Junior Hurling Championship 2016
May 1: Ferns St Aidans 2-13, St Mary’s (Rosslare) 0-10
Tiki Taka hurling came to Hollymount on Sunday as Ferns St Aidans attempted to short-pass their way around a shadow St. Mary’s (Rosslare) side in Group B of the Junior Hurling Championship.
The good news for the Gorey District Club is that they managed to get the win they deserved. The bad news is that they need a lot of work on their close-range passing if they are to become the Barcelona of Wexford hurling.
As well as coughing up plenty of possession swinging the ball around, Ferns swatted 18 wides, but they were still comfortable enough against a Rosslare side that could manage the bare 15 players, including a limping Naomhan Rossiter – a sight that would made Wexford football boss David Power wince so close to the championship opener against Kildare in Croke Park on Saturday fortnight.
Ferns had half of those 18 wides in the opening period as they struggled to a 0-3 apiece tie after 25 minutes. Indeed, it could have been worse for Ferns had the Rossiter brothers not hit opposite uprights in separate moves at the end of the first quarter.
A brace from PJ O’Neill did help the victors in a 0-6 to 0-4 lead at the interval, but with Naohman Rossiter bringing his tally to five, Rosslare edged within one shortly after the resumption.
Things started to go wrong for St Mary’s then when Niall Byrne pulled home a fumble by Michael Ferguson in the 37th minute.
When Eddie Cullen scored his fifth point, Ferns had stretched their lead to 1-11 to 0-7 after 50 minutes. They then put the game to bed when PJ O’Neill’s long-range effort found the net.
Rosslare kept fighting with scores from Larry Morrissey and Tiarnan Rossiter, but it wasn’t enough to deny Ferns their win.
Ferns St Aidans: Pádraig Dunbar; Paul Lancaster, Niall Maguire (capt.), Peter Nolan; Colm Whelan, Seán Walsh, Patrick Breen; Pádraig Walsh, Patrick Codd (0-1); PJ O’Neill (1-2), Eddie Cullen (0-6, 5 frees), Peter O’Toole; Paddy O’Leary (0-2), Niall Byrne (1-0), Anthony Dwyer (0-2). Subs: Jack O’Hagan for Dwyer (54), Conor Nolan for O’Toole (54), Conor Hall for Codd (59), Conor Doran for Lancaster (59), Ben Bernie for Byrne (60+1).
St Mary’s (Rosslare): Michael Ferguson; Ned Power, Conor Cafferkey, Andy Cummins; Richard Bent, Tiarnan Rossiter (capt., 0-1 free), Larry Morrissey (0-1 free); Ian Kavanagh, Ultan Quirke (0-1); Peter Carr (0-1), Andrew Murphy, Derek Brohan; Oscar Pitt, Naomhan Rossiter (0-6 frees), Colm Murphy.
Referee: Seán Slaven (Faythe Harriers)
May 7: Tara Rocks 4-11, Ferns St Aidans 2-11
Having trailed by five points at the interval, Tara Rocks turned in a much-improved second half display to eventually emerge with a deserved six-point victory over Ferns St Aidans in this Junior Hurling Championship game in Ballygarrett.
It was through the opening 30 minutes that Ferns played their best hurling, with Colm Whelan and Peter O’Toole particularly prominent in midfield, while Sean Walsh, having his final outing prior to a tour of duty in The Lebanon, was dominant at centre back which in turn led to a quality supply of ball for the attack.
After Tomás Owley had pointed the Rocks in front inside two minutes, Ferns bounced right back with three quick points through Eddie Cullen, Pádraig Walsh, and Antony Dwyer.
Approaching the end of the opening quarter, Cormac Whitmore sent a fine ground shot to the net, giving his side a 1-1 to 0-3 lead, but this was to be shortlived as three minutes later, Ferns responded with a goal from Paddy O’Leary.
They went on to control the remainder of the half, leaving them with a 1-9 to 1-4 interval lead.
After the sides continued to trade points on the resumption, a 42nd minute goal from Niall Breen sprang Tara Rocks to life, and with ten minutes remaining they had bolted into a 2-11 to 1-11 lead, with only Eddie Cullen points keeping the opposition in touch.
The game was still very much in the balance entering the closing five minutes, but a goal from substitute Paddy Phelan gave the Rocks some breathing space, and left them leading by 3-11 to 1-11.
Almost immediately though, an Andy Cash goal at the opposite end one minute from the finish once again reduced the deficit to three points, but when Joe Bolger found the net on 60 minutes, the Rocks secured the points.
Ferns St Aidans: Pádraig Dunbar; Peter Nolan, Niall Maguire, Paul Lancaster Jack O’Hagan, Seán Walsh, Patrick Breen; Colm Whelan, Peter O’Toole; PJ O’Neill (0-1), Pádraig Walsh (0-1), Eddie Cullen (0-8, 3 frees, 1 65); Paddy O’Leary (1-0), Niall Byrne, Anthony Dwyer (0-1). Subs: Andy Cash (1-0) for Breen, Ciarán Doran for Byrne.
Tara Rocks: Aaron Redmond; Murt Sheehan, Gary Owley, Damien Tobin; Liam Fitzpatrick, Colin Breen, Rhys Owley; Niall Breen (1-1), Mossy Owley; Gearóid O Súilleabháin, Patrick Fortune, Declan Breen (0-4, 3 frees); Brendan Hobbs (0-3), Joe Bolger (1-2), Cormac Whitmore (1-0). Subs: Lee Owley for Fortune, Paddy Phelan (1-0) for O Súilleabháin.
Referee: David Owens (Askamore).
July 29: Naomh Eanna 2-13, Ferns St Aidans 2-12
A match which started at a snail's pace concluded in a welter of excitement, with Naomh Eanna edging out Ferns St. Aidan's by one point at Camolin on Friday in Group B of the Junior hurling championship.
The opening ten minutes produced a litany of errors, with not a single score and scarcely a meaningful attempt to produce one until John O'Brien sent an effort wide of the Ferns goal.
The main topic of interest for spectators during this phase of the game was how many yards of bandaging were required to patch up the head wound sustained by Naomh Éanna midfielder Kenneth Byrne.
The casualty was still off the pitch being attended to when team-mate Michael Murphy finally slotted over the opening point from a free awarded for a foul on his blood injury replacement, Fionn Doyle.
From there on, the fixture slipped into a more productive groove with the townies holding a slight edge courtesy of a towering long-range free from goalie Darragh Hughes.
Then Ferns slipped into the lead as Niall Byrne found the net behind Hughes with a shot on the rebound after Colm Whelan had the initial strike on 20 minutes.
More goals followed, coming thick and fast in the third quarter, with a couple for Gorey's lean corner-forward Dillon Kenny, the first from a great cross by John O'Brien and the second snapped up after Pádraig Dunbar spilled the ball his way.
But the best of the lot was a stylish effort at the other end of the pitch, with Eddie Cullen showing his class to catch the sliothar and convert with impressive power on the stroke of half-time.
At that stage, Ferns trailed by two points and they had to wait until 51 minutes had been played before they hauled themselves level, only for some nerveless free-taking by Michael Murphy to see the men in green safely home.
Ferns St. Aidans: Pádraig Dunbar; Peter Nolan, Niall Maguire, Paul Lancaster; Seán Walsh, Patrick Breen, Jack O'Hagan; Peter O'Toole, Colm Whelan; Pádraig Walsh (0-1), Anthony Dwyer (0-1), Eddie Cullen (1-8, 0-5 frees); Paddy O'Leary, Niall Byrne (1-0), Ciarán Doran. Subs. - Donal Redmond for Lancaster, Andy Cash (0-1) for Doran, Keith Breen for Byrne.
Naomh Éanna: Darragh Hughes (0-1 free); Pat Cullen, Simon Doran, John Stafford; Daniel Sunderland, Michael Bernie, Ross Murphy; John Doyle, Kenneth Byrne; Dara McDonald (0-1), Niall Kirwan (0-1), Eoin McGuckin; John O'Brien (0-1), Michael Murphy (0-9, 7 frees), Dillon Kenny (2-0). Subs. - Fionn Doyle for Byrne (temp.), Doyle for Sunderland, Seamus O'Donnell for Kenny.
Referee: Paul Browne (Clonee)
August 14: Clongeen 3-12, Ferns St Aidans 1-14
A 58th-minute Paul Curtis goal finally broke the brave resistance of Ferns St. Aidan's as Clongeen came out on top in a hard-fought Junior hurling championship Group A clash in Oylegate on Sunday.
After being reduced to 13 men and trailing by 2-10 to 1-8 with 14 minutes remaining, the game looked up for Ferns, but they reeled off the next five points to drag themselves level.
However, their march was brought to an abrupt halt when Curtis found the back of the net, and after putting so much effort into hauling back their opponents they had little left to give in the remaining minutes.
The sides were deadlocked at 1-6 apiece at half-time, with Clongeen making the first major breakthrough when Christopher Cullen grabbed a goal on twelve minutes.
Paul Curtis sent a delivery into the danger zone and Cullen got a faint touch on the ball to steer it beyond goalkeeper Pádraig Dunbar to give the New Ross District side a 1-2 to 0-3 advantage.
Ben Cowman was next to get the green flag waving as he fired a ground stroke to the back of the net in first-half injury time to edge Ferns in front, although a Tom Donovan point saw the sides switch ends level.
Clongeen were a point to the good when Ferns were dealt a double blow on 43 minutes as first Keith Breen was dismissed and seconds later Niall Maguire joined him on the sideline after being shown a second yellow card.
To rub salt into the wounds, Christopher Cullen fired a free to the net, before splitting the posts with another placed ball.
Ferns showed real grit though and got five points on the trot through Ben Cowman, Pádraig Walsh, Eddie Cullen (two) and Ciarán Doran.
However, when Paul Curtis pounced to bundle the ball over the line after an almighty scramble, there was no way back for gallant Ferns.
Ferns St. Aidans: Pádraig Dunbar; Peter Nolan, Niall Maguire, Edward Walsh; Pádraig Walsh (0-1), Patrick Breen, Josh O'Hagan; Peter O'Toole (0-2), Keith Breen; P.J. O'Neill, Paddy Moroney (0-1), Eddie Cullen (0-6, 4 frees, 1 '65); Ben Cowman (1-1), Andy Cash (0-1), Conor Nolan (0-1). Subs. - Ciarán Doran (0-1) for Nolan, Aaron Cahill for Walsh.
Clongeen: Ricky Rochford; Danny O'Grady (0-1), Anton Stafford, Barry Foxe; Martin Delaney, Paudie Cullen (0-1), Marty Reville; Paul Curtis (1-1), Paudie Cahill (0-1); Jamie Keating, Enda Murphy (0-1), Tom Donovan (0-1); Ger Foxe, Christopher Cullen (2-5, 1-5 frees), Peter Anthony Wall (0-1). Subs. - Collie Byrne for Keating, Donal Whelan for Delaney, Martin Kehoe for C. Cullen.
Referee: Lar Doyle (Taghmon-Camross).
August 27: Ferns St Aidans 1-16, Faythe Harriers 0-19
With the second to last puck of the game, Paul Gannon sent Faythe Harriers through to the quarter-finals of the Junior hurling championship and sent opponents Ferns St. Aidan's packing in Bree on Saturday.
With the game already in added-time, Eddie Cullen nailed what looked to be the winning point, his first from play, from just outside the '45. It was enough, provisionally, to move his side ahead of their opponents in the Group B table.
Heading out, the Páirc Charman side knuckled down and gave it one last burst.
In the fourth minute of stoppage time Gannon took possession to the right of the posts, 50 metres out, and split the uprights to send his side forward to a last-eight meeting with unbeaten Rapparees.
Earlier, Ferns had got off to a flying start when P.J. O'Neill hared away on the left wing and sent a thunderous shot to the roof of Adam McDaid's net in the fifth minute.
Ferns still led by 1-3 to 0-4 against the breeze after 16 minutes but the Harriers responded with a brace each from midfielders Cormac Byrne and Jack Murphy to lead by two at the interval (0-9 to 1-4).
The second-half proved to be one long game of nip and tuck. The sides were level on an incredible ten separate occasions in the period, with neither holding more than a one-point lead after the 34th minute.
For Ferns, Cullen scored eight of his total of nine points in the second-half.
At the other end Jack Murphy shone, and likewise veteran Shane Howard, as the Harriers did enough to progress. Their Gorey District opponents exit the championship, with the draw enough to see them finish fifth.
Ferns St. Aidans: Niall Byrne; Peter Nolan, Niall Maguire, Paul Lancaster; Edward Walsh, Patrick Breen, Jack O'Hagan; Peter O'Toole (0-1), P.J. O'Neill (1-1); Pádraig Walsh, Paddy Moroney (0-2), Eddie Cullen (0-9, 7 frees, 1 '65); Andy Cash (0-2), Ben Cowman, Ciarán Doran (0-1). Subs. - Pádraig Dunbar for Doran (44), Conor Nolan for Cowman (56).
Faythe Harriers: Adam McDaid; Stephen Cummins, Cillian Lawlor, Danny Walsh; Damien Roche, Fran Cleary, Fiach O Crualaoich (0-1); Cormac Byrne (0-2), Jack Murphy (0-6, 4 frees); Conor Halligan, Shane Howard (capt., 0-4), Ian Mitchell; Con Ó Donnagáin (0-2 frees), Eoin Roche (0-2), Paul Gannon (0-2). Subs. - P.J. Mooney for Cummins, inj. (37), Ciarán Byrne for Mitchell (44).
Referee: John O'Loughlin (Monageer-Boolavogue).
Tiki Taka hurling came to Hollymount on Sunday as Ferns St Aidans attempted to short-pass their way around a shadow St. Mary’s (Rosslare) side in Group B of the Junior Hurling Championship.
The good news for the Gorey District Club is that they managed to get the win they deserved. The bad news is that they need a lot of work on their close-range passing if they are to become the Barcelona of Wexford hurling.
As well as coughing up plenty of possession swinging the ball around, Ferns swatted 18 wides, but they were still comfortable enough against a Rosslare side that could manage the bare 15 players, including a limping Naomhan Rossiter – a sight that would made Wexford football boss David Power wince so close to the championship opener against Kildare in Croke Park on Saturday fortnight.
Ferns had half of those 18 wides in the opening period as they struggled to a 0-3 apiece tie after 25 minutes. Indeed, it could have been worse for Ferns had the Rossiter brothers not hit opposite uprights in separate moves at the end of the first quarter.
A brace from PJ O’Neill did help the victors in a 0-6 to 0-4 lead at the interval, but with Naohman Rossiter bringing his tally to five, Rosslare edged within one shortly after the resumption.
Things started to go wrong for St Mary’s then when Niall Byrne pulled home a fumble by Michael Ferguson in the 37th minute.
When Eddie Cullen scored his fifth point, Ferns had stretched their lead to 1-11 to 0-7 after 50 minutes. They then put the game to bed when PJ O’Neill’s long-range effort found the net.
Rosslare kept fighting with scores from Larry Morrissey and Tiarnan Rossiter, but it wasn’t enough to deny Ferns their win.
Ferns St Aidans: Pádraig Dunbar; Paul Lancaster, Niall Maguire (capt.), Peter Nolan; Colm Whelan, Seán Walsh, Patrick Breen; Pádraig Walsh, Patrick Codd (0-1); PJ O’Neill (1-2), Eddie Cullen (0-6, 5 frees), Peter O’Toole; Paddy O’Leary (0-2), Niall Byrne (1-0), Anthony Dwyer (0-2). Subs: Jack O’Hagan for Dwyer (54), Conor Nolan for O’Toole (54), Conor Hall for Codd (59), Conor Doran for Lancaster (59), Ben Bernie for Byrne (60+1).
St Mary’s (Rosslare): Michael Ferguson; Ned Power, Conor Cafferkey, Andy Cummins; Richard Bent, Tiarnan Rossiter (capt., 0-1 free), Larry Morrissey (0-1 free); Ian Kavanagh, Ultan Quirke (0-1); Peter Carr (0-1), Andrew Murphy, Derek Brohan; Oscar Pitt, Naomhan Rossiter (0-6 frees), Colm Murphy.
Referee: Seán Slaven (Faythe Harriers)
May 7: Tara Rocks 4-11, Ferns St Aidans 2-11
Having trailed by five points at the interval, Tara Rocks turned in a much-improved second half display to eventually emerge with a deserved six-point victory over Ferns St Aidans in this Junior Hurling Championship game in Ballygarrett.
It was through the opening 30 minutes that Ferns played their best hurling, with Colm Whelan and Peter O’Toole particularly prominent in midfield, while Sean Walsh, having his final outing prior to a tour of duty in The Lebanon, was dominant at centre back which in turn led to a quality supply of ball for the attack.
After Tomás Owley had pointed the Rocks in front inside two minutes, Ferns bounced right back with three quick points through Eddie Cullen, Pádraig Walsh, and Antony Dwyer.
Approaching the end of the opening quarter, Cormac Whitmore sent a fine ground shot to the net, giving his side a 1-1 to 0-3 lead, but this was to be shortlived as three minutes later, Ferns responded with a goal from Paddy O’Leary.
They went on to control the remainder of the half, leaving them with a 1-9 to 1-4 interval lead.
After the sides continued to trade points on the resumption, a 42nd minute goal from Niall Breen sprang Tara Rocks to life, and with ten minutes remaining they had bolted into a 2-11 to 1-11 lead, with only Eddie Cullen points keeping the opposition in touch.
The game was still very much in the balance entering the closing five minutes, but a goal from substitute Paddy Phelan gave the Rocks some breathing space, and left them leading by 3-11 to 1-11.
Almost immediately though, an Andy Cash goal at the opposite end one minute from the finish once again reduced the deficit to three points, but when Joe Bolger found the net on 60 minutes, the Rocks secured the points.
Ferns St Aidans: Pádraig Dunbar; Peter Nolan, Niall Maguire, Paul Lancaster Jack O’Hagan, Seán Walsh, Patrick Breen; Colm Whelan, Peter O’Toole; PJ O’Neill (0-1), Pádraig Walsh (0-1), Eddie Cullen (0-8, 3 frees, 1 65); Paddy O’Leary (1-0), Niall Byrne, Anthony Dwyer (0-1). Subs: Andy Cash (1-0) for Breen, Ciarán Doran for Byrne.
Tara Rocks: Aaron Redmond; Murt Sheehan, Gary Owley, Damien Tobin; Liam Fitzpatrick, Colin Breen, Rhys Owley; Niall Breen (1-1), Mossy Owley; Gearóid O Súilleabháin, Patrick Fortune, Declan Breen (0-4, 3 frees); Brendan Hobbs (0-3), Joe Bolger (1-2), Cormac Whitmore (1-0). Subs: Lee Owley for Fortune, Paddy Phelan (1-0) for O Súilleabháin.
Referee: David Owens (Askamore).
July 29: Naomh Eanna 2-13, Ferns St Aidans 2-12
A match which started at a snail's pace concluded in a welter of excitement, with Naomh Eanna edging out Ferns St. Aidan's by one point at Camolin on Friday in Group B of the Junior hurling championship.
The opening ten minutes produced a litany of errors, with not a single score and scarcely a meaningful attempt to produce one until John O'Brien sent an effort wide of the Ferns goal.
The main topic of interest for spectators during this phase of the game was how many yards of bandaging were required to patch up the head wound sustained by Naomh Éanna midfielder Kenneth Byrne.
The casualty was still off the pitch being attended to when team-mate Michael Murphy finally slotted over the opening point from a free awarded for a foul on his blood injury replacement, Fionn Doyle.
From there on, the fixture slipped into a more productive groove with the townies holding a slight edge courtesy of a towering long-range free from goalie Darragh Hughes.
Then Ferns slipped into the lead as Niall Byrne found the net behind Hughes with a shot on the rebound after Colm Whelan had the initial strike on 20 minutes.
More goals followed, coming thick and fast in the third quarter, with a couple for Gorey's lean corner-forward Dillon Kenny, the first from a great cross by John O'Brien and the second snapped up after Pádraig Dunbar spilled the ball his way.
But the best of the lot was a stylish effort at the other end of the pitch, with Eddie Cullen showing his class to catch the sliothar and convert with impressive power on the stroke of half-time.
At that stage, Ferns trailed by two points and they had to wait until 51 minutes had been played before they hauled themselves level, only for some nerveless free-taking by Michael Murphy to see the men in green safely home.
Ferns St. Aidans: Pádraig Dunbar; Peter Nolan, Niall Maguire, Paul Lancaster; Seán Walsh, Patrick Breen, Jack O'Hagan; Peter O'Toole, Colm Whelan; Pádraig Walsh (0-1), Anthony Dwyer (0-1), Eddie Cullen (1-8, 0-5 frees); Paddy O'Leary, Niall Byrne (1-0), Ciarán Doran. Subs. - Donal Redmond for Lancaster, Andy Cash (0-1) for Doran, Keith Breen for Byrne.
Naomh Éanna: Darragh Hughes (0-1 free); Pat Cullen, Simon Doran, John Stafford; Daniel Sunderland, Michael Bernie, Ross Murphy; John Doyle, Kenneth Byrne; Dara McDonald (0-1), Niall Kirwan (0-1), Eoin McGuckin; John O'Brien (0-1), Michael Murphy (0-9, 7 frees), Dillon Kenny (2-0). Subs. - Fionn Doyle for Byrne (temp.), Doyle for Sunderland, Seamus O'Donnell for Kenny.
Referee: Paul Browne (Clonee)
August 14: Clongeen 3-12, Ferns St Aidans 1-14
A 58th-minute Paul Curtis goal finally broke the brave resistance of Ferns St. Aidan's as Clongeen came out on top in a hard-fought Junior hurling championship Group A clash in Oylegate on Sunday.
After being reduced to 13 men and trailing by 2-10 to 1-8 with 14 minutes remaining, the game looked up for Ferns, but they reeled off the next five points to drag themselves level.
However, their march was brought to an abrupt halt when Curtis found the back of the net, and after putting so much effort into hauling back their opponents they had little left to give in the remaining minutes.
The sides were deadlocked at 1-6 apiece at half-time, with Clongeen making the first major breakthrough when Christopher Cullen grabbed a goal on twelve minutes.
Paul Curtis sent a delivery into the danger zone and Cullen got a faint touch on the ball to steer it beyond goalkeeper Pádraig Dunbar to give the New Ross District side a 1-2 to 0-3 advantage.
Ben Cowman was next to get the green flag waving as he fired a ground stroke to the back of the net in first-half injury time to edge Ferns in front, although a Tom Donovan point saw the sides switch ends level.
Clongeen were a point to the good when Ferns were dealt a double blow on 43 minutes as first Keith Breen was dismissed and seconds later Niall Maguire joined him on the sideline after being shown a second yellow card.
To rub salt into the wounds, Christopher Cullen fired a free to the net, before splitting the posts with another placed ball.
Ferns showed real grit though and got five points on the trot through Ben Cowman, Pádraig Walsh, Eddie Cullen (two) and Ciarán Doran.
However, when Paul Curtis pounced to bundle the ball over the line after an almighty scramble, there was no way back for gallant Ferns.
Ferns St. Aidans: Pádraig Dunbar; Peter Nolan, Niall Maguire, Edward Walsh; Pádraig Walsh (0-1), Patrick Breen, Josh O'Hagan; Peter O'Toole (0-2), Keith Breen; P.J. O'Neill, Paddy Moroney (0-1), Eddie Cullen (0-6, 4 frees, 1 '65); Ben Cowman (1-1), Andy Cash (0-1), Conor Nolan (0-1). Subs. - Ciarán Doran (0-1) for Nolan, Aaron Cahill for Walsh.
Clongeen: Ricky Rochford; Danny O'Grady (0-1), Anton Stafford, Barry Foxe; Martin Delaney, Paudie Cullen (0-1), Marty Reville; Paul Curtis (1-1), Paudie Cahill (0-1); Jamie Keating, Enda Murphy (0-1), Tom Donovan (0-1); Ger Foxe, Christopher Cullen (2-5, 1-5 frees), Peter Anthony Wall (0-1). Subs. - Collie Byrne for Keating, Donal Whelan for Delaney, Martin Kehoe for C. Cullen.
Referee: Lar Doyle (Taghmon-Camross).
August 27: Ferns St Aidans 1-16, Faythe Harriers 0-19
With the second to last puck of the game, Paul Gannon sent Faythe Harriers through to the quarter-finals of the Junior hurling championship and sent opponents Ferns St. Aidan's packing in Bree on Saturday.
With the game already in added-time, Eddie Cullen nailed what looked to be the winning point, his first from play, from just outside the '45. It was enough, provisionally, to move his side ahead of their opponents in the Group B table.
Heading out, the Páirc Charman side knuckled down and gave it one last burst.
In the fourth minute of stoppage time Gannon took possession to the right of the posts, 50 metres out, and split the uprights to send his side forward to a last-eight meeting with unbeaten Rapparees.
Earlier, Ferns had got off to a flying start when P.J. O'Neill hared away on the left wing and sent a thunderous shot to the roof of Adam McDaid's net in the fifth minute.
Ferns still led by 1-3 to 0-4 against the breeze after 16 minutes but the Harriers responded with a brace each from midfielders Cormac Byrne and Jack Murphy to lead by two at the interval (0-9 to 1-4).
The second-half proved to be one long game of nip and tuck. The sides were level on an incredible ten separate occasions in the period, with neither holding more than a one-point lead after the 34th minute.
For Ferns, Cullen scored eight of his total of nine points in the second-half.
At the other end Jack Murphy shone, and likewise veteran Shane Howard, as the Harriers did enough to progress. Their Gorey District opponents exit the championship, with the draw enough to see them finish fifth.
Ferns St. Aidans: Niall Byrne; Peter Nolan, Niall Maguire, Paul Lancaster; Edward Walsh, Patrick Breen, Jack O'Hagan; Peter O'Toole (0-1), P.J. O'Neill (1-1); Pádraig Walsh, Paddy Moroney (0-2), Eddie Cullen (0-9, 7 frees, 1 '65); Andy Cash (0-2), Ben Cowman, Ciarán Doran (0-1). Subs. - Pádraig Dunbar for Doran (44), Conor Nolan for Cowman (56).
Faythe Harriers: Adam McDaid; Stephen Cummins, Cillian Lawlor, Danny Walsh; Damien Roche, Fran Cleary, Fiach O Crualaoich (0-1); Cormac Byrne (0-2), Jack Murphy (0-6, 4 frees); Conor Halligan, Shane Howard (capt., 0-4), Ian Mitchell; Con Ó Donnagáin (0-2 frees), Eoin Roche (0-2), Paul Gannon (0-2). Subs. - P.J. Mooney for Cummins, inj. (37), Ciarán Byrne for Mitchell (44).
Referee: John O'Loughlin (Monageer-Boolavogue).
