U21 Hurling Championship 2014
May 5: Buffers Alley 2-11, Ferns St Aidans 0-6
Buffers Alley moved into the final four of the Under-21 hurling Premier championship with the minimum of fuss as they dispatched a struggling Ferns side on Monday of last week.
The Alley were far superior but the fact that Andrew Kenny scored 2-7 of his side’s total of 2-11 is a clear indication of how good the former Wexford squad member was in this game.
Ferns certainly couldn't handle the talented forward as he sprayed a string of stunning points and dispatched a pair of thunderous penalties past a hapless Murt Kehoe.
Within second of the throw-in the hosts signalled their intent with a penetrative attack down the left that ended with the lively Rob Donnelly drilling a shot across the face of goal.
A Kenny point gave his side the lead but, playing with the breeze, Ferns responded and should have goaled when Jason Collier got time to pull towards goal. However, his shot was too weak and John Lee Meyler got back to clear.
That was the only sniff Ferns got as Buffers Alley defended superbly and started to add points at the other end. Kenny grabbed 1-4 in the first-half, including a penalty when Rory Kirwan was fouled. His total, added to by Eoin Dempsey's two points, gave the Monamolin men a 1-6 to 0-2 lead at the change-around.
Despite getting the first score of the second period through Ben Cowman, Ferns couldn't get a foothold and the home side continued to press home their clear advantage.
Points by Kenny, Donnelly and Farrell were added to when corner-forward Donnelly was thumped by a Murt Kehoe wild swing and Kenny stepped up to smash his penalty low past the Ferns stopper.
Ferns did outscore their opponents in the final quarter, aided by a brace from substitute Andy Cash, but Buffers Alley already had their foot off the gas at that stage and they comfortably booked their last four spot opposite Rapparees.
Ferns St. Aidans: Murt Kehoe; Brian O'Neill, Aaron Collier, P.J. O'Neill (0-1); Pádraig Walsh, Patrick Breen, Gearóid Turner; Declan Byrne, Gavin Bailey; Ben Cowman (0-1), Peter Codd, Paddy O'Leary; Ryan Nolan (0-1 free), Gavin Collier, Jason Collier (0-1). Subs: Pádraig Bolger for O'Leary, Andy Cash (0-2) for J. Collier.
Buffers Alley: Oliver O'Leary; Leonard Leacy, Aaron Redmond, Ryan Gleeson; Ross Donohoe, Seán Murphy, John Lee Myler; Lee Murphy, Robert O'Leary; Eddie O'Connor, John Farrell (0-1), Andrew Kenny (2-7, 2-0 pens.); Rob Donnelly (0-1), Eoin Dempsey (0-2), Rory Kirwan. Subs: David Ryan for O'Connor, Walter Gahan for Kirwan, Gearóid O'Connor for A. Kenny, Laurence Gahan for Donnelly, Daryl O'Connor for Myler.
Referee: Barry Redmond (Clonard)
Buffers Alley moved into the final four of the Under-21 hurling Premier championship with the minimum of fuss as they dispatched a struggling Ferns side on Monday of last week.
The Alley were far superior but the fact that Andrew Kenny scored 2-7 of his side’s total of 2-11 is a clear indication of how good the former Wexford squad member was in this game.
Ferns certainly couldn't handle the talented forward as he sprayed a string of stunning points and dispatched a pair of thunderous penalties past a hapless Murt Kehoe.
Within second of the throw-in the hosts signalled their intent with a penetrative attack down the left that ended with the lively Rob Donnelly drilling a shot across the face of goal.
A Kenny point gave his side the lead but, playing with the breeze, Ferns responded and should have goaled when Jason Collier got time to pull towards goal. However, his shot was too weak and John Lee Meyler got back to clear.
That was the only sniff Ferns got as Buffers Alley defended superbly and started to add points at the other end. Kenny grabbed 1-4 in the first-half, including a penalty when Rory Kirwan was fouled. His total, added to by Eoin Dempsey's two points, gave the Monamolin men a 1-6 to 0-2 lead at the change-around.
Despite getting the first score of the second period through Ben Cowman, Ferns couldn't get a foothold and the home side continued to press home their clear advantage.
Points by Kenny, Donnelly and Farrell were added to when corner-forward Donnelly was thumped by a Murt Kehoe wild swing and Kenny stepped up to smash his penalty low past the Ferns stopper.
Ferns did outscore their opponents in the final quarter, aided by a brace from substitute Andy Cash, but Buffers Alley already had their foot off the gas at that stage and they comfortably booked their last four spot opposite Rapparees.
Ferns St. Aidans: Murt Kehoe; Brian O'Neill, Aaron Collier, P.J. O'Neill (0-1); Pádraig Walsh, Patrick Breen, Gearóid Turner; Declan Byrne, Gavin Bailey; Ben Cowman (0-1), Peter Codd, Paddy O'Leary; Ryan Nolan (0-1 free), Gavin Collier, Jason Collier (0-1). Subs: Pádraig Bolger for O'Leary, Andy Cash (0-2) for J. Collier.
Buffers Alley: Oliver O'Leary; Leonard Leacy, Aaron Redmond, Ryan Gleeson; Ross Donohoe, Seán Murphy, John Lee Myler; Lee Murphy, Robert O'Leary; Eddie O'Connor, John Farrell (0-1), Andrew Kenny (2-7, 2-0 pens.); Rob Donnelly (0-1), Eoin Dempsey (0-2), Rory Kirwan. Subs: David Ryan for O'Connor, Walter Gahan for Kirwan, Gearóid O'Connor for A. Kenny, Laurence Gahan for Donnelly, Daryl O'Connor for Myler.
Referee: Barry Redmond (Clonard)
