Bunclody run riot
Six-goal haul ends Gusserane’s bid
HWH-BUNCLODY GUSSERANE 6-9 0-9
THE GOAL-DEN boots of Half Way House-Bunclody proved too much for Gusserane to repel in the New Ross Standard Under-13 football Division 2 shield final in St. Patrick’s Park, Enniscorthy, recently.
The Enniscorthy District club had the pace and power of Jack Reck, the cunning football of Jimmy Connors, and the finishing ability of Mylie Moorehouse.
Throw in a bunch of willing providers and a strong defence, and that’s the perfect recipe for success.
While HWH-Bunclody had the spearing weapons to cut Gusserane open at times, the Ballycullane boys should take great heart from their own footballing ability. They were tidy and compact in their play, worked tirelessly, and will catch up in the physicality stakes.
They actually took a 0-2 to nil lead on the back of a couple of classy Darren Rossiter points, and could have had a goal in there too.
Oisín Regan was forced to make an excellent save from Davie Murphy as HWH-Bunclody took a little while to settle.
When they did get into gear they did their work in patches. Jimmy Connors was first to show his quality, scoring their opening point before soloing through to net the game’s first goal in the seventh minute.
After Connors made it 1-2 to 0-2, Moorehouse had a moment.
He broke through to force the ball past Dylan Barry and, after a couple of Rossiter frees at the other end, he kicked a tidy point to increase the lead further.
At 2-3 to 0-4 the game was in the balance approaching the interval, but the three minutes before the break and the first 15 seconds after settled this final.
After scoring a ‘45, Reck slalomed through the defence to rattle the net.
That was immediately followed by Desmond O’Connor firing home a fourth HWH-Bunclody goal at the second attempt, after an initial save by Barry.
With his club 4-4 to 0-4 ahead at the break, Reck caught the throwin at the start of the second-half and ran all the way through for a major.
The game settled down after that, and Rossiter kept tapping over the frees for a Gusserane side which was having more of the ball.
Shane Cleary also scored a nice point as his team ended the third quarter 5-6 to 0-7 in arrears.
After a second Oisín O’Leary free, Moorehouse got his second goal while Reck and Connors also added late minors to see HWH-Bunclody safely home with the shield in their possession.
HWH-Bunclody: Oisín Regan; Rian O’Leary, Aaron Whiting (capt.), Cian Raleigh; Seán Dunbar, Desmond O’Connor (1-0), Luke Regan; Paddy Scott, Adam Dunne; Ryan Kavanagh, Jack Reck (2-3, 0-1 free, 0-1 ‘45), Oisín O’Leary (0-2 frees); Oscar Cowman, Jimmy Connors (1-3), Mylie Moorehouse (2-1). Subs. (rolling) - Conal Smith, James Rothwell, Noah Hughes, Josh Kearns, Adam Tully, Conor Kehoe.
Gusserane: Dylan Barry; Aidan Barton, Mark Ryan, Michael Rossiter; KyleReville,MichaelKent,NoahStapleton; Steven Walsh, Adam Ryan; Mitch Cullen, Darren Rossiter (0-8, 6 frees), Shane Cleary (0-1); Davie Murphy, Tommy Joe Furlong, Fionn Costello. Subs. (rolling) - Jason Ryan, Anthony McCillen, Seán Óg Moore, Jonathan Jenkins, Joe Symes, Neil Gallagher.
Referee: John Carton (Monageer-Boolavogue).