Goals give Bannow edge
TWO second-half goals helped Bannow-Ballymitty secure second spot and a place in the quarter-final as a result of this decisive eightpoint victory over Buffers Alley in their Permanent TSB Junior hurling championship Group A game in Bellefield on Friday.
The outcome was decided in the second-half as the eventual winners struck for those two goals to create some comfort between themselves and their opponents whose solitary goal arrived late on, far too late to alter the result.
Once the winners found their rhythm they took the initiative in the second-half, with their hurling far improved when compared to the opening 30 minutes, and they ran out comfortable enough winners in the end.
In a very close opening half, little separated the sides despite Bannow-Ballymitty having enjoyed a goal inside three minutes when David Currid finished to the net after a pass from Pat Fitzharris.
But with Owen Dempsey and John Furlong responding with points for the Alley, just one point (1-2 to 0-4) separated the sides at the end of the opening quarter.
Dempsey’s pointed frees kept the Alley in contention, while Mark Wallace and Pat Fitzharris were both on target for the opposition, leaving the sides level (1-5 to 0-8) at the interval.
The second-half opened with an exchange of points between Gary Morton and Domhnall McArdle, while the sides were still deadlocked (1-7 to 0-10) after 40 minutes.
Then one minute later Pat Fitzharris gained possession to the right of goal and finished with a low shot to the net.
And when Donal McLoughlin found the net with a ground shot nine minutes from the end, the winners had stormed into a 3-10 to 0-10 lead.
With Fitzharris firing over two further points, it was a case of damage limitation now for the Alley, but their only response was a late Keith Burke goal.
With both sides through to the quarter-finals, further improvement will be sought by the respective managements if they are to have a real say in the title destination.
Bannow-Ballymitty: Kevin Doyle; John Mernagh, John O’Leary, Anthony Murphy; Nicky Doyle, Arthur Sweetman, Conor Furlong; Mark Wallace (0-6), Niall Harney; Richie Walsh, David Currid (1-0), Micheál Murphy (0-1); Donal McLoughlin (1-0), Pat Fitzharris (1-4, 0-3 frees), Gary Morton (0-2). Subs. - Alan Barden for McLoughlin, Gary Jordan for Morton, Mark Colfer for Currid, Eddie Dermody for Walsh.
Buffers Alley: Darren O’Brien; Paudie Kinsella, Alan Doyle, Colm Og Doran; Conor Kenny, Paul Doran, Matty Cardiff; Jim Hughes, Owen Dempsey (0-4, 2 frees); Domhnall McArdle (0-1), Keith Burke (1-1), John Furlong (0-2); Kevin O’Leary (0-1), Walter Gahan (0-1), Lee Murphy. Subs. - Aaron Redmond for P. Doran, James Foley (0-1) for Murphy, Lee Murphy for Furlong, Doran for Hughes, Jack Butler for O’Leary.
Referee: Ian Plunkett (Marshalstown-Castledockrell).