Rocks rout the ’Dales

THE performance of full-forward Joe Gilbert was singled out as one of the highlights of a fine victory by Arklow Rocks over Avondale in the opening game of the Senior hurling championship of 2000.

Gilbert, normally lining out at full-back, was switched to the opposite end of the field for this encounter and bagged four points in the first half with the wind at his back and banged home two goals in the second.

Other positive showings came from corner-forward Michael Sheehan who bagged six points, Brian Byrne at midfield while county man Gerry Byrne took over the full-back duties from Gilbert and performed admirably.

There was also mention of Dessie Heffernan, a member of a great Kilkenny hurling family, who won a championship medal with Avondale 17 years previous, lining out at centre forward for the Rocks and scoring a point.

ARKLOW Rocks: Keith Barnes; James Byrne, Gerry Byrne, Joe Connors; Kevin Reilly, Trevor Mellon, Joe Mangan; Brian Byrne (0-3), Nicky Murphy; Colin Byrne, Dessie Heffernan (0-1), Austin Walker (0-1); Michael Sheehan (0-6), Joe Gilbert (2-5), Peadar Keogh. Sub: David Curran for A Walker.

AVONDALE: Jimmy Kelly; Seamus O’Shaughnessy, Danny Browne, Ian Heffernan; Seamus McGraynor, Eugene Heffernan (0-1), Damien Byrne; Hugh Olohan, Trevor Heffernan; Keith O’Toole, Leonard Byrne (0-1), Niall Heffernan (0-5); Roy Byrne, Brian Kearns, Clive Heffernan.