, Paul Nolan, Gavin Watchorn; Thomas Dunne (1-0), Johnny Flynn-O’Connor; Liam Pender (0-4, 3 frees), Eamonn Doyle (0-2), John Dunne; Robert Frayne (12), Alan O’Neill (0-2), Cian Fitzhenry (0-2, 1 free). Subs. - Donie O’Connor for J. Dunne, Matthew Flynn-O’Connor for Fitzhenry.
Rathnure: Seán Nolan; James Flynn, Eoin Boggan, Dylan Hogan; Alan Ronan, Teddy O’Connor (0-6 frees), Thomas Furlong; Shane Murphy, Michael Martin; Jason Lawlor, Fran Murphy (0-2, 1 free), Anthony Westnott; Seán O’Neill, Kiall Byrne, Nigel Higgins (0-2). Subs. - Ben Ronan (0-1) for Westnott, Eoin Byrne for K. Byrne.
Referee: Damien Donovan (Volunteers).