Vital win for Craanford
CRAANFORD gave themselves a fighting chance of avoiding the dreaded relegation final with a vital 2-11 to 1-12 victory over fellow strugglers Shamrocks in Sunday afternoon’s rather low-key The Courtyard Ferns Intermediate Hurling Championship fourth round clash at St. Patrick’s Park.
Even after this result, it isn’t out of the realms of possibility that both these sides, together with Askamore, could end up in a three-way tie on two points each, with score-difference then a major factor in determining whose championship extends beyond the group stages.
Three frees from Ollie Doran had helped Craanford gain early ascendancy, but that was wiped out on twenty minutes when the dangerous Sean Wildes swept to the net after his initial effort was well saved by Andrew Tighe (1-3 to 0-4).
However, the Gorey district men responded positively to that set-back as a fourth Doran free preceded Matthew Nolan linking up with Patrick Murray and James Smyth before picking his spot in the top corner of the net to open up a useful 1-6 to 1-4 lead at half-time.
A Bob Jacob free had the difference down to the minimum scarcely forty seconds into the new half, but Craanford struck for their ever-important second goal on 32 minutes when Michael O’Loughlin hooked goalkeeper Jamie Dagg and the ball dropped over the line.
But they didn’t score again for thirteen minutes as instead the Vinegar Hill men battled strongly for parity.
John O’Connor peeled out of attention before registering a neat point, and equilibrium was restored on 43 minutes when Bob Jacob knocked over another free (2-6 to 1-9).
Back came Craanford though, as a brace from Doran (one free) and a point from Nolan after been fed by Smyth again opened up 2-9 to 1-9 cushion.
Shamrocks were perhaps over- ly reliant on the free-taking of Jacob, and he converted two more to keep his side in contention, but counter-punches from Doran (free) and Michael Lyons over his shoulder ensured that Craanford hung on to claim their first win of the campaign.
They currently possess the worse score difference in the group (-31), so will be hoping that Askamore do them a favour in beating Shamrocks in the final round.
Craanford: Andrew Tighe; Joe Berney (0-1), Pat Kenny, Michael Sinnott; William Conroy, Michael Lyons (0-1), Eoin Doyle (0-1); Jim Kenny, Patrick Murray; Ollie Doran (0-7, six frees), Niall Berney, Michael O’Loughlin (1-0); Ger Lyons, Matthew Nolan (1-1), James Smyth. Sub: Des Kavanagh for Ger Lyons (49).
Shamrocks: Jamie Dagg; Barry Dobbs, George Jacob, Anthony Wallace; Lar McDonald, Brandon O’Connor, Emmet Quirke; Harry Goff, Bob Jacob (0-6 frees); Philip Freeman, Sean Wildes (1-2, one sideline cut), Jim Jacob; John O’Connor (0-2), Jack Moorehouse (0-2), Maurice Casey. Subs: Podge Doyle for Goff (18), Cyril Thorpe for Jim Jacob (46).
Referee: John O’Loughlin (Monageer-Boolavogue)