Junior Hurling Championship 2017

May 7: Monageer/Boolavogue 2-15, Ferns St Aidans 3-6
A powerful third quarter propelled Monageer-Boolavogue to an opening day win in the Permanent TSB Junior hurling championship Group A in St. Patrick's Park.
The victors were leading by just a point at the break but outscored their neighbours Ferns by 1-4 to 0-1 in the first 15 minutes after half-time to build a winning lead. With their nippy inside forwards gliding in the heat, they also spurned several goal chances that would have eased their path to the win.
Brian O'Loughlin started the game on fire, putting over the opening three points. However, Ferns began to settle and ended the first quarter in the lead after Anthony Dwyer's quick-thinking sideways free picked out Paddy O'Leary and he rattled the net.
Monageer-Boolavogue hit back to lead by 0-6 to 1-1, only for Tomás Hawkins to latch onto a breaking ball from a long-range Eoin Murphy free and whip the ball past Morgan Gahan from close range.
Yet, just before the interval, Bryan Dwyer got a goal ins response, drilling home from O'Loughlin's crossfield ball to give his side a 1-6 to 2-2 half-time lead.
Bookending the break in style, Monageer-Boolavogue hit the net again less than 60 seconds after the re-start when Matthew Dunne ghosted in behind the full-back and made no mistake with his close-range shot.
Leading by 2-10 to 2-3 at the end of the third quarter, the remainder was a formality for Monageer-Boolavogue. Ferns did grab a late consolation major when Ciarán Doran whipped home close to goal but it mattered little to the outcome of the contest.

Ferns St. Aidan's: Niall Byrne; Paul Lancaster, Edward Walsh, Peter Nolan; Peter O'Toole, Seán Walsh (0-1 free), Colm Whelan; Derek Thorpe, Eoin Murphy (0-1); P.J. O'Neill, Pádraig Walsh, Anthony Dwyer; Paddy O'Leary (1-0), Tomás Hawkins (1-0), Ben Cowman. Subs. - Jack O'Hagan for E. Walsh, inj. (14), Brian O'Neill for P. Walsh, inj. (29), Ciarán Doran (1-0) for Cowman (41), Edward Cullen (0-4 frees) for Dwyer (41), Jamie Whelan for Hawkins (52).

Monageer-Boolavogue: Morgan Gahan; Lee McHale, Conall Nolan, Ray O'Brien; Patrick Walsh, Patrick Breen, Robbie Donnelly; Seán McCabe, Stephen Lacey (0-3); Shane Kehoe (0-1 free), Niall O'Loughlin (0-6, 5 frees), Bertie Gahan (0-2); Bryan Dwyer (1-1), Niall Finn, Matthew Dunne (1-1). Subs. - James Sweeney (0-1) for Finn (40), Adrian O'Dowd for Dwyer (55).

Referee: Pádraig Byrne (Tara Rocks).

July 9: Ferns St Aidans 4-13, Horeswood 1-17
Ferns St. Aidan's produced a storming final five minutes to eventually shake off the stubborn resistance of Horeswood in an entertaining Permanent TSB Junior hurling championship Group A encounter in Bree on Sunday.
The Gorey District side looked to be in control when holding a 3-10 to 1-12 advantage with a quarter of the game remaining, but Horeswood reeled off four points on the trot to restore parity in the 54th minute.
However, Ferns re-grouped with Ian Byrne, Edward Cullen and Anthony Dwyer splitting the posts before substitute Aaron Cahill killed off the contest with an injury time goal.
If Horeswood, who let a nine-point half-time lead slip against Bannow-Ballymitty in their opening game, needed a confidence booster they certainly got it, opening the scoring with a goal inside three minutes.
After gathering a Barry Hearn delivery, Declan Murphy rampaged towards goal and picked out Seán Nolan, who finished with aplomb.
The celebrations had barely died down when the green flag was waving at the other end though, with Eoin Murphy finishing well after collecting a pass from Anthony Dwyer.
After Michael O'Hanlon had edged Horeswood back in front with a free, Ferns plundered their second goal when Dwyer's shot was blocked and Edward Walsh collected the loose ball and calmly found the back of the net.
Dwyer could claim the assist for his side's opening two majors and he then displayed his goal-scoring instinct by grabbing their third in the 20th minute, latching on to a Seán Walsh delivery into the danger zone and lashing the ball past Eoin Mythen to give Ferns a six-point advantage.
Horeswood kept plugging away and stayed in touch through the ever-dangerous Declan Murphy and the accuracy of Michael O'Hanlon, and when Barry Hearn sent over a good longe-range point in first-half injury time it left just a puck of the ball between the sides (3-7 to 1-10).
Ferns stretched their lead to five after the turnaround, with Ivan Meegan arrowing over his second stylish point, and Ian Byrne converting a free, but Michael O'Hanlon wiped out those efforts with two placed balls.
After Byrne slotted over another free, Horeswood enjoyed a purple patch with three Michael O'Hanlon frees and a Seán Nolan score dragging them back onto level terms.
Ferns rallied, however, with an Ian Byrne '65 edging them back in front and they kicked on with points from Edward Cullen and Anthony Dwyer.
The game was then put to bed in the 61st minute and again the lively Dwyer was involved.
The corner-forward gathered an Ian Byrne delivery and picked out substitute Aaron Cahill, who found the back of the net at the second attempt.

Ferns St. Aidan's: Niall Byrne; Pádraig Bolger, Colm Whelan, Peter Nolan; Derek Thorpe, Seán Walsh, Tomás Hawkins; Peter O'Toole, Ian Byrne (0-6, 4 frees, 2 '65s); Ivan Meegan (0-2), Eoin Murphy (1-0), Edward Cullen (0-1); Anthony Dwyer (1-2), Edward Walsh (1-1), Paddy O'Leary (0-1). Subs. - Aaron Cahill (1-0) for Meegan, Patrick Tonks for Cullen.

Horeswood: Eoin Mythen; Eamonn O'Sullivan, Shane O'Hanlon, Gavin Murphy; Danny Byrne, Barry Hearn (0-1), David Murphy; Paddy Murphy, David Larkin; Declan Murphy (0-3), Michael O'Hanlon (0-12, 9 frees), Seán Stafford; Jim Wall, Seán Nolan (1-1), Craig Murphy. Subs. - Leigh O'Brien for C. Murphy, Mossy Kent for Wall, Ivan Kehoe for Stafford.

Referee: Seamus Whelan (Oylegate-Glenbrien).
 
July 22: Ferns St. Aidans 2-21, Bannow/Ballymitty 2-16
Ferns St. Aidan's again conjured up a strong finish to finally shake off the stubborn attentions of Bannow-Ballymitty in a high-octane Junior hurling championship Group A match in Bree on Saturday.
A point from the impressive Mark Wallace drew the New Ross District side level at 2-15 apiece in the 49th minute, but Ferns rallied to outscore their opponents by six points to one in the remaining moments.
In a fast-paced encounter Ferns landed the first telling blow in the fifth minute, when the prolific Anthony Dwyer gathered a crossfield ball from Eoin Murphy and buried it beyond goalkeeper Kevin Doyle.
Bannow-Ballymitty weren't long about responding though, when Micheál Murphy floated in an effort from wide on the left which found its way to the far corner of the net.
The teams continued to go at it hammer and tongs with the industrious Nicky Doyle and Mark Wallace contributing nice points for Bannow-Ballymitty, and Edward Walsh, Ian Byrne, Anthony Dwyer and Paddy O'Leary keeping Ferns ticking over.
Leading by 1-7 to 1-6, Ferns St. Aidan's had a chance to give themselves a bit of breathing space when Edward Walsh was taken down for a penalty.
However, Ian Byrne's 26th-minute effort was brilliantly saved by Kevin Doyle, who dived full length to his right to get a stick on it.
Byrne did convert the resultant '65 though and just a minute later they did have the green flag waving. Paddy O'Leary picked out the run of Edward Walsh and he did the rest, blasting an unstoppable shot past Doyle, helping Ferns to a 2-8 to 1-9 half-time advantage.
Bannow-Ballymitty trailed by one point in the 39th minute, with David Currid knocking over a quick-fire double, but Ferns looked to have assumed control when they chalked up the next four scores, through Peter O'Toole (two), Edward Cullen and Paddy O'Leary.
The south county side needed something special and Micheál Murphy produced it, gathering possession on the left wing before bursting towards goal with real conviction and planting the ball past Niall Byrne.
Having been backed up against the ropes, Bannow-Ballymitty suddenly had a real spring in their step and points from Pat Fitzharris and Mark Wallace brought them back on level terms.
However, Ferns found extra reserves from somewhere and points from Pádraig Bolger, Derek Thorpe, Anthony Dwyer, Eoin Murphy (two) and Edward Walsh saw them home.

Ferns St. Aidan's: Niall Byrne; Paul Lancaster, Colm Whelan, Peter Nolan; Pádraig Bolger (0-1), Seán Walsh (0-1), Derek Thorpe (0-1); Peter O'Toole (0-2), Ian Byrne (0-3, 2 frees, 1 '65); Tomás Hawkins, Eoin Murphy (0-3), Edward Cullen (0-1); Anthony Dwyer (1-3), Edward Walsh (1-4), Paddy O'Leary (0-2). Subs. - Aaron Cahill for Byrne, Brian O'Neill for Cahill, Keith Breen for S. Walsh (temp.), Conor Jordan for Dwyer.

Bannow-Ballymitty: Kevin Doyle; Alan Barden, John O'Leary, Clem Rossiter; Conor Furlong, Arthur Sweetman, Pádraig McCormack; Niall Harney, Mark Wallace (0-8, 2 frees, 1 '65); Nicky Doyle (0-2), David Currid (0-3), Gary Morton; James McCormack, Pat Fitzharris (0-2, 1 free), Micheál Murphy (2-1). Subs. - David White for Barden, Art Murphy for J. McCormack, Donal McLoughlin for Morton, Mark Colfer for Wallace.

Referee: Martin Armstrong (Rapparees).

August 12: Buffers Alley 5-12, Ferns St Aidans 3-13
Four goals from John Moran propelled Buffers Alley's second team to their third win from four games in the Permanent TSB Junior hurling championship Group A after a 5-12 to 3-13 victory over the Ferns St. Aidan's seconds at Camolin on Saturday.
The fact that all of Moran's green flags came within breathing space of the small square illustrates Buffers Alley's policy of direct ball into the imposing full-forward, and that approach reaped dividends twice inside the first eight minutes as they built an early 2-1 to 0-4 lead.
Eddie Cullen was his usual accurate self from placed balls, converting six frees from six attempts, and even fortutiously goaling from a '65 from the last puck of the half as Ferns transformed that early setback into a 1-11 to 2-5 interval advantage.
But Buffers Alley really upped the ante on the resumption, as James Foley notched a quick-fire 1-2, including a poacher's goal on 43 minutes as the Monamolin and Kilmuckridge men surged ahead by 3-9 to 1-12 by the end of the third quarter.
Moran soon swiped to the net to complete his hat-trick and open up a six-point safety blanket, and although the experienced Anthony Dwyer pulled a goal back for Ferns, Moran's dream evening continued as he deftly flicked home Buffers Alley's fifth goal five minutes from time.
Dwyer put a gloss on the scoreboard for Ferns with a goal deep into injury time, but his late defiance was too late as they now boast a 50% win record from four games. Buffers Alley are motoring nicely, and have now scored at least three goals every time they have won.  

Ferns St. Aidan's: Niall Byrne; Paul Lancaster, Colm Whelan, Peter Nolan; Colin Leacy, Seán Walsh, Derek Thorpe; Peter O'Toole, Ivan Meegan; Ciarán Doran (0-2), Eddie Walsh (0-2), Eddie Cullen (1-7, 0-7 frees, 1-0 '65); Ben Cowman (0-2), Paddy O'Leary, Anthony Dwyer (2-0).

Buffers Alley: Darren O'Brien (0-1 free); Paudie Kinsella, Alan Doyle, Colm Og Doran; Conor Kenny, Thomas Dempsey, Matty Cardiff; Aaron Redmond, Owen Dempsey (0-3 frees); James Foley (1-3, 0-1 free), Jim Hughes (0-4, 2 frees), Domhnall McArdle; John Furlong (0-1), John Moran (4-0), Lee Murphy. Sub. - Leonard Lacey for Foley, temp.

Referee: Paddy Brady (Ballygarrett).

August 25: Ferns St Aidans 2-13, Tara Rocks 1-12
Ferns St. Aidan's pulled a victory out of the fire to book their place in the quarter-final of the Permanent TSB Junior hurling championship after a pulsating end to this Group A clash in Bree on Friday.
Having played catch-up all the way, bottom side Tara Rocks gave themselves real hope when Colm O'Keeffe hit the back of the net to draw them level at 1-12 apiece with less than five minutes remaining.
However, the Ferns response was instant, with substitute Conor Jordan plundering a goal at the other end to swing the tie back in their favour.
Ferns had looked the most likely winners throughout, but could never quite shake off their determined opponents.
Anthony Dwyer gave the men in red and white the perfect start, diverting Derek Thorpe's delivery into the danger zone beyond goalkeeper Lee Owley inside four minutes, and they held a 1-8 to 0-7 lead by the break with Dwyer helping himself to a couple of points and Eddie Cullen knocking over five placed balls and one score from play.
Tara Rocks refused to go down without a fight though, and they hung on in there with two points each from Lorcan Clare, Patrick Fortune and Mikey Byrne and one from Gearóid O Súilleabháin keeping them in touch.
Ferns earned themselves an ounce of breathing space after the change of ends when Eddie Cullen boomed over a long-range free and Anthony Dwyer added a point to give them a six-point buffer, but three points on the trot from Rhys Owley, Mikey Byrne and Colm O'Keeffe had Tara Rocks right back in the mix.
Points from Eddie Cullen and Conor Jordan for Ferns sandwiched efforts from Emmet O'Toole and Lorcan Clare to leave just a puck of the ball between the sides on 55 minutes, and Tara Rocks grabbed the leveller seconds later.
Mikey Byrne stood over a free 25 yards out and when he drilled a ferocious shot on goal the sea of bodies on the line did its job. Colm O'Keeffe was quickest to react though, following up to finish the ball to the net.
The celebrations had barely died down when Ferns had the green flag waving at the other end. Substitute Conor Jordan got on the end of a pass from Anthony Dwyer and applied the clinical finish.
Eddie Cullen then converted an injury time free to copper-fasten Ferns' place in the knockout stages, while Tara Rocks will have to pick themselves up for the relegation final.

Ferns St. Aidan's: Niall Byrne; Paul Lancaster, Colm Whelan, Peter Nolan (capt.); Jack O'Hagan, Tomás Hawkins, Pádraig Walsh; P.J. O'Neill, Derek Thorpe; Ciarán Doran, Eddie Cullen (0-9, 6 frees, 1 '65), Brian O'Neill; Anthony Dwyer (1-3), Paddy O'Leary, Ben Cowman. Subs. - Conor Jordan (1-1) for Doran, Aaron Cahill for Dwyer.

Tara Rocks: Lee Owley; Shane O'Toole, Enda O'Leary (capt.), Colm Noctor; Shane Tobin, Stephen Hughes, Rhys Owley (0-1); Gearóid O Súilleabháin (0-1), Murt Sheehan; Emmet O'Toole (0-1), Mikey Byrne (0-3, 1 free), Lorcan Clare (0-3); Wayne Farrell, Colm O'Keeffe (1-1), Patrick Fortune (0-2, 1 free, 1 '65). Sub. - Donnacha McDonald for Clare.

Referee: Bob Treacy (Clongeen).

Sept. 9, Quarter-Final: Gusserane 4-12, Ferns St Aidans 0-11
While the old adage of 'goals win games' is a mite too simplistic, they were the difference as Gusserane ripped past Ferns and into the semi-final of the Permanent TSB Junior Hurling Championship in Bree on Saturday afternoon last.
The thing about goals is that they don't usually just happen. There's a reason why they are scored; a mistake, a great piece of individual skill or sometimes even luck. However, in this instance speed kills and it certainly finished off Ferns' title aspirations.
The youthful Gusserane attack is hard to keep quiet for sixty minutes. Ferns did a very decent job of it but the New Ross District side are always going to create chances at this level. How clinical they are in their semi-final, and potential final, will dictate if they take this title or not.
It took Sean 'Mini' Ryan mere minutes to nab the first goal. He seized on a sloppy pass in the Ferns defence but still had plenty to do when he got possession. His legs did the hard work, racing away from the cover and calmly firing low past Niall Byrne.
While the breeze slightly aided Gusserane in the first half, it flipped to predominantly a crosswind pretty early on. They didn't have too many problems with the elements as Sam Wall wafted over dead-balls and Mark Rossiter picked off a couple of nice points.
William Cullen's frees kept Ferns in touch at the break (1-9 to 0-5). When Tomás Hawkins sent over a booming effort just four minutes after the interval the lead was trimmed to five. However, Mark O'Neill ghosted in to net moments later and his side were able to keep their opponents at arm's length thereafter.
Ryan and O'Neill added further goals early in the final quarter and, while they didn't score in the last eleven minutes, Gusserane were relatively comfortable in the closing stages and will fancy their chances in the last four.

Ferns St. Aidans: Niall Byrne; Brian O'Neill, Colm Whelan, Peter Nolan (capt.); Jack O'Hagan, Tomás Hawkins (0-1), Padraig Walsh; Derek Thorpe, P.J. O'Neill; Paddy O'Leary (0-1), Eddie Cullen (0-8 frees), Ben Cowman; Conor Jordan (0-1), Anthony Dwyer, Ciaran Doran. Subs. - Aaron Cahill for O'Hagan (38), Keith Breen for Cowman (38), Conor Doran for B. O'Neill (52), Patrick Tonks for Walsh (55).

Gusserane: Michael Ryan; Reggie Browne, Paul Wall (capt.), Jack O'Connor; Gavin Sheehan, Shane Cullen, Liam Dillon; Graham Cullen, Adrian Redmond; Gary O'Grady, Mark Rossiter (0-2), Mark O'Neill (2-1); Sam Wall (0-8, 7 frees), Padraig Conway, Sean Ryan (2-1). Subs: Ken Cahill for Browne (44), Fintan Ryan for O'Grady (44), Cathal Somers for Conway (50), Jack Burford for S. Wall (53), Donal Kiely for S. Cullen (55).

Referee: Gearoid McGrath (St James').