Kenny superb as Bunclody run riot
HWH-BUNCLODY 4-20 CRAANFORD 0-11
HWH-BUNCLODY outlined their undoubted potential in St. Patrick’s Park, Enniscorthy, on Sunday when they cruised to a commanding 21-point victory over a limited Craanford side in this one-sided The Courtyard Ferns Intermediate hurling championship Group B opener.
Two goals near the end of the first quarter knocked the stuffing out of the Gorey District side, and the result was never in doubt thereafter as the eventual winners went on to lead by 2-6 to 0-7 at half-time.
And while county player Aidan Nolan showed some lovely flashes of skill, including a point from a line ball and a series of astute passes, in truth he didn’t need to be at his very best because so many of his colleagues came up with the goods.
Full-back Colm Farrell dealt with the aerial threat of Matthew ‘Wheeler’ Nolan early on, while Seán Kenny was majestic at centre-back throughout and capped a man of the match display with three second-half points from play.
Billy and Eoin Kelly were a constant thorn in Craanford’s side too, while ace opportunist Peter Atkinson underlined what he does best by grabbing three goals.
An interesting sub-plot to the game was the involvement of Oulart-The Ballagh colleagues Kevin Kennedy and Paul Dempsey as opposing trainers.
Dempsey’s Craanford charges had first use of the wind and led by 0-3 to nil after seven minutes courtesy of Michael O’Loughlin, John Fleming and free-taker Kevin Poole.
However, it all went wrong for them once Billy Kelly opened HWH-Bunclody’s account from a free in the tenth minute, and the losers ended with a paltry four points to their name from play.
The victors’ first goal arrived in the 13th minute, with Eoin Kelly soloing in from the left and driving a low shot to the far corner of Derek Finn’s net.
That strike gave them the lead for the first time (1-2 to 0-3), and they were never headed thereafter.
Goal number two arrived less than 90 seconds later, with Peter Atkinson doing very well to bring down Aidan Nolan’s delivery with his hurl before pulling one-handed to the net.
Nolan struck a glorious point from a sweet Seán Kenny pass in the 22nd minute, and the only real question at half-time was how much would HWH-Bunclody win by given that they led by 2-6 to 0-7 with use of the elements still to come.
And they showed absolutely no mercy, with the third and fourth goals arriving in the 44th and 48th minutes as Peter Atkinson completed his hat-trick.
A Kevin Dunne handpass set him up to make it 3-13 to 0-9 with a shot off his left side, and he then batted home from close range after Dunne and Eoin Kelly initially linked up after a dangerous Seán Kenny delivery.
HWH-Bunclody: Art O’Neill; David Reck, Colm Farrell, Joe Kavanagh; Conor Crean, Seán Kenny (0-3), Martin O’Connor; Billy Kelly (0-9, 5 frees, 1 ‘65), John Dunne; Eoin Kelly (1-0), Eddie Dunbar, Aidan Nolan (capt., 0-3, 1 line ball); Peter Atkinson (3-2), Kevin Dunne (0-2), Tadhg Kelly. Sub. - Conor Hendrick (0-1) for Dunbar, inj. (5).
Craanford: Derek Finn; Jim Kenny, Pat Kenny, William Conroy; Niall Berney, Michael Lyons, Eoin Doyle; Patrick Murray, Michael Sinnott (0-1); Kevin Poole (capt., 0-7, 6 frees), Martin Doyle, Michael O’Loughlin (0-1); John Fleming (0-1), Matthew Nolan (0-1 free), John Lancaster.
Referee: Niall McDonald (Crossabeg-Ballymurn).