Intermediate Football Championship 2012
April 20: Ferns St Aidans 2-7, Bannow/Ballymitty 1-10
The two most recent clubs to publish history books clashed in Group B of the Intermediate football championship in Bree on Friday last, and it’s fair to say that there was nothing on view to merit the late addition of a fresh chapter for a second print run.
Bannow-Ballymitty had enjoyed the freedom of the field against a weak Kilanerin second string five days earlier, but this time Ferns St. Aidan’s were in their faces from the off in a dour, niggly encounter.
Indeed, the Ross District side’s physio, Joeanne Roche, was arguably the busiest person in Bree and there was one high-profile casualty when county defender Niall Murphy limped off with a knee injury in the 25th minute after Colm Whelan was booked for a late challenge.
Bannow-Ballymitty led by 0-6 to 0-2 at that stage, with the sweetest point coming from Murphy’s Wexford colleague, Ben Brosnan, when he converted a line ball from the right flank in the 23rd minute. Brosnan was overshadowed in general play though by lively corner-forward Niall Harney, particularly in the second-half when he occupied a deep role which meant that he rarely got within shooting distance.
Ferns - whose history book was launched later that night - finished the first-half brightly with the last three points to narrow the gap to the minimum (0-6 to 0-5), with Brendan Jordan getting their opening effort from play from a tricky angle on the right in the 30th minute.
Joe Bohanna did well to keep out an instinctive Tomás ‘Ducker’ Hawkins flick early in the new half before Bannow-Ballymitty pounced for their goal in the 36th minute.
Garry Murphy, operating at full-forward at this stage, won a high ball and turned his marker and, although his handpass to Shane Murphy was over-cooked, it still found Barry Sinnott who rattled the net from close range (1-6 to 0-5).
Ferns hit back near the end of the third quarter when Colm Whelan’s long delivery was claimed by an unmarked Tomás Hawkins, and he popped the ball over the last defender’s head to county Minor Patrick Breen who volleyed it home with his outstretched right boot.
Free-taker Patrick Codd quickly equalised (1-7 each) as the momentum swayed towards the Gorey District men, but Bannow-Ballymitty responded well as Niall Harney grabbed his third point from play before Ben Brosnan converted a long-range free off the ground with seven minutes left.
Ferns St. Aidan’s hit the front for the first time though shortly afterwards when Colm Whelan was dragged down and Codd coolly placed the resultant penalty in the right corner to make it 2-7 to 1-9.
It was left to Ben Brosnan to pick the perfect moment for his sole score from play.
It came in the 58th minute after Ferns were punished for trying to play keep-ball in their own half and giving possession away, with the Wexford ace darting forward and splitting the posts for a share of the spoils.
Ferns St Aidans: Conor Swaine; Declan Byrne, Jamie Dunbar, Seán Murphy; Ciarán Roberts, Jonathan Dwyer, James Tonks; Jamie Whelan, Colm Whelan; Brendan Jordan (0-1), Patrick Codd (1-5, 0-5 frees, 1-0 pen.), John Breen; Patrick Breen (1-0), Tomás Hawkins (0-1 free), Tommy Dwyer. Subs: Keith Rynhart for P. Breen, Colin Leacy for J. Breen.
April 29: Ferns St Aidans 3-7, HWH-Bunclody 0-8
Two second-half goals in quick succession from Tomás 'Ducker' Hawkins turned this Intermediate football championship Group B game on its head, as Ferns snatched the lead from HWH-Bunclody and held on to record a convincing victory in a wind-swept Bellefield on Sunday last.
After going four points behind early in the second-half, Hawkins' double-strike in the space of two minutes gave Ferns the perfect riposte and, playing with a strong wind at their backs, they never allowed Bunclody back into the game.
Bunclody probably should have been further in front before this intervention as they were guilty of some wayward shooting in the early exchanges, registering five wides before they finally got off the mark after twelve minutes through Keith O'Hara, shortly after Hawkins had opened the scoring with a pointed free.
Both sides were struggling with the strong wind but it was blowing to Bunclody's advantage and they began to make use of it as Darren Kehoe grabbed two scores and Bryan O'Hara put over a great effort from long range.
Paul Morris responded for Ferns but this was quickly cancelled out as Kehoe pointed a free and Aidan Nolan kicked one from play after winning the resultant kick-out.
Thanks to a lot of hard work, Ferns managed one more point from Hawkins just before half-time to go in three points behind at the break.
Kehoe resumed the scoring for Bunclody in the new half but it was shortly after his point that Hawkins pounced for his first goal, winning a high ball on the edge of the square and driving home.
Minutes later Ferns were awarded a free near the sideline some 35 yards from goal, and the wind deceived the Bunclody defenders on the goal-line as Hawkins' curling shot went all the way to the net, putting his side two points in front on the 36th minute.
Now playing into the wind, Bunclody struggled as they had it all to do, but managed to respond with a point from Conor Kinsella midway through the half.
This was as close as they would get however, as Ferns held possession and used the wind to keep the ball well into the Bunclody half for the remainder of the game.
Patrick Codd got onto the scoresheet next as he landed a massive free from 60 metres, and after the Bunclody kick-out was held up by the wind again, it ended up in Benny Jordan's hands and he duly pointed.
There was little Bunclody could do at this stage as their efforts were thwarted by both a stiff wind and a strong Ferns defence, and Ferns pulled even further away in the final minutes as Jordan grabbed another point and Morris kicked a great score before finding himself one-on-one with Bunclody goalie Pádraic Murphy, whom he skipped around and tapped into the open net to give his side a well-deserved eight-point win.
Ferns: Conor Swaine; Declan Byrne, Jamie Dunbar, Jonathan Dwyer; James Tonks, Ciarán Roberts, Seán Murphy; Jamie Whelan, Colm Whelan; Tommy Dwyer, John Breen, Keith Rynhart; Benny Jordan (0-2), Tomás Hawkins (2-2, 1-1 frees), Paul Morris (1-2).
Subs: Patrick Codd (0-1) for Rynhart, Patrick Breen for J. Whelan.
Bunclody: Pádraic Murphy; Stephen Finn, John Atkinson, William Atkinson; Martin Atkinson, Paul Atkinson, James Moorhead; Conor Kinsella (0-1), Bryan O'Hara (0-1); Keith O'Hara (0-1), Barry Kehoe, Darren Kehoe (0-4, 2 frees); Aidan Nolan (0-1), Colm Farrell, Padge Kehoe. Subs: Seán Kenny for K. O'Hara, Davy Reck for P. Kehoe.
Referee: Justin Heffernan (Blackwater).
June 13: Ferns St Aidans 0-9, Craanford 0-6
While Ferns St. Aidan's looked the stronger side throughout this Intermediate football championship Group B game, they were still pushed all the way by a Craanford that just couldn't seem to find the posts which was their ultimate downfall in Camolin on Wednesday last.
After a positive start, Ferns allowed Craanford back into contention coming up to half-time and, in the end, just barely hung on as their rivals had a number of opportunities to grab an equaliser in the final minutes but failed to do so.
Ferns showed that they meant business early in the game, registering points in the opening minutes thanks to Seán Murphy and Patrick Breen, but they didn't continue in this manner and didn't create another scoring opportunity until ten minutes later when Breen added a second after some slack marking in the Craanford defence. This was added to shortly afterwards by a Patrick Codd free.
Indeed, both sides seemed to be lacking the bite that one might expect in a championship game as Craanford also failed to test the Ferns defence until midway through the half when John Fleming finally got them off the mark after his side had a couple of bad misses.
Craanford upped their performance at this stage and finished out the half strongest and served up what was the highlight of the game when Stephen Greene kicked a mighty effort from 50 yards.
This was added to by Peter Kavanagh after a good move involving a number of players, and two quick points from wingback Desmond Kavanagh just before half-time to give Craanford the lead at the break.
Ferns started the new half much like they started the first, and quickly got off the mark thanks to two points from Patrick Codd to regain the lead.
Craanford were slow to start and again did not find the posts until midway through the half when Stephen Greene got them back level with a pointed free.
But this would prove to be their final score and was quickly cancelled out by the trusty boot of Patrick Codd after he collected a great pass from James Tonks to fire over a point from play before adding one from a free shortly afterwards. Codd was also unlucky not to have found the net after his opportunist effort came off the crossbar minutes later.
Craanford looked dead on their feet and when substitute Eddie Cullen pointed with five minutes remaining it looked like they would have no answer.
But they came fighting back hard in the final minutes and really were unlucky not to have got more out of some of the chances they created as Matthew Nolan's fisted effort and Peter Kavangh's close-in shot were agonisingly close to levelling things up.
But when Stephen Greene's free kick was blocked down in the dying moments one knew it just wasn't going to happen for Craanford and Ferns held on to stay in joint first spot with Bannow-Ballymitty.
Ferns St. Aidans: Conor Swaine; Pádraig Dwyer, Colm Whelan, Johnny Dwyer; James Tonks, Ciarán Roberts, Seán Murphy (0-1); Jamie Whelan, Eugene Breen; Tommy Dywer, John Breen, Patrick Codd (0-5, 4 frees); Paul Morris, Tomás Hawkins, Patrick Breen (0-2). Subs: Ryan Nolan for Morris, Eddie Cullen (0-1) for Hawkins, Jamie Dunbar for J. Breen.
Craanford: Bob Flynn; Joe Berney, Matthew Kenny, William Doyle; Niall Berney, James Byrne, Desmond Kavanagh (0-2); James O'Loughlin, Michael Shortle; John Fleming (0-1), Peter Kavanagh (0-1), Paudge Doyle; Michael Sinnott, Stephen Greene (0-2), Patrick Murray. Sub: Matthew Nolan for Sinnott.
Referee: John Carton (Monageer/Boolavogue)
July 29: St Mary’s (Rosslare) 1-12, Ferns St Aidans 1-6
DANNY FURLONG came off the bench to fire St. Mary's (Rosslare) back into contention for a place in the knockout stages of the Intermediate football championship in St. Patrick's Park on Sunday last.
With just a point separating the sides (0-9 to 1-5), the Wexford Youths striker jinked past two defenders and coolly slotted a 46th-minute strike past Ferns goalkeeper Conor Swaine to set his side on the road to victory.
Up to that point it was anybody's game as Ferns fought back from a four-point interval deficit to pull within the minimum. In that opening period Rosslare, needing the victory more, played at a higher tempo than their Gorey District opponents and it showed on the scoreboard with early points from Shane Sinnott (twice) and Emmett Byrne leaving them 0-3 to nil ahead after eight minutes.
It would have been worse for Ferns had Tiarnan Rossiter's shot crept inside the post in the early exchanges but two consecutive Patrick Breen points did narrow the gap. However, in reality, it only provided a moment of respite as four second quarter points - with David Murphy and Rossiter both grabbing a brace - helped St. Mary's into a 0-7 to 0-3 point lead at the break.
Rosslare stopper Stephen Cogley had to be alert twice at the end of the first-half to deny Patrick Codd and Patrick Breen on separate occasions but he could do nothing to stop Colm Whelan firing in from close range, after being brilliantly found by Paul Morris, two minutes after the re-start.
Points by Tiarnan Rossiter and Conor Cafferkey kept Ferns at arm’s length for a while but when Codd and Breen reduced the deficit to one their side looked the more likely winners. Yet that wasn't counting on the influence of Furlong, who also pointed after the goal, and that, allied with points from the Murphy brothers, David and Andrew, meant St. Mary's ran out convincing winners.
The result leaves both sides in control of their own destiny. Ferns need a positive result against Kilanerin in the final game to qualify while Rosslare know that a win will suffice against already-qualified HWH-Bunclody.
Ferns St. Aidans: Conor Swaine; Declan Byrne, Jamie Dunbar, Johnny Dwyer; James Tonks, Ciarán Roberts; Colin Leacy; Ian Byrne, Colm Whelan (1-0); Tommy Dwyer, Paul Morris (0-1), John Breen; Patrick Breen (0-3), Edward Cullen (0-1), Patrick Codd (0-1 free). Sub: Tomás Hawkins for Codd.
St. Mary’s: Stephen Cogley; Eamonn Power, Mick Kinsella, Conal Grant; Seán Kelleher, Johnny McDonald, Emmett Byrne (0-1); David Murphy (0-3), Oisín Lennon; Shane Sinnott (0-2), Andrew Murphy (0-1), Larry Morrissey; Niall Walsh, Conor Cafferkey (0-1), Tiarnan Rossiter (0-3, 1 free). Subs: Danny Furlong (1-1) for Kinsella, Lee Devereux for Cafferkey, Peter Carr for Morrissey.
Referee: Noel Whelan (Fethard)
August 11: Ferns St Aidans 5-18, Kilanerin 0-4
Ferns St Aidans had a whopping 29 points to spare against bottom-of-the-table Kilanerin in the final round of Group B action in the County Intermediate Football Championship at summery Monamolin on Saturday afternoon.
The Kilanerin second string actually led on two occasions, with the scores standing at 0-4 apiece after 15 minutes. While wing back Aidan Hegary levelled proceedings for the fourth time on 18 minutes, amazingly it proved Kilanerin's last score as the overall superiority of Ferns slowly came to bear.
The winners landed three unanswered points before captain John Breen fired home a penalty on 27 minutes for a 1-8 to 0-4 lead, while Colin Whelan and the accurate Patrick Breen extended their lead to 1-10 to 0-4 at the break.
Ferns completely dominated the new half as Tommy Dwyer, Breen and Colin Leacy all kicked over fine scores, before Tomas Hawkins fired to the net on 36 minutes (2-13 to 0-4). Breen continued his imperious form with another point from play, and it transcended into shooting practice for Ferns thereafter, as they notced another two points before firing home three goals in as many minutes, courtesy of the industrious Ian Byrne, Paul Morris, and sub Padraig Bolger, as they consolidated their place in the quarter-finals against Starlights with this 5-18 to 0-4 cakewalk.
Ferns St Aidans: Conor Swaine; Declan Byrne, Jamie Dunbar, Johnny Dwyer; James Tonks, Ciaran Roberts, Colin Leacy (0-1); Ian Byrne (1-3), Colm Whelan (0-2); Tommy Dwyer (0-1), Paul Morris (1-2), John Breen (1-0 pen.); Patrick Breen (0-6), Tomas Hawkins (1-3, 3 frees), Christopher O'Connor. Subs: Keith Rynhart for O'Connor; Eddie Cullen for Hawkins; Padraig Bolger for Breen.
Kilanerin: Patrick Hughes; Michael D'Arcy (Senator), Michael Hughes, Peter Nash; Killian O'Toole, Stephen Hughes, Aidan Hegarty (0-1); Michael Byrne (0-1), Willie Murphy (0-1); James Graham (0-1), Cathal D'Arcy, Conor Byrne; Brian D'Arcy, Aodhan Kavanagh, Michael D'Arcy.
Referee: Barry Redmond (Clonard)
August 25, quarter-final: Starlights 0-12, Ferns St Aidans 0-9
STARLIGHTS ROARED back from a three-point half-time deficit to claim a place in the last four of the Intermediate football championship at Farmleigh on Saturday last.
Trailing by 0-6 to 0-3 after a less-than-impressive opening period, the Enniscorthy town side clicked into gear early in the second-half and overpowered a shell-shocked Ferns. Indeed, the final 20 minutes will probably go down as the best spell the Starlights have put together this season and serves to send out a warning to their fellow semi-finalists that they'll be a tough proposition.
Second in their group, Ferns looked to be the side playing with confidence in the opening exchanges. After Ricky Fox claimed the first of his five scores, James Tonks got himself forward from wing-back to grab the first of four straight points for his side.
The other three came from the dead-ball expertise of the two Patricks, Breen and Codd, whose scores sent Ferns into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead after nine minutes.
Points by Tommy Foley and Paul Morris cancelled each other out and with five overs in the opening 13 minutes Ferns had already scored more points in that time than they would manage in the final 47.
The second quarter was a quiet affair as the tight confines of Farmleigh kept two sides with excellent workrate in stalemate. John Hudson did close the gap to two (0-5 to 0-3) but an excellent Colm Whelan point in the 24th minute meant it was double scores at the break.
Ian Byrne made the lead a game-high four just seconds after the resumption but it didn't deter Starlights who were just about to start turning the screw. Four consecutive points, in a nine-minute spell, with Fox grabbing two including a superb effort from tight to the byline on the right, wiped out the Ferns advantage.Codd chipped his side ahead again to momentarily lift the siege on the Ferns goal but again Fox added a double, with Jason Russell also contributing to send Starlights clear for the first time since the second minute.
A tight and tense ten minutes went by without a score until substitute Edward Cullen broke it by pointing with his first touch (0-10 to 0-9), but the Bellefield side were still stronger and wrapped up the win with points from Kevin and Tommy Foley in added time.
Ferns St. Aidans: Conor Swaine; Declan Byrne, Jamie Dunbar, Jonathan Dwyer; James Tonks (0-1), Ciarán Roberts, Colin Leacy; Ian Byrne (0-1), Colm Whelan (0-1); Tommy Dwyer, Paul Morris (0-1), John Breen; Christopher O'Connor, Patrick Codd (0-2 frees), Patrick Breen (0-2 frees). Subs: Pádraig Bolger for J. Dwyer, Tomás Hawkins for J. Breen, Edward Cullen (0-1) for P. Breen.
Starlights: Lee Murphy; Mel Doyle, Mark Gahan, Joe Cullen; Jack Kelly, Tom Wall, Kevin Courtney; Pa Doyle, James Carty (0-1); Anto Russell, Jason Russell (0-1), Ricky Fox (0-5, 2 frees); Chris Kenny, John Hudson (0-2, 1 free), Tommy Foley (0-2). Subs: Davy Morrissey for Cullen, inj., Willie Hudson for Kenny, Kevin Foley (0-1) for Courtney.
Referee: Noel Whelan (Fethard)
The two most recent clubs to publish history books clashed in Group B of the Intermediate football championship in Bree on Friday last, and it’s fair to say that there was nothing on view to merit the late addition of a fresh chapter for a second print run.
Bannow-Ballymitty had enjoyed the freedom of the field against a weak Kilanerin second string five days earlier, but this time Ferns St. Aidan’s were in their faces from the off in a dour, niggly encounter.
Indeed, the Ross District side’s physio, Joeanne Roche, was arguably the busiest person in Bree and there was one high-profile casualty when county defender Niall Murphy limped off with a knee injury in the 25th minute after Colm Whelan was booked for a late challenge.
Bannow-Ballymitty led by 0-6 to 0-2 at that stage, with the sweetest point coming from Murphy’s Wexford colleague, Ben Brosnan, when he converted a line ball from the right flank in the 23rd minute. Brosnan was overshadowed in general play though by lively corner-forward Niall Harney, particularly in the second-half when he occupied a deep role which meant that he rarely got within shooting distance.
Ferns - whose history book was launched later that night - finished the first-half brightly with the last three points to narrow the gap to the minimum (0-6 to 0-5), with Brendan Jordan getting their opening effort from play from a tricky angle on the right in the 30th minute.
Joe Bohanna did well to keep out an instinctive Tomás ‘Ducker’ Hawkins flick early in the new half before Bannow-Ballymitty pounced for their goal in the 36th minute.
Garry Murphy, operating at full-forward at this stage, won a high ball and turned his marker and, although his handpass to Shane Murphy was over-cooked, it still found Barry Sinnott who rattled the net from close range (1-6 to 0-5).
Ferns hit back near the end of the third quarter when Colm Whelan’s long delivery was claimed by an unmarked Tomás Hawkins, and he popped the ball over the last defender’s head to county Minor Patrick Breen who volleyed it home with his outstretched right boot.
Free-taker Patrick Codd quickly equalised (1-7 each) as the momentum swayed towards the Gorey District men, but Bannow-Ballymitty responded well as Niall Harney grabbed his third point from play before Ben Brosnan converted a long-range free off the ground with seven minutes left.
Ferns St. Aidan’s hit the front for the first time though shortly afterwards when Colm Whelan was dragged down and Codd coolly placed the resultant penalty in the right corner to make it 2-7 to 1-9.
It was left to Ben Brosnan to pick the perfect moment for his sole score from play.
It came in the 58th minute after Ferns were punished for trying to play keep-ball in their own half and giving possession away, with the Wexford ace darting forward and splitting the posts for a share of the spoils.
Ferns St Aidans: Conor Swaine; Declan Byrne, Jamie Dunbar, Seán Murphy; Ciarán Roberts, Jonathan Dwyer, James Tonks; Jamie Whelan, Colm Whelan; Brendan Jordan (0-1), Patrick Codd (1-5, 0-5 frees, 1-0 pen.), John Breen; Patrick Breen (1-0), Tomás Hawkins (0-1 free), Tommy Dwyer. Subs: Keith Rynhart for P. Breen, Colin Leacy for J. Breen.
April 29: Ferns St Aidans 3-7, HWH-Bunclody 0-8
Two second-half goals in quick succession from Tomás 'Ducker' Hawkins turned this Intermediate football championship Group B game on its head, as Ferns snatched the lead from HWH-Bunclody and held on to record a convincing victory in a wind-swept Bellefield on Sunday last.
After going four points behind early in the second-half, Hawkins' double-strike in the space of two minutes gave Ferns the perfect riposte and, playing with a strong wind at their backs, they never allowed Bunclody back into the game.
Bunclody probably should have been further in front before this intervention as they were guilty of some wayward shooting in the early exchanges, registering five wides before they finally got off the mark after twelve minutes through Keith O'Hara, shortly after Hawkins had opened the scoring with a pointed free.
Both sides were struggling with the strong wind but it was blowing to Bunclody's advantage and they began to make use of it as Darren Kehoe grabbed two scores and Bryan O'Hara put over a great effort from long range.
Paul Morris responded for Ferns but this was quickly cancelled out as Kehoe pointed a free and Aidan Nolan kicked one from play after winning the resultant kick-out.
Thanks to a lot of hard work, Ferns managed one more point from Hawkins just before half-time to go in three points behind at the break.
Kehoe resumed the scoring for Bunclody in the new half but it was shortly after his point that Hawkins pounced for his first goal, winning a high ball on the edge of the square and driving home.
Minutes later Ferns were awarded a free near the sideline some 35 yards from goal, and the wind deceived the Bunclody defenders on the goal-line as Hawkins' curling shot went all the way to the net, putting his side two points in front on the 36th minute.
Now playing into the wind, Bunclody struggled as they had it all to do, but managed to respond with a point from Conor Kinsella midway through the half.
This was as close as they would get however, as Ferns held possession and used the wind to keep the ball well into the Bunclody half for the remainder of the game.
Patrick Codd got onto the scoresheet next as he landed a massive free from 60 metres, and after the Bunclody kick-out was held up by the wind again, it ended up in Benny Jordan's hands and he duly pointed.
There was little Bunclody could do at this stage as their efforts were thwarted by both a stiff wind and a strong Ferns defence, and Ferns pulled even further away in the final minutes as Jordan grabbed another point and Morris kicked a great score before finding himself one-on-one with Bunclody goalie Pádraic Murphy, whom he skipped around and tapped into the open net to give his side a well-deserved eight-point win.
Ferns: Conor Swaine; Declan Byrne, Jamie Dunbar, Jonathan Dwyer; James Tonks, Ciarán Roberts, Seán Murphy; Jamie Whelan, Colm Whelan; Tommy Dwyer, John Breen, Keith Rynhart; Benny Jordan (0-2), Tomás Hawkins (2-2, 1-1 frees), Paul Morris (1-2).
Subs: Patrick Codd (0-1) for Rynhart, Patrick Breen for J. Whelan.
Bunclody: Pádraic Murphy; Stephen Finn, John Atkinson, William Atkinson; Martin Atkinson, Paul Atkinson, James Moorhead; Conor Kinsella (0-1), Bryan O'Hara (0-1); Keith O'Hara (0-1), Barry Kehoe, Darren Kehoe (0-4, 2 frees); Aidan Nolan (0-1), Colm Farrell, Padge Kehoe. Subs: Seán Kenny for K. O'Hara, Davy Reck for P. Kehoe.
Referee: Justin Heffernan (Blackwater).
June 13: Ferns St Aidans 0-9, Craanford 0-6
While Ferns St. Aidan's looked the stronger side throughout this Intermediate football championship Group B game, they were still pushed all the way by a Craanford that just couldn't seem to find the posts which was their ultimate downfall in Camolin on Wednesday last.
After a positive start, Ferns allowed Craanford back into contention coming up to half-time and, in the end, just barely hung on as their rivals had a number of opportunities to grab an equaliser in the final minutes but failed to do so.
Ferns showed that they meant business early in the game, registering points in the opening minutes thanks to Seán Murphy and Patrick Breen, but they didn't continue in this manner and didn't create another scoring opportunity until ten minutes later when Breen added a second after some slack marking in the Craanford defence. This was added to shortly afterwards by a Patrick Codd free.
Indeed, both sides seemed to be lacking the bite that one might expect in a championship game as Craanford also failed to test the Ferns defence until midway through the half when John Fleming finally got them off the mark after his side had a couple of bad misses.
Craanford upped their performance at this stage and finished out the half strongest and served up what was the highlight of the game when Stephen Greene kicked a mighty effort from 50 yards.
This was added to by Peter Kavanagh after a good move involving a number of players, and two quick points from wingback Desmond Kavanagh just before half-time to give Craanford the lead at the break.
Ferns started the new half much like they started the first, and quickly got off the mark thanks to two points from Patrick Codd to regain the lead.
Craanford were slow to start and again did not find the posts until midway through the half when Stephen Greene got them back level with a pointed free.
But this would prove to be their final score and was quickly cancelled out by the trusty boot of Patrick Codd after he collected a great pass from James Tonks to fire over a point from play before adding one from a free shortly afterwards. Codd was also unlucky not to have found the net after his opportunist effort came off the crossbar minutes later.
Craanford looked dead on their feet and when substitute Eddie Cullen pointed with five minutes remaining it looked like they would have no answer.
But they came fighting back hard in the final minutes and really were unlucky not to have got more out of some of the chances they created as Matthew Nolan's fisted effort and Peter Kavangh's close-in shot were agonisingly close to levelling things up.
But when Stephen Greene's free kick was blocked down in the dying moments one knew it just wasn't going to happen for Craanford and Ferns held on to stay in joint first spot with Bannow-Ballymitty.
Ferns St. Aidans: Conor Swaine; Pádraig Dwyer, Colm Whelan, Johnny Dwyer; James Tonks, Ciarán Roberts, Seán Murphy (0-1); Jamie Whelan, Eugene Breen; Tommy Dywer, John Breen, Patrick Codd (0-5, 4 frees); Paul Morris, Tomás Hawkins, Patrick Breen (0-2). Subs: Ryan Nolan for Morris, Eddie Cullen (0-1) for Hawkins, Jamie Dunbar for J. Breen.
Craanford: Bob Flynn; Joe Berney, Matthew Kenny, William Doyle; Niall Berney, James Byrne, Desmond Kavanagh (0-2); James O'Loughlin, Michael Shortle; John Fleming (0-1), Peter Kavanagh (0-1), Paudge Doyle; Michael Sinnott, Stephen Greene (0-2), Patrick Murray. Sub: Matthew Nolan for Sinnott.
Referee: John Carton (Monageer/Boolavogue)
July 29: St Mary’s (Rosslare) 1-12, Ferns St Aidans 1-6
DANNY FURLONG came off the bench to fire St. Mary's (Rosslare) back into contention for a place in the knockout stages of the Intermediate football championship in St. Patrick's Park on Sunday last.
With just a point separating the sides (0-9 to 1-5), the Wexford Youths striker jinked past two defenders and coolly slotted a 46th-minute strike past Ferns goalkeeper Conor Swaine to set his side on the road to victory.
Up to that point it was anybody's game as Ferns fought back from a four-point interval deficit to pull within the minimum. In that opening period Rosslare, needing the victory more, played at a higher tempo than their Gorey District opponents and it showed on the scoreboard with early points from Shane Sinnott (twice) and Emmett Byrne leaving them 0-3 to nil ahead after eight minutes.
It would have been worse for Ferns had Tiarnan Rossiter's shot crept inside the post in the early exchanges but two consecutive Patrick Breen points did narrow the gap. However, in reality, it only provided a moment of respite as four second quarter points - with David Murphy and Rossiter both grabbing a brace - helped St. Mary's into a 0-7 to 0-3 point lead at the break.
Rosslare stopper Stephen Cogley had to be alert twice at the end of the first-half to deny Patrick Codd and Patrick Breen on separate occasions but he could do nothing to stop Colm Whelan firing in from close range, after being brilliantly found by Paul Morris, two minutes after the re-start.
Points by Tiarnan Rossiter and Conor Cafferkey kept Ferns at arm’s length for a while but when Codd and Breen reduced the deficit to one their side looked the more likely winners. Yet that wasn't counting on the influence of Furlong, who also pointed after the goal, and that, allied with points from the Murphy brothers, David and Andrew, meant St. Mary's ran out convincing winners.
The result leaves both sides in control of their own destiny. Ferns need a positive result against Kilanerin in the final game to qualify while Rosslare know that a win will suffice against already-qualified HWH-Bunclody.
Ferns St. Aidans: Conor Swaine; Declan Byrne, Jamie Dunbar, Johnny Dwyer; James Tonks, Ciarán Roberts; Colin Leacy; Ian Byrne, Colm Whelan (1-0); Tommy Dwyer, Paul Morris (0-1), John Breen; Patrick Breen (0-3), Edward Cullen (0-1), Patrick Codd (0-1 free). Sub: Tomás Hawkins for Codd.
St. Mary’s: Stephen Cogley; Eamonn Power, Mick Kinsella, Conal Grant; Seán Kelleher, Johnny McDonald, Emmett Byrne (0-1); David Murphy (0-3), Oisín Lennon; Shane Sinnott (0-2), Andrew Murphy (0-1), Larry Morrissey; Niall Walsh, Conor Cafferkey (0-1), Tiarnan Rossiter (0-3, 1 free). Subs: Danny Furlong (1-1) for Kinsella, Lee Devereux for Cafferkey, Peter Carr for Morrissey.
Referee: Noel Whelan (Fethard)
August 11: Ferns St Aidans 5-18, Kilanerin 0-4
Ferns St Aidans had a whopping 29 points to spare against bottom-of-the-table Kilanerin in the final round of Group B action in the County Intermediate Football Championship at summery Monamolin on Saturday afternoon.
The Kilanerin second string actually led on two occasions, with the scores standing at 0-4 apiece after 15 minutes. While wing back Aidan Hegary levelled proceedings for the fourth time on 18 minutes, amazingly it proved Kilanerin's last score as the overall superiority of Ferns slowly came to bear.
The winners landed three unanswered points before captain John Breen fired home a penalty on 27 minutes for a 1-8 to 0-4 lead, while Colin Whelan and the accurate Patrick Breen extended their lead to 1-10 to 0-4 at the break.
Ferns completely dominated the new half as Tommy Dwyer, Breen and Colin Leacy all kicked over fine scores, before Tomas Hawkins fired to the net on 36 minutes (2-13 to 0-4). Breen continued his imperious form with another point from play, and it transcended into shooting practice for Ferns thereafter, as they notced another two points before firing home three goals in as many minutes, courtesy of the industrious Ian Byrne, Paul Morris, and sub Padraig Bolger, as they consolidated their place in the quarter-finals against Starlights with this 5-18 to 0-4 cakewalk.
Ferns St Aidans: Conor Swaine; Declan Byrne, Jamie Dunbar, Johnny Dwyer; James Tonks, Ciaran Roberts, Colin Leacy (0-1); Ian Byrne (1-3), Colm Whelan (0-2); Tommy Dwyer (0-1), Paul Morris (1-2), John Breen (1-0 pen.); Patrick Breen (0-6), Tomas Hawkins (1-3, 3 frees), Christopher O'Connor. Subs: Keith Rynhart for O'Connor; Eddie Cullen for Hawkins; Padraig Bolger for Breen.
Kilanerin: Patrick Hughes; Michael D'Arcy (Senator), Michael Hughes, Peter Nash; Killian O'Toole, Stephen Hughes, Aidan Hegarty (0-1); Michael Byrne (0-1), Willie Murphy (0-1); James Graham (0-1), Cathal D'Arcy, Conor Byrne; Brian D'Arcy, Aodhan Kavanagh, Michael D'Arcy.
Referee: Barry Redmond (Clonard)
August 25, quarter-final: Starlights 0-12, Ferns St Aidans 0-9
STARLIGHTS ROARED back from a three-point half-time deficit to claim a place in the last four of the Intermediate football championship at Farmleigh on Saturday last.
Trailing by 0-6 to 0-3 after a less-than-impressive opening period, the Enniscorthy town side clicked into gear early in the second-half and overpowered a shell-shocked Ferns. Indeed, the final 20 minutes will probably go down as the best spell the Starlights have put together this season and serves to send out a warning to their fellow semi-finalists that they'll be a tough proposition.
Second in their group, Ferns looked to be the side playing with confidence in the opening exchanges. After Ricky Fox claimed the first of his five scores, James Tonks got himself forward from wing-back to grab the first of four straight points for his side.
The other three came from the dead-ball expertise of the two Patricks, Breen and Codd, whose scores sent Ferns into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead after nine minutes.
Points by Tommy Foley and Paul Morris cancelled each other out and with five overs in the opening 13 minutes Ferns had already scored more points in that time than they would manage in the final 47.
The second quarter was a quiet affair as the tight confines of Farmleigh kept two sides with excellent workrate in stalemate. John Hudson did close the gap to two (0-5 to 0-3) but an excellent Colm Whelan point in the 24th minute meant it was double scores at the break.
Ian Byrne made the lead a game-high four just seconds after the resumption but it didn't deter Starlights who were just about to start turning the screw. Four consecutive points, in a nine-minute spell, with Fox grabbing two including a superb effort from tight to the byline on the right, wiped out the Ferns advantage.Codd chipped his side ahead again to momentarily lift the siege on the Ferns goal but again Fox added a double, with Jason Russell also contributing to send Starlights clear for the first time since the second minute.
A tight and tense ten minutes went by without a score until substitute Edward Cullen broke it by pointing with his first touch (0-10 to 0-9), but the Bellefield side were still stronger and wrapped up the win with points from Kevin and Tommy Foley in added time.
Ferns St. Aidans: Conor Swaine; Declan Byrne, Jamie Dunbar, Jonathan Dwyer; James Tonks (0-1), Ciarán Roberts, Colin Leacy; Ian Byrne (0-1), Colm Whelan (0-1); Tommy Dwyer, Paul Morris (0-1), John Breen; Christopher O'Connor, Patrick Codd (0-2 frees), Patrick Breen (0-2 frees). Subs: Pádraig Bolger for J. Dwyer, Tomás Hawkins for J. Breen, Edward Cullen (0-1) for P. Breen.
Starlights: Lee Murphy; Mel Doyle, Mark Gahan, Joe Cullen; Jack Kelly, Tom Wall, Kevin Courtney; Pa Doyle, James Carty (0-1); Anto Russell, Jason Russell (0-1), Ricky Fox (0-5, 2 frees); Chris Kenny, John Hudson (0-2, 1 free), Tommy Foley (0-2). Subs: Davy Morrissey for Cullen, inj., Willie Hudson for Kenny, Kevin Foley (0-1) for Courtney.
Referee: Noel Whelan (Fethard)
