Cushinstown deliver goods after interval

R’GAROGUE-C’TOWN 2-13 ASKAMORE 2-8

RATHGAROGUE-CUSHINSTOWN booked their semi-final spot in the Permanent TSB Junior ‘B’ hurling championship with the help of a strong second period in O’Kennedy Park, New Ross, on Saturday.

With the sides tied at the interval, the New Ross District champions produced the superior performance after the re-start to get the better of the Gorey District runners-up.

The game, and the rate of scoring, started in relatively slow fashion, with the half-time scoreboard reading just 1-3 to 0-6.

Rathgarogue-Cushinstown probably shaded early proceedings, without the scoreline showing evidence of it. A Peter Aspel treble, Aaron Ryan double and Shane O’Connor single was matched by Askamore.

John Kavanagh and Frank Boggan pointed before Seán Kirwan beat his marker and placed into the net past the onrushing Fionn Slattery. Kirwan added another before the break to ensure the sides went in level.

James O’Brien pointed twice in quick succession after the re-start, but Askamore then went a full 15 minutes without a score.

Rathgarogue-Cushinstown used this window to fire themselves into a sizeable lead. Aspel pointed prior to Mark Carroll evading one tackle before placing low into the net. James Devereux then added points in between a similar Ryan effort.

Colin Whelan had the ball in the net for Rathgarogue-Cushinstown again, courtesy of some good work by John James Carroll, before Askamore scored again (2-10 to 1-6).

Kirwan smashed into the net for the north county side but it all seemed too little, too late at that stage.

James Devereux answered two more Askamore points, through Danny Nolan and Boggan, with three of his own as Rathgarogue-Cushinstown closed out a five-point win.

Rathgarogue-Cushinstown: Fionn Slattery; Colm Murphy, Paul Murphy, John O’Keeffe; Shane Kelly, Francis O’Brien, Ian Kennedy; John Bolger, Peter Aspel (0-4 frees); Aaron Ryan (0-3), James Devereux (0-5, 4 frees), Patrick Barron; Shane O’Connor (0-1), Mark Carroll (1-0), Colin Whelan (1-0). Subs. - John James Carroll for Barron (44), Liam Roche for Kelly (48), James Bolger for Whelan (56).

Askamore: David Owens; Garrett O’Connor, Raymond Lancaster, Tomás Kenny, Peter O’Neill, Fionn Fortune, John Kavanagh (0-1); Jamie Quinn, Paul Browne; Seán Bookey, John Harte, James O’Brien (0-3); Conor O’Brien, Frank Boggan (0-2 frees), Seán Kirwan (2-1). Subs. - Eoin Murphy for Browne (31), Michael Murphy for Harte (31), Jim Sharry for Bookey (42), Ciarán Lancaster for C. O’Brien (42), Danny Nolan (0-1) for Quinn (53).

Referee: Michael Gannon (Horeswood).