U13 DERBY DELIGHT
Davidstown beat Hogues in decider
A POWERFUL spine drove Davidstown-Courtnacuddy past a determined Ballyhogue side to New Ross Standard Under-13 football Division 4 championship glory in O’Kennedy Park, New Ross, on Saturday.
The Boolabawn boys fell behind early but have been brimming with confidence recently, racking up big wins.
With those successes in mind, Davidstown-Courtnacuddy were never going to panic and they were able to dominate much of the contest.
They were particularly strong down the middle.
Starting from the unmovable Seán Nicholson, through their captain for the day Ryan Whelan, into a dynamic midfield duo of Joe and Josh Doyle, they led the way with smothering performances and others followed.
In Lucas Fitzpatrick they had a consistent free-taker and a player who wasn’t afraid to take the ball into the tackle.
At the tip Brian Smith was a real livewire, with those around him always willing to make important runs to create opportunities.
Not that Davidstown-Courtnacuddy had it all their own way, as Ballyhogue came out of the blocks quickly and dominated the early exchanges.
Ben Asple was on fire in those minutes and he already had a free on the board when he accepted Adam Carney’s pass and dispatched low past Gavin O’Connor.
Odhran Kehoe and Asple popped over a score each and Ballyhogue would have been further ahead had some superb defending not denied Carney a goal chance.
However, Davidstown-Courtnacuddy slowly shed the early nerves and Brian Smith’s 15th-minute goal, from Eoin Cloke’s pass, was key to that.
Despite being under more pressure, Ballyhogue went 1-4 to 1-0 up when Asple pointed again.
Yet a sin-binning each changed the dynamic and Davidstown-Courtnacuddy took over. Smith pointed twice, Fitzpatrick registered three frees, and when the half-time whistle came to Ballyhogue’s rescue they were a point down (1-5 to 1-4).
They might not have racked up the scores, as Ballyhogue defended admirably, but Davidstown-Courtnacuddy kept pushing after the re-start.
Carney put his side two up before a Fitzpatrick brace made it 1-8 to 1-4 approaching the end of the third quarter.
A clever fist over by Páuric Doyle made the lead five but Asple replied with a free after Ballyhogue had their first sustained spell of pressure in the half.
They couldn’t maintain that momentum and it was fitting that Fitzpatrick finished off the scoring with a late brace to see Davidstown-Courtnacuddy to the Division 4 title.
Davidstown-Courtnacuddy: Gavin O’Connor; Jamie Wickham, Seán Nicholson, Conor Hassey; Bill Quigley, Ryan Whelan, Fionn Andrews; Joe Doyle, Josh Doyle; Calum Murphy, Lucas Fitzpatrick (0-7 frees), Páuric Doyle (0-1); Alan Creane, Brian Smith (1-3), Eoin Cloke. Subs. (rolling) - Ciarán Delaney, Shane Jordan, Páuric Donohoe, Johnny Donohoe, Ciarán McClean, Colm O’Neill, Emlyn Sludds.
Ballyhogue: Eamon Asple; Conor O’Brien, Keith Roche, Mark Dawson; Oscar Redmond, Darragh Bates, Liam Parnell; Oisín Cloke-Rochford, Ben Asple (capt., 1-4, 0-2 frees); Odhran Kehoe (0-1), Shane Roche, Ryan McGlynn; Zach Levingston, Adam Carney, Cian McCormack. Subs. (rolling) Craig Rossiter, Daniel Cullen, Eoin Hickey, Darragh Kirwan, Tadhg Doyle, Anthony Byrne, also Keith Keshinka.
Referee: Gearóid McGrath (St. James’).