Intermediate Football Championship 2013
April 20: Ferns St Aidans 1-10, Kilrush 1-5
A 60TH-MINUTE James Tonks goal helped Ferns St. Aidan's to secure both points at the expense of Kilrush in this disappointing Lodgewood Engineering Intermediate football championship Group A game at Páirc Uí Síocháin, Gorey, on Saturday last.
A late spurt of scoring eventually got Ferns over the line but, on the evidence of this showing, former county footballer Colm Morris in his new managerial role has a real task on his hands to build a side with an eye towards the eventual title. While they were the superior outfit, their over-elaborate passing game saw many promising move-ments come unstuck while their shooting even from the easiest of distances was deplorable.
Kilrush, on the other hand, will face into a battle to preserve their status. While they showed admirable battling qualities, which could have produced a result, their lack of footballing skills denied them in the end. Really they were somewhat flattered to have been only five points adrift.
It was through the opening quarter when playing into a strong breeze that Kilrush enjoyed their best passage of play. After Paul Morris and Billy Nolan exchanged points, they went on to add further points through two Conor Levingstone frees to lead by 0-3 to 0-1 at the end of the opening quarter, and this would have been greater had both Levingstone and Billy Nolan not sent kickable frees wide of the posts.
Ferns gradually played their way into the game, going on to add unanswered points through Patrick Breen, one of their better forwards, who kicked over three, with Paul Morris on target with a punched effort following a defence-splitting run. Close to the break Billy Nolan responded for the opposition, leaving just the minimum separating the sides (0-5 to 0-4).
On the resumption, Ferns opened with three quick points through Patrick Breen, Ian Byrne and Tommy Dwyer, before Conor Levingstone brought a response from the opposition with a pointed free. Eight minutes from the end ’keeper Conor Swaine spilled a Levingstone free, leaving Pádraig Byrne with a simple tap-in, and the sides were back level (0-8 to 1-5).
Ferns controlled the closing stages, adding points through Dwyer and Morris before James Tonks finished low to the net after a Dwyer effort had rebounded off the crossbar, leaving them deserving winners.
Ferns St. Aidans: Conor Swaine; Declan Byrne, Jamie Dunbar, Colin Leacy; Seán Murphy, John Breen, Robert Vickers; Jamie Whelan, Colm Whelan, Tommy Dwyer (0-2), Brendan Jordan, Ian Byrne (0-1); Patrick Breen (0-4), James Tonks (1-0), Paul Morris (0-3). Subs.- Ciarán Roberts for J. Whelan, inj., Patrick Codd for Jordan.
Kilrush: John Harte; Martin Hayden, Frank Lancaster, Owen Murphy; Tom Kavanagh, James Lancaster, Raymond Lancaster; Colm Buttle, Gary Doran; Pádraig Byrne (1-0), Conor Levingstone (0-2 frees), Tom Byrne; Colin Sunderland, Billy Nolan (0-3, 1 free), Ted Kinsella.
Referee: Brendan Martin (Ballyhogue).
April 27: Ferns St Aidans 0-10, Bannow/Ballymitty 1-5
THE PRESENCE of long-time inter-county servant Colm Morris as trainer suggests that Ferns St. Aidan’s are tak-ing a more serious approach to football than in previous years.
And his positive impact was evident in Oylegate on Saturday last when they led from pillar to post to claim top spot in Group A of the Lodgewood Engineering Intermediate football championship.
Ferns may have been hanging on at the finish but it would have been a travesty if they lost this one given that Bannow-Ballymitty were simply atrocious.
The Gorey District side had first use of the wind and were completely on top for the first twelve minutes as they moved five points clear courtesy of impressive county Under-21 Patrick Breen (three) and two Eddie Cullen frees.
Niall Harney finally opened Bannow-Ballymitty’s account in the 22nd minute, but Brendan Jordan and Breen responded before a late Ben Brosnan free left five between them at the break (0-7 to 0-2).
It looked like the game would turn in favour of the south county side when a Shane Murphy delivery teed up Brosnan for the goal they needed a mere 12 seconds into the new half.
However, that wasn’t the case as Ferns continued to hold their own despite losing Jordan to a head injury after a reckless tackle. A remarkable statistic to note was that it took 20 minutes for the first Bannow-Ballymitty free to arrive in a half where their discipline let them down badly.
Five players were yellow carded while Jamie Staunton received a straight red for something he said to an umpire after earning a free which Brosnan converted with seven minutes to go.
That score reduced the gap to three (0-10 to 1-4) as free-takers Eddie Cullen (two) and substitute Patrick Codd had picked off Ferns points beforehand, and just one reply was posted by Niall Harney when his shot for goal was turned over by Ferns captain Jamie Dunbar who was in the right place at the right time in the 40th minute.
While Harney added his third point with five minutes remaining, all Bannow-Ballymitty could muster were a brace of wides thereafter as victory went where it belonged.
Ferns St. Aidans: Conor Swaine; Declan Byrne, Jamie Dunbar (capt.), Seán Murphy; Robert Vickers, Ciarán Roberts, James Tonks; Jamie Whelan, Colm Whelan; Ian Byrne, Brendan Jordan (0-1), John Breen; Patrick Breen (0-4), Eddie Cullen (0-4 frees), Tommy Dwyer. Subs. - Patrick Codd (0-1 free) for Jordan, inj. (37), Barry Breen for Cullen (54), Tony Cleere for Codd (57).
Bannow-Ballymitty: Jack Farragher; M.J. Doran, Art Sweetman, Art Murphy; Donal McLoughlin, Niall Murphy, Gavin Sinnott; David Currid, John Sinnott (capt.); Ben Brosnan (1-2, 0-2 frees), Shane Murphy, Michael Barry; Niall Harney (0-3), Garry Murphy, Jamie Staunton. Subs. - Gary Morton for S. Murphy (36), Robert Mageean for McLoughlin (43).
Referee: Aiden O’Brien (Cloughbawn).
July 27: Ferns St Aidans 1-6, HWH-Bunclody 0-4
THE MOST charitable thing one could say about this Lodgewood Engineering Intermediate championship Group A game in Farmleigh on Saturday last is that football mustn’t have been high on the priority list of either club in the long break for inter-county activity since the previous round.
Patrick Breen’s goal in the 40th minute powered Ferns St. Aidan’s to victory over a very weak HWH-Bunclody side in a clash with no redeeming features, leaving the team coached by Colm Morris in top spot with a maximum six points from three outings.
Not every local derby is a humdinger that will live long in the memory, and this was proof positive. Ferns may take the bragging rights but all those present will be doing their best to forget about it as quickly as possible. It took nearly ten minutes before Colm Farrell picked off the first point for HWH-Bunclody, with Paul Morris re-sponding at the start of the second quarter and then giving Ferns the lead.
Netminder John Byrne equalised from a ’45 before Conor Kinsella was brought down for a penalty which Kevin Dunne missed in the 24th minute, one of 13 HWH-Bunclody wides in all compared to eight for the winners.
Barry Kehoe and Tomás Hawkins (free) swapped points before the break and there was no improvement on the re-start as over eight minutes elapsed before Ian Byrne gave Ferns an advantage they would not relinquish. That decisive goal arrived just under 60 seconds later, with James Tonks, Paul Morris and Byrne all involved in the move before Hawkins struck a low shot off the post and the rebound was fired home by Patrick Breen (1-4 to 0-3).
Ferns netminder Conor Swaine brought off smart saves from Colm Farrell and Paudge Kehoe after Pádraig Bolger had widened the gap to five points, while substitute Aidan Nolan had steered a goal chance wide for the losers earlier in the half.
The sole HWH-Bunclody point after the break came in the 58th minute from a Mark Sheehan free, before Paul Morris had the last word for the victors in a dreadful outing.
Ferns St. Aidans: Conor Swaine; Declan Byrne, Jamie Dunbar (capt.), Colin Leacy; Pádraig Bolger (0-1), Ciarán Roberts, Jonathon Dwyer; James Tonks, Colm Whelan; Tommy Dwyer, Brendan Jordan, Ian Byrne (0-1); Paul Morris (0-3), Patrick Breen (1-0), Tomás Hawkins (0-1 free). Subs. -Barry Breen for Whelan, temp. (11-13), Eddie Cullen for Whelan (50), Barry Breen for Hawkins (54).
HWH-Bunclody: John Byrne (0-1 ’45); Enda Slevin, John Atkinson, Steven Finn; James Moorhead (capt.), Colm Farrell (0-1), Seán Kenny; Bryan O’Hara, Conor Kinsella; Paul Finn, Barry Kehoe (0-1), Keith O’Hara; Jamie John Murphy, Mylie Connors, Kevin Dunne. Subs. - Aidan Nolan for P. Finn (35), Mark Sheehan (0-1 free) for K. O’Hara (41), Paudge Kehoe for Murphy (41), Ollie Connors for Dunne (48), John Connors for S. Finn (59).
Referee: Seánie O’Shea (Blackwater).
August 15: Ferns St Aidans 1-11, Ballyhogue 0-6
Ferns maintained their 100 per cent record in the Lodgewood Engineering Intermediate Football Championship with a straightforward victory over Ballyhogue in St Patrick's Park on Thursday evening last.
Riding high on top of Group A with three consecutive victories, Ferns always looked likely to make it four as a whirlwind first half left the Bree boys shell-shocked. Indeed it could hardly have been a more impressive first thirty minutes for the St Aidan's side. Against a side with superb movement between the two forward lines, a midfield that was in dominant form and a defence that kept up an incredible rearguard record that has seen them concede just 2-20 in four games, Ballyhogue were completely overrun.
Strangely, the Enniscorthy District side did grab the opening score when Liam Kelly flashed over but that second minute minor was to be the sum of their first half efforts. Ferns, playing with a slight breeze, rushed away with a first period salvo of 1-9.
County hurling regular Paul Morris grabbed three early scores as his club racked up five points by the end of the first quarter. The deficit could have been worse had Ferns managed to goal in that spell. Tomas Hawkins brilliantly intercepted a defensive hand-pass, laid off to Edward Cullen who in turn released Patrick Breen, however the cor-ner-forward saw his shot saved by Myles Roche and with it the chance was gone.
A deserved major did arrive in the 20th minute and again it was Hawkins and Cullen linking up. The former did well around the '45 to feed Cullen who darted towards goal and unleashed a stunning shot into the top left corner of the Ballyhogue net from just outside the twenty (1-6 to 0-1).
The eleven-point interval lead was closed by two within six minutes of the resumption when Sean Ring and Syl Byrne pointed as Ballyhogue improved dramatically in the early stages of the second half. Tommy Dwyer fired Ferns final score in the 42nd minute (1-11 to 0-5) but a quiet final quarter meant that they were never really threat-ened in the closing stages.
Ferns St Aidans: Conor Swaine; Declan Byrne, Jamie Dunbar, Colin Leacy; Johnny Dwyer, Ciaran Roberts, Padraig Bolger; Colm Whelan, Ian Byrne; Paul Morris (0-3), James Tonks (0-1), Tommy Dwyer (0-2); Tomas Hawkins (0-1), Edward Cullen (1-2, 0-2 frees), Patrick Breen (0-2 frees). Subs: Barry Breen for Hawkins, Robert Vickers for I. Byrne, Ben Cowman for P. Breen, Keith Rynhart for Cullen.
Ballyhogue: Myles Roche; Ger Cullen, Sean Rochford, Denis Asple; John Roche, Richard Dunne, Hughie O'Neill; Syl Byrne (0-1 free), Shane Byrne; Shane Roche, Liam Kelly (0-2), Ivan Jacob; Sean Ring (0-3, 1 free), Robert Levinstone, Noel Roche. Subs: Graham Parker for J. Roche, Jack Fortune for Jacob, Mick Parker for Levinstone.
Referee: John Tobin
August 27: Ferns St Aidans 2-11, St James’ (Ramsgrange) 2-4
FERNS St. Aidans became just the fourth, and final, team in the top five divisions to complete a perfect round-robin stage with victory over St. James' in the Lodgewood Engineering Intermediate football championship in Bree on Tuesday last.
The table-toppers were made to battle for their victory in the opening half but completely took over after the interval to book a quarter-final place against Glynn-Barntown. St. James' started brightly and almost goaled when Brian Molloy forced Conor Swaine into a save, however Ferns didn't miss when their chance arose with Patrick Breen finding the net after good build-up play by Edward Cullen and Paul Morris.
An on-form Robbie Barron was causing the Gorey District men plenty of problems down the right wing and his probing and powerful running paid off when he linked up with Kevin O'Grady to send Molloy away for the levelling goal (1-1 each).
O'Grady, part of the Wexford set-up this year, showed the attributes that piqued Aidan O'Brien’s interest when he drilled home his side’s second major in the 17th minute, however they really struggled after that and would only add two further scores.
At the other end it was turning into the 'Morris and Breen Show' as the two Ferns forwards shared equally their side’s first-half tally of 2-6. Indeed, Breen provided Morris with his well-taken goal in the 26th minute to send the championship favourites to the crossover ahead by three.
Ferns tacked on the next five points in the second-half to seal victory, while O'Grady broke St. James' 28-minute spell without a score late on. His team will now face Clongeen in the last eight.
Ferns St. Aidans: Conor Swaine; Declan Byrne, Jamie Whelan, Johnny Dwyer; Robert Vickers, Ciarán Roberts, Pádraig Bolger; Ian Byrne (0-1), Colm Whelan; Tommy Dwyer, James Tonks (0-1), Paul Morris (1-3); Patrick Breen (1-6, 0-4 frees), Edward Cullen, Ben Cowman. Subs: John Breen for Cullen, Peter Nolan for Whelan, Liam Murphy for Vickers, Barry Breen for Cowman, Pádraig Walsh for J. Dwyer.
St. James: John Ryan; Paul Barron, Jason Barron, Brian Kennedy; Robbie Barron, William Murphy, David Doyle; Jamie Kent, Daniel Keating; Brian Molloy (1-0), Mark Molloy, Donal Barron (0-1); Kevin O'Grady (1-2, 0-1 free), John Foley (0-1), Greg Doyle. Subs: John McDonald for Kent, Jack O'Brien for Kennedy, Adam Parle for B. Molloy, Dermot Keating for D. Barron, Noel Holohan for Ryan.
Referee: Frankie Morrissey (Glynn-Barntown)
September 15: Glynn/Barntown 1-10, Ferns St Aidans 1-8
Glynn-Barntown put a season littered with sketchy form behind them with an impressive victory in the battle of the big guns in the Lodgewood Engineering Intermediate football championship at Bellefield on Sunday evening last. Big wins over St Mary's and Craanford were high-points in an otherwise unconvincing round-robin section for the Killurin men but those victories pale in comparison to the weekends success against championship favourites Ferns.
A clash that was slated as 'tie of the round' lived up to its billing. It took a fourth point from Glynn's excellent Craig Doyle to put their dogged Gorey District opponents to bed after a second half full of Senior quality football. For Ferns there is a promise of better days ahead. Colm Morris has added a lot to this squad and if they can keep some continuity in their set up they will go into next years summer campaign as warm favourites for promotion.
The unlucky losers were given the tricky task of playing in to a stiff breeze in the opening half but would have grabbed the early initiative had Patrick Breen's shot not been blocked on the goalline.
Ian Byrne and Johnny Dwyer did get the first pair of points of the game for their side but Ferns would manage just two further opening half minors as Glynn-Barntown took over.
Major threat Robert Dempsey and county footballer Rob Tierney picked off a brace of overs with 60 seconds of one another to tie the game and the Wexford District side took their first lead of the day when Mark Fanning fed Craig Doyle and the midfielder thumped the clashes opening goal past Conor Swaine.
With patient build up play Glynn continued to pick off scores and two Dempsey raised white flags late in the half saw the victors ease into a six point lead at the interval.
Moments after Swaine denied him a second goal, Doyle pointed a free to increase the lead to seven however his side would fail to score for the next twenty minutes as Ferns dominated, goaled through substitute Robert Vickers, and closed the deficit to one (1-8 to 1-7).
A lovely Mick O'Regan point, with four minutes remaining, looked to settle the growing Glynn nerves but Ferns came right back and got within one when the inspirational Johnny Dwyer knocked over his fourth point from half-back.
Glynn-Barntown refused to let Ferns level matters and notched the vital insurance point through Doyle to book their last four spot opposite St Fintan's in Wexford Park next Saturday.
Ferns St Aidans: Conor Swaine; Declan Byrne, Jamie Dunbar, Colin Lacey; Padraig Bolger, Ciaran Roberts, Johnny Dwyer (0-4); Ian Byrne (0-1), Colm Whelan; Paul Morris (0-2), James Tonks, Tommy Dwyer; Patrick Breen (0-1), Jamie Whelan, Tomas Hawkins. Subs: John Breen for Dunbar, Eddie Cullen for C. Whelan, Robert Vickers (1-0) for Hawkins
Glynn/Barntown: Luke Rafter; Simon Gubbins, Padraig Donnelly, Eoin Rafferty; Shane Gubbins, John Lacey, Rob Tierney (0-1); Michael Doyle, Craig Doyle (1-4, 0-2 frees, 0-1 '45); Barry Doyle, Mark Fanning, Donnacha Doyle; Robert Dempsey (0-3, 1 free), Mick O'Regan (0-2), Brendan Doyle. Subs: Mark Carley for Fanning, inj, Sean Carmody for D. Doyle.
Referee: Niall McDonald (Crossabeg/Ballymurn)
A 60TH-MINUTE James Tonks goal helped Ferns St. Aidan's to secure both points at the expense of Kilrush in this disappointing Lodgewood Engineering Intermediate football championship Group A game at Páirc Uí Síocháin, Gorey, on Saturday last.
A late spurt of scoring eventually got Ferns over the line but, on the evidence of this showing, former county footballer Colm Morris in his new managerial role has a real task on his hands to build a side with an eye towards the eventual title. While they were the superior outfit, their over-elaborate passing game saw many promising move-ments come unstuck while their shooting even from the easiest of distances was deplorable.
Kilrush, on the other hand, will face into a battle to preserve their status. While they showed admirable battling qualities, which could have produced a result, their lack of footballing skills denied them in the end. Really they were somewhat flattered to have been only five points adrift.
It was through the opening quarter when playing into a strong breeze that Kilrush enjoyed their best passage of play. After Paul Morris and Billy Nolan exchanged points, they went on to add further points through two Conor Levingstone frees to lead by 0-3 to 0-1 at the end of the opening quarter, and this would have been greater had both Levingstone and Billy Nolan not sent kickable frees wide of the posts.
Ferns gradually played their way into the game, going on to add unanswered points through Patrick Breen, one of their better forwards, who kicked over three, with Paul Morris on target with a punched effort following a defence-splitting run. Close to the break Billy Nolan responded for the opposition, leaving just the minimum separating the sides (0-5 to 0-4).
On the resumption, Ferns opened with three quick points through Patrick Breen, Ian Byrne and Tommy Dwyer, before Conor Levingstone brought a response from the opposition with a pointed free. Eight minutes from the end ’keeper Conor Swaine spilled a Levingstone free, leaving Pádraig Byrne with a simple tap-in, and the sides were back level (0-8 to 1-5).
Ferns controlled the closing stages, adding points through Dwyer and Morris before James Tonks finished low to the net after a Dwyer effort had rebounded off the crossbar, leaving them deserving winners.
Ferns St. Aidans: Conor Swaine; Declan Byrne, Jamie Dunbar, Colin Leacy; Seán Murphy, John Breen, Robert Vickers; Jamie Whelan, Colm Whelan, Tommy Dwyer (0-2), Brendan Jordan, Ian Byrne (0-1); Patrick Breen (0-4), James Tonks (1-0), Paul Morris (0-3). Subs.- Ciarán Roberts for J. Whelan, inj., Patrick Codd for Jordan.
Kilrush: John Harte; Martin Hayden, Frank Lancaster, Owen Murphy; Tom Kavanagh, James Lancaster, Raymond Lancaster; Colm Buttle, Gary Doran; Pádraig Byrne (1-0), Conor Levingstone (0-2 frees), Tom Byrne; Colin Sunderland, Billy Nolan (0-3, 1 free), Ted Kinsella.
Referee: Brendan Martin (Ballyhogue).
April 27: Ferns St Aidans 0-10, Bannow/Ballymitty 1-5
THE PRESENCE of long-time inter-county servant Colm Morris as trainer suggests that Ferns St. Aidan’s are tak-ing a more serious approach to football than in previous years.
And his positive impact was evident in Oylegate on Saturday last when they led from pillar to post to claim top spot in Group A of the Lodgewood Engineering Intermediate football championship.
Ferns may have been hanging on at the finish but it would have been a travesty if they lost this one given that Bannow-Ballymitty were simply atrocious.
The Gorey District side had first use of the wind and were completely on top for the first twelve minutes as they moved five points clear courtesy of impressive county Under-21 Patrick Breen (three) and two Eddie Cullen frees.
Niall Harney finally opened Bannow-Ballymitty’s account in the 22nd minute, but Brendan Jordan and Breen responded before a late Ben Brosnan free left five between them at the break (0-7 to 0-2).
It looked like the game would turn in favour of the south county side when a Shane Murphy delivery teed up Brosnan for the goal they needed a mere 12 seconds into the new half.
However, that wasn’t the case as Ferns continued to hold their own despite losing Jordan to a head injury after a reckless tackle. A remarkable statistic to note was that it took 20 minutes for the first Bannow-Ballymitty free to arrive in a half where their discipline let them down badly.
Five players were yellow carded while Jamie Staunton received a straight red for something he said to an umpire after earning a free which Brosnan converted with seven minutes to go.
That score reduced the gap to three (0-10 to 1-4) as free-takers Eddie Cullen (two) and substitute Patrick Codd had picked off Ferns points beforehand, and just one reply was posted by Niall Harney when his shot for goal was turned over by Ferns captain Jamie Dunbar who was in the right place at the right time in the 40th minute.
While Harney added his third point with five minutes remaining, all Bannow-Ballymitty could muster were a brace of wides thereafter as victory went where it belonged.
Ferns St. Aidans: Conor Swaine; Declan Byrne, Jamie Dunbar (capt.), Seán Murphy; Robert Vickers, Ciarán Roberts, James Tonks; Jamie Whelan, Colm Whelan; Ian Byrne, Brendan Jordan (0-1), John Breen; Patrick Breen (0-4), Eddie Cullen (0-4 frees), Tommy Dwyer. Subs. - Patrick Codd (0-1 free) for Jordan, inj. (37), Barry Breen for Cullen (54), Tony Cleere for Codd (57).
Bannow-Ballymitty: Jack Farragher; M.J. Doran, Art Sweetman, Art Murphy; Donal McLoughlin, Niall Murphy, Gavin Sinnott; David Currid, John Sinnott (capt.); Ben Brosnan (1-2, 0-2 frees), Shane Murphy, Michael Barry; Niall Harney (0-3), Garry Murphy, Jamie Staunton. Subs. - Gary Morton for S. Murphy (36), Robert Mageean for McLoughlin (43).
Referee: Aiden O’Brien (Cloughbawn).
July 27: Ferns St Aidans 1-6, HWH-Bunclody 0-4
THE MOST charitable thing one could say about this Lodgewood Engineering Intermediate championship Group A game in Farmleigh on Saturday last is that football mustn’t have been high on the priority list of either club in the long break for inter-county activity since the previous round.
Patrick Breen’s goal in the 40th minute powered Ferns St. Aidan’s to victory over a very weak HWH-Bunclody side in a clash with no redeeming features, leaving the team coached by Colm Morris in top spot with a maximum six points from three outings.
Not every local derby is a humdinger that will live long in the memory, and this was proof positive. Ferns may take the bragging rights but all those present will be doing their best to forget about it as quickly as possible. It took nearly ten minutes before Colm Farrell picked off the first point for HWH-Bunclody, with Paul Morris re-sponding at the start of the second quarter and then giving Ferns the lead.
Netminder John Byrne equalised from a ’45 before Conor Kinsella was brought down for a penalty which Kevin Dunne missed in the 24th minute, one of 13 HWH-Bunclody wides in all compared to eight for the winners.
Barry Kehoe and Tomás Hawkins (free) swapped points before the break and there was no improvement on the re-start as over eight minutes elapsed before Ian Byrne gave Ferns an advantage they would not relinquish. That decisive goal arrived just under 60 seconds later, with James Tonks, Paul Morris and Byrne all involved in the move before Hawkins struck a low shot off the post and the rebound was fired home by Patrick Breen (1-4 to 0-3).
Ferns netminder Conor Swaine brought off smart saves from Colm Farrell and Paudge Kehoe after Pádraig Bolger had widened the gap to five points, while substitute Aidan Nolan had steered a goal chance wide for the losers earlier in the half.
The sole HWH-Bunclody point after the break came in the 58th minute from a Mark Sheehan free, before Paul Morris had the last word for the victors in a dreadful outing.
Ferns St. Aidans: Conor Swaine; Declan Byrne, Jamie Dunbar (capt.), Colin Leacy; Pádraig Bolger (0-1), Ciarán Roberts, Jonathon Dwyer; James Tonks, Colm Whelan; Tommy Dwyer, Brendan Jordan, Ian Byrne (0-1); Paul Morris (0-3), Patrick Breen (1-0), Tomás Hawkins (0-1 free). Subs. -Barry Breen for Whelan, temp. (11-13), Eddie Cullen for Whelan (50), Barry Breen for Hawkins (54).
HWH-Bunclody: John Byrne (0-1 ’45); Enda Slevin, John Atkinson, Steven Finn; James Moorhead (capt.), Colm Farrell (0-1), Seán Kenny; Bryan O’Hara, Conor Kinsella; Paul Finn, Barry Kehoe (0-1), Keith O’Hara; Jamie John Murphy, Mylie Connors, Kevin Dunne. Subs. - Aidan Nolan for P. Finn (35), Mark Sheehan (0-1 free) for K. O’Hara (41), Paudge Kehoe for Murphy (41), Ollie Connors for Dunne (48), John Connors for S. Finn (59).
Referee: Seánie O’Shea (Blackwater).
August 15: Ferns St Aidans 1-11, Ballyhogue 0-6
Ferns maintained their 100 per cent record in the Lodgewood Engineering Intermediate Football Championship with a straightforward victory over Ballyhogue in St Patrick's Park on Thursday evening last.
Riding high on top of Group A with three consecutive victories, Ferns always looked likely to make it four as a whirlwind first half left the Bree boys shell-shocked. Indeed it could hardly have been a more impressive first thirty minutes for the St Aidan's side. Against a side with superb movement between the two forward lines, a midfield that was in dominant form and a defence that kept up an incredible rearguard record that has seen them concede just 2-20 in four games, Ballyhogue were completely overrun.
Strangely, the Enniscorthy District side did grab the opening score when Liam Kelly flashed over but that second minute minor was to be the sum of their first half efforts. Ferns, playing with a slight breeze, rushed away with a first period salvo of 1-9.
County hurling regular Paul Morris grabbed three early scores as his club racked up five points by the end of the first quarter. The deficit could have been worse had Ferns managed to goal in that spell. Tomas Hawkins brilliantly intercepted a defensive hand-pass, laid off to Edward Cullen who in turn released Patrick Breen, however the cor-ner-forward saw his shot saved by Myles Roche and with it the chance was gone.
A deserved major did arrive in the 20th minute and again it was Hawkins and Cullen linking up. The former did well around the '45 to feed Cullen who darted towards goal and unleashed a stunning shot into the top left corner of the Ballyhogue net from just outside the twenty (1-6 to 0-1).
The eleven-point interval lead was closed by two within six minutes of the resumption when Sean Ring and Syl Byrne pointed as Ballyhogue improved dramatically in the early stages of the second half. Tommy Dwyer fired Ferns final score in the 42nd minute (1-11 to 0-5) but a quiet final quarter meant that they were never really threat-ened in the closing stages.
Ferns St Aidans: Conor Swaine; Declan Byrne, Jamie Dunbar, Colin Leacy; Johnny Dwyer, Ciaran Roberts, Padraig Bolger; Colm Whelan, Ian Byrne; Paul Morris (0-3), James Tonks (0-1), Tommy Dwyer (0-2); Tomas Hawkins (0-1), Edward Cullen (1-2, 0-2 frees), Patrick Breen (0-2 frees). Subs: Barry Breen for Hawkins, Robert Vickers for I. Byrne, Ben Cowman for P. Breen, Keith Rynhart for Cullen.
Ballyhogue: Myles Roche; Ger Cullen, Sean Rochford, Denis Asple; John Roche, Richard Dunne, Hughie O'Neill; Syl Byrne (0-1 free), Shane Byrne; Shane Roche, Liam Kelly (0-2), Ivan Jacob; Sean Ring (0-3, 1 free), Robert Levinstone, Noel Roche. Subs: Graham Parker for J. Roche, Jack Fortune for Jacob, Mick Parker for Levinstone.
Referee: John Tobin
August 27: Ferns St Aidans 2-11, St James’ (Ramsgrange) 2-4
FERNS St. Aidans became just the fourth, and final, team in the top five divisions to complete a perfect round-robin stage with victory over St. James' in the Lodgewood Engineering Intermediate football championship in Bree on Tuesday last.
The table-toppers were made to battle for their victory in the opening half but completely took over after the interval to book a quarter-final place against Glynn-Barntown. St. James' started brightly and almost goaled when Brian Molloy forced Conor Swaine into a save, however Ferns didn't miss when their chance arose with Patrick Breen finding the net after good build-up play by Edward Cullen and Paul Morris.
An on-form Robbie Barron was causing the Gorey District men plenty of problems down the right wing and his probing and powerful running paid off when he linked up with Kevin O'Grady to send Molloy away for the levelling goal (1-1 each).
O'Grady, part of the Wexford set-up this year, showed the attributes that piqued Aidan O'Brien’s interest when he drilled home his side’s second major in the 17th minute, however they really struggled after that and would only add two further scores.
At the other end it was turning into the 'Morris and Breen Show' as the two Ferns forwards shared equally their side’s first-half tally of 2-6. Indeed, Breen provided Morris with his well-taken goal in the 26th minute to send the championship favourites to the crossover ahead by three.
Ferns tacked on the next five points in the second-half to seal victory, while O'Grady broke St. James' 28-minute spell without a score late on. His team will now face Clongeen in the last eight.
Ferns St. Aidans: Conor Swaine; Declan Byrne, Jamie Whelan, Johnny Dwyer; Robert Vickers, Ciarán Roberts, Pádraig Bolger; Ian Byrne (0-1), Colm Whelan; Tommy Dwyer, James Tonks (0-1), Paul Morris (1-3); Patrick Breen (1-6, 0-4 frees), Edward Cullen, Ben Cowman. Subs: John Breen for Cullen, Peter Nolan for Whelan, Liam Murphy for Vickers, Barry Breen for Cowman, Pádraig Walsh for J. Dwyer.
St. James: John Ryan; Paul Barron, Jason Barron, Brian Kennedy; Robbie Barron, William Murphy, David Doyle; Jamie Kent, Daniel Keating; Brian Molloy (1-0), Mark Molloy, Donal Barron (0-1); Kevin O'Grady (1-2, 0-1 free), John Foley (0-1), Greg Doyle. Subs: John McDonald for Kent, Jack O'Brien for Kennedy, Adam Parle for B. Molloy, Dermot Keating for D. Barron, Noel Holohan for Ryan.
Referee: Frankie Morrissey (Glynn-Barntown)
September 15: Glynn/Barntown 1-10, Ferns St Aidans 1-8
Glynn-Barntown put a season littered with sketchy form behind them with an impressive victory in the battle of the big guns in the Lodgewood Engineering Intermediate football championship at Bellefield on Sunday evening last. Big wins over St Mary's and Craanford were high-points in an otherwise unconvincing round-robin section for the Killurin men but those victories pale in comparison to the weekends success against championship favourites Ferns.
A clash that was slated as 'tie of the round' lived up to its billing. It took a fourth point from Glynn's excellent Craig Doyle to put their dogged Gorey District opponents to bed after a second half full of Senior quality football. For Ferns there is a promise of better days ahead. Colm Morris has added a lot to this squad and if they can keep some continuity in their set up they will go into next years summer campaign as warm favourites for promotion.
The unlucky losers were given the tricky task of playing in to a stiff breeze in the opening half but would have grabbed the early initiative had Patrick Breen's shot not been blocked on the goalline.
Ian Byrne and Johnny Dwyer did get the first pair of points of the game for their side but Ferns would manage just two further opening half minors as Glynn-Barntown took over.
Major threat Robert Dempsey and county footballer Rob Tierney picked off a brace of overs with 60 seconds of one another to tie the game and the Wexford District side took their first lead of the day when Mark Fanning fed Craig Doyle and the midfielder thumped the clashes opening goal past Conor Swaine.
With patient build up play Glynn continued to pick off scores and two Dempsey raised white flags late in the half saw the victors ease into a six point lead at the interval.
Moments after Swaine denied him a second goal, Doyle pointed a free to increase the lead to seven however his side would fail to score for the next twenty minutes as Ferns dominated, goaled through substitute Robert Vickers, and closed the deficit to one (1-8 to 1-7).
A lovely Mick O'Regan point, with four minutes remaining, looked to settle the growing Glynn nerves but Ferns came right back and got within one when the inspirational Johnny Dwyer knocked over his fourth point from half-back.
Glynn-Barntown refused to let Ferns level matters and notched the vital insurance point through Doyle to book their last four spot opposite St Fintan's in Wexford Park next Saturday.
Ferns St Aidans: Conor Swaine; Declan Byrne, Jamie Dunbar, Colin Lacey; Padraig Bolger, Ciaran Roberts, Johnny Dwyer (0-4); Ian Byrne (0-1), Colm Whelan; Paul Morris (0-2), James Tonks, Tommy Dwyer; Patrick Breen (0-1), Jamie Whelan, Tomas Hawkins. Subs: John Breen for Dunbar, Eddie Cullen for C. Whelan, Robert Vickers (1-0) for Hawkins
Glynn/Barntown: Luke Rafter; Simon Gubbins, Padraig Donnelly, Eoin Rafferty; Shane Gubbins, John Lacey, Rob Tierney (0-1); Michael Doyle, Craig Doyle (1-4, 0-2 frees, 0-1 '45); Barry Doyle, Mark Fanning, Donnacha Doyle; Robert Dempsey (0-3, 1 free), Mick O'Regan (0-2), Brendan Doyle. Subs: Mark Carley for Fanning, inj, Sean Carmody for D. Doyle.
Referee: Niall McDonald (Crossabeg/Ballymurn)
