O’Hanlon’s the four-goal hero
Horeswood sweep to summit
MICHAEL O’HANLON was the four-goal hero as Horeswood leapt to the summit of the Permanent TSB Junior hurling championship Group B table in Hollymount on Friday.
The quartet of majors all came in a rip-roaring second-half, that saw the New Ross District side screech clear and book a last eight spot opposite the winners of the re-arranged Group A clash between Clongeen and Davidstown-Courtnacuddy which was due to be played last night (Monday).
There was no evidence of the drama that was to follow in a fairly mundane first-half. The sides felt each other out in the opening quarter as they meandered to a 0-4 apiece tie, but things started to liven up when Dean Fenlon pulled to the net in the 18th minute.
The goal seemed to anger Horeswood and it took them mere seconds to level the game for the fifth time, courtesy of a Seán Nolan goal after O’Hanlon’s initial shot was blocked. The eventual victors went on to lead by one point at the break (1-6 to 1-5).
O’Hanlon registered early minors after the change of ends and his side were never caught. He grabbed his first major in the 39th minute with a controlled finish and added a second early in the final quarter to give Horeswood a 3-11 to 1-7 lead.
Bertie Gahan scrambled the ball over the line at the other end but O’Hanlon quickly completed his hat-trick. Every time Monageer-Boolavogue got within touching distance, like they did after James Sweeney netted in the 59th minute, O’Hanlon responded in kind. Seán McCabe rounded out the second-half goals but it was too little, too late for his side.
While Horeswood have a quarter-final in their future, things are not as rosy for Monageer-Boolavogue. The season is over for their second string, after a fifth place finish in the group, but they will play Junior hurling again next season.
Horeswood: Eoin Mythen; Eamonn O’Sullivan, Shane O’Hanlon, David Larkin (0-1); Danny Byrne, Barry Hearn, David Murphy; Paddy Murphy (0-1), Seán Stafford (0-1); Declan Murphy (capt., 0-3, 1 free), Leigh O’Brien (0-2), Seán Nolan (1-2); David O’Shea (0-1), Michael O’Hanlon (4-3, 0-1 free), Jim Wall. Subs. - Dylan Whitty for Wall (47), Ivan Kehoe for O’Shea (50), Tomás Kent for O’Brien (58).
Monageer-Boolavogue: Morgan Gahan; Paddy Walsh (capt.), Ray O’Brien, Lee McHale; Stephen Lacey, Paddy Breen, Robbie Donnelly; Seán McCabe (1-1), Ciarán Rochford; Dean Fenlon (1-0), Shane Kehoe, Bertie Gahan (1-6, 0-6 frees); Adrian O’Dowd (0-1), Niall Finn, James Sweeney (1-0). Subs. - Adrian O’Loughlin for Finn (45), Tomás O’Leary for O’Dowd (57), Daire Walsh for Fenlon (59).
Referee: Philip Murphy (Faythe Harriers).