Duffry defeat closest rivals
Ten-point gap in local derby
DUFFRY ROVERS 0-21 M’TOWN-C’RELL 0-11
WORD ON the grapevine around The Hollow before this game had it that a tasty local derby was in prospect at Bellefield between Duffry Rovers and neighbours Marshalstown-Castledockrell.
Instead, as it turned out, the Top Oil Intermediate ‘A’ hurling Group A spoils went the way of the Duffry with the minimum of fuss by a tenpoint margin.
The winners simply set about their business in a low-key manner and compiled an adequate tally without ever really thrilling the attendance at the Saturday night rumble in Bellefield.
Meanwhile, their opponents - many of them former comrades at combined under-age level - set about firing the most miserable series of blanks.
They had just four points from play in the hour, otherwise depending on the free-taking of Diarmuid Doyle, with just one of the four during a tame second-half.
The losers chalked up more wides than scores on a dry evening when the wind posed no obvious problem.
The first-half was in part a duel between the two teenaged number 15s - Cian Watchorn for Rovers and Doyle for Marshalstown-Castledockrell.
Both youngsters showed enterprise on the ball and both were entrusted with striking the frees.
When Doyle galloped up the left flank to pick off an excellent point, it appeared that a real contest was in prospect.
It was not to be, as he failed to repeat the dose while his opposite number showed a more consistent ability to score from open play.
The eventual victors had more variety of effective point-takers, with defenders such as Gavin Watchorn and a midfielder such as Thomas Dunne not afraid to join in.
By the time Anthony Tobin blew the final whistle, they had ten different players on the scoresheet - compared with four for out of sorts Marshalstown-Castledockrell.
With Paul Nolan mopping up in the half-back line, the Duffry had more than enough to see off rivals who have yet to record a win in this season’s championship.
The contest was still potentially live at half-time when the board showed 0-11 to 0-6, but going 18 minutes in the second-half without a point allowed Rovers out of sight and on their way to a third win on the trot.
Duffry Rovers: Stephen Watchorn; John Dunne, Donie Doyle, James Nolan; Aidan Byrne (0-1), Paul Nolan (01), Gavin Watchorn (0-1); Cathal Clince (0-2), Thomas Dunne (0-1); Johnny Flynn-O’Connor (0-1), Eamonn Doyle, Liam Pender (0-2); Robert Frayne (02), Alan O’Neill (0-4), Cian Fitzhenry (0-6, 4 frees). Subs. - Donie O’Connor for Fitzhenry (52), Craig Casey for J. Dunne (53).
Marshalstown-Castledockrell: Mark Brennan; John Frayne, Darragh Kehoe, Tom Bennett; David O’Connor, Colm Bennett (0-1 free), Mark Morris; Michael Morris, Eoin Bennett (0-1); Diarmuid Doyle (0-7, 6 frees), Michael Kinsella (0-2), James Farrell; Adam Harte, James Finn, Mark Kehoe. Subs. - Michael Kelly for M. Kehoe (32), Richard Ormonde for T. Bennett (49).
Referee: Anthony Tobin (Geraldine O’Hanrahans).