A cruise for the Gers
IT was something of a cruise for Geraldine O’Hanrahan’s as they coasted to a comfortable nineteen-point victory over a disappointing Gusserane O’Rahilly’s side in this Top Oil Round 4 Group B Intermediate Hurling Championship game played in Horeswood on Saturday.
With both sides in need of points to prolong their respective championship campaigns, the sequence of weekend results leave the destination down to the final round of games, but once again it will mean results going their way coupled with a final round victory if they are to survive, but they are hanging on a cliff edge at the moment.
Pointless going into this game, the New Ross town side choose to serve up their best display of the championship, for they totally dominated their opponents, who were seeking both points to secure their quarter-final spot.
While the Geraldines played some sparkling hurling outplaying their opponents, whom they never allowed to settle, while in the process they played some sparkling attacking hurling leading to excellent scores in the process.
The eventual winners got themselves into a good position for they led 0-5 to 0-0 after just eight minutes with points through Eoin Kelly, Enda Kelly, Barry Roche, free, Brian Haberlin and Dylan Egan, with their opponents having to wait until the tenth minute for their opening score a Sam Wall pointed free.
While Gusserane tried to adapt to the pace which the eventual winners brought to the game, mistakes crept into their defence, allowing Kevin Grangell get under a high ball to flick to the net.
With the winners confidence growing they went on to totally outplay their opponents, adding further goals through Brian Haberlin, who fired a low ball across the goal into the opposite corner of the net, while two minutes before the break Dylan Egan finished with a splendid goal which left his side with a 3-10 to 0-4 interval lead.
Holding a fifteen-point interval lead, the Barrowsiders were never going to be caught on the resumption, and when Egan fired over the second periods opening point to extend his side’s lead, there was only going to be one result.
While Gusserane battled to get back into the game, they lacked the scoring power in attack, and when sub Ned Connors fired home his side’s fourth goal nine minutes from the end it was a case of damage limitation for the opposition, as scoring aggregate could have a bearing on the final placings.
Ger. O’Hanrahan’s: Brandon Gardiner; Michal Cleere, Conor Cleere, Gerry Cash; Enda Kelly (0-1), Padraig Bailey, Barry Kelly; Matt Crowdle (0-1), Jack Foran (0-2); Diarmuid Kehoe (0-1), Dylan Egan (1-4), Eoin Kelly (0-4); Barry Roche (0-5 frees), Brian Haberlin (1-1), Kevin Grangell (1-0). Subs: Ned Connors (1-0) for Grangell (inj.); Stephen Somers for Kehoe.
Gusserane O’Rahilly’s: Micheal Ryan; Eoghan Foran, Kenneth Cahill, Jack O’Connor; Liam Dillon, Shane Cullen (0-1), Paraic Conway (0-1); Adrian Redmond, Gavin Sheehan; Tomy Ryan, John Roche, Gary O’Grady; Sam Wall (0-5, 0-4 frees, 0-1, 65), Mark O’Neill (0-1), Kevin O’Donohue (1-1). Sub: David Doyle for Conway.
Referee: Pat Kehoe (Rathgarogue/ Cushinstown).