Kiltegan, Carnew and Aughrim all reach semi-finals

THE semi-finalists of the Herbst Intermediate Hurling Championship of 1996 were almost decided this week in 1996. Kiltegan, Carnew and Aughrim were already in place in the last-four with the winners of St. Patrick’s and Shillelagh set to join them when they met the following week.

Kiltegan booked their spot in the semi-finals with a 3-18 to 3-2 win over Avoca in Aughrim with Eugene Byrne coming in for special mention due to his overall performance and his tally of six points while the efforts of Damien Byrne and Ciaran Clancy were also deemed worthy of note.

‘Avoca needed to win if they were to keep their championship hopes alive, but victory never looked on the cards with Kiltegan leading from the start,’ read the report in the Wicklow and Bray People newspapers on July 11, 1996.

‘Defending champions Kiltegan were ahead by 1-10 to 1-0 at the break, with Eftan Hurley only snatching Avoca’s goal five minutes before half-time.

‘Twice at both ends of the second half Pat McCabe rammed home goals for Avoca but rather than herald a revival and fight-back for his team, these scores met with a swift response from Kiltegan on both occasions.

It was a good team performance from Kiltegan that brought about this victory, while Damien Byrne and Ciaran Clancy stood out, particularly in defence.

‘Midfielder Eugene Byrne landed some terrific points from long-range frees, and Nigel Bermingham, Michael Byrne and Raymond Byrne were to the fore in an attack which saw all six forwards get their names on the scoresheet.

‘Full-back Seamus Mooney, Pat McCabe, Wayne Kennedy, Kevin Power and Johnny Moules caught the eye for Avoca.

Kiltegan: Pat Cronin; Niall Harmon, Tom Cremin, Damien Byrne; Peter Byrne, Pat Gartland, Ciaran Clancy (0-2); Michael Cullen, Eugene Byrne (0-6); Ben Doyle (1-1), Joe Clancy (0-1), Raymond Byrne (0-3); Nigel Bermingham (1-1), Michael Byrne (1-2), James Whelan (0-2).

Avoca: Ben Tuke; D. Killeen, Seamus Mooney, Kevin Harper; Frank Harper, Johnny Moules (0-1), Karl Reilly; Pat McCabe (2-0), Damien Devereux; Tommy Browne, Wayne Kennedy (0-1), Willy Moules; Keith Delaney, Kevin Power, Eftan Hurley (1-0). Subs: Mi. Sweeney and Noel Harper for T. Browne and F. Harper.

In the other group it was Carnew and Aughrim who were through to the semi-finals and they reached that destination without even having to play each other.

Carnew got the better of Hollywood in the game reported on in the Wicklow and Bray People newspapers by 2-10 to 2-6 at Aughrim with goals from Martin Doyle and substitute Tom ‘Doc’ Darcy, current selector with Eamonn Scallan in the Wicklow Senior hurling camp.

But this was a game where Hollywood were said to have ‘surprised Carnew with the intensity of the they mounted right throughout this highly competitive match’.

‘The performance of Hollywood was all the more impressive considering they were without six regulars including their high-scoring full-forward Brian Keogh, and they were further handicapped minutes into the match when another of their stars, Paul Cantwell, had to leave the field injured.

‘Carnew led by 1-5 to 1-2 at the interval but Hollywood rocked them back on their heels with their second goal shortly after the restart.

‘Carnew retaliated almost immediately with their second goal and thus the play ebbed and flowed right to the finish.

‘The winners had their stars in Diarmuid Doran, Keith Sullivan, Damien Myers, Martin Doyle and Trevor Gilligan while Paddy Devlin, John Traynor and Kevin Toomey played best for Hollywood.

Carnew Emmets: Joe Murphy; Keith Sullivan, Diarmuid Doran, Jason Molloy; Richard Kenny, Michael Moore, Mark Collins; Trevor Gilligan, John Joe Myers (0-1); Emmet Sullivan, Dan Myers (0-6), James O’Toole; Padraig Doyle (0-1), Martin Doyle (1-1), William Behan (0-1). Subs: Paddy Doyle for T. Gilligan, Thomas Darcy (1-0) for J. O’Toole, Shane Myers for W Behan.

Hollywood: Myles Burke; Marty Maguire, Fergal Dunne, Seamus Cullen; Paul Cantwell, Dara Burke, Philip Dunne (1-2); Kevin Toomey, John Traynor (0-1); Owen Roddy, Paddy Devlin (1-3), Thomas Burke; John Cullen, Kevin Tyrrell, Niall Hourigan. Subs: Anthony Metcalfe for P Cantwell.