Avondale in command
Arklow Rock Parnells suffer a heavy defeat
AVONDALE ARKLOW ROCKS 2-19 0-02
AVONDALE played host to old rivals Arklow Rock Parnells for this Leinster Hurling League quarter-final on Thursday last.
This game was played on a beautiful summer evening on a carpet of a hurling sod.
Unfortunately, the contest never really got off the ground as Avondale proved way too strong for the Arklow side.
They scored a total of 21 scores and could afford the luxury of 22 wides. In contrast, Arklow Rocks had two scores and eight wides.
In the first half, Avondale scored eight points from Paul Gahan (2), Eugene Heffernan (2), Niall Heffernan (2), Eanna Owens and Carl Phelan.
This steady flow of points was interrupted only once when Cormac Whitmore pointed a free for the Arklow man on the quarter hour mark.
Down by 0-8 to 0-1 at the break, the visitors needed to make a quick impact early in the second period.
They had six wides in the first half and needed to get on the scoreboard early.
If the game was not over at half-time, it certainly was by 10 minutes into the second half. Avondale had scored a further two goals and three points with both goals coming from Eanna Owens in the seventh and tenth minutes.
From here on it was one way traffic with Jim Doyle, the Heffer- nans, Paul Gahan, Eanna Owens and substitute Cathal Doyle adding on the points.
Cormac Whitmore had the Rocks only point of the half when he converted a ‘65’ in the first minute, but that was that.
The Arklow full-back line was under continuous pressure and did very well in keeping the goals out but they could do little about the points scored from outfield. Martin Gilbert in the corner was prominent all through.
Perhaps they hit a bad night but Arklow Rocks look to have a lot of work to do if they are to be competitive in the Intermediate Hurling Championship later in the year. While Avondale have come down from Senior ranks it does not totally explain the big gap between the teams on this occasion.
Scorers - Avondale: Eanna Owens 2-3, Eugene Heffernan 0-3, Jim Doyle 0-3, Paul Gahan 0-4, Niall Heffernan 0-4, Carl Phelan 0-1, Cathal Doyle 0-1.
Arklow Rock Parnells: Cormac Whitmore 0-2.
Ray Nolan; Wesley O’Toole, Conor Sheehan, Anto Toole; Jim Doyle, Eugene Dunne, Keith Byrne; Shane Byrne, Dan Owens; Carl Phelan, Eugene Heffernan, Niall Heffernan; Craig Byrne, Paul Gahan, Eanna Owens. Subs: Cathal Doyle, Dermot Phelan.
Arklow Rock Parnells: Brian O’Leary; Martin Gilbert, Eamon Doyle, Jimmy Dignam; Tyrone Byrne, Tony Kinsella, Sean Somers; Cian Doyle, John Furlong; Oladh Redmond, Conor Doyle, Kevin Reilly; Jason Redmond, John Cushe, Cormac Whitmore. Subs: John Foxton, Chris Kavanagh. John Keenan (Aughrim).