Vibrant Anne’s advance with ease

ST. ANNE’S NAOMH EANNA 2-17 1-6

VIBRANT ST. Anne’s set up an interesting Permanent TSB Junior ‘B’ hurling championship decider with Rathnure after they comfortably overcame the challenge of Naomh Eanna in Sunday’s semi-final, with the Rathangan-based side winning at Hollymount by 2-17 to 1-6.

With a number of players boasting years of experience of Senior hurling in their ranks, St. Anne’s sprung out of the traps as Seamus Mythen split the posts straight after throwin, and Andy Kennedy and Dylan O’Brien clipped over quick additions inside the first two minutes.

The prominent Jess Codd made it 0-4 to nil after being picked out by Mythen, before Michael Murphy opened Naomh Eanna’s account from two frees by the end of the first quarter.

Codd responded with a nice point after catching Shane Mythen’s re-start from the latter of those placed balls.

Michael O’Brien added another, while Kyle Kennedy flighted over after making inroads out of the left corner to expand the lead to 0-7 to 0-2 by the 19th minute.

But there was a degree of fortune connected to the goal that left St. Anne’s in a commanding position at the break, as Dylan O’Brien’s underhit point attempt was spilled by John Kehoe, and David Kavanagh was on hand to nudge the loose sliothar to the net from close range.

Kyle Kennedy and Murphy (free) swapped points, while an excellent catch from Codd and a finish to match helped St. Anne’s into a 1-10 to 0-3 lead at the interval.

Mythen pointed again straight from the throw-in in a replica of the first-half, while Dylan O’Brien also found the range early after the break. Gorey were given a brief lifeline on 32 minutes when Cillian Donohoe handpassed to Eddie O’Brien-Murphy who rattled the net with a first-time swipe.

However, St. Anne’s responded with their game-killing second goal two minutes later, with Paddy Miskella doing the initial spadework before Dylan O’Brien swept to the far top corner with a brilliant strike (2-12 to 1-4).

And it was plain sailing for the Wexford District representatives thereafter, with substitute Brian Kavanagh pointing on his introduction along with Kyle Kennedy (two), Miskella and Codd as they won with 14 points to spare.

St. Anne’s: Shane Mythen; Vincent Carroll, Niall Doyle (capt.), Jim Ryan; Barry Roche, Seamus Mythen (0-2), Paul McDonnell; Michael O’Brien (0-1), Andy Kennedy (0-1); Jess Codd (0-4), Dylan O’Brien (1-2), Paddy Miskella (0-1); David Kavanagh (1-1), Francis Simpson, Kyle Kennedy (0-4). Subs. - Gavin O’Brien for Ryan, temp. (4-9), Brian Kavanagh (0-1) for D. O’Brien (36), Conor Ryan for Simpson (52), Philip Rawson for Miskella (55), Gavin O’Brien for J. Ryan (57), Andrew Walsh for Carroll (59).

Naomh Eanna: John Kehoe; Seán Dowling, Brian Sunderland, Cian Kenny; Cathal Stokes, Kevin Harrington (0-1), Micheál Kennedy; James Byrne, Jack Molloy; Larry Cullen, Michael Murphy (0-5 frees), Barry Levingston; Eddie O’Brien-Murphy (1-0), Mikey Cushe, Eoghan Kennedy. Subs. - Cillian Donohoe for Cullen, inj. (HT), Patrick Dwyer (capt.) for Cushe (38), Martin O’Donnell for Molloy (39), Michael Kehoe for Byrne (55).

Referee: Jack Stafford (Clongeen).