Gusserane will top table
GUSSERANE WILL top Group B of the Permanent TSB Junior hurling championship, regardless of what happens in the last round of fixtures, after they dominated against St. Mary’s (Rosslare) in Hollymount on Saturday.
The New Ross District side had too much speed for their more experienced opponents and they used it to create havoc. Seán Ryan, Sam Wall and Gary O’Grady all got multiple scores while Mark O’Neill really shone.
The Gusserane wing-forward scored the hard way, but he made swatting points from distance look routine as one after the other split the Rosslare posts. How things go with the big ball will have a big say on this side’s hopes of the title, but they are probably the team to beat right now.
Points by Andrew Murphy and Robert Butler sandwiched a string of Lee Devereux dead balls as St. Mary’s clung to their opponents’ tails in the firsthalf. However, it was as much the Gusserane wides that kept the game close at the break.
Still, with scores from play coming a lot easier, the table-toppers opened up a 0-9 to 0-6 lead at the change of ends.
Three more Devereux frees ensured that a previously unbeaten Rosslare drew level after 36 minutes but parity was merely a cruel facade.
Gusserane were ready to break away and that started with Wall’s rocket in the 39th minute. The scores flowed and Seán Ryan put the result beyond doubt with a second goal ten minutes from time.
With Butler and Peter Carr in the vicinity, Devereux’s free was deflected to the net on full-time but it only marginally dampened the victors’ mood.
Gusserane: Micheál Ryan; Jack O’Connor, Kenneth Cahill (capt.), Robert Browne; Gavin Sheehan, Shane Cullen, Paul Wall; Adrian Redmond, Páraic Conway; Gary O’Grady (0-3, 1 free), Liam Dillon, Mark O’Neill (0-5); Sam Wall (1-3, 0-2 frees), Mark Rossiter (0-1), Seán Ryan (1-3). Subs. - Shane Doyle for Browne, inj. (19), Fintan Ryan for Redmond (43), Jack Burford for Rossiter (50), Tom Foran for Wall (57).
St. Mary’s (Rosslare): Naomhan Rossiter; Gearóid Byrne, Conor Cafferkey, Conal Grant; Larry Morrissey, David Murphy, Richard Bent; Tiarnan Rossiter, Peter Carr; Paul Kinsella, Andrew Murphy (0-1), Robert Butler (capt., 0-1); Ultan Quirke, Jason Ellard, Lee Devereux (1-8, 1-7 frees, 0-1 ’65). Subs. - Barry Quirke for Grant (30), Ian Kavanagh for Bent (42), Stephen Breen for Kinsella (46), Derek Brohan for Ellard (58).
Referee: Mick Lanigan (Shelmaliers). A BLISTERING start and a late goal from Declan Ruth enabled Rapparees to edge out Clongeen in a topsy-turvy game in the Permanent TSB Junior hurling championship Group B in Cushinstown on Saturday.
The Enniscorthy men burst straight into life as they bagged 1-2 in the first three minutes. Peter O’Sullivan pointed straight from the throw-in while Declan Ruth then added a long-distance free before the opening goal arrived.
A high ball into the Clongeen square led to a goalmouth scramble. The ball broke loose to corner-forward Aaron Ronan and he cleverly scooped it into an empty net as Rapparees raced into an early five-point lead.
A Shane Cahill free opened the Clongeen account before Lee Tracey replied for Rapparees. The lively Paul Curtis scored Clongeen’s first point from play to leave four between the sides in the opening quarter (1-3 to 0-2).
Seán O’Gorman and full-forward John Ryan extended their lead to six before two quick-fire Shane Cahill frees. Paul Curtis then came very close to netting for Clongeen as his shot was well saved by Gary Murphy.
Midfielder Shane Cahill kept Clongeen in touch with two scores, one from play, as they trailed by 1-7 to 0-6 after 20 minutes.
Cahill was involved again in Clongeen’s only goal as his attempted point came off the post and the speedy Paul Curtis was on hand to bury the rebound to the net.
It was now just a one-point game with the break approaching. Ger Foxe, Paul Curtis and Jamesie Rochford all pointed in an impressive fightback for Clongeen as they led by 1-9 to 1-7 at the interval.
Curtis and Cahill continued their impressive displays as they replied to Declan Ruth’s free, with Emmet Kent adding a fine score near the sideline to leave the Ross District side four ahead.
Rapparees produced a fightback though as substitutes Tommy Foley (two frees) and Alan Tobin added scores to reduce the gap to the minimum.
Full-forward John Ryan added his third point for the Rapps as the sides were level in the last quarter (1-12 each).