Buffers Alley march on

BUFFERS ALLEY secured their place in the Permanent TSB Junior hurling championship quarter-finals after a 2-14 to 2-11 Group A victory over Bannow-Ballymitty at floodlit Hollymount on Friday.

The Monamolin-based men needed a point to be sure of their involvement in the knockout stages, and set out their stall straight from the throw-in when Paul Doyle lashed over 23 seconds in.

Conor Furlong’s crossfield pass set up Nicky Doyle for a nice Bannow-Ballymitty score on eight minutes, but the seasiders were too reliant on Doyle and the assured free-taking of Gary Jordan over the hour.

Paul Doyle picked off another point for the victors, but Jordan’s ‘65 had Bannow-Ballymitty 0-4 to 0-3 in front after 13 minutes.

However, the game’s turning point arrived three minutes later when Bannow-Ballymitty’s defence had set themselves up for Jim Hughes to tap over a straightforward free. But the veteran attacker had other ideas as he instead went for goal, and though his effort was pushed out, Paul Doran was on hand to bury the rebound.

Nicky Doyle contributed arguably the score of the half with a neat effort whilst hugging the sideline, but a brace from Keith Burke and Paul Doyle’s third of the half developed a 1-8 to 0-8 interval advantage for Buffers Alley.

That lead was wiped out four minutes into the new half when Pádraig McCormack ran down the left wing and fed Doyle, who finished superbly across Tony Doran.

However, Burke stole possession two minutes later and his shot had too much venom as it beat a couple of defenders and trickled over the whitewash.

And they knocked over five of the next seven points, including white flags from play from Burke, Kevin O’Leary and Jamie Dempsey-Doyle, to develop daylight (2-13 to 1-10) with full-time fast approaching.

Bannow-Ballymitty, already consigned to the relegation de- cider before the sliothar was thrown-in, gained a late lifeline when Niall Harney’s shank from the 45-metre line scudded off the surface and nestled in the net, but Buffers Alley held on to make it three wins from five outings and will now face St. Mary’s (Rosslare) in the quarter-final.

Bannow-Ballymitty’s opponents in the relegation decider are next door neighbours Clongeen.

Buffers Alley: Tony Doran; Paudie Kinsella, Alan Doyle, John Furlong; Lee Murphy, Domhnall McArdle, Colm Óg Doran; Darragh Hammel, Kevin O’Leary (0-1); Jamie DempseyDoyle (0-1), Jim Hughes (0-4 frees), Darragh Butler (capt.); Paul Doyle (0-3), Keith Burke (1-4, 0-1 free), Paul Doran (1-1). Sub. - Leonard Lacey for P. Doran (59).

Bannow-Ballymitty: Kevin Doyle; Jaydee Cahill, John O’Leary, David White; Conor Furlong, Art Sweetman, Robert Cogley; Niall Harney (1-0), Nicky Doyle (1-2); Gary Jordan (0-8, 6 frees, 1 ‘65), David Currid, Pádraig McCormack; James Crosbie, Gary Morton, Keith Gaul. Subs. - Richie Walsh (0-1) for Gaul (HT), Eddie Dermody for Crosbie (41), Joe Sinnott for Currid (60+3).

Referee: Damien Donovan (Volunteers).