Whitty points way
Cloughbawn capture District crown
CLOUGHBAWN HOLLOW ROVERS
EIGHT POINTS from Paddy Whitty helped Cloughbawn to claim the Greenstar Enniscorthy District Under-20 Roinn 1 football championship title, as they saw off Hollow Rovers in convincing fashion in St. Patrick’s Park on Saturday.
The impressive full-forward was instrumental in his side’s victory, with his accurate point-taking a highlight of this affair.
This was especially evident in the opening half, with the county Minor hurler kicking six points in a period that the eventual winners completely dominated.
The opening exchanges were somewhat lack-lustre, with three points from Whitty the only scores in the first quarter.
But Cloughbawn, who were already controlling the majority of play, put themselves completely in the driving seat when they hit a further 2-4 before the break.
Whitty accounted for three minors, with help from Conor Flood, before Ryan Murphy struck their first goal, hitting a rocket from 25 yards that found the net after striking the underside of the crossbar.
Hollow Rovers were struggling at this stage but had a chance to claw themselves back into things when they were awarded a penalty kick after Gearóid Doyle was pulled down.
An excellent save from Jack Feeney kept them at bay though, and their sole point of the half minutes later did very little to raise their spirits, especially as Shane Kehoe soon put twelve points between the sides with a tidy finish to the bottom corner of the net just before the break.
In all reality, there was no doubt as to who the winner would be as there was just too much for the Rovers to do but, to their credit, they put in a solid effort in the second period.
Gearóid Doyle played a pivotal role in this and was unlucky not to find the net minutes after the break, only for another fine save by Feeney.
Cian Cowman hit two before Doyle eventually found the net midway through the half after a number of efforts were kept out by Feeney.
Stephen Kearns added two more to make the scoreboard a little better looking, but further points from Whitty and Shane Kehoe reinstated their side’s dominance, topping off a well-deserved win which sets them up for a county semi-final date with Kilrush.
Cloughbawn: Jack Feeney; Ryan Murphy (1-0), Michael Fleming, Ciarán Murphy; Daniel Dempsey, Fionn Codd, Stephen Casserly; Eanna Doyle (01), James Dempsey; Jack Fleming, Shane Kehoe (1-1), Nick Walkden; Conor Flood (0-1), Paddy Whitty (0-8, 3 frees), Dylan O’Neill. Sub. - Neil Foley for O’Neill (50).
Hollow Rovers: Conor Coleman; Jamie Roban, Mark Morris, Ken Doyle; Alan Doyle, Seamus Doyle, Jack Bates; Michael Kinsella, Barry Doyle; Cathal Roche, Gearóid Doyle (1-3, 0-2 frees), Seán McLoughlin; Cian Cowman (0-2), Ger Kinsella, Thomas Lambert. Subs. - Jack Dunne for G. Kinsella (34), Stephen Kearns (0-2) for Roche (44), Darragh O’Gorman for B. Doyle, black card (52), Aaron Smith for McLoughlin (58).
Referee: John O’Loughlin (Monageer-Boolavogue).