Intermediate Football Championship 2014
April 19: Ferns St Aidans 2-7, St James’ (Ramsgrage) 2-6
St. James’ suffered an early setback in their quest to make it third time lucky in the Lodgewood Engineering Intermediate football championship when they were surprised by an under-prepared Ferns St. Aidan’s in this Group B contest in Bree on Saturday last.
The victors were removed from the All-County League after conceding two walkovers and have paid scant attention to the big ball in training, but their off the cuff approach paid rich dividends in the form of an unexpected win over the beaten finalists of 2012 and 2013.
Team captain Christopher ‘Bitsy’ O’Connor gave them the ideal start with a third-minute goal from a superb Paul Morris delivery, and they were on their way. Their accurate crossfield passing posed repeated problems for the Emmet Doherty-managed Ramsgrange men, with another inch-perfect cross from the left wing by Patrick Codd picking out John Breen for goal number two in the 24th minute (2-3 to 0-3).
St. James’ lost substitute Emmett Dunning to a black card less than two minutes after his intro-duction, but they enjoyed a late lifeline when Kevin O’Grady tucked away a penalty in added time after being fouled following a one-two with Brian Molloy.
A remarkable feature of that opening half was the free count of 19 to Ferns and just two to St. James’, and I ended up 31-12. The favourites should have pushed on after Matthew O’Hanlon rattled the net from close range a mere 33 seconds into the new half and Brian Molloy followed up with the lead point (2-4 to 2-3), although the loss of David Doyle to a black card didn’t help their cause.
Ferns didn’t give them an inch though and looked dangerous on the break, with the next three points coming from Patrick Breen (free), Ryan Nolan and Patrick Codd.
O’Hanlon brought the gap down to one but just two more points would be scored in a last quarter which featured a black card for Ferns defender Robert Vickers.
Patrick Breen made it 2-7 to 2-5 for the red and whites in the 48th minute and they held out defi-antly as St. James’ were restricted to one last point with the penultimate kick of the game from Mark Molloy.
Ferns St. Aidans: Colin Redmond; Declan Byrne, Pádraig Bolger, Keith Rynhart; Robert Vickers, Colm Whelan, Keith Breen; Jamie Whelan (0-1), John Breen (1-0); Tommy Dwyer, Paul Morris, Patrick Breen (0-3, 2 frees); Christopher O’Connor (capt., 1-1), Patrick Codd (0-1 free), Ryan Nolan (0-1). Subs: Derek Thorpe for Bolger, inj. (52), Peter Nolan for Codd, Seán Walsh for Vickers (black card, 58).
St. James’: John Ryan; Greg Doyle, Graeme Molloy (capt.), Brian Kennedy; Robert Barron, Daniel Keating, David Doyle; Matthew O’Hanlon (1-1), Brendan Doyle; Kevin O’Grady (1-1, 1-0 pen.), Mark Molloy (0-1), Brian Molloy (0-2); Donal Barron, Liam Murphy (0-1), Shane Murphy. Subs: Emmett Dunning for Kennedy (27), Adam Parle for Dunning (black card, 29), Willie Murphy for D. Doyle (black card, 33), Peadar Murphy for L. Murphy (43).
Referee: Brendan Martin (Ballyhogue)
April 26: Ballyhogue 2-11, Ferns St Aidans 2-6
Not for the first time in his tumultuous club career, Robert 'Jim Bob' Levingstone inspired Ballyhogue to a shock victory, this time over Ferns St. Aidan’s, in the Lodgewood Engineering Intermediate football championship Group B in Monageer on Saturday last.
The Bree boys were on course for their second loss in less than a week when the lively Ryan Nolan popped over a point with two minutes of the first-half remaining to give his side a 2-4 to 0-4 lead.
However, Levingstone collected Norman Carr's pass, bolted in behind the Ferns defence and planted his shot past Colin Redmond to spark his side to life and onto a run of 2-4 without reply either side of half-time.
Ferns gave warning of their prowess as early as the second minute when Tommy Dwyer forced Myles Roche into a save. Yet it was Ballyhogue who did all the scoring in the early stages with points from Levingstone, Shane Roche and Liam Kelly moving the underdogs 0-3 to nil clear.
Nolan grabbed the first of his brace of goals when Patrick Codd's delicate pass found the forward in space and he dispatched to the Ballyhogue net. Levingstone pointed again to make it 0-4 to 1-0 but Ferns gradually got on top and were denied several times by an in-form Roche.
However, there was nothing the shot-stopper could do to deny Nolan his second in the 24th minute when he made the most of intricate build-up play by Paul Morris and Codd to smash soc-cer-style to the net from ten yards out.
Then came Jim Bob's goal that sent a jolt of confidence through the Ballyhogue men. Points by Syl Byrne and Kelly left the gap at one (2-4 to 1-6) at the interval before the Enniscorthy District side took the lead early in the second half when Levingstone's floated handpass found Shane Doyle to fist past Redmond.
From that point on there only looked one winner as Ferns completely lost the plot and their game-plan disintegrated. Points by Eddie Galavan and Roche increased the lead to four entering the final quarter and Ballyhogue were able to maintain their lead until the end to claim a deserved win.
Ferns St. Aidans: Colin Redmond; Keith Rynhart, Colm Whelan, Declan Byrne; Robert Vickers, Ian Byrne, Keith Breen; John Breen, Jamie Whelan; Tommy Dwyer (0-1), Paul Morris (0-1), Patrick Breen (0-2 frees); Ryan Nolan (2-1), Patrick Codd (0-1), Christopher O'Connor. Subs: Peter Nolan for Codd, inj., Pádraig Bolger for Nolan, Seán Walsh for K. Breen.
Ballyhogue: Myles Roche; Ger Cullen, Tomás Moriarty, Denis Asple; John Roche, Richard Dunne, Shane Doyle (1-0); Norman Carr, Syl Byrne (0-1); Shane Byrne, Eddie Galavan (0-1), Shane Roche (0-3); Liam Kelly (0-2), Denis Leacy (0-1 free), Jim Bob Levingstone (1-2). Sub: Declan Power (0-1) for Levingstone, inj.
Referee: Brian O'Leary (Crossabeg-Ballymurn)
July 29: Ferns St Aidans 3-8, Craanford 1-7
Ferns St Aidans went from a position of certain strength at half time to needing a couple of late points from substitute Paul Morris to eventually notch their second win in Group B of the Lodgewood Engineering Intermediate Football Championship at Pairc Uí Shiochain against a much-depleted Craanford.
After both teams had notched early wides, Colm Whelan opened the eventual victors’ account with a point after six minutes, before another from Tommy Dwyer and a goal from Robert Vickers, after Derek Thorpe's original effort was saved by Craanford's over-worked 'keeper Bob Flynn, had them in the ascendancy after eight minutes (1-2 to no score).
Des Kavanagh scored Craanford's opener after 16 minutes, but they really struggled for the remainder of the half, as county minor Ben Cowman and John Breen both found the net for Ferns as they broke with a commanding 3-4 to 0-3 advantage.
But Craanford were a rejuvenated outfit on the resumption, and they landed an unanswered 1-3 by the 38th minute, with the goal coming from veteran campaigner Peter Kavanagh as their arrears reduced to 3-4 to 1-6.
A brace of Derek Thorpe white flags for Ferns sandwiched another effort from Peter Kavanagh, before Wexford senior hurler Paul Morris entered the fray in the final quarter to kick two fine points as his side hung on for another win, while Craanford appear to be in the mire as they have yet to pick up a win in this year's championship, although they were shorn a number of regulars, including Shane Kavanagh, Jamesie Nolan and Matthew Nolan.
Ferns St. Aidans: Colin Redmond; Keith Rynhart, Seán Walsh, Colin Leacy; Robert Vickers (1-0), Ciarán Roberts, Keith Breen; Colm Whelan (0-1), Jamie Whelan; Tommy Dwyer (0-1), James Tonks (0-1), Ben Cowman (1-1); Ryan Nolan, John Breen (1-0), Derek Thorpe (0-2). Subs: Paul Morris (0-2) for John Breen (inj.); Pat Nolan for Robert Vickers.
Craanford: Bob Flynn; Joe Berney, James Byrne, William Conroy; Patrick Murray, Stevie Greene (0-2), Matthew Kenny; Peter Kavanagh (1-2), Niall Berney; Michael O'Loughlin, James O'Loughlin, Ger Lyons (0-1); John Fleming, Gary Keating, Des Kavanagh (0-2). Sub: William Doyle for Gary Keating.
Referee: John Carton (Monageer-Boolavogue)
August 14: St Mary’s (Rosslare) 3-12, Ferns St Aidans 2-8
St Mary’s became the second club in Group B of the Lodgewood Engineering Intermediate foot-ball championship to reach the quarter-final following a hard-fought match against understrength Ferns St. Aidan’s in Wexford Park on Thursday last.
Both sides came into the game having lost the middle tie in their three to date but also just one win away from the knockouts. It was Rosslare who rose to the occasion with a late burst from Lee Devereux and Tiarnan Rossiter doing the damage.
Ferns' chances of making it past the group stages are now in peril with only a game against table-toppers HWH-Bunclody remaining. There is clearly an appetite for football in the club but with the hurlers stuttering of late, the big ball has been put well and truly on the back burner with just 19 players available, including two Minors.
St. Mary's looked to have the game won at half-time and held a nine-point interval lead, but it was far from a virtuoso performance. The Wexford District side only broke out of a malaise when David Murphy's dipping effort looped over Colin Redmond into the top left corner of the Clonard end goal (1-3 to 0-1).
Three minutes later they were in again, with Devereux applying the finishing touches to a move involving Rossiter and Cian Boggan. Ferns sleep-walked through the first period and only had scores from Ben Cowman, Tommy Dwyer and Ryan Nolan to show for a poor half (2-6 to 0-3).
Whatever was said at half-time certainly woke the Gorey District side up. Within two minutes Benny Jordan released Jamie Whelan who played Christopher O'Connor into the clear. The attacker’s initial shot was saved by Stephen Breen but he buried the rebound.
Rossiter pointed for Rosslare but Ferns goaled again when Morris fed Ryan Nolan and he hit the net (2-7 to 2-5). The sides traded scores into the last ten minutes as John Breen notched a tre-ble, including a fine pair of '45s.
Leading by just a point (2-9 to 2-8), having never been caught, St. Mary's accelerated away in the last few minutes. Devereux got a superb brace in less than a minute and Rossiter also pointed.
The game was ended when Devereux was fouled just outside the large rectangle, yet a penalty was given that Rossiter converted. To add to their woes, Colin Leacy was black-carded having seen a similar incident punished with a yellow at the other end earlier in the half.
Ferns St. Aidans: Colin Redmond; Pat Nolan, Colin Leacy (capt.), Keith Rynhart; Derek Thorpe, James Tonks, Tommy Dwyer (0-1); Jamie Whelan, Benny Jordan; Christopher O'Connor (1-0), John Breen (0-3, 2 '45s), Ben Cowman (0-1); Ryan Nolan (1-2, 0-1 free), Paul Morris (0-1), Tomás Hawkins. Subs: Colm Whelan for Hawkins (36), Niall Maguire for P. Nolan (36), Conor Doran for Leacy, black card (57).
St. Mary’s: Stephen Breen; Ned Power, Seán Finan, Gearóid Byrne (capt.); Niall Walsh, Paul Kinsella (0-1), Tiarnan Rossiter (1-3, 1-0 pen.); David Murphy (1-0), Andrew Murphy; Cian Boggan (0-1), Emmet Byrne, Larry Morrissey (0-1); Lee Devereux (1-3), Conor Cafferkey (0-2), Barry Quirke (0-1). Subs: Chris Walsh for Morrissey (38), Naomhan Rossiter for A. Murphy (51).
September 6: HWH-Bunclody 2-11, Ferns St Aidans 1-10
Ferns crashed out of the Lodgewood Engineering Intermediate football championship following a final round loss to HWH-Bunclody in Bellefield on Saturday last.
Even a draw would have been enough to see Ferns into the last eight. Yet, just when they looked like pulling off the great escape and snatching a draw from the jaws of defeat, a loose pass in defence in the last minute sent Darren Kehoe away. He fed John Connors, who in turn found John Paul Connors to hit the net from close range.
No doubt a blow to the players, some in Ferns might not see the result as anything to worry about. With the hurling title to play for all distractions, and excuses, are gone and they will head into the final weeks of the season with a single focus, unlike Bunclody who are right in the mix on two fronts.
It's foolhardy to describe the border club as a surprise package having been Senior not that long ago. However, winning all five group games and doing it with style has landed them with a favourite’s tag that they might not have expected.
They will give Kilmore plenty of respect but Bunclody will expect to win that quarter-final clash and they will prove a tough nut for anyone who wants to take the title. They proved a little too tough for Ferns, who were playing for their lives.
Ryan Nolan was inspirational for his club throughout, the one real weapon that the victors never came to terms with. He was involved in everything good for Ferns and his play helped them into a 0-5 to 0-4 lead late in the first-half.
Bunclody didn't excel in the early exchanges, despite a resurgent Darren Kehoe. They did get the last two points of the half through the full-forward and Podge Kehoe to lead by 0-6 to 0-5 at the interval. That lead was extended through the third quarter with points from Enda Slevin, Conor Kinsella, Kevin Dunne and Darren Kehoe added to by Podge Kehoe's 40th-minute major.
Ferns looked a spent force trailing by 1-10 to 0-6 but battled all the way back to within a point when Ian Byrne and Nolan combined to leave Ben Cowman with a simple close-range finish with three minutes remaining.
They wouldn't score again as John Paul Connors’ breakaway goal killed off their hopes of a quar-ter-final place and sent Bunclody into the knockout stages as the team to beat.
Ferns St. Aidans: Colin Redmond; Seán Walsh, Pádraig Bolger, Keith Rynhart; Robert Vickers, James Tonks, Tomás Hawkins; Ian Byrne (0-1), Jamie Whelan; Peter Nolan (0-1), John Breen (capt.), Tommy Dwyer (0-1); Ryan Nolan (0-3), Patrick Breen (0-3 frees), Ben Cowman (1-1). Subs: Derek Thorpe for J. Breen (41), Keith Breen for Walsh (41), Pat Nolan for Rynhart (53), Colin Whelan for J. Whelan, black card (60+1).
HWH-Bunclody: John Byrne; Conor Crean, John Atkinson, Enda Slevin (0-1); Colm Farrell, Paul Atkinson (capt.), Páuric Sinnott; James Moorhead, Conor Kinsella (0-2); Podge Kehoe (1-1), Barry Kehoe, Keith O'Hara; Kevin Dunne (0-1), Darren Kehoe (0-6, 3 frees, 1 '45), Matty Byrne. Subs: Steven Finn for Farrell, black card (33), John Paul Connors (1-0) for B. Kehoe, inj. (35), John Connors for Dunne (55), Mark Sheehan for M. Byrne (55).
Referee: Noel Stafford (Clongeen)
St. James’ suffered an early setback in their quest to make it third time lucky in the Lodgewood Engineering Intermediate football championship when they were surprised by an under-prepared Ferns St. Aidan’s in this Group B contest in Bree on Saturday last.
The victors were removed from the All-County League after conceding two walkovers and have paid scant attention to the big ball in training, but their off the cuff approach paid rich dividends in the form of an unexpected win over the beaten finalists of 2012 and 2013.
Team captain Christopher ‘Bitsy’ O’Connor gave them the ideal start with a third-minute goal from a superb Paul Morris delivery, and they were on their way. Their accurate crossfield passing posed repeated problems for the Emmet Doherty-managed Ramsgrange men, with another inch-perfect cross from the left wing by Patrick Codd picking out John Breen for goal number two in the 24th minute (2-3 to 0-3).
St. James’ lost substitute Emmett Dunning to a black card less than two minutes after his intro-duction, but they enjoyed a late lifeline when Kevin O’Grady tucked away a penalty in added time after being fouled following a one-two with Brian Molloy.
A remarkable feature of that opening half was the free count of 19 to Ferns and just two to St. James’, and I ended up 31-12. The favourites should have pushed on after Matthew O’Hanlon rattled the net from close range a mere 33 seconds into the new half and Brian Molloy followed up with the lead point (2-4 to 2-3), although the loss of David Doyle to a black card didn’t help their cause.
Ferns didn’t give them an inch though and looked dangerous on the break, with the next three points coming from Patrick Breen (free), Ryan Nolan and Patrick Codd.
O’Hanlon brought the gap down to one but just two more points would be scored in a last quarter which featured a black card for Ferns defender Robert Vickers.
Patrick Breen made it 2-7 to 2-5 for the red and whites in the 48th minute and they held out defi-antly as St. James’ were restricted to one last point with the penultimate kick of the game from Mark Molloy.
Ferns St. Aidans: Colin Redmond; Declan Byrne, Pádraig Bolger, Keith Rynhart; Robert Vickers, Colm Whelan, Keith Breen; Jamie Whelan (0-1), John Breen (1-0); Tommy Dwyer, Paul Morris, Patrick Breen (0-3, 2 frees); Christopher O’Connor (capt., 1-1), Patrick Codd (0-1 free), Ryan Nolan (0-1). Subs: Derek Thorpe for Bolger, inj. (52), Peter Nolan for Codd, Seán Walsh for Vickers (black card, 58).
St. James’: John Ryan; Greg Doyle, Graeme Molloy (capt.), Brian Kennedy; Robert Barron, Daniel Keating, David Doyle; Matthew O’Hanlon (1-1), Brendan Doyle; Kevin O’Grady (1-1, 1-0 pen.), Mark Molloy (0-1), Brian Molloy (0-2); Donal Barron, Liam Murphy (0-1), Shane Murphy. Subs: Emmett Dunning for Kennedy (27), Adam Parle for Dunning (black card, 29), Willie Murphy for D. Doyle (black card, 33), Peadar Murphy for L. Murphy (43).
Referee: Brendan Martin (Ballyhogue)
April 26: Ballyhogue 2-11, Ferns St Aidans 2-6
Not for the first time in his tumultuous club career, Robert 'Jim Bob' Levingstone inspired Ballyhogue to a shock victory, this time over Ferns St. Aidan’s, in the Lodgewood Engineering Intermediate football championship Group B in Monageer on Saturday last.
The Bree boys were on course for their second loss in less than a week when the lively Ryan Nolan popped over a point with two minutes of the first-half remaining to give his side a 2-4 to 0-4 lead.
However, Levingstone collected Norman Carr's pass, bolted in behind the Ferns defence and planted his shot past Colin Redmond to spark his side to life and onto a run of 2-4 without reply either side of half-time.
Ferns gave warning of their prowess as early as the second minute when Tommy Dwyer forced Myles Roche into a save. Yet it was Ballyhogue who did all the scoring in the early stages with points from Levingstone, Shane Roche and Liam Kelly moving the underdogs 0-3 to nil clear.
Nolan grabbed the first of his brace of goals when Patrick Codd's delicate pass found the forward in space and he dispatched to the Ballyhogue net. Levingstone pointed again to make it 0-4 to 1-0 but Ferns gradually got on top and were denied several times by an in-form Roche.
However, there was nothing the shot-stopper could do to deny Nolan his second in the 24th minute when he made the most of intricate build-up play by Paul Morris and Codd to smash soc-cer-style to the net from ten yards out.
Then came Jim Bob's goal that sent a jolt of confidence through the Ballyhogue men. Points by Syl Byrne and Kelly left the gap at one (2-4 to 1-6) at the interval before the Enniscorthy District side took the lead early in the second half when Levingstone's floated handpass found Shane Doyle to fist past Redmond.
From that point on there only looked one winner as Ferns completely lost the plot and their game-plan disintegrated. Points by Eddie Galavan and Roche increased the lead to four entering the final quarter and Ballyhogue were able to maintain their lead until the end to claim a deserved win.
Ferns St. Aidans: Colin Redmond; Keith Rynhart, Colm Whelan, Declan Byrne; Robert Vickers, Ian Byrne, Keith Breen; John Breen, Jamie Whelan; Tommy Dwyer (0-1), Paul Morris (0-1), Patrick Breen (0-2 frees); Ryan Nolan (2-1), Patrick Codd (0-1), Christopher O'Connor. Subs: Peter Nolan for Codd, inj., Pádraig Bolger for Nolan, Seán Walsh for K. Breen.
Ballyhogue: Myles Roche; Ger Cullen, Tomás Moriarty, Denis Asple; John Roche, Richard Dunne, Shane Doyle (1-0); Norman Carr, Syl Byrne (0-1); Shane Byrne, Eddie Galavan (0-1), Shane Roche (0-3); Liam Kelly (0-2), Denis Leacy (0-1 free), Jim Bob Levingstone (1-2). Sub: Declan Power (0-1) for Levingstone, inj.
Referee: Brian O'Leary (Crossabeg-Ballymurn)
July 29: Ferns St Aidans 3-8, Craanford 1-7
Ferns St Aidans went from a position of certain strength at half time to needing a couple of late points from substitute Paul Morris to eventually notch their second win in Group B of the Lodgewood Engineering Intermediate Football Championship at Pairc Uí Shiochain against a much-depleted Craanford.
After both teams had notched early wides, Colm Whelan opened the eventual victors’ account with a point after six minutes, before another from Tommy Dwyer and a goal from Robert Vickers, after Derek Thorpe's original effort was saved by Craanford's over-worked 'keeper Bob Flynn, had them in the ascendancy after eight minutes (1-2 to no score).
Des Kavanagh scored Craanford's opener after 16 minutes, but they really struggled for the remainder of the half, as county minor Ben Cowman and John Breen both found the net for Ferns as they broke with a commanding 3-4 to 0-3 advantage.
But Craanford were a rejuvenated outfit on the resumption, and they landed an unanswered 1-3 by the 38th minute, with the goal coming from veteran campaigner Peter Kavanagh as their arrears reduced to 3-4 to 1-6.
A brace of Derek Thorpe white flags for Ferns sandwiched another effort from Peter Kavanagh, before Wexford senior hurler Paul Morris entered the fray in the final quarter to kick two fine points as his side hung on for another win, while Craanford appear to be in the mire as they have yet to pick up a win in this year's championship, although they were shorn a number of regulars, including Shane Kavanagh, Jamesie Nolan and Matthew Nolan.
Ferns St. Aidans: Colin Redmond; Keith Rynhart, Seán Walsh, Colin Leacy; Robert Vickers (1-0), Ciarán Roberts, Keith Breen; Colm Whelan (0-1), Jamie Whelan; Tommy Dwyer (0-1), James Tonks (0-1), Ben Cowman (1-1); Ryan Nolan, John Breen (1-0), Derek Thorpe (0-2). Subs: Paul Morris (0-2) for John Breen (inj.); Pat Nolan for Robert Vickers.
Craanford: Bob Flynn; Joe Berney, James Byrne, William Conroy; Patrick Murray, Stevie Greene (0-2), Matthew Kenny; Peter Kavanagh (1-2), Niall Berney; Michael O'Loughlin, James O'Loughlin, Ger Lyons (0-1); John Fleming, Gary Keating, Des Kavanagh (0-2). Sub: William Doyle for Gary Keating.
Referee: John Carton (Monageer-Boolavogue)
August 14: St Mary’s (Rosslare) 3-12, Ferns St Aidans 2-8
St Mary’s became the second club in Group B of the Lodgewood Engineering Intermediate foot-ball championship to reach the quarter-final following a hard-fought match against understrength Ferns St. Aidan’s in Wexford Park on Thursday last.
Both sides came into the game having lost the middle tie in their three to date but also just one win away from the knockouts. It was Rosslare who rose to the occasion with a late burst from Lee Devereux and Tiarnan Rossiter doing the damage.
Ferns' chances of making it past the group stages are now in peril with only a game against table-toppers HWH-Bunclody remaining. There is clearly an appetite for football in the club but with the hurlers stuttering of late, the big ball has been put well and truly on the back burner with just 19 players available, including two Minors.
St. Mary's looked to have the game won at half-time and held a nine-point interval lead, but it was far from a virtuoso performance. The Wexford District side only broke out of a malaise when David Murphy's dipping effort looped over Colin Redmond into the top left corner of the Clonard end goal (1-3 to 0-1).
Three minutes later they were in again, with Devereux applying the finishing touches to a move involving Rossiter and Cian Boggan. Ferns sleep-walked through the first period and only had scores from Ben Cowman, Tommy Dwyer and Ryan Nolan to show for a poor half (2-6 to 0-3).
Whatever was said at half-time certainly woke the Gorey District side up. Within two minutes Benny Jordan released Jamie Whelan who played Christopher O'Connor into the clear. The attacker’s initial shot was saved by Stephen Breen but he buried the rebound.
Rossiter pointed for Rosslare but Ferns goaled again when Morris fed Ryan Nolan and he hit the net (2-7 to 2-5). The sides traded scores into the last ten minutes as John Breen notched a tre-ble, including a fine pair of '45s.
Leading by just a point (2-9 to 2-8), having never been caught, St. Mary's accelerated away in the last few minutes. Devereux got a superb brace in less than a minute and Rossiter also pointed.
The game was ended when Devereux was fouled just outside the large rectangle, yet a penalty was given that Rossiter converted. To add to their woes, Colin Leacy was black-carded having seen a similar incident punished with a yellow at the other end earlier in the half.
Ferns St. Aidans: Colin Redmond; Pat Nolan, Colin Leacy (capt.), Keith Rynhart; Derek Thorpe, James Tonks, Tommy Dwyer (0-1); Jamie Whelan, Benny Jordan; Christopher O'Connor (1-0), John Breen (0-3, 2 '45s), Ben Cowman (0-1); Ryan Nolan (1-2, 0-1 free), Paul Morris (0-1), Tomás Hawkins. Subs: Colm Whelan for Hawkins (36), Niall Maguire for P. Nolan (36), Conor Doran for Leacy, black card (57).
St. Mary’s: Stephen Breen; Ned Power, Seán Finan, Gearóid Byrne (capt.); Niall Walsh, Paul Kinsella (0-1), Tiarnan Rossiter (1-3, 1-0 pen.); David Murphy (1-0), Andrew Murphy; Cian Boggan (0-1), Emmet Byrne, Larry Morrissey (0-1); Lee Devereux (1-3), Conor Cafferkey (0-2), Barry Quirke (0-1). Subs: Chris Walsh for Morrissey (38), Naomhan Rossiter for A. Murphy (51).
September 6: HWH-Bunclody 2-11, Ferns St Aidans 1-10
Ferns crashed out of the Lodgewood Engineering Intermediate football championship following a final round loss to HWH-Bunclody in Bellefield on Saturday last.
Even a draw would have been enough to see Ferns into the last eight. Yet, just when they looked like pulling off the great escape and snatching a draw from the jaws of defeat, a loose pass in defence in the last minute sent Darren Kehoe away. He fed John Connors, who in turn found John Paul Connors to hit the net from close range.
No doubt a blow to the players, some in Ferns might not see the result as anything to worry about. With the hurling title to play for all distractions, and excuses, are gone and they will head into the final weeks of the season with a single focus, unlike Bunclody who are right in the mix on two fronts.
It's foolhardy to describe the border club as a surprise package having been Senior not that long ago. However, winning all five group games and doing it with style has landed them with a favourite’s tag that they might not have expected.
They will give Kilmore plenty of respect but Bunclody will expect to win that quarter-final clash and they will prove a tough nut for anyone who wants to take the title. They proved a little too tough for Ferns, who were playing for their lives.
Ryan Nolan was inspirational for his club throughout, the one real weapon that the victors never came to terms with. He was involved in everything good for Ferns and his play helped them into a 0-5 to 0-4 lead late in the first-half.
Bunclody didn't excel in the early exchanges, despite a resurgent Darren Kehoe. They did get the last two points of the half through the full-forward and Podge Kehoe to lead by 0-6 to 0-5 at the interval. That lead was extended through the third quarter with points from Enda Slevin, Conor Kinsella, Kevin Dunne and Darren Kehoe added to by Podge Kehoe's 40th-minute major.
Ferns looked a spent force trailing by 1-10 to 0-6 but battled all the way back to within a point when Ian Byrne and Nolan combined to leave Ben Cowman with a simple close-range finish with three minutes remaining.
They wouldn't score again as John Paul Connors’ breakaway goal killed off their hopes of a quar-ter-final place and sent Bunclody into the knockout stages as the team to beat.
Ferns St. Aidans: Colin Redmond; Seán Walsh, Pádraig Bolger, Keith Rynhart; Robert Vickers, James Tonks, Tomás Hawkins; Ian Byrne (0-1), Jamie Whelan; Peter Nolan (0-1), John Breen (capt.), Tommy Dwyer (0-1); Ryan Nolan (0-3), Patrick Breen (0-3 frees), Ben Cowman (1-1). Subs: Derek Thorpe for J. Breen (41), Keith Breen for Walsh (41), Pat Nolan for Rynhart (53), Colin Whelan for J. Whelan, black card (60+1).
HWH-Bunclody: John Byrne; Conor Crean, John Atkinson, Enda Slevin (0-1); Colm Farrell, Paul Atkinson (capt.), Páuric Sinnott; James Moorhead, Conor Kinsella (0-2); Podge Kehoe (1-1), Barry Kehoe, Keith O'Hara; Kevin Dunne (0-1), Darren Kehoe (0-6, 3 frees, 1 '45), Matty Byrne. Subs: Steven Finn for Farrell, black card (33), John Paul Connors (1-0) for B. Kehoe, inj. (35), John Connors for Dunne (55), Mark Sheehan for M. Byrne (55).
Referee: Noel Stafford (Clongeen)
