Tough victory for Bunclody
Test will stand to both sides
HWH-BUNCLODY claimed a hardearned victory against Crossabeg-Ballymurn in the battle of two sides already assured of spots in The Courtyard Ferns Intermediate Hurling Championship quarter-finals at St Patrick’s Park on Saturday afternoon.
Despite the fact that only positioning in the table was on the line, both of these teams came into the game knowing the other is a viable threat in their quest for the title. So, while this game didn’t hit fever pitch, it was played at a decent clip.
That said, realistically it’s a game that will only ever be remembered for one moment. With Crossabeg-Ballymurn leading 1-11 to 1-10 in the 44th minute, the ball slipped out of Shane O’Rourke’s possession just outside the ‘65.
Without contemplating the options Oisin Foley just swung the hurl. It was half tennis shot, half baseball swing but he connected perfectly and the sliother simply whistled through the air and whizzed over the crossbar by a couple of feet.
There was nothing as memorable about the first thirty minutes, despite it being competitive. Peter Atkinson rattled home a 5th minute major to get Bunclody off to the fast start but Barry Murphy dribbled one it at the other end to leave his side a point down after the opening quarter (1-3 to 1-2).
Both sides chipped away with points in the second quarter, with Conor Devereux and Declan Byrne both on target from deep for Ballymurn. At the other end Eoin Kelly rounded out the scoring with his second over to leave Bunclody one down at the interval (1-8 to 1-7).
The two-point lead Ballymurn had after the ridiculous Oisin Foley point was as big an advantage as they mustered all game. Their opponents hit back with five straight points after that, with Sean Kenny getting the pick of them, to move 1-15 to 1-12 ahead.
They were four clear heading into added time and could afford to leak a second Barry Murphy goal as time expired and still win by a point.
HWH-Bunclody face Adamstown in the final game knowing a loss could potentially see them surrender the top spot they just claimed back to Ballymurn. The Wexford district side will finish no worse than second should they dispatch Craanford in their last contest in Group A.
HWH-BUNCLODY: Art O’Neill; David Reck, Colm Farrell (capt., 0-1), Conor Crean; Matty Byrne, Sean Kenny (0-2), John Dunne; Billy Kelly (0-6 frees), Aidan Nolan (0-1); Edward Dunbar, Eoin Kelly (0-3), Eddie Black; Cathal Doyle (0-1), Peter Atkinson (1-1), Tadhg Kelly. Subs. - Kevin Dunne (0-1) for Doyle (31), Jason Cowman (0-1) for T. Kelly (31), James Moorehead for E. Kelly, temp (50-52), J. Moorehead for Dunne (52), Enda Slevin for Byrne (53), Joe Kavanagh for Reck (58).
CROSSABEG-BALLYMURN: Mark Dempsey (capt.); Seamus Carroll, Bill Eviston, Alan Byrne (0-1); Ronan Devereux, Paudie Foley, Conor Devereux (0-2); Niall Murphy (0-3, 2 frees), Declan Byrne (0-2); Oisin Foley (0-1), Eoghan Kehoe (0-1), Shane O’Rourke; Tony Murphy (01), Barry Murphy (2-2), David Jackman. Subs. - Martin Redmond for Kehoe (51).
REFEREE: Dan Crosby (Kilmore)