Quarter-final bid reignited
Strong show from St Patrick’s
ST PATRICK’S reignited their bid for a quarter-final spot and brushed off any lingering relegation worries in the Top Oil Intermediate A Hurling Championship with a strong showing against Our Lady’s Island in St Patrick’s Park on Saturday afternoon.
The Camolin based side came into the game with just one point from three tough games to their names but now have destiny in their own hands after two pulled Tynan Flynn majors eased them to victory.
On the other hand, things are not looking good for the ‘Island. This defeat means they will be in the relegation final, regardless of the results in their final game against Shelmaliers but they will still know that one big performance will be enough to save them.
With the slight breeze at their backs the Wexford district side flew into an early lead. Liam Kinsella, Dean Maloney, Darragh Sinnott and Quinn Saunders were all on target as they flew into a 0-4 to nil lead but things quickly changed.
St Patrick’s struggled for find space in the opening half, but Tomás Morris did gobble up the opportunities to chip away with frees and five in a row, in a twenty minute spell, gave his side a 29th minute lead.
Late minors from Cian Meyler and Maloney did give the Island a slender half-time advantage (0-6 to 0-5).
They were sticking with their Gorey district opponents early in the second half and a Darragh Sinnott lineball levelled the game at eight each.
However, after Morris put his side back in front, Tynan Flynn whipped on a breaking ball in the goalmouth and flashed it past Alan Kinsella to the rigging. If that 40th minute major didn’t break Our Lady’s Island, his second, scored in similar fashion, certainly did five minutes later.
From there St Patrick’s were able to control the game, Morris, Tommy Dunne and John Doyle all added late points as they set-up an intriguing last game battle with Tara Rocks for the final qualifying spot.
ST PATRICK’S: Stuart Quinn; James Cousins, Richie Flood, Joe Cousins; Hughie Doyle (capt.), Michael O’Brien, Daryl Murphy; Peter Roche, John Doyle (0-2); Tommy Dunne (0-1), Tynan Flynn (2-0), Stephen Ryan; Tomás Morris (0-8, 6 frees), Shane Finn (0-1), Niall O’Brien. Subs. - Paul McDonald for N. O’Brien (49).
OUR LADY’S ISLAND: Alan Kinsella; Rory Reville, Eoin Kinsella, Davy Corish; Cathal Devereux, Liam Kinsella (0-1), Colm Kinsella; Quinn Saunders (0-1), Joey Murphy; Cian Meyler (0-1), Fintan Mullins, Nicky Keane; Dean Maloney (capt., 0-5, 4 frees), Noel Dempsey, Darragh Sinnott (0-2, 1 lineball). Subs. Robbie Reville for Dempsey (41), Dylan Murphy for J. Murphy (54).
REFEREE: Mick Lanigan (Shelmaliers)