Junior Hurling Championship 2014
May 11: Tara Rocks 4-11, Ferns St Aidans 3-8
Life in the higher Junior grade started off well for last year’s ‘A’ champions, Tara Rocks, when they defeated Ferns St. Aidans in this Gorey District Group B derby in Páirc Uí Síocháin on Sunday last.
A superb start gave the border club the confidence they needed to meet this tough challenge, as they led by 2-3 to 0-1 after 20 minutes following a fortunate goal from Mick Fitzpatrick and a sec-ond from Patrick Fortune following a scramble.
Eddie Cullen’s free-taking accuracy brought Ferns closer by the break (2-5 to 0-6), but a Declan Breen goal midway through the third quarter ensured that Tara Rocks retained a healthy advantage.
Ferns did rally well and hit three goals in the last quarter courtesy of Anthony Dwyer, Keith Rynhart and substitute Gearóid Bennett.
However, James Mordaunt also rattled the net at the other end and victory went to the most deserving team who will be delighted with this bright start and aiming to build on it against Faythe Harriers on Sunday next.
Ferns St. Aidans: Murt Kehoe; Peter Nolan, Niall Maguire, Pádraig Walsh; John O'Leary, Seán Walsh, Jamie Whelan; Donnacha Kinsella (0-1), Peter Codd (0-1); Keith Rynhart (1-0), Ben Bernie (0-1), Anthony Dwyer (1-0 free); Andy Cash (0-2), Eddie Cullen (capt., 0-3 frees), Jamie Dunbar. Subs: Brian O'Neill for Kinsella (temp.), Gearóid Bennett (1-0) for Codd, Tomás Hawkins for Bernie, O'Neill for O'Leary.
Tara Rocks: Lee Owley; Damien Tobin, Liam Fitzpatrick, Tomás Owley; Rhys Owley, Niall Breen (capt., 0-2), Seán Owley; Colin Breen, Martin Sheehan; Gary Owley (0-1), Brendan Hobbs (0-1), Declan Breen (1-7, 0-7 frees); Mick Fitzpatrick (1-0), Joe Bolger, Patrick Fortune (1-0). Subs: Dylan Marshall for C. Breen (temp.), James Mordaunt (1-0) for M. Fitzpatrick, Paddy Phelan for Fortune.
Referee: Pádraig Byrne (Ballyfad).
May 18: Ferns St Aidans 7-17, Gusserane 1-7
What has gone wrong with the Gusserane hurlers? That question must be asked after they fol-lowed up a first round Junior championship Group B hammering to Taghmon-Camross with a much heavier defeat at the hands of a rampant Ferns St. Aidan's in Fr. Murphy Park on Sunday last.
The winners recovered from the previous week's loss in style, with the victory well and truly wrapped up by half-time, when they led by 4-13 to 0-3 after goals from Pádraig Walsh, Andy Cash, Keith Rynhart and Ben Cowman plus five points from play by Eddie Cullen.
Cash goaled again five minutes into the new half but Keith O'Grady replied from a penalty for Gusserane. However, the humiliation continued after Anthony Dwyer saved their second penalty, with Donnacha Kinsella and Cowman completing the rout with late goals for Ferns.
Ferns St. Aidans: Anthony Dwyer; Teo Leacy, Niall Maguire, Peter Nolan; John O'Leary, Seán Walsh, Pádraig Bolger (0-1); Pádraig Walsh (1-0), Keith Rynhart (1-0); Donnacha Kinsella (1-0), Eddie Cullen (capt., 0-10, 4 frees), Andy Cash (2-3); Peter Codd, Ben Bernie (0-3), Ben Cowman (2-0). Subs: Patrick Codd for O'Leary, Brian O'Neill for Bolger, Shane Kinsella for Codd, Murt Kehoe for Dwyer.
Gusserane: Gareth Mahon; Shane Doyle, Liam Dillon, Jack O'Connor; Robert Browne (capt.), Paul Wall, John Stafford; Adrian Redmond, Kenneth Cahill (0-2); Tom Breen, Seán Kinsella, Seán Ryan (0-4 frees); Pádraig Conway, Keith O'Grady (1-0 pen.), Martin Fitzharris (0-1). Subs: John Roche for Kinsella, James Kinsella for Doyle, Eoghan Foran for Breen.
Referee: Anthony Tobin (Geraldine O Hanrahans)
July 26: Ferns St Aidans 3-16, St Mary’s (Rosslare) 1-12
A scoring spurt of 2-2 in just three minutes early in the second-half sent Ferns St. Aidans away from St. Mary's (Rosslare) and on course for victory in the Junior hurling championship Group B in St. Patrick's Park on Saturday last.
Trailing by 1-9 to 1-8 in the 35th minute, the Gorey District club found the net when Paddy O'Leary flashed a powerful shot past Grahan Mullen after an inch-perfect Ben Bernie pass.
Following points from Bernie and the unerringly accurate veteran Edward Cullen, O'Leary turned provider for his full-forward Bernie to grab his second goal off the underside of the crossbar.
The hammer blow to the psyche was too much for St. Mary's to overcome, the energy went out of the Wexford District club’s performance and their opponents coasted to victory.
The drab end to the contest was a real pity after a superb first-half that saw Rosslare take an interval lead despite playing against the light breeze. Ferns actually started livelier and goaled for the first time when O'Leary mishit a shot across the face of goal and into the path of Bernie who fired past Mullen to the St. Mary's net.
The eventual losers picked off several fine points through Paul Kinsella and Ultan Quirke and had squandered several half chances until David Murphy's long ball out of defence fell to Kinsella and he found a major fillip late in the period (1-8 to 1-7 at half-time).
A Lee Devereux '65 cancelled out a Ben Cowman point early in the second-half before Ferns went on their scoring spree.
After that Rosslare only managed three further points as Cullen scored at will to ease his side to their second win of this championship season.
Ferns St. Aidans: Anthony Dwyer; Brian O'Neill, Seán Walsh, Teo Lacey; John O'Leary, Tomás Hawkins (0-1), Patrick Codd; Pádraig Walsh, Keith Rynhart; Andy Cash, Edward Cullen (capt., 0-8, 5 frees), Donnacha Kinsella (0-1); Paddy O'Leary (1- 0), Ben Bernie (2-3), Ben Cowman (0-2). Subs: Peter Codd (0-1) for Patrick Codd, inj. (30), Oisín MacPartlin for Cash (55), Keith Breen for Cowman (60).
St. Mary’s: Graham Mullen; Conal Grant, Conor Cafferkey, Niall Cafferkey; Gearóid Byrne, David Murphy (capt.), Ned Power; Tiarnan Rossiter (0-1), Larry Morrissey; Lee Devereux (0-6, 4 frees, 1 '65), Andrew Murphy, Paul Kinsella (1-2); Ultan Quirke (0-2), James Sheil (0-1 free), Barry Quirke. Subs: Aaron Kavanagh for Grant (34), Seán Finan for Morrissey (41), Emmet Byrne for U. Quirke (44), Derek Brohan for B. Quirke (55).
Referee: Dickie Murphy (Rapparees).
August 2: Ferns St Aidans 2-9, Taghmon/Camross 1-8
THEY SAY that a rising tide lifts all boats, and the Ferns St. Aidan’s second string provided evidence to back up that theory with a four-point victory over Taghmon-Camross in this clash of Junior hurling championship Group B high-flyers in Oylegate on Saturday last.
The general bounce in the club following the Seniors’ county final appearance last October has clearly filtered down, as the outcome means that both of these contenders now lie on six points and are safely through with one round left to play.
Taghmon-Camross had forged three fine wins in advance and their scoring returns were impressive, so this was an unexpected setback in many respects.
Perhaps their young charges had one eye on this evening’s Under-21 final against Forth and Bargy Gaels, but they still only have themselves to blame for squandering that one hundred per cent record as they amassed no fewer than 19 wides, including a staggering 13 in the second-half.
Ferns were never headed after a very positive start, with points from Paddy O’Leary and an Eddie Cullen ’65 followed by a fifth-minute goal when O’Leary latched on to a long clearance and made no mistake.
It was 1-4 to 0-2 at the end of the first quarter, but Taghmon-Camross pulled back a goal in the 25th minute when Stephen O’Gorman finished off a Barry O’Gorman delivery from the right.
Trailing by 1-7 to 1-3 at half-time, the New Ross District side were rocked in the 35th minute when teenager Ben Cowman rattled the net with a first-time pull.
Ferns didn’t register their two insurance second-half points until added time courtesy of Donnacha Kinsella and Ben Bernie, but the scoring attempts of Taghmon-Camross were quite pathetic in between.
Barry O’Gorman, Pierce Doyle (free and ’65) plus Stephen Stafford were the only ones to hit the target, while David Bridges had a penalty knocked out for a ’65 in the 40th minute.
Some fine tuning of their shooting will be required in round five against Tara Rocks ahead of the quarter-finals.
Ferns St. Aidans: Anthony Dwyer; Teo Leacy, Niall Maguire, Brian O’Neill; Pádraig Walsh, Seán Walsh, John O’Leary; Tomás Hawkins, Keith Rynhart (0-1); Andy Cash (0-1), Eddie Cullen (capt., 0-2, 1 ’65, 1 free), Donnacha Kinsella (0-1); Paddy O’Leary (1-1), Ben Bernie (0-3), Ben Cowman (1-0). Sub: Peter Codd for Cash (55)
Taghmon-Camross: Seán O’Gorman; Darren Colfer, Alan Nolan, Robert Nolan; Mark O’Gorman, Jack Murphy, Johnny Waters; Ian Carty, Pat Nolan; David Bridges, Barry O’Gorman (0-3), Stephen Stafford (0-1); Pierce Doyle (0-3, 2 frees, 1 ’65), Stephen O’Gorman (1-1), Richard Comerford (capt.). Subs: Páuric O’Gorman for Comerford (36), Tomás Whelan for M. O’Gorman (57).
Referee: Pádraig Byrne (Ballyfad).
August 30: Ferns St Aidans 4-9, Faythe Harriers 0-13
Four second half goals paved the way for a big victory for 14-man Ferns St. Aidans, leaving them top of Group B heading into the knockout stages after this Junior Hurling Championship clash at Hollymount on Saturday last.
The game was lacking any major bite as both sides had already qualified before the throw-in and were merely playing for places. Only three scores from play in the entire first-half tells its own story, with Ben Cowman and Ben Bernie pointing for the winners and Mikey Hanrahan replying for the Harriers.
However, the Harriers led by four at the break as the accurate Dean Walsh pointed seven frees, punishing any lapses in discipline by Ferns, and a point by Jamie McDonnell right after half-time looked to have the town team in the driving seat.
Ferns responded in the best possible fashion though as first Andy Cash's ground stroke found the net and then a ball across the square was batted to the net by the very impressive Ben Cowman to give his side the lead.
From here Ferns began to push on and edged further ahead, but they very nearly found themselves in hot water as Mikey Hanrahan brought it back to a goal between the sides and Ferns corner-for-ward Paddy O'Leary received his marching orders for dissent.
The winners to their credit would not lie down though, and upped their performance despite losing a man as Cowman added another point before Andy Cash found the net for a second time with eight minutes to go to seal the victory.
Ben Bernie added a fourth for Ferns minutes later to put the icing on the cake as Walsh and Jamie McDonnell added consolation scores for the Harriers who will now play St. James’. Ferns meanwhile will face Bannow-Ballymitty.
Ferns St. Aidans: Anthony Dwyer; Theo Leacy, Aaron Collier, Brian O'Neill; Pádraig Walsh, Seán Walsh, John O'Leary; Tomás Hawkins, Keith Rynhart; Andy Cash (2-1), Ben Bernie (1-2), Donnacha Kinsella (0-4 frees); Paddy O'Leary, Jamie Dunbar, Ben Cowman (1-2). Subs: Peter Nolan for Leacy, Oisin MacPartlin for Dunbar.
Faythe Harriers: Ken Walsh; Ross Lynch, Ben O'Brien, Cillian Lawlor; Tomás Campbell, Fran Cleary, Conor Halligan; Jamie McDonnell (0-2), Damien Roche; Shane Wilde, Mikey Hanrahan (0-2), Brian Denton; Dean Walsh (0-9 frees), Seán Pailing, Stephen Kearney. Sub: Jason O'Dowd for Halligan.
Referee: Francis Neville (Shelmaliers).
September 14: Bannow/Ballymitty 2-13, Ferns St Aidans 0-11
Bannow/Ballymitty shredded Ferns in a scintillating last seventeen minutes to grab a surprise semi-final spot in the Junior Hurling Championship at St Patrick’s Park.
The New Ross District side came from two points down at the end of the third quarter to win going away from a disappointing Ferns. In truth, had Bannow not been so profligate in front of the posts, they would have been leading earlier and won by more.
After Andy Cash and Edward Cullen pointed for the favourites, Bannow got their only score of the first 26 minutes when Gary Morton smashed a shot to the net. Ferns continued to use the breeze advantage only moderately though, and following a trio from Cullen, and other points from Cash and Donnacha Kinsella, led by 0-7 to 1-0.
Feeling their way into the game, minors from MJ Doran and Pat Fitzharris eventually saw Bannow go in at the interval just three points down (0-8 to 1-2).
Mark Wallace and Tomás Hawkins exchanged points before Nicky Doyle also notched one in a sloppy start to the second half, before things slowly turned in the underdogs’ favour.
Three points in ninety seconds from Doyle, Fitzharris and Ben Brosnan turned a two-point deficit into a slim advantage. That lead had extended to three before Cullen nailed two placed balls for Ferns to again put the minimum between the sides with six minutes left.
The killer goal came in the 55th minute and was the product of a stunning Fitzharris crossfield pass that Gordon Rossitter claimed on the run and flashed past Anthony Dwyer to the net (2-9 to 0-11).
From that goal on, Ferns failed to score and Bannow eased their way to victory with four late points.
Ferns St Aidans: Anthony Dwyer; Teo Leacy, Aaron Collier, Peter Nolan; Pádraig Walsh, Sean Walsh, John O’Leary; Tomás Hawkins (0-1), Keith Rynhart; Andy Cash (0-3), Edward Cullen (capt., 0-6, 5 frees, 1 ‘65’), Donnacha Kinsella (0-1); Oisin MacPartlin, Ben Bernie, Jamie Dunbar. Subs: Keith Breen for MacPartlin (h/t), Peter Codd for P Walsh (50), Murt Kehoe for K Breen (56), Patrick Breen for O’Leary (58).
Bannow/Ballymitty: John Sinnott; Gary Murphy, Padge Barden, Niall Murphy; David Currid, Conor Furlong, Michael Barry; MJ Doran (0-2), Darragh Murphy; Mark Wallace (0-1), Pat Fitzharris (0-3, 1 free, 1 ‘65’), Nicky Doyle (0-3); Gordon Rossitter (capt., 1-1), Gary Morton (1-2), Aaron Diskin. Subs: Robbie Meegan for G Murphy (inj., 13), John Mernagh for Meegan (temp, 14-16), Ben Brosnan (0-1) for Meegan (inj., 39), Adam Diskin for Aaron Diskin (41).
Referee: Justin Heffernan (Blackwater)
Life in the higher Junior grade started off well for last year’s ‘A’ champions, Tara Rocks, when they defeated Ferns St. Aidans in this Gorey District Group B derby in Páirc Uí Síocháin on Sunday last.
A superb start gave the border club the confidence they needed to meet this tough challenge, as they led by 2-3 to 0-1 after 20 minutes following a fortunate goal from Mick Fitzpatrick and a sec-ond from Patrick Fortune following a scramble.
Eddie Cullen’s free-taking accuracy brought Ferns closer by the break (2-5 to 0-6), but a Declan Breen goal midway through the third quarter ensured that Tara Rocks retained a healthy advantage.
Ferns did rally well and hit three goals in the last quarter courtesy of Anthony Dwyer, Keith Rynhart and substitute Gearóid Bennett.
However, James Mordaunt also rattled the net at the other end and victory went to the most deserving team who will be delighted with this bright start and aiming to build on it against Faythe Harriers on Sunday next.
Ferns St. Aidans: Murt Kehoe; Peter Nolan, Niall Maguire, Pádraig Walsh; John O'Leary, Seán Walsh, Jamie Whelan; Donnacha Kinsella (0-1), Peter Codd (0-1); Keith Rynhart (1-0), Ben Bernie (0-1), Anthony Dwyer (1-0 free); Andy Cash (0-2), Eddie Cullen (capt., 0-3 frees), Jamie Dunbar. Subs: Brian O'Neill for Kinsella (temp.), Gearóid Bennett (1-0) for Codd, Tomás Hawkins for Bernie, O'Neill for O'Leary.
Tara Rocks: Lee Owley; Damien Tobin, Liam Fitzpatrick, Tomás Owley; Rhys Owley, Niall Breen (capt., 0-2), Seán Owley; Colin Breen, Martin Sheehan; Gary Owley (0-1), Brendan Hobbs (0-1), Declan Breen (1-7, 0-7 frees); Mick Fitzpatrick (1-0), Joe Bolger, Patrick Fortune (1-0). Subs: Dylan Marshall for C. Breen (temp.), James Mordaunt (1-0) for M. Fitzpatrick, Paddy Phelan for Fortune.
Referee: Pádraig Byrne (Ballyfad).
May 18: Ferns St Aidans 7-17, Gusserane 1-7
What has gone wrong with the Gusserane hurlers? That question must be asked after they fol-lowed up a first round Junior championship Group B hammering to Taghmon-Camross with a much heavier defeat at the hands of a rampant Ferns St. Aidan's in Fr. Murphy Park on Sunday last.
The winners recovered from the previous week's loss in style, with the victory well and truly wrapped up by half-time, when they led by 4-13 to 0-3 after goals from Pádraig Walsh, Andy Cash, Keith Rynhart and Ben Cowman plus five points from play by Eddie Cullen.
Cash goaled again five minutes into the new half but Keith O'Grady replied from a penalty for Gusserane. However, the humiliation continued after Anthony Dwyer saved their second penalty, with Donnacha Kinsella and Cowman completing the rout with late goals for Ferns.
Ferns St. Aidans: Anthony Dwyer; Teo Leacy, Niall Maguire, Peter Nolan; John O'Leary, Seán Walsh, Pádraig Bolger (0-1); Pádraig Walsh (1-0), Keith Rynhart (1-0); Donnacha Kinsella (1-0), Eddie Cullen (capt., 0-10, 4 frees), Andy Cash (2-3); Peter Codd, Ben Bernie (0-3), Ben Cowman (2-0). Subs: Patrick Codd for O'Leary, Brian O'Neill for Bolger, Shane Kinsella for Codd, Murt Kehoe for Dwyer.
Gusserane: Gareth Mahon; Shane Doyle, Liam Dillon, Jack O'Connor; Robert Browne (capt.), Paul Wall, John Stafford; Adrian Redmond, Kenneth Cahill (0-2); Tom Breen, Seán Kinsella, Seán Ryan (0-4 frees); Pádraig Conway, Keith O'Grady (1-0 pen.), Martin Fitzharris (0-1). Subs: John Roche for Kinsella, James Kinsella for Doyle, Eoghan Foran for Breen.
Referee: Anthony Tobin (Geraldine O Hanrahans)
July 26: Ferns St Aidans 3-16, St Mary’s (Rosslare) 1-12
A scoring spurt of 2-2 in just three minutes early in the second-half sent Ferns St. Aidans away from St. Mary's (Rosslare) and on course for victory in the Junior hurling championship Group B in St. Patrick's Park on Saturday last.
Trailing by 1-9 to 1-8 in the 35th minute, the Gorey District club found the net when Paddy O'Leary flashed a powerful shot past Grahan Mullen after an inch-perfect Ben Bernie pass.
Following points from Bernie and the unerringly accurate veteran Edward Cullen, O'Leary turned provider for his full-forward Bernie to grab his second goal off the underside of the crossbar.
The hammer blow to the psyche was too much for St. Mary's to overcome, the energy went out of the Wexford District club’s performance and their opponents coasted to victory.
The drab end to the contest was a real pity after a superb first-half that saw Rosslare take an interval lead despite playing against the light breeze. Ferns actually started livelier and goaled for the first time when O'Leary mishit a shot across the face of goal and into the path of Bernie who fired past Mullen to the St. Mary's net.
The eventual losers picked off several fine points through Paul Kinsella and Ultan Quirke and had squandered several half chances until David Murphy's long ball out of defence fell to Kinsella and he found a major fillip late in the period (1-8 to 1-7 at half-time).
A Lee Devereux '65 cancelled out a Ben Cowman point early in the second-half before Ferns went on their scoring spree.
After that Rosslare only managed three further points as Cullen scored at will to ease his side to their second win of this championship season.
Ferns St. Aidans: Anthony Dwyer; Brian O'Neill, Seán Walsh, Teo Lacey; John O'Leary, Tomás Hawkins (0-1), Patrick Codd; Pádraig Walsh, Keith Rynhart; Andy Cash, Edward Cullen (capt., 0-8, 5 frees), Donnacha Kinsella (0-1); Paddy O'Leary (1- 0), Ben Bernie (2-3), Ben Cowman (0-2). Subs: Peter Codd (0-1) for Patrick Codd, inj. (30), Oisín MacPartlin for Cash (55), Keith Breen for Cowman (60).
St. Mary’s: Graham Mullen; Conal Grant, Conor Cafferkey, Niall Cafferkey; Gearóid Byrne, David Murphy (capt.), Ned Power; Tiarnan Rossiter (0-1), Larry Morrissey; Lee Devereux (0-6, 4 frees, 1 '65), Andrew Murphy, Paul Kinsella (1-2); Ultan Quirke (0-2), James Sheil (0-1 free), Barry Quirke. Subs: Aaron Kavanagh for Grant (34), Seán Finan for Morrissey (41), Emmet Byrne for U. Quirke (44), Derek Brohan for B. Quirke (55).
Referee: Dickie Murphy (Rapparees).
August 2: Ferns St Aidans 2-9, Taghmon/Camross 1-8
THEY SAY that a rising tide lifts all boats, and the Ferns St. Aidan’s second string provided evidence to back up that theory with a four-point victory over Taghmon-Camross in this clash of Junior hurling championship Group B high-flyers in Oylegate on Saturday last.
The general bounce in the club following the Seniors’ county final appearance last October has clearly filtered down, as the outcome means that both of these contenders now lie on six points and are safely through with one round left to play.
Taghmon-Camross had forged three fine wins in advance and their scoring returns were impressive, so this was an unexpected setback in many respects.
Perhaps their young charges had one eye on this evening’s Under-21 final against Forth and Bargy Gaels, but they still only have themselves to blame for squandering that one hundred per cent record as they amassed no fewer than 19 wides, including a staggering 13 in the second-half.
Ferns were never headed after a very positive start, with points from Paddy O’Leary and an Eddie Cullen ’65 followed by a fifth-minute goal when O’Leary latched on to a long clearance and made no mistake.
It was 1-4 to 0-2 at the end of the first quarter, but Taghmon-Camross pulled back a goal in the 25th minute when Stephen O’Gorman finished off a Barry O’Gorman delivery from the right.
Trailing by 1-7 to 1-3 at half-time, the New Ross District side were rocked in the 35th minute when teenager Ben Cowman rattled the net with a first-time pull.
Ferns didn’t register their two insurance second-half points until added time courtesy of Donnacha Kinsella and Ben Bernie, but the scoring attempts of Taghmon-Camross were quite pathetic in between.
Barry O’Gorman, Pierce Doyle (free and ’65) plus Stephen Stafford were the only ones to hit the target, while David Bridges had a penalty knocked out for a ’65 in the 40th minute.
Some fine tuning of their shooting will be required in round five against Tara Rocks ahead of the quarter-finals.
Ferns St. Aidans: Anthony Dwyer; Teo Leacy, Niall Maguire, Brian O’Neill; Pádraig Walsh, Seán Walsh, John O’Leary; Tomás Hawkins, Keith Rynhart (0-1); Andy Cash (0-1), Eddie Cullen (capt., 0-2, 1 ’65, 1 free), Donnacha Kinsella (0-1); Paddy O’Leary (1-1), Ben Bernie (0-3), Ben Cowman (1-0). Sub: Peter Codd for Cash (55)
Taghmon-Camross: Seán O’Gorman; Darren Colfer, Alan Nolan, Robert Nolan; Mark O’Gorman, Jack Murphy, Johnny Waters; Ian Carty, Pat Nolan; David Bridges, Barry O’Gorman (0-3), Stephen Stafford (0-1); Pierce Doyle (0-3, 2 frees, 1 ’65), Stephen O’Gorman (1-1), Richard Comerford (capt.). Subs: Páuric O’Gorman for Comerford (36), Tomás Whelan for M. O’Gorman (57).
Referee: Pádraig Byrne (Ballyfad).
August 30: Ferns St Aidans 4-9, Faythe Harriers 0-13
Four second half goals paved the way for a big victory for 14-man Ferns St. Aidans, leaving them top of Group B heading into the knockout stages after this Junior Hurling Championship clash at Hollymount on Saturday last.
The game was lacking any major bite as both sides had already qualified before the throw-in and were merely playing for places. Only three scores from play in the entire first-half tells its own story, with Ben Cowman and Ben Bernie pointing for the winners and Mikey Hanrahan replying for the Harriers.
However, the Harriers led by four at the break as the accurate Dean Walsh pointed seven frees, punishing any lapses in discipline by Ferns, and a point by Jamie McDonnell right after half-time looked to have the town team in the driving seat.
Ferns responded in the best possible fashion though as first Andy Cash's ground stroke found the net and then a ball across the square was batted to the net by the very impressive Ben Cowman to give his side the lead.
From here Ferns began to push on and edged further ahead, but they very nearly found themselves in hot water as Mikey Hanrahan brought it back to a goal between the sides and Ferns corner-for-ward Paddy O'Leary received his marching orders for dissent.
The winners to their credit would not lie down though, and upped their performance despite losing a man as Cowman added another point before Andy Cash found the net for a second time with eight minutes to go to seal the victory.
Ben Bernie added a fourth for Ferns minutes later to put the icing on the cake as Walsh and Jamie McDonnell added consolation scores for the Harriers who will now play St. James’. Ferns meanwhile will face Bannow-Ballymitty.
Ferns St. Aidans: Anthony Dwyer; Theo Leacy, Aaron Collier, Brian O'Neill; Pádraig Walsh, Seán Walsh, John O'Leary; Tomás Hawkins, Keith Rynhart; Andy Cash (2-1), Ben Bernie (1-2), Donnacha Kinsella (0-4 frees); Paddy O'Leary, Jamie Dunbar, Ben Cowman (1-2). Subs: Peter Nolan for Leacy, Oisin MacPartlin for Dunbar.
Faythe Harriers: Ken Walsh; Ross Lynch, Ben O'Brien, Cillian Lawlor; Tomás Campbell, Fran Cleary, Conor Halligan; Jamie McDonnell (0-2), Damien Roche; Shane Wilde, Mikey Hanrahan (0-2), Brian Denton; Dean Walsh (0-9 frees), Seán Pailing, Stephen Kearney. Sub: Jason O'Dowd for Halligan.
Referee: Francis Neville (Shelmaliers).
September 14: Bannow/Ballymitty 2-13, Ferns St Aidans 0-11
Bannow/Ballymitty shredded Ferns in a scintillating last seventeen minutes to grab a surprise semi-final spot in the Junior Hurling Championship at St Patrick’s Park.
The New Ross District side came from two points down at the end of the third quarter to win going away from a disappointing Ferns. In truth, had Bannow not been so profligate in front of the posts, they would have been leading earlier and won by more.
After Andy Cash and Edward Cullen pointed for the favourites, Bannow got their only score of the first 26 minutes when Gary Morton smashed a shot to the net. Ferns continued to use the breeze advantage only moderately though, and following a trio from Cullen, and other points from Cash and Donnacha Kinsella, led by 0-7 to 1-0.
Feeling their way into the game, minors from MJ Doran and Pat Fitzharris eventually saw Bannow go in at the interval just three points down (0-8 to 1-2).
Mark Wallace and Tomás Hawkins exchanged points before Nicky Doyle also notched one in a sloppy start to the second half, before things slowly turned in the underdogs’ favour.
Three points in ninety seconds from Doyle, Fitzharris and Ben Brosnan turned a two-point deficit into a slim advantage. That lead had extended to three before Cullen nailed two placed balls for Ferns to again put the minimum between the sides with six minutes left.
The killer goal came in the 55th minute and was the product of a stunning Fitzharris crossfield pass that Gordon Rossitter claimed on the run and flashed past Anthony Dwyer to the net (2-9 to 0-11).
From that goal on, Ferns failed to score and Bannow eased their way to victory with four late points.
Ferns St Aidans: Anthony Dwyer; Teo Leacy, Aaron Collier, Peter Nolan; Pádraig Walsh, Sean Walsh, John O’Leary; Tomás Hawkins (0-1), Keith Rynhart; Andy Cash (0-3), Edward Cullen (capt., 0-6, 5 frees, 1 ‘65’), Donnacha Kinsella (0-1); Oisin MacPartlin, Ben Bernie, Jamie Dunbar. Subs: Keith Breen for MacPartlin (h/t), Peter Codd for P Walsh (50), Murt Kehoe for K Breen (56), Patrick Breen for O’Leary (58).
Bannow/Ballymitty: John Sinnott; Gary Murphy, Padge Barden, Niall Murphy; David Currid, Conor Furlong, Michael Barry; MJ Doran (0-2), Darragh Murphy; Mark Wallace (0-1), Pat Fitzharris (0-3, 1 free, 1 ‘65’), Nicky Doyle (0-3); Gordon Rossitter (capt., 1-1), Gary Morton (1-2), Aaron Diskin. Subs: Robbie Meegan for G Murphy (inj., 13), John Mernagh for Meegan (temp, 14-16), Ben Brosnan (0-1) for Meegan (inj., 39), Adam Diskin for Aaron Diskin (41).
Referee: Justin Heffernan (Blackwater)
