Winning streak continues

TAGHMON-CAMROSS continued their winning streak in Group A of the Top Oil Intermediate A Hurling Championship with after surviving a strong Shelmaliers challenge in Oylegate on Saturday.

While they always looked the better side, the eventual winners were made work all the way for their win by a game Shelmaliers side that just couldn’t seem to find the scores when they needed them most. Taghmon-Camross were full value for their win and look to be definite contenders as the knock-out stages approach, backboned by Ian Carty and in defence and with Stephen O’Gorman and Cathal Doyle looking dangerous in front of goals.

Shelmaliers started off the game brightly with two quick points from Benny Barron, but their lead was short lived as Cathal Doyle reacted first to the breaking ball and hit the net from close range.

From here Taghmon looked dominant, with Ian and Darren Carty, and Barry and Stephen O’Gorman giving them a five-point lead midway through the half.

Shelmaliers were working hard however, and hit four consecutive scores, including two beauties from Liam Rocket, in a five-minute spell that left Taghmon briefly on the back-foot.

But their response was good with Luke Sinnott getting a second goal, they earned themselves a two-point lead at the break after Shelmaliers’ Michael Feaney and Willie O’Shaughnessy hit minors.

There was an even exchange of scores on the resumption with the leaders holding their lead until midway through the half, when Ronan Kavanagh levelled matters with a well taken goal after being set up by the industrious Willie O’Shaughnessy, and it was now impossible to tell which way it would go.

But the telling period of the game came over the next ten minutes as Taghmon-Camross hit five without reply thanks to Ian and Darren Carty, Cathal Doyle and Luke Sinnott.

Shelmaliers threw everything they had at their opponents for the final five minutes but just couldn’t get the scores they needed as a stubborn Taghmon defence did well to keep them at bay.

Tahgmon-Camross now look good to top the group with Shelmaliers still in search of a vital second win.

Taghmon-Camross: Jack Dunne; David O’Keefe, Alan Nolan, Mark O’Gorman (0-1); Stephen Stafford, Ian Carty (0-2, 1 ’65, 1 free), Shane Doyle (0-1); Thomas Furlong (0-1), Darren Carty (0-3); Chris Cullen, Barry O’Gorman (0-1), Luke Sinnott (1-2); Shane Lacey, Stephen O’Gorman (0-3), Cathal Doyel (1-3, 2f). Subs. – Stephen O’Keefe for D. O’Keefe (41).

Shelmaliers: Paul McClean; Eoin O’Leary, Kevin O’Leary, Aaron Doyle; Denis Kelly, Aaron O’Neill (0-1), Johnny Campbell; Liam Rocket (0-2), Benny Barron (0-5, 4 frees); Willie O’Shaughnessy (0-3), Pádraig O’Leary, Ryan Hanrahan; Micahel Feaney (0-4 frees), Ronan Kavanagh (1-1), Kyle Roche (0-1). Subs. – Aodhan Foley (0-1) for Feaney (Inj., 38), Graham Staples for Hanarahan (54).

Referee: Ian Plunkett (Marshalstown-Castledockrell)