Impressive hurling
Arklow Rocks/Avondale beat Bray to claim ‘B’ crown
ROCKS/AVONDALE BRAY EMMETS 5-18 1-6
ARKLOW ROCKS/AVONDALE followed up their gallant performance against the now county ‘A’ champions Michael Dwyers in the semi-final with a superb showing in the Minor ‘B’ hurling final when they dispatched a willing and capable Bray Emmets side by 5-18 to 1-6 in a sunny Ballinakill last Sunday morning.
A powerhouse of a shift from midfielder Torna Mulconry and an attacking masterclass from PJ O’Connor were two of the key factors for the merged side in this handsome victory, with O’Connor returning a hefty 3-11 for his day’s work in front of the Bray goal.
The score line suggests a total rout, but that would be unfair to Bray Emmets who performed very well in parts and were still well within the game albeit trailing by six when Liam Somers and Dara O’Shea landed the killer blows with two majors at the end of the third quarter.
It’s something of an injustice to Bray goalkeeper Luan Roddy that five goals went past him as the netminder was very impressive early on, especially under the high ball where he looked flawless. There was little he could do for any of the late goals.
The Bray lads got offf to a very promising start and led 1-0 to 0-1 after Oscar Harty goaled not long after PJ O’Connor had notched the first of his impressive haul from a free.
It wasn’t long before Arklow Rocks/Avondale were leading after points from O’Connor (2) and Shane Brown but a pointed free from Brian Nesbitt left things all square after an evenly contested opening.
An outstanding PJ O’Connor point from out near the sideline and a massive score from Mulconrey left Arklow Rocks/Avondale up by two with Bray starting to struggle ever so slightly but two excellent Brian Nesbitt points (one free) drew Bray back level.
Luan Roddy earned his keep in the next few moments when he first plucked a high ball out of the heavens and then pulled off a great save from Liam Somers.
Arklow Rocks/Avondale owned the remainder of the opening half and went in leading by 0-11 to 1-3 with Bray Emmets having it all to do in the second half if they were to resuce this ‘B’ decider.
A Peter Aherne point from play and a Brian Nesbitt free was all they had to show for their troubles early on as Arklow Rocks/Avondale surged into a 0-14 to 1-5 lead and then the game was more or less decided in a flash with majors from Somers and Dara O’Shea with 12 gone in the second half.
PJ O’Connor’s first goal made it 3-17 to 1-5 and Bray’s final score arrived in the 26th minute from Jamie Ryan before the hugely impressive O’Connor finished with two more majors to complete an emphatic victory for Arklow Rocks/ Avondale.
The high-scoring corner-forward might be wondering how a man who scores 3-11 doesn’t end up with the Man of the Match award but the work rate and creativity of Torna Mulconry was what swung it for the midfielder on the day.
Bray Emmets were well served by the impressive Brian Nessbitt, the excellent Luan Roddy and Adam Bushe.
– Arklow Rocks/Avondale: PJ O’Connor 3-11, Torna Mulconry 0-4, Liam Somers 1-0,
Scorers
Dara O’Shea 1-0, Jason Breen 1-0, Shane Brown 0-1.
Bray Emmets: Brian Nesbitt 0-4 (3f), Oscar Harty 1-0, Peter Aherne 0-1, Jamie Ryan 0-1.
ARKLOW ROCKS/AVONDALE:
Daniel O’Reilly; Liam Murphy, Darren Reilly, Shane Arthur; Conor Gahan, Dylan Byrne, Ross Kenny; Shane Brown, Torna Mulconry; Oisin Kelly, John Toomey, Jordan Kelly; Dara O’Shea, Liam Somers, PJ O’Connor: Subs: Jason Breen, Matt Curran, Casey Doyle, Adam Farrell, Cathal Byrne, Dara Furlong.
BRAY EMMETS:
Luan Roddy; Simon Mahon, Aaron O’Rourke, Daniel Flavin; Tadgh McCarthy, Adam Bushe, Eoin Holmes; Tim Harrington, Peter Aherne; Cathal Doran, Rory Mulchahy, Jamie Ryan; Brian Nesbitt, Connor Maher, Oscar Harty. Subs: Nathan Prunty, Rian Mac Maoláin, Conor Goggin.
REFEREE:
Eddie Leonard (St Patrick’s)