U-21 Hurling Championship 2016
July 18: Ferns St Aidans 2-13, Craanford 1-12
The Ferns St. Aidan's Under-21 hurling team turned a one-point half time lead into a four-point victory on Monday of last week as they got the better of a very determined Craanford side in the Gorey District Roinn 1 championship.
Playing on their home soil, the Ferns side proved stronger and more skilful throughout the encounter, with Chris Turner and Andy Cash their leading men in attack.
The first-half saw Ryan Nolan and Gavin Bailey splitting the posts for Ferns, while Kevin Poole and John Fleming were Craanford's most threatening players. The Ferns goalkeeper, Gerard Turner, was on form for the opening half but neat skill and good decision-making from Oliver Doran saw the umpires raise the green flag after he blasted a shot to the back of the net.
The sides were neck and neck for the remainder of the half. Hall, Collier and Hagen were sturdy in the Ferns defence line, while Patrick Lancaster, William Conroy and Pat Kenny were equally as impressive in the Craanford backs.
The 'Ford' free-taker, Kevin Poole, was in scoring form as per usual, and the same could be said for his counterpart, Chris Turner.
With a one-point lead at the break, Ferns re-started with a very energetic attitude. Turner, Peter O'Toole and Geoff Tobin claimed more points for the leaders, while Poole and Fleming did likewise for Craanford.
Two goals proved crucial in this clash, however, as Cash and Turner snatched one each to see Ferns advance their lead.
Martin Doyle, Jim Kenny and Cian O'Toole battled hard to change the scoreline, but sheer determination from Eoin Murphy, Ciarán Doran and Jason Collier saw Ferns claim the victory after a very classy performance.
Ferns St. Aidans: Gerard Turner; Conor Hall, Aaron Collier, Jack Hagen; Conor Scallan, Ryan Nolan (0-1), Jason Collier; Gavin Bailey (0-2), Eoin Murphy; Peter O'Toole (0-1), Geoff Tobin (0-1), Ciarán Doran; Chris Turner (1-6, 0-3 frees), Andy Cash (1-1), Ben Cowman (0-1). Sub. - Conor Newman for Doran.
Craanford: Andrew Tighe; Patrick Lancaster, Pat Kenny, Páraic Redmond; Ger Lyons, William Conroy, Tony Kavanagh (0-1); Kevin Poole (0-5, 3 frees), Jack Kenny; James Redmond, John Fleming (0-5), Cian O'Toole; Jim Kenny, Martin Doyle, Oliver Doran (1-1). Subs. - Seán Byrne for Lancaster, Martin Kenny for J. Kenny, Thomas Furlong for Kavanagh.
Referee: Shane Quinn (Ballygarrett).
August 1: Ferns St Aidans 6-16, St Patrick’s (Ballyoughter) 3-15
Sharp-shooting was the key to success for Ferns St. Aidan's on Monday of last week as their Under-21 hurling team claimed their second consecutive win in the Gorey District Roinn 1 championship. They secured a comprehensive win over their neighbouring club, St. Patrick's, in Camolin to advance to a final clash with Buffers Alley.
Although the sides were neck and neck for the opening quarter, the Ferns forwards were comfortably on top and their tally of six goals ultimately meant that they were heading home with an impressive scoreline.
During the first-half, the red and white shooters managed to hit the net on two occasions. The St. Pat's side matched Ferns with their point-scoring efforts, but the same could not be said for their attempts to raise green flags.
The Ferns full-forward line of Chris Turner, Andy Cash and Ben Cowman were a threat throughout. The same could be said for Peter O'Toole, Geoff Tobin, Gavin Bailey and P.J. O'Neill, with each man doing the jersey proud and showing their class.
Goals and points from Turner, Tobin and Cash were answered by St. Patrick's trio Ashley Tully, John Doyle and Andrew Doyle. These three were on form for the game and managed to notch up seven points between them during the first-half.
With two goals and two points between the squads at the break, St. Pat's had an uphill battle in the second-half. They didn't ease off and re-started the match with great energy, producing three goals to show their full potential.
Substitute Ciarán Murphy made a huge impact for St. Patrick's. The youthful addition secured a goal and a point and this certainly helped the scoreline seem more respectable.
However, Ferns progressed their lead. Ben Cowman, Gavin Bailey and Ryan Nolan added their names to the scoresheet while Cash and Chris Turner didn't ease up when shooting for goals.
The final quarter saw St. Patrick's make the most of an eventually complacent Ferns team. Ashley Tully managed to raise the green flag twice with two powerful low shots. Michael O'Brien claimed a point and John Doyle progressed his personal tally to leave his side with a reduced margin of defeat.
Nonetheless, the unanswered scores and unmatchable pace of the Ferns men were the two main components that left them leaving Camolin with smiles on their faces.
Ferns St. Aidans: Aaron Collier; Conor Scallan, Gerard Turner, Jack O'Hagen; Jason Collier, Ryan Nolan (0-2), John Roche; Gavin Bailey (0-2), P.J. O'Neill; Peter O'Toole (0-2), Geoff Tobin (1-2), Aaron Cahill; Chris Turner (4-5, 0-3 frees), Andy Cash (1-2), Ben Cowman (0-1). Subs. - Conor Doran for Bailey, Ciarán Doran for Cahill, Seán Fortune for Roche, Conor Nolan for O'Neill, inj.
St. Patrick's: Michael Hamilton; Joe Cousins, Paddy Hobbs, Dylan Kavanagh; Ian McGuire, Darragh Murphy, Michael Carroll; Michael O'Brien (0-1), Paul McDonald; Ger Gahan, John Doyle (0-11, 6 frees), Andrew Doyle (0-1); Ashley Tully (2-1), Kyle Byrne, Seán Redmond. Subs. - Ciarán Murphy (1-1) for Gahan, Matthew Crawte for Redmond, Vincent Gahan for Byrne.
Referee: David Owens (Askamore).
The Ferns St. Aidan's Under-21 hurling team turned a one-point half time lead into a four-point victory on Monday of last week as they got the better of a very determined Craanford side in the Gorey District Roinn 1 championship.
Playing on their home soil, the Ferns side proved stronger and more skilful throughout the encounter, with Chris Turner and Andy Cash their leading men in attack.
The first-half saw Ryan Nolan and Gavin Bailey splitting the posts for Ferns, while Kevin Poole and John Fleming were Craanford's most threatening players. The Ferns goalkeeper, Gerard Turner, was on form for the opening half but neat skill and good decision-making from Oliver Doran saw the umpires raise the green flag after he blasted a shot to the back of the net.
The sides were neck and neck for the remainder of the half. Hall, Collier and Hagen were sturdy in the Ferns defence line, while Patrick Lancaster, William Conroy and Pat Kenny were equally as impressive in the Craanford backs.
The 'Ford' free-taker, Kevin Poole, was in scoring form as per usual, and the same could be said for his counterpart, Chris Turner.
With a one-point lead at the break, Ferns re-started with a very energetic attitude. Turner, Peter O'Toole and Geoff Tobin claimed more points for the leaders, while Poole and Fleming did likewise for Craanford.
Two goals proved crucial in this clash, however, as Cash and Turner snatched one each to see Ferns advance their lead.
Martin Doyle, Jim Kenny and Cian O'Toole battled hard to change the scoreline, but sheer determination from Eoin Murphy, Ciarán Doran and Jason Collier saw Ferns claim the victory after a very classy performance.
Ferns St. Aidans: Gerard Turner; Conor Hall, Aaron Collier, Jack Hagen; Conor Scallan, Ryan Nolan (0-1), Jason Collier; Gavin Bailey (0-2), Eoin Murphy; Peter O'Toole (0-1), Geoff Tobin (0-1), Ciarán Doran; Chris Turner (1-6, 0-3 frees), Andy Cash (1-1), Ben Cowman (0-1). Sub. - Conor Newman for Doran.
Craanford: Andrew Tighe; Patrick Lancaster, Pat Kenny, Páraic Redmond; Ger Lyons, William Conroy, Tony Kavanagh (0-1); Kevin Poole (0-5, 3 frees), Jack Kenny; James Redmond, John Fleming (0-5), Cian O'Toole; Jim Kenny, Martin Doyle, Oliver Doran (1-1). Subs. - Seán Byrne for Lancaster, Martin Kenny for J. Kenny, Thomas Furlong for Kavanagh.
Referee: Shane Quinn (Ballygarrett).
August 1: Ferns St Aidans 6-16, St Patrick’s (Ballyoughter) 3-15
Sharp-shooting was the key to success for Ferns St. Aidan's on Monday of last week as their Under-21 hurling team claimed their second consecutive win in the Gorey District Roinn 1 championship. They secured a comprehensive win over their neighbouring club, St. Patrick's, in Camolin to advance to a final clash with Buffers Alley.
Although the sides were neck and neck for the opening quarter, the Ferns forwards were comfortably on top and their tally of six goals ultimately meant that they were heading home with an impressive scoreline.
During the first-half, the red and white shooters managed to hit the net on two occasions. The St. Pat's side matched Ferns with their point-scoring efforts, but the same could not be said for their attempts to raise green flags.
The Ferns full-forward line of Chris Turner, Andy Cash and Ben Cowman were a threat throughout. The same could be said for Peter O'Toole, Geoff Tobin, Gavin Bailey and P.J. O'Neill, with each man doing the jersey proud and showing their class.
Goals and points from Turner, Tobin and Cash were answered by St. Patrick's trio Ashley Tully, John Doyle and Andrew Doyle. These three were on form for the game and managed to notch up seven points between them during the first-half.
With two goals and two points between the squads at the break, St. Pat's had an uphill battle in the second-half. They didn't ease off and re-started the match with great energy, producing three goals to show their full potential.
Substitute Ciarán Murphy made a huge impact for St. Patrick's. The youthful addition secured a goal and a point and this certainly helped the scoreline seem more respectable.
However, Ferns progressed their lead. Ben Cowman, Gavin Bailey and Ryan Nolan added their names to the scoresheet while Cash and Chris Turner didn't ease up when shooting for goals.
The final quarter saw St. Patrick's make the most of an eventually complacent Ferns team. Ashley Tully managed to raise the green flag twice with two powerful low shots. Michael O'Brien claimed a point and John Doyle progressed his personal tally to leave his side with a reduced margin of defeat.
Nonetheless, the unanswered scores and unmatchable pace of the Ferns men were the two main components that left them leaving Camolin with smiles on their faces.
Ferns St. Aidans: Aaron Collier; Conor Scallan, Gerard Turner, Jack O'Hagen; Jason Collier, Ryan Nolan (0-2), John Roche; Gavin Bailey (0-2), P.J. O'Neill; Peter O'Toole (0-2), Geoff Tobin (1-2), Aaron Cahill; Chris Turner (4-5, 0-3 frees), Andy Cash (1-2), Ben Cowman (0-1). Subs. - Conor Doran for Bailey, Ciarán Doran for Cahill, Seán Fortune for Roche, Conor Nolan for O'Neill, inj.
St. Patrick's: Michael Hamilton; Joe Cousins, Paddy Hobbs, Dylan Kavanagh; Ian McGuire, Darragh Murphy, Michael Carroll; Michael O'Brien (0-1), Paul McDonald; Ger Gahan, John Doyle (0-11, 6 frees), Andrew Doyle (0-1); Ashley Tully (2-1), Kyle Byrne, Seán Redmond. Subs. - Ciarán Murphy (1-1) for Gahan, Matthew Crawte for Redmond, Vincent Gahan for Byrne.
Referee: David Owens (Askamore).
August 9, District Final: Buffers Alley 2-13, Ferns St Aidans 1-13
Not quite the Houdini act of the opening round but not far off, Buffers Alley needed to call on all their reserves to roar back from nine points behind at the break to beat Ferns St. Aidan's and claim the Gorey District Under-21 hurling Roinn 1 championship title in Camolin on Tuesday.
The Monamolin club started the game against the breeze and were trailing by 0-12 to 0-3 at half-time. However, their recovery would have been a lot more improbable had Gavin Bailey not picked up what looked like a serious knee injury in that first period.
The Ferns midfielder is a real talisman and fantastic hurler for his club. At this level there's just no way someone of his quality wasn't going to be missed when the inevitable pressure came in the final quarter.
That said, Buffers Alley showed against Liam Mellows, coming back from eleven points down to snatch a late win, that they are a team which can pull off the improbable. This win actually started off well against the breeze, with two Ross Donohoe frees.
Yet Ferns scored the next eleven points in a row. P.J. O'Neill was impressive, picking off a trio of scores, while Chris Turner continued his rich vein of form with four points in the period, but the Alley full-back line, led by the superb Ciarán Murphy, held strong and refused to be beaten in behind.
Owen Dempsey scored his side's only point from play of the half in the 30th minute but there was still time for Ryan Nolan to register from his own '45 to give Ferns a healthy 0-12 to 0-3 lead at the interval.
Substitute Darragh Hammel took just a couple of minutes to make an impact after the break, setting up Dempsey for the game's opening goal. A Donohoe free was cancelled out by a classy Turner point but the Alley soon got on a run of their own.
John Lee Meyler flighted over a brace and Donohoe added another free, while several half-chances for goals came and went as Buffers Alley cut the deficit to three (0-13 to 1-7).
However, it looked like all their hard work was for nothing when Turner latched onto Andy Cash's handpass, fought his way in on the left and, with a one-handed swing, found Oliver O'Leary's net.
Six points down, and with just over five minutes of normal time remaining, Buffers Alley started their run.
Murphy, meandering as Ferns tried to shut down the tie, pointed before the key score arrived when substitute Darragh Kehoe, only on the field a matter of seconds, latched onto a break from Meyler's long ball and fired to Conor Jordan's net.
Tails up, there was only one winner. Donohoe pulled the Alley within one, and then Meyler broke into the clear to level in the first minute of added time.
Donohoe pointed after he was fouled to give his side the lead before John Farrell and another dead-ball rounded out a run of 1-6 without reply and a three-point win.
Ferns St. Aidans: Conor Jordan; Conor Scallan, Ger Turner, Jack O'Hagan; Jason Collier, Ryan Nolan (0-1), Aaron Collier (0-1); Gavin Bailey (joint capt.), P.J. O'Neill (0-3); Peter O'Toole, Jeff Tobin (0-1), Ciarán Doran; Chris Turner (1-5, 0-3 frees), Andy Cash (joint capt., 0-1), Ben Cowman (0-1). Subs. - Dean Collier for Bailey, inj. (22), Aaron Cahill for Doran (57), also Conor Nolan, Seán Fortune, Brian O'Neill, Conor Doran, Jack Ryan, Shane Stafford.
Buffers Alley: Oliver O'Leary (capt.); Laurence Gahan, Ciarán Murphy (0-1), Leonard Leacy; Gearóid O'Connor, John Farrell (0-1), John Furlong; John Lee Meyler (0-3), Eoin Whelan; Lee Murphy, Ross Donohoe (0-7 frees), Liam Rath; Robbie Donnelly, Walter Gahan, Owen Dempsey (1-1). Subs. - Darragh Hammel for Rath (31), Darragh Kehoe (1-0) for W. Gahan (57), also Rory Kirwan, Liam Cousins, Jack Butler, Cian Fortune.
Referee: Joe Kelly (Naomh Eanna).
Not quite the Houdini act of the opening round but not far off, Buffers Alley needed to call on all their reserves to roar back from nine points behind at the break to beat Ferns St. Aidan's and claim the Gorey District Under-21 hurling Roinn 1 championship title in Camolin on Tuesday.
The Monamolin club started the game against the breeze and were trailing by 0-12 to 0-3 at half-time. However, their recovery would have been a lot more improbable had Gavin Bailey not picked up what looked like a serious knee injury in that first period.
The Ferns midfielder is a real talisman and fantastic hurler for his club. At this level there's just no way someone of his quality wasn't going to be missed when the inevitable pressure came in the final quarter.
That said, Buffers Alley showed against Liam Mellows, coming back from eleven points down to snatch a late win, that they are a team which can pull off the improbable. This win actually started off well against the breeze, with two Ross Donohoe frees.
Yet Ferns scored the next eleven points in a row. P.J. O'Neill was impressive, picking off a trio of scores, while Chris Turner continued his rich vein of form with four points in the period, but the Alley full-back line, led by the superb Ciarán Murphy, held strong and refused to be beaten in behind.
Owen Dempsey scored his side's only point from play of the half in the 30th minute but there was still time for Ryan Nolan to register from his own '45 to give Ferns a healthy 0-12 to 0-3 lead at the interval.
Substitute Darragh Hammel took just a couple of minutes to make an impact after the break, setting up Dempsey for the game's opening goal. A Donohoe free was cancelled out by a classy Turner point but the Alley soon got on a run of their own.
John Lee Meyler flighted over a brace and Donohoe added another free, while several half-chances for goals came and went as Buffers Alley cut the deficit to three (0-13 to 1-7).
However, it looked like all their hard work was for nothing when Turner latched onto Andy Cash's handpass, fought his way in on the left and, with a one-handed swing, found Oliver O'Leary's net.
Six points down, and with just over five minutes of normal time remaining, Buffers Alley started their run.
Murphy, meandering as Ferns tried to shut down the tie, pointed before the key score arrived when substitute Darragh Kehoe, only on the field a matter of seconds, latched onto a break from Meyler's long ball and fired to Conor Jordan's net.
Tails up, there was only one winner. Donohoe pulled the Alley within one, and then Meyler broke into the clear to level in the first minute of added time.
Donohoe pointed after he was fouled to give his side the lead before John Farrell and another dead-ball rounded out a run of 1-6 without reply and a three-point win.
Ferns St. Aidans: Conor Jordan; Conor Scallan, Ger Turner, Jack O'Hagan; Jason Collier, Ryan Nolan (0-1), Aaron Collier (0-1); Gavin Bailey (joint capt.), P.J. O'Neill (0-3); Peter O'Toole, Jeff Tobin (0-1), Ciarán Doran; Chris Turner (1-5, 0-3 frees), Andy Cash (joint capt., 0-1), Ben Cowman (0-1). Subs. - Dean Collier for Bailey, inj. (22), Aaron Cahill for Doran (57), also Conor Nolan, Seán Fortune, Brian O'Neill, Conor Doran, Jack Ryan, Shane Stafford.
Buffers Alley: Oliver O'Leary (capt.); Laurence Gahan, Ciarán Murphy (0-1), Leonard Leacy; Gearóid O'Connor, John Farrell (0-1), John Furlong; John Lee Meyler (0-3), Eoin Whelan; Lee Murphy, Ross Donohoe (0-7 frees), Liam Rath; Robbie Donnelly, Walter Gahan, Owen Dempsey (1-1). Subs. - Darragh Hammel for Rath (31), Darragh Kehoe (1-0) for W. Gahan (57), also Rory Kirwan, Liam Cousins, Jack Butler, Cian Fortune.
Referee: Joe Kelly (Naomh Eanna).