Bray knock champs out
Rochford bags a sweet 1-9
BRAY Emmets will meet North Wicklow Gaels in the final of the minor hurling championship, after reversing a late deficit to beat out Michael Dwyer’s at the end of extra-time on Saturday evening.
Dwyer’s led by a point going into the second period of the additional ten minutes, but despite piling on relentless pressure after Bray had reversed the gap, they fell victim to the elements on a windy early evening in Wicklow Town. Bray were able to hang on book their place alongside North Wicklow Gaels, who sealed their spot in the decider courtesy of a comfortable, ten-point win over Carnew Emmets the next day.
A tense, cagey opening portion of the game came alive courtesy of the clinical Gavin Rochford, who bulged the net with a shot past Adam Williamson – deputising between the sticks in place of the suspended Meitheal Cleary - for the first goal of the day. Dwyer’s responded admirably, however, with Conor Manifold answering Rochford’s goal with one of his own.
No matter what Michael Dwyer’s managed to create to trouble the Bray Emmets backline, they were being repelled by a well-structured, stubborn Emmets rearguard, with the deployment of a sweeper doing the job of curtailing Eoin Byrne at full-forward.
Meanwhile, Bray possessed the potent Gavin Rochford up the other end, racking up 1-9 as he assumed the role of tormentor-in-chief. Michael Dwyer’s did demonstrate enough resilience
and heart for the game to be brought to extra-time with the sides deadlocked at 1-12 apiece.
Playing with the wind at their backs, Michael Dwyer’s took a 1-13 to 1-12 lead into half-time of extra-time, thanks to Eoin Byrne’s score. That slender lead proved to be too tenuous for them to hold on to in the second. Instead, Bray Emmets came back and rallied to notch three scores in the second period to turn the game on its head.
Despite their best efforts, Michael Dwyer’s were unable to reverse the deficit, as Bray booked
their place in the final opposite North Wicklow Gaels.
Nathan Prunty; Luan Roddy, Fiachra Ó Dúnaí, Simon Mahon; Sean Kenny (0-1), Tim Harrington, James Byrne (0-1); Jamie Ryan, Finn Treacy (0-2); Michael Healy (0-1), Adam Prunty, Cillian Ryder; Cian Byrne (0-1), Cathal Doran, Gavin Rochford (1-9).
Adam Williamson; Charlie Chamney, Ciaran Coyne, Willie Eager; Austin Brennan, Ciaran Harmon, Jack Reid; Ben Burke (0-1), Rory Martin (0-1); Conor Manifold (1-1), Sam Gough, Jack O’Toole; Conor Richardson, Eoin Byrne (0-8), Eoin Sheridan (0-1). Subs: James Boland (0-1)
Eddie Leonard (St. Patrick’s).