HWH-Bunclody on song in derby

HWH-BUNCLODY ASKAMORE

HWH-BUNCLODY were in flying form as they completely overpowered Askamore with an impressive display to claim their third consecutive win in The Courtyard Ferns Intermediate hurling championship Group B in Bellefield on Monday of last week.

This game got off to a lightning start, as the scoreboard read 1-6 to 0-4 after ten minutes in favour of Bunclody.

Seán Kenny played some inspirational stuff at centre-back, while Billy and Eoin Kelly picked off some tidy scores including a goal from the latter after a long pass from the former.

Askamore found scores from Conor Levingstone, Seán Kirwan and James Byrne, but looked to be struggling to keep up with their opponents.

This was confirmed over the next 15 minutes as the men from the Half Way hit four more points, including two monsters from Kenny, and added their second goal thanks to an excellently-struck Aidan Nolan penalty.

Nolan and Kenny then traded scores with James Byrne to leave their side seven ahead at the break.

Things were looking bleak for Askamore, but they came out hungry for scores in the second-half, with Podge and James Byrne trading points with the deadly-accurate Billy Kelly on three occasions.

But things began to slip away from them as Bunclody hit the next five scores thanks to Tadhg, Eoin and Billy Kelly, Aidan Nolan and Eddie Black.

The only glimmer of hope Askamore could muster came from a Shane Tomkins goal from a 20-metre free with eight minutes remaining.

But, it was only a glimmer, as Bunclody finished off the game in style with points from Aidan Nolan, Billy Kelly and another from the peerless Seán Kenny, and goals from Kevin Dunne and Eddie Black whose sublime ground-stroke hit the top corner for the perfect finish to a near-perfect team performance.

HWH-Bunclody now sit on full points while Askamore are still in search of an all-important second win.

HWH-Bunclody: Arthur O’Neill; Conor Crean, Colm Farrell, David Reck; Enda Slevin, Seán Kenny (0-4), John Dunne; Aidan Nolan (1-3, 1-0 pen.), Billy Kelly (0-8, 6 frees); Eddie Dunbar, Eoin Kelly (1-2), Eddie Black (1-3); Cathal Doyle (0-1), Peter Atkinson, Tadhg Kelly (0-1). Subs. - Kevin Dunne (1-0) for Doyle, Joe Kavanagh for Slevin, Matty Byrne for Reck, James Moorhead for J. Dunne.

Askamore: Darragh Kinsella; Tom Byrne, Frank Lancaster, Martin Hayden; Garrett O’Connor, James Lancaster, Colm Buttle; Ted Kinsella (0-1), Shane Tomkins (1-0 free); Seán Kirwan (0-1), Podge Byrne (0-1), Gavin Sunderland; James Byrne (0-8 frees), Conor Levingstone (0-1), P.J. Nolan (0-1). Subs. - Edmond Kenny (0-1) for F. Lancaster, Conor Travers for Kinsella, Peter O’Neill for Hayden, Billy Nolan (0-1) for P. Byrne.

Referee: David O’Leary (Rathnure).