Junior 'A' Football Championship 2022
August 28: Ferns St. Aidans 1-8, Rathgarogue-Cushinstown 2-3
A CHRISTOPHER O’Connor goal eight minutes into the second-half proved decisive as it helped Ferns St. Aidans edge out Rathgarogue-Cushinstown in this Enniscorthy Farm Systems Junior ‘A’ football championship Group A game in Cushinstown on Sunday.
The home side played with much more intensity through the opening half but they were unable to turn their possession into scores, mainly through wayward finishing, while their second goal from a penalty arrived too late to hand them a lifeline.
Through sheer hard graft Ferns managed to stay in the game. They played a possession-style game but through the opening half in particular it seldom looked like bringing them scores, as their attacks constantly broke down close to goal.
In the second-half they adopted a more direct style of play, and it was from one of those attacks that they executed their solitary goal which was to prove so crucial in the end.
The hosts got off to the ideal start when Aaron Ryan pointed a free off the wing. And after withstanding a series of Ferns attacks, they managed to break down the opposing rearguard with a quick move through the centre.
Jamie O’Rourke – on as a substitute for the injured Brendan Fitzpatrick – made progress through the centre before laying off a pass to Shane Cullen who finished neatly to the corner of the net, giving his side a 1-1 to nil lead after twelve minutes.
Ferns began to play with much more intensity following this setback, with Christopher O’Connor opening their account with a 15th-minute point.
Shane Cullen and Peter Nolan went on to exchange points, while an O’Connor point off the left saw the home side holding a two-point interval lead (1-2 to 0-3).
However, the break led to a response from Ferns, who started the second-half with a more direct style.
Derek Thorpe and Christopher O’Connor picked off points inside the opening three minutes to bring the sides level (0-5 to 1-2), and the crucial score then arrived by way of a perfectly-finished goal.
Jonny Dwyer lofted a high ball towards goal and Christopher O’Connor pounced on the break, sidestepping his marker before planting the ball low to the corner of the net, giving his side the lead (1-5 to 1-2) for the first time.
O’Connor continued to torment the home defence, increasing his side’s lead with a point before Aaron Ryan and Jonny Dwyer went on to exchange points.
Ferns looked comfortable when a Nolan point put them five clear entering the closing minutes.
As the game moved into additional time, referee Martin Quigley penalised the visiting defence following an indiscretion in front of goal. Jamie O’Rourke coolly slotted home the penalty but it was too late to alter the result.
Ferns will host HWH-Bunclody this Sunday, with Rathgarogue-Cushinstown away to Shelmaliers.
Ferns St. Aidans: Evan Murphy; Byron Jordan, Paddy O’Hagan, David Murphy; Seb Rynhart, Barry Murphy, Derek Thorpe (0-1); John Breen, Pádraig Walsh; Brian Stafford, Christopher O’Connor (1-4), Peter O’Toole; Shane Breen, Peter Nolan (0-2), James Kinsella. Subs. - Jonny Dwyer (0-1) for Walsh, Liam Byrne for B. Murphy, Benny Jordan for O’Toole, Seán Walsh for Breen, George Warren for Kinsella.
Rathgarogue-Cushinstown: Fionn Slattery; Luke O’Dwyer, Pádraig McGrath, Tomás McGrath; Colm Murphy, Ricky McGrath, Pat Kehoe; Ian Kennedy, Oisín Mac Eochaidh; James Quinn, Brendan Fitzpatrick, Aodhán Slattery; Shane Cullen (1-1), Luke O’Connor, Aaron Ryan (0-2 frees). Subs. - Jamie O’Rourke (1-0 pen.) for Fitzpatrick, inj., Conor Kavanagh for A. Slattery, Eoin McAuliffe for Quinn.
Referee: Martin Quigley (Rathnure).
September 4: Ferns St. Aidans 0-11, HWH Bunclody 0-11
HWH-BUNCLODY came back from five points down with a quarter to play to snatch a draw in their Enniscorthy Farm Systems Junior ‘A’ football championship Group A clash with hosts Ferns St. Aidans on Sunday.
Overall, on the balance of play, a tie was a fair outcome. The home side dominated the first-half and were full value for their 0-7 to 0-3 lead, but HWH-Bunclody were impressive in the second period and proved they have the tools to be in the mix for this title too.
The most impressive aspect of the HWH-Bunclody comeback was their patience. At this grade one might be excused for panicking a little when facing a decent deficit against a side who have retreated into their shell.
However, HWH-Bunclody didn’t panic for a second, as they ran at Ferns with possession, took it into tackles and off-loaded at key points. That bravery and composure would have to give this side the belief that they can do something very special in the coming weeks.
After an initial bright start and a 0-2 to 0-1 lead following points from Kevin Dunne and Kevin Reck, HWH-Bunclody were a little lax in the remainder of the opening half against the partial cross-breeze as Ferns dictated the contest.
Christopher O’Connor levelled the game up in the tenth minute before putting his side ahead. There were some serious question marks about a Dunne effort that was waved wide midway through the half as Ferns continued to pile on the points at the other end.
Benny Jordan and Nolan (three) made the lead 0-7 to 0-2 but ‘Jotty’ Connors did respond just before the interval to leave four between the sides.
Dunne and Steven Kavanagh halved that deficit by the 35th minute, but three-in-a-row from Benny Jordan, O’Connor and Byron Jordan made it 0-10 to 0-5.
From that point HWH-Bunclody completely dominated territorially, and three Dunne frees made it 0-10 to 0-8 by the 54th minute.
After James Taylor pointed, Dunne got his sixth of the evening to level the game. On a rare foray forward, Ferns regained the lead through Peter Nolan, only for substitute Barry Kehoe to secure the tie in the 60th minute.
HWH-Bunclody will have another serious test when they travel to Hollymount to face Shelmaliers on Saturday afternoon. Ferns are on home soil again on Sunday, when they host another real championship challenger in Buffers Alley.
Ferns St. Aidans: Evan Murphy; Jonny Dwyer, Seán Walsh, David Murphy; Byron Jordan (0-1), Derek Thorpe, Seb Rynhart; Liam Byrne, Pádraig Walsh; Brian Stafford, Shane Breen, Peter O’Toole; Christopher O’Connor (0-3), Peter Nolan (capt., 0-5, 4 frees), Benny Jordan (0-2). Subs. - Conor O’Toole for Rynhart, inj. (13), James Kinsella for Murphy (40), P.J. O’Neill for P. O’Toole (48), O’Toole for Thorpe, temp. (60+1-end).
HWH-Bunclody: Bobby McKeown; Ciarán Kavanagh, Diarmuid Crean, Faolain Ó Ceallaigh; Steven Kavanagh (0-1), Ciarán Whiting, Conor Burke; James Taylor (capt., 0-1), Eoin McDonnell; Mylie Connors, Seán Taylor, David Reck (0-1); John ‘Jotty’ Connors (0-1), Kevin Dunne (0-6, 5 frees), James Black. Subs. - Conor Hendrick for Crean (30), Jerry Connors for Reck (31), Crean for Hendrick, inj. (40), Luke Boxwell for M. Connors (48), Barry Kehoe (0-1) for S. Taylor (48).
Referee: Shane Quinn (Réalt na Mara).
September 11: Ferns St. Aidans 0-14, Buffers Alley 0-5
The Ferns St. Aidans second string emulated their Intermediate clubmates with a nine-point victory over the weekend, advancing to the quarter-finals of the Enniscorthy Farm Systems Junior ‘A’ football championship in the process, after an impressive 0-14 to 0-5 win over Buffers Alley in awful conditions in Ferns on Sunday.
The incessant rain meant the first-half in particular was low in quality, with the locals forging a slender 0-2 to nil lead by the end of the first quarter.
Benny Jordan got them up and running on two minutes, before a late hit on Shane Breen allowed captain Peter Nolan to tap over the resultant free.
Astute veteran Nolan went on to be a key component in victory, hitting nine points in all, including two well-taken efforts from play in the second-half.
Ferns goalkeeper Evan Murphy pulled off an excellent save to deny John Farrell, and Seán Walsh also intervened on another occasion as Buffers Alley couldn’t quite trouble the scoreboard early on.
That said, they picked off three points in a row to turn things around by 0-3 to 0-2, with Shamey O’Hagan and Edward Harney both pointing nicely from play and Farrell converting a free.
However, just as the rain really started teeming down, two more successful Nolan frees, and an improvised effort from Oisín Fortune, meant that matters were finely poised at 0-4 each by half-time.
Ferns were excellent on the restart, picking off six points without reply to really take command.
Three of those scores were Nolan frees, with corner-back Byron Jordan venturing forward to register from play, and Nolan also picking off one following a clever one-two with Shane Breen.
Substitute James Tonks got his name on the scoresheet too as he made a welcome return to action for the first time since the club’s historic Senior hurling triumph.
Shane Grannell pegged back a free for the Alley, but Ferns finished with conviction, as Tonks added his second and Nolan supplied two more (one free), before substitute Conor Jordan rounded off a great weekend for the club after he blocked down the ’keeper and swung over the rebound.
They also kept their clean sheet intact through a late Murphy save, with Buffers Alley now looking to secure their own last-eight ticket against Shelmaliers this Saturday in Monamolin.
Ferns St. Aidans: Evan Murphy; Conor O’Toole, Seán Walsh, Byron Jordan (0-1); Seb Rynhart, Jonny Dwyer, Paddy O’Hagan; Peter O’Toole, Pádraig Walsh; Brian Stafford, Shane Breen, Benny Jordan (0-1); Peter Nolan (capt., 0-9, 7 frees), John Breen, Derek Thorpe. Subs. - James Tonks (0-2) for Stafford (HT), Conor Jordan (0-1) for P. O’Toole (42), Barry Murphy for Dwyer (54).
Buffers Alley: Michael Butler; Oisín O’Hagan, Bobby Kenny, Seán Murphy; Edward Harney (0-1), Ross Donohoe, Owen McNulty; Jack Twomey, Shane Grannell (0-1 free); David Meleady, Shamey O’Hagan (0-1), Oisín Fortune (0-1); John Farrell (0-1 free), Cormac Walsh, Tomás Whelan. Subs. - Eoin O’Meara for O. O’Hagan (36), Willie Doran for Fortune (39), Cian O’Connor for Harney (42), Ciarán Kenny for Whelan (49).
Referee: Pádraig Byrne (Kilanerin).
September 24: Shelmaliers 3-8, Ferns St. Aidans 3-4
Shelmaliers maintained their one hundred per cent record in Group A of the Enniscorthy Farm Systems Junior ‘A’ football championship as two goals in the final ten minutes helped them to a hard-fought victory over fellow high-flyers Ferns in Hollymount on Saturday.
When Benny Jordan slotted over a nice point on the run in the 50th minute to give Ferns a 3-3 to 1-6 advantage, top spot in the group looked to be theirs for the taking.
However, the response from Shelmaliers was immediate, with Dylan O’Neill’s second goal of the game drawing them level and substitute Chris Gordon hitting the back of the net three minutes later as the hosts finished with a flourish.
O’Neill’s opening major came with 26 minutes on the clock to give the home side a 1-4 to 0-2 advantage, but Ferns hung on in there.
Shane Breen raised a green flag one minute before the break, while John Breen added another goal for the visitors in the 43rd minute, before that strong Shels finish.
Although the Over The Water side did waste a couple of decent goal chances early on, there was little between the teams for much of the first-half.
And it was just two points apiece after 18 minutes, with Dylan O’Neill and Adam Howlin (free) scoring for the home side and Ferns responding through Benny Jordan and a Peter Nolan placed ball.
Shelmaliers began to pull away, however, and, after Corey Lawlor and Adam Howlin (free) pointed, they struck for the opening goal.
Joe Kelly, Kyle Roche and Hugh Peter Manley were all involved in the build-up, and when the ball found its way to Dylan O’Neill he buried a shot past goalkeeper Evan Murphy. Moments later Ferns had a goal of their own as Christopher O’Connor and Peter Nolan linked up before feeding Shane Breen, who finished to the net.
Dylan O’Neill slotted over a point at the other end to give Shelmaliers a 1-5 to 1-2 advantage at the break, but that lead was wiped out just two minutes after the change of ends, when a John Breen delivery was gathered by Christopher ‘Bitzy’ O’Connor and he applied a clinical finish.
Seven minutes later the Shels were handed a gilt-edged opportunity to reply in kind, but Joe Kelly blazed a penalty wide, although Dylan O’Neill split the posts seconds later to edge them back in front.
Ferns were soon back in the ascendancy though as substitute Conor Jordan handpassed across the face of goal and the inrushing John Breen got the finishing touch from close range.
A Benny Jordan score gave them a three-point advantage with just over ten minutes remaining, but Shelmaliers were soon back on level terms, when Dylan O’Neill’s shot looped out of reach of the netminder.
O’Neill quickly added a free and they closed in on victory moments later when Chris Gordon confidently finished to the net after good work from Aaron Doyle and Cathal Harding.
Corey Lawlor stretched the lead to five and, although Peter Nolan had the final say with a free, Ferns had to settle for second place in the group and a meeting with Ballyhogue in the quarter-final, while Shelmaliers will take on Glynn-Barntown.
Ferns St. Aidans: Evan Murphy; Seb Rynhart, Seán Walsh, Derek Thorpe; Conor O’Toole, Paddy O’Hagan, Barry Murphy; John Breen (1-0), Brian Stafford; Liam Byrne, Shane Breen (1-0), Peter O’Toole; Christopher O’Connor (1-0), Peter Nolan (capt., 0-2 frees), Benny Jordan (0-2). Subs. - Barry O’Toole for Walsh, inj. (3), Conor Jordan for Murphy (HT), Pádraig Kinsella for S. Breen (40).
Shelmaliers: Aodhán Foley (capt.); Aaron Doyle, Cathal Gaule, Conor Roche; Hugh Peter Manley, Adam Hearne, Stephen Rossiter; Robbie Delaney, Barry Cloake; Adam Howlin (0-2 frees), Aidan Murphy, Corey Lawlor (0-2); Joe Kelly, Dylan O’Neill (2-4, 0-1 free), Kyle Roche. Subs. - Chris Gordon (1-0) for Murphy (HT), Kieran Hearne for Delaney (HT), Shane Kelly for Hearne (HT), Cathal Harding for J. Kelly (40), Niall Power for Howlin (40). Sin-bin: Kieran Hearne (59).
Referee: Billy Dodd (Sarsfields).
October 1, quarter-final: Ferns St. Aidans 1-12, Ballyhogue 2-6
It took a 50th-minute Peter Nolan goal to secure Ferns St. Aidans an eventual three-point victory over a battling Ballyhogue outfit in this Enniscorthy Farm Systems Junior ‘A’ football championship quarter-final in St. Patrick’s Park, Enniscorthy on Saturday.
In a game where little had separated the sides up to veteran Nolan’s finish for the goal, the Ferns defence still was left with much to do as Ballyhogue upped the intensity of their game in search of crucial scores, but their inconsistent shooting came back to haunt them in the end.
Conor Jordan got proceedings under way with a strong attack down the right wing in the opening minute finishing with an excellent point, but a huge Shane Roche kick from a ’45 had the sides level two minutes later.
While it was a bright start the scoring dried up after that, with both sides guilty of missed chances.
Onlookers had to wait until the 13th minute for the game’s next score, a fine individual effort from Christopher O’Connor, while John Breen quickly increased his side’s lead to 0-3 to 0-1.
After a Seán Ring free had reduced the deficit to the minimum, Peter Nolan hit a real purple patch, adding two points, one from a free, to move his side into a 0-5 to 0-2 lead.
Ballyhogue finished the half strongly with two long-range Seán Ring points, to leave the minimum separating the sides at the interval (0-5 to 0-4).
Benny Jordan and Ronan Byrne exchanged opening second-half points, with a Conor Jordan 44th-minute point giving Ferns a 0-7 to 0-5 lead.
The game had opened up considerably and it was after a long ball inside that Shane Byrne collected possession to finish with a fine shot to the corner of the net, giving Ballyhogue the lead for the first time (1-5 to 0-7) after 46 minutes.
When it appeared as if Ballyhogue were about to take the initiative, Ferns bounced back with two quickfire points from Peter Nolan and a huge Jonny Dwyer effort to regain the lead.
And with ten minutes remaining, Nolan shot high into the net after his initial effort had been blocked, leaving Ferns leading by 1-9 to 1-5.
Points from Jonny Dwyer and John Breen saw them extend that lead further with six minutes remaining.
Shane Roche and Jonny Dwyer exchanged points, while a Seán Ring goal two minutes from the end set up a tense finish, but the Ferns defence withstood a late onslaught to advance through to the semi-final where they will be hoping to repeat an earlier group win over Buffers Alley.
Ferns St. Aidans: Evan Murphy; Byron Jordan, Paddy O’Hagan, Seb Rynhart; Conor O’Toole, Jonny Dwyer (0-3), Derek Thorpe; John Breen (0-2), Pádraig Walsh; Conor Jordan (0-2), Shane Breen, Peter O’Toole; Christopher O’Connor (0-1), Peter Nolan (1-3, 0-1 free), Benny Jordan (0-1).
Ballyhogue: Tommy Kennedy; Cian Rochford, Conor Rodgers, Fergal Kelly; Ronan Byrne (0-1), Cian Rodgers, Peter Doyle; Tobias Redmond, Shane Byrne (1-0); Tony Ryan, Kevin Ring, Norman Carr; Shane Roche (0-2, 1 free, 1 ’45), Seán Ring (1-3, 0-1 free), Philip Walsh. Subs. - Anthony Butler for Redmond, Darragh Byrne for Kelly, Tomás Moriarty for Rochford, Michael Parker for Ryan.
Referee: Billy Dodd (Sarsfields).
October 7, semi-final: Buffers Alley 0-10, Ferns St. Aidans 0-6
Buffers Alley moved into the final of the Enniscorthy Farm Systems Junior ‘A’ football championship with a 0-10 to 0-6 victory over Gorey District rivals Ferns St. Aidans in Friday’s clash in floodlit Craanford.
While it avenges a 0-14 to 0-5 group stage loss to the same opponents in terrible weather last month, the winners’ sole focus will be on completing a commendable rise up the football ranks when they take on a Shelmaliers side who have beaten all-comers in the grade thus far.
And although they managed to limit Ferns to just one point from play among their starting forwards, there is certainly room for improvement from Buffers Alley’s perspective, as they tripled their first-half wide count from four to twelve by the final whistle on the way to adding just one score to a seven-point interval advantage.
John Farrell was in peerless form in a remarkable display of shooting in that first-half, accounting for six of their nine points, including four from play.
He opened the scoring after two minutes, but five wides followed between the two sides before the diminutive Cormac Walsh added their second on 13 minutes.
The follow-up kick-out was annexed as Shane Grannell cut in along the endline and Seán Murphy eventually swiped the loose ball over the bar first-time, with Ferns getting up and running via an excellent Paddy O’Hagan point on 15 minutes.
Farrell made it 0-4 to 0-1 from Walsh’s assist, and the rampant corner-forward added the next two as well, from a free and play respectively.
Liam Walsh drew a foul for Grannell to tap over another placed ball, with Farrell bringing up his personal half-dozen with another brace as James Kinsella pegged one back for Ferns at the other end with a rising shot to cut it to 0-9 to 0-2 at the break.
For all the attacking shortcomings of the leaders after the restart, Ferns couldn’t quite capitalise as a multitude of Buffers Alley wides preceded veteran captain Peter Nolan knocking over two frees, one from either side.
Liam Walsh stemmed the slowly-rising tide with what proved to be the Monamolin-based lads’ last submission of the night, with Nolan’s third successful free reducing the Ferns deficit to 0-10 to 0-5 after 48 minutes.
Ferns poured forward in numbers, but the goal they needed to put the cat amongst the pigeons never materialised as they more often than not hit one pass too many or went down cul-de-sacs.
Derek Thorpe did float over a late consolation point in the aftermath of a route-one delivery being cut out, but overall the season should be regarded as a success for last year’s Junior ‘B’ champions.
Buffers Alley won that particular title in 2019, and have nothing to lose against Shelmaliers in the county final in Chadwicks Wexford Park on Sunday, with the Over The Water lads defeating Rathgarogue-Cushinstown by 1-17 to 1-8 on the same night.
Ferns St. Aidans: Evan Murphy; Derek Thorpe (0-1), Seán Walsh, Byron Jordan; Paddy O’Hagan (0-1), Conor O’Toole, Seb Rynhart; John Breen, Pádraig Walsh; James Kinsella (0-1), Shane Breen, Peter O’Toole; Benny Jordan, Peter Nolan (0-3 frees), Conor Jordan. Subs. - Liam Byrne for S. Walsh (HT), Brian Stafford for P. O’Toole (38), Barry O’Toole for Nolan (53), Brian O’Neill for Benny Jordan (56).
Buffers Alley: Michael Butler; Owen McNulty, Bobby Kenny, Seán Murphy (0-1); David Meleady, Jack Twomey, Tomás Whelan; Ross Donohoe (capt.), Shane Grannell (0-1 free); Cian O’Connor, Shamey O’Hagan, Eoin O’Meara; John Farrell (0-6, 2 frees), Cormac Walsh (0-1), Liam Walsh (0-1). Subs. - Edward Harney for O’Hagan (HT), Oisín Fortune for O’Connor (46), Willie Doran for Farrell (53), Oisín O’Hagan for Harney, temp. (60-60+2).
Referee: Eddie O’Sullivan (Kilanerin).
A CHRISTOPHER O’Connor goal eight minutes into the second-half proved decisive as it helped Ferns St. Aidans edge out Rathgarogue-Cushinstown in this Enniscorthy Farm Systems Junior ‘A’ football championship Group A game in Cushinstown on Sunday.
The home side played with much more intensity through the opening half but they were unable to turn their possession into scores, mainly through wayward finishing, while their second goal from a penalty arrived too late to hand them a lifeline.
Through sheer hard graft Ferns managed to stay in the game. They played a possession-style game but through the opening half in particular it seldom looked like bringing them scores, as their attacks constantly broke down close to goal.
In the second-half they adopted a more direct style of play, and it was from one of those attacks that they executed their solitary goal which was to prove so crucial in the end.
The hosts got off to the ideal start when Aaron Ryan pointed a free off the wing. And after withstanding a series of Ferns attacks, they managed to break down the opposing rearguard with a quick move through the centre.
Jamie O’Rourke – on as a substitute for the injured Brendan Fitzpatrick – made progress through the centre before laying off a pass to Shane Cullen who finished neatly to the corner of the net, giving his side a 1-1 to nil lead after twelve minutes.
Ferns began to play with much more intensity following this setback, with Christopher O’Connor opening their account with a 15th-minute point.
Shane Cullen and Peter Nolan went on to exchange points, while an O’Connor point off the left saw the home side holding a two-point interval lead (1-2 to 0-3).
However, the break led to a response from Ferns, who started the second-half with a more direct style.
Derek Thorpe and Christopher O’Connor picked off points inside the opening three minutes to bring the sides level (0-5 to 1-2), and the crucial score then arrived by way of a perfectly-finished goal.
Jonny Dwyer lofted a high ball towards goal and Christopher O’Connor pounced on the break, sidestepping his marker before planting the ball low to the corner of the net, giving his side the lead (1-5 to 1-2) for the first time.
O’Connor continued to torment the home defence, increasing his side’s lead with a point before Aaron Ryan and Jonny Dwyer went on to exchange points.
Ferns looked comfortable when a Nolan point put them five clear entering the closing minutes.
As the game moved into additional time, referee Martin Quigley penalised the visiting defence following an indiscretion in front of goal. Jamie O’Rourke coolly slotted home the penalty but it was too late to alter the result.
Ferns will host HWH-Bunclody this Sunday, with Rathgarogue-Cushinstown away to Shelmaliers.
Ferns St. Aidans: Evan Murphy; Byron Jordan, Paddy O’Hagan, David Murphy; Seb Rynhart, Barry Murphy, Derek Thorpe (0-1); John Breen, Pádraig Walsh; Brian Stafford, Christopher O’Connor (1-4), Peter O’Toole; Shane Breen, Peter Nolan (0-2), James Kinsella. Subs. - Jonny Dwyer (0-1) for Walsh, Liam Byrne for B. Murphy, Benny Jordan for O’Toole, Seán Walsh for Breen, George Warren for Kinsella.
Rathgarogue-Cushinstown: Fionn Slattery; Luke O’Dwyer, Pádraig McGrath, Tomás McGrath; Colm Murphy, Ricky McGrath, Pat Kehoe; Ian Kennedy, Oisín Mac Eochaidh; James Quinn, Brendan Fitzpatrick, Aodhán Slattery; Shane Cullen (1-1), Luke O’Connor, Aaron Ryan (0-2 frees). Subs. - Jamie O’Rourke (1-0 pen.) for Fitzpatrick, inj., Conor Kavanagh for A. Slattery, Eoin McAuliffe for Quinn.
Referee: Martin Quigley (Rathnure).
September 4: Ferns St. Aidans 0-11, HWH Bunclody 0-11
HWH-BUNCLODY came back from five points down with a quarter to play to snatch a draw in their Enniscorthy Farm Systems Junior ‘A’ football championship Group A clash with hosts Ferns St. Aidans on Sunday.
Overall, on the balance of play, a tie was a fair outcome. The home side dominated the first-half and were full value for their 0-7 to 0-3 lead, but HWH-Bunclody were impressive in the second period and proved they have the tools to be in the mix for this title too.
The most impressive aspect of the HWH-Bunclody comeback was their patience. At this grade one might be excused for panicking a little when facing a decent deficit against a side who have retreated into their shell.
However, HWH-Bunclody didn’t panic for a second, as they ran at Ferns with possession, took it into tackles and off-loaded at key points. That bravery and composure would have to give this side the belief that they can do something very special in the coming weeks.
After an initial bright start and a 0-2 to 0-1 lead following points from Kevin Dunne and Kevin Reck, HWH-Bunclody were a little lax in the remainder of the opening half against the partial cross-breeze as Ferns dictated the contest.
Christopher O’Connor levelled the game up in the tenth minute before putting his side ahead. There were some serious question marks about a Dunne effort that was waved wide midway through the half as Ferns continued to pile on the points at the other end.
Benny Jordan and Nolan (three) made the lead 0-7 to 0-2 but ‘Jotty’ Connors did respond just before the interval to leave four between the sides.
Dunne and Steven Kavanagh halved that deficit by the 35th minute, but three-in-a-row from Benny Jordan, O’Connor and Byron Jordan made it 0-10 to 0-5.
From that point HWH-Bunclody completely dominated territorially, and three Dunne frees made it 0-10 to 0-8 by the 54th minute.
After James Taylor pointed, Dunne got his sixth of the evening to level the game. On a rare foray forward, Ferns regained the lead through Peter Nolan, only for substitute Barry Kehoe to secure the tie in the 60th minute.
HWH-Bunclody will have another serious test when they travel to Hollymount to face Shelmaliers on Saturday afternoon. Ferns are on home soil again on Sunday, when they host another real championship challenger in Buffers Alley.
Ferns St. Aidans: Evan Murphy; Jonny Dwyer, Seán Walsh, David Murphy; Byron Jordan (0-1), Derek Thorpe, Seb Rynhart; Liam Byrne, Pádraig Walsh; Brian Stafford, Shane Breen, Peter O’Toole; Christopher O’Connor (0-3), Peter Nolan (capt., 0-5, 4 frees), Benny Jordan (0-2). Subs. - Conor O’Toole for Rynhart, inj. (13), James Kinsella for Murphy (40), P.J. O’Neill for P. O’Toole (48), O’Toole for Thorpe, temp. (60+1-end).
HWH-Bunclody: Bobby McKeown; Ciarán Kavanagh, Diarmuid Crean, Faolain Ó Ceallaigh; Steven Kavanagh (0-1), Ciarán Whiting, Conor Burke; James Taylor (capt., 0-1), Eoin McDonnell; Mylie Connors, Seán Taylor, David Reck (0-1); John ‘Jotty’ Connors (0-1), Kevin Dunne (0-6, 5 frees), James Black. Subs. - Conor Hendrick for Crean (30), Jerry Connors for Reck (31), Crean for Hendrick, inj. (40), Luke Boxwell for M. Connors (48), Barry Kehoe (0-1) for S. Taylor (48).
Referee: Shane Quinn (Réalt na Mara).
September 11: Ferns St. Aidans 0-14, Buffers Alley 0-5
The Ferns St. Aidans second string emulated their Intermediate clubmates with a nine-point victory over the weekend, advancing to the quarter-finals of the Enniscorthy Farm Systems Junior ‘A’ football championship in the process, after an impressive 0-14 to 0-5 win over Buffers Alley in awful conditions in Ferns on Sunday.
The incessant rain meant the first-half in particular was low in quality, with the locals forging a slender 0-2 to nil lead by the end of the first quarter.
Benny Jordan got them up and running on two minutes, before a late hit on Shane Breen allowed captain Peter Nolan to tap over the resultant free.
Astute veteran Nolan went on to be a key component in victory, hitting nine points in all, including two well-taken efforts from play in the second-half.
Ferns goalkeeper Evan Murphy pulled off an excellent save to deny John Farrell, and Seán Walsh also intervened on another occasion as Buffers Alley couldn’t quite trouble the scoreboard early on.
That said, they picked off three points in a row to turn things around by 0-3 to 0-2, with Shamey O’Hagan and Edward Harney both pointing nicely from play and Farrell converting a free.
However, just as the rain really started teeming down, two more successful Nolan frees, and an improvised effort from Oisín Fortune, meant that matters were finely poised at 0-4 each by half-time.
Ferns were excellent on the restart, picking off six points without reply to really take command.
Three of those scores were Nolan frees, with corner-back Byron Jordan venturing forward to register from play, and Nolan also picking off one following a clever one-two with Shane Breen.
Substitute James Tonks got his name on the scoresheet too as he made a welcome return to action for the first time since the club’s historic Senior hurling triumph.
Shane Grannell pegged back a free for the Alley, but Ferns finished with conviction, as Tonks added his second and Nolan supplied two more (one free), before substitute Conor Jordan rounded off a great weekend for the club after he blocked down the ’keeper and swung over the rebound.
They also kept their clean sheet intact through a late Murphy save, with Buffers Alley now looking to secure their own last-eight ticket against Shelmaliers this Saturday in Monamolin.
Ferns St. Aidans: Evan Murphy; Conor O’Toole, Seán Walsh, Byron Jordan (0-1); Seb Rynhart, Jonny Dwyer, Paddy O’Hagan; Peter O’Toole, Pádraig Walsh; Brian Stafford, Shane Breen, Benny Jordan (0-1); Peter Nolan (capt., 0-9, 7 frees), John Breen, Derek Thorpe. Subs. - James Tonks (0-2) for Stafford (HT), Conor Jordan (0-1) for P. O’Toole (42), Barry Murphy for Dwyer (54).
Buffers Alley: Michael Butler; Oisín O’Hagan, Bobby Kenny, Seán Murphy; Edward Harney (0-1), Ross Donohoe, Owen McNulty; Jack Twomey, Shane Grannell (0-1 free); David Meleady, Shamey O’Hagan (0-1), Oisín Fortune (0-1); John Farrell (0-1 free), Cormac Walsh, Tomás Whelan. Subs. - Eoin O’Meara for O. O’Hagan (36), Willie Doran for Fortune (39), Cian O’Connor for Harney (42), Ciarán Kenny for Whelan (49).
Referee: Pádraig Byrne (Kilanerin).
September 24: Shelmaliers 3-8, Ferns St. Aidans 3-4
Shelmaliers maintained their one hundred per cent record in Group A of the Enniscorthy Farm Systems Junior ‘A’ football championship as two goals in the final ten minutes helped them to a hard-fought victory over fellow high-flyers Ferns in Hollymount on Saturday.
When Benny Jordan slotted over a nice point on the run in the 50th minute to give Ferns a 3-3 to 1-6 advantage, top spot in the group looked to be theirs for the taking.
However, the response from Shelmaliers was immediate, with Dylan O’Neill’s second goal of the game drawing them level and substitute Chris Gordon hitting the back of the net three minutes later as the hosts finished with a flourish.
O’Neill’s opening major came with 26 minutes on the clock to give the home side a 1-4 to 0-2 advantage, but Ferns hung on in there.
Shane Breen raised a green flag one minute before the break, while John Breen added another goal for the visitors in the 43rd minute, before that strong Shels finish.
Although the Over The Water side did waste a couple of decent goal chances early on, there was little between the teams for much of the first-half.
And it was just two points apiece after 18 minutes, with Dylan O’Neill and Adam Howlin (free) scoring for the home side and Ferns responding through Benny Jordan and a Peter Nolan placed ball.
Shelmaliers began to pull away, however, and, after Corey Lawlor and Adam Howlin (free) pointed, they struck for the opening goal.
Joe Kelly, Kyle Roche and Hugh Peter Manley were all involved in the build-up, and when the ball found its way to Dylan O’Neill he buried a shot past goalkeeper Evan Murphy. Moments later Ferns had a goal of their own as Christopher O’Connor and Peter Nolan linked up before feeding Shane Breen, who finished to the net.
Dylan O’Neill slotted over a point at the other end to give Shelmaliers a 1-5 to 1-2 advantage at the break, but that lead was wiped out just two minutes after the change of ends, when a John Breen delivery was gathered by Christopher ‘Bitzy’ O’Connor and he applied a clinical finish.
Seven minutes later the Shels were handed a gilt-edged opportunity to reply in kind, but Joe Kelly blazed a penalty wide, although Dylan O’Neill split the posts seconds later to edge them back in front.
Ferns were soon back in the ascendancy though as substitute Conor Jordan handpassed across the face of goal and the inrushing John Breen got the finishing touch from close range.
A Benny Jordan score gave them a three-point advantage with just over ten minutes remaining, but Shelmaliers were soon back on level terms, when Dylan O’Neill’s shot looped out of reach of the netminder.
O’Neill quickly added a free and they closed in on victory moments later when Chris Gordon confidently finished to the net after good work from Aaron Doyle and Cathal Harding.
Corey Lawlor stretched the lead to five and, although Peter Nolan had the final say with a free, Ferns had to settle for second place in the group and a meeting with Ballyhogue in the quarter-final, while Shelmaliers will take on Glynn-Barntown.
Ferns St. Aidans: Evan Murphy; Seb Rynhart, Seán Walsh, Derek Thorpe; Conor O’Toole, Paddy O’Hagan, Barry Murphy; John Breen (1-0), Brian Stafford; Liam Byrne, Shane Breen (1-0), Peter O’Toole; Christopher O’Connor (1-0), Peter Nolan (capt., 0-2 frees), Benny Jordan (0-2). Subs. - Barry O’Toole for Walsh, inj. (3), Conor Jordan for Murphy (HT), Pádraig Kinsella for S. Breen (40).
Shelmaliers: Aodhán Foley (capt.); Aaron Doyle, Cathal Gaule, Conor Roche; Hugh Peter Manley, Adam Hearne, Stephen Rossiter; Robbie Delaney, Barry Cloake; Adam Howlin (0-2 frees), Aidan Murphy, Corey Lawlor (0-2); Joe Kelly, Dylan O’Neill (2-4, 0-1 free), Kyle Roche. Subs. - Chris Gordon (1-0) for Murphy (HT), Kieran Hearne for Delaney (HT), Shane Kelly for Hearne (HT), Cathal Harding for J. Kelly (40), Niall Power for Howlin (40). Sin-bin: Kieran Hearne (59).
Referee: Billy Dodd (Sarsfields).
October 1, quarter-final: Ferns St. Aidans 1-12, Ballyhogue 2-6
It took a 50th-minute Peter Nolan goal to secure Ferns St. Aidans an eventual three-point victory over a battling Ballyhogue outfit in this Enniscorthy Farm Systems Junior ‘A’ football championship quarter-final in St. Patrick’s Park, Enniscorthy on Saturday.
In a game where little had separated the sides up to veteran Nolan’s finish for the goal, the Ferns defence still was left with much to do as Ballyhogue upped the intensity of their game in search of crucial scores, but their inconsistent shooting came back to haunt them in the end.
Conor Jordan got proceedings under way with a strong attack down the right wing in the opening minute finishing with an excellent point, but a huge Shane Roche kick from a ’45 had the sides level two minutes later.
While it was a bright start the scoring dried up after that, with both sides guilty of missed chances.
Onlookers had to wait until the 13th minute for the game’s next score, a fine individual effort from Christopher O’Connor, while John Breen quickly increased his side’s lead to 0-3 to 0-1.
After a Seán Ring free had reduced the deficit to the minimum, Peter Nolan hit a real purple patch, adding two points, one from a free, to move his side into a 0-5 to 0-2 lead.
Ballyhogue finished the half strongly with two long-range Seán Ring points, to leave the minimum separating the sides at the interval (0-5 to 0-4).
Benny Jordan and Ronan Byrne exchanged opening second-half points, with a Conor Jordan 44th-minute point giving Ferns a 0-7 to 0-5 lead.
The game had opened up considerably and it was after a long ball inside that Shane Byrne collected possession to finish with a fine shot to the corner of the net, giving Ballyhogue the lead for the first time (1-5 to 0-7) after 46 minutes.
When it appeared as if Ballyhogue were about to take the initiative, Ferns bounced back with two quickfire points from Peter Nolan and a huge Jonny Dwyer effort to regain the lead.
And with ten minutes remaining, Nolan shot high into the net after his initial effort had been blocked, leaving Ferns leading by 1-9 to 1-5.
Points from Jonny Dwyer and John Breen saw them extend that lead further with six minutes remaining.
Shane Roche and Jonny Dwyer exchanged points, while a Seán Ring goal two minutes from the end set up a tense finish, but the Ferns defence withstood a late onslaught to advance through to the semi-final where they will be hoping to repeat an earlier group win over Buffers Alley.
Ferns St. Aidans: Evan Murphy; Byron Jordan, Paddy O’Hagan, Seb Rynhart; Conor O’Toole, Jonny Dwyer (0-3), Derek Thorpe; John Breen (0-2), Pádraig Walsh; Conor Jordan (0-2), Shane Breen, Peter O’Toole; Christopher O’Connor (0-1), Peter Nolan (1-3, 0-1 free), Benny Jordan (0-1).
Ballyhogue: Tommy Kennedy; Cian Rochford, Conor Rodgers, Fergal Kelly; Ronan Byrne (0-1), Cian Rodgers, Peter Doyle; Tobias Redmond, Shane Byrne (1-0); Tony Ryan, Kevin Ring, Norman Carr; Shane Roche (0-2, 1 free, 1 ’45), Seán Ring (1-3, 0-1 free), Philip Walsh. Subs. - Anthony Butler for Redmond, Darragh Byrne for Kelly, Tomás Moriarty for Rochford, Michael Parker for Ryan.
Referee: Billy Dodd (Sarsfields).
October 7, semi-final: Buffers Alley 0-10, Ferns St. Aidans 0-6
Buffers Alley moved into the final of the Enniscorthy Farm Systems Junior ‘A’ football championship with a 0-10 to 0-6 victory over Gorey District rivals Ferns St. Aidans in Friday’s clash in floodlit Craanford.
While it avenges a 0-14 to 0-5 group stage loss to the same opponents in terrible weather last month, the winners’ sole focus will be on completing a commendable rise up the football ranks when they take on a Shelmaliers side who have beaten all-comers in the grade thus far.
And although they managed to limit Ferns to just one point from play among their starting forwards, there is certainly room for improvement from Buffers Alley’s perspective, as they tripled their first-half wide count from four to twelve by the final whistle on the way to adding just one score to a seven-point interval advantage.
John Farrell was in peerless form in a remarkable display of shooting in that first-half, accounting for six of their nine points, including four from play.
He opened the scoring after two minutes, but five wides followed between the two sides before the diminutive Cormac Walsh added their second on 13 minutes.
The follow-up kick-out was annexed as Shane Grannell cut in along the endline and Seán Murphy eventually swiped the loose ball over the bar first-time, with Ferns getting up and running via an excellent Paddy O’Hagan point on 15 minutes.
Farrell made it 0-4 to 0-1 from Walsh’s assist, and the rampant corner-forward added the next two as well, from a free and play respectively.
Liam Walsh drew a foul for Grannell to tap over another placed ball, with Farrell bringing up his personal half-dozen with another brace as James Kinsella pegged one back for Ferns at the other end with a rising shot to cut it to 0-9 to 0-2 at the break.
For all the attacking shortcomings of the leaders after the restart, Ferns couldn’t quite capitalise as a multitude of Buffers Alley wides preceded veteran captain Peter Nolan knocking over two frees, one from either side.
Liam Walsh stemmed the slowly-rising tide with what proved to be the Monamolin-based lads’ last submission of the night, with Nolan’s third successful free reducing the Ferns deficit to 0-10 to 0-5 after 48 minutes.
Ferns poured forward in numbers, but the goal they needed to put the cat amongst the pigeons never materialised as they more often than not hit one pass too many or went down cul-de-sacs.
Derek Thorpe did float over a late consolation point in the aftermath of a route-one delivery being cut out, but overall the season should be regarded as a success for last year’s Junior ‘B’ champions.
Buffers Alley won that particular title in 2019, and have nothing to lose against Shelmaliers in the county final in Chadwicks Wexford Park on Sunday, with the Over The Water lads defeating Rathgarogue-Cushinstown by 1-17 to 1-8 on the same night.
Ferns St. Aidans: Evan Murphy; Derek Thorpe (0-1), Seán Walsh, Byron Jordan; Paddy O’Hagan (0-1), Conor O’Toole, Seb Rynhart; John Breen, Pádraig Walsh; James Kinsella (0-1), Shane Breen, Peter O’Toole; Benny Jordan, Peter Nolan (0-3 frees), Conor Jordan. Subs. - Liam Byrne for S. Walsh (HT), Brian Stafford for P. O’Toole (38), Barry O’Toole for Nolan (53), Brian O’Neill for Benny Jordan (56).
Buffers Alley: Michael Butler; Owen McNulty, Bobby Kenny, Seán Murphy (0-1); David Meleady, Jack Twomey, Tomás Whelan; Ross Donohoe (capt.), Shane Grannell (0-1 free); Cian O’Connor, Shamey O’Hagan, Eoin O’Meara; John Farrell (0-6, 2 frees), Cormac Walsh (0-1), Liam Walsh (0-1). Subs. - Edward Harney for O’Hagan (HT), Oisín Fortune for O’Connor (46), Willie Doran for Farrell (53), Oisín O’Hagan for Harney, temp. (60-60+2).
Referee: Eddie O’Sullivan (Kilanerin).
