Junior Hurling Championship 2022
June 29: Kilmore 2-10 Ferns St. Aidans 1-11
KILMORE WERE reminded of one of sport’s key lessons on Wednesday – one good campaign doesn’t mean things will fall into place any easier in the following year.
On all known form, the 2021 Permanent TSB Junior hurling championship runners-up would have been expected to account for the Ferns St. Aidans seconds in this Group B opener on their home patch.
And although that’s how it transpired, it was a prolonged struggle for the Wexford District side and their game rivals were unfortunate not to take something positive out of the game. They deserved a draw at least for their efforts, and they were shaping up for even better after the accurate Brian Stafford pointed from a free and from play to push them clear by 1-9 to 1-6 after 38 minutes.
The teams had been level at half-time (1-5 each), and a Kilmore side fielding 13 of last year’s county final team (with Criostóir Reville and Tom White the only absentees) were struggling to gain a foothold.
All that changed in the 42nd minute when teenage newcomer Cian Murphy-Reddy kicked goalwards and Conor Moore was fouled, leading to an equalising penalty goal from midfielder Páraic Reville (2-6 to 1-9).
The two accurate number 12s, Aaron Goff (’65) and Brian Stafford (free), went on to swap points before Kilmore finally enjoyed a fruitful purple patch that got them over the line.
Goff (two frees) and Chris O’Connor landed three vital points in two minutes, although Ferns replied instantly to the latter score, courtesy of Pádraig Kinsella.
Another ten minutes were played, including four extra, but neither side registered again and the main drama centred around the straight red card shown to Ferns substitute Anthony Dwyer for an incident involving Seán Carley in the 58th minute.
It was 1-5 each at the interval, with Seb Rynhart’s tenth-minute goal pushing the visitors into a 1-2 to 0-2 lead before a quick response from Conor Moore, after he caught a Cian Murphy-Reddy delivery and finished in style.
Wasteful Kilmore shot ten wides before the break, but Ferns found the posts at the cemetery end just as hard to locate on the restart as they amassed the same tally.
The game was preceded by a minute’s silence for the late Tom Guinan, President of the Ferns club and one of life’s true gentlemen. May he rest in peace.
Ferns St. Aidans: Mick Walsh; Barry Murphy, Peter Nolan, Brian O’Neill (Clone); Conor O’Toole, Seán Walsh (0-1 free), Paddy O’Hagan; P.J. O’Neill (0-1), Brian O’Neill (St. Aidans, capt.); Seb Rynhart (1-0), Jack O’Hagan, Brian Stafford (0-8, 6 frees); Derek Thorpe, Pádraig Bolger, Pádraig Kinsella (0-1). Subs. – Barry O’Toole for B. O’Neill (St. Aidans, HT), Peter O’Toole for Murphy (HT), Pádraig Walsh for J. O’Hagan (39), Anthony Dwyer for Bolger (53), Paddy O’Leary for Thorpe (58).
Kilmore: Graham Mernagh; Shane Goff, Stevie Cousins (capt.), Aaron Kielthy; Denis Kenny, Seán Carley, Daithí Moore; Páraic Reville (1-0 pen.), Tom Byrne; Cian Murphy-Reddy, Dean Farrell, Aaron Goff (0-8, 5 frees, 1 ’65); Chris O’Connor (0-1), Paddy Byrne (0-1), Conor Moore (1-0).
Referee: Philip Murphy (Faythe Harriers).
July 3: Ferns St. Aidans 1-15, Davidstown-Courtnacuddy 1-10
A STRONG second-half performance was enough to see Ferns St. Aidans pull away from their visitors Davidstown-Courtnacuddy in Group B of the Permanent TSB Junior hurling championship on Sunday.
The home side were the first to work the scoreboard with a free from Brian Stafford, but the visitors were rewarded from a long ball in the next phase of play.
Walter Furlong managed to grab it and finish to the back of the net for the first major of the game.
However, this early blow didn’t really upset Ferns as they sent over the next three scores, with two coming from Jack O’Hagan while Seb Rynhart fired over after a great run through the defence.
The sides then traded scores, with Liam Lynch stemming the tide by raising a white flag before Stafford added another free.
Seán Fitzpatrick came off the bench for the visitors and within minutes he spilt the posts from his own half.
This score was a catalyst for his team as David Dunne fired over points from either side of the field before Conal Kervick raised another white flag.
With the game heading to the break, Pádraig Kinsella pulled one back before Dunne added his third point in quick succession. The final score of the half was a major from Pádraig Walsh who levelled the game on the interval whistle (1-6 each).
The second period was a tight affair in the early stages. The first score of the half came from the home side’s wing-back Conor O’Toole whose effort from the sideline split the posts, before Stafford raised another white flag from a free.
The visitors responded via Lynch and a ’65 from Oisín Hayes. Scores were coming in twos, with substitute Peter O’Toole pointing wide out on the wing.
Brian Stafford was controlling the game around the middle, firing over three of the next four points, with Lynch breaking up this scoring spree.
Davidstown-Courtnacuddy’s last score of the contest game from a free from Hayes, but Ferns notched the last three points to make sure of success.
Both corner-forwards, Derek Thorpe and Pádraig Kinsella, raised white flags, and the final point of the game came from Peter O’Toole to ensure there was no way back for the opposition.
Ferns St. Aidans: Mick Walsh; Brian O’Neill (Clone), Peter Nolan, Paddy O’Hagan; Brian O’Neill (St. Aidans, capt.), Seán Walsh, Conor O’Toole (0-1); P.J. O’Neill, Seb Rynhart (0-1); Pádraig Walsh (1-0), Jack O’Hagan (0-2), Brian Stafford (0-6, 5 frees); Derek Thorpe (0-1), Pádraig Bolger, Pádraig Kinsella (0-2). Subs. - Peter O’Toole (0-2) for P.J. O’Neill (40), James Kinsella for J. O’Hagan (45), Andy Cash for Walsh (54).
Davidstown-Courtnacuddy: Stephen Kennedy; Seán Cooper, Andrew Shore (capt.), Daryl Freeman; Dylan Sharkey, Eddie Kelly, Jack O’Regan; David Dunne (0-3), Tom Quigley; David O’Dwyer, Liam Lynch (0-3), Bill Harrington; Oisín Hayes (0-2, 1 free, 1 ’65), Walter Furlong (1-0), Conal Kervick (0-1). Subs. - Seán Fitzpatrick (0-1) for Freeman, inj. (8), Stephen Dunbar for Furlong (30).
Referee: Eddie O’Sullivan (Kilanerin).
July 10: Ferns St. Aidans 0-20, Marshalstown-Castledockrell 0-13
FERNS ST. Aidans turned on the style in the second-half to beat neighbours Marshalstown-Castledockrell in Sunday’s Permanent TSB Junior hurling championship Group B derby at scintillating Farmleigh.
The hosts, under the stewardship of David Shore, were seeking their first victory of the campaign, while Ferns were out to back up their second round success over Davidstown-Courtnacuddy.
There was little to choose between the sides during an evenly-contested opening period, after which Ferns held a slight upper hand of 0-8 to 0-6.
Marshalstown-Castledockrell were at their best when working the ball through the lines, but as they deviated from that strategy during the second-half, Ferns capitalised.
And the visitors really began to limit Marshalstown-Castledockrell gaining any real quality ball as the red and whites’ forwards invested good energy in defending when out of possession.
Attacker Peter O’Toole and centre-back Seán Walsh were two shining stars in the Ferns performance, while Pádraig Bolger got on a huge amount of ball around midfield for the Ian Byrne-managed outfit.
Ryan Quigley was reliable from frees for Marshalstown-Castledockrell and John Atkinson also worked hard for the home side.
But Ferns kicked on in the second-half to pull away and deservedly boost their qualification ambitions. Their substitutes made a real difference, with Andy Cash and John Breen both helping themselves to three points.
Ferns St. Aidans: Evan Murphy; Brian O’Neill (Clone), Patrick O’Hagan, Peter Nolan; Brian O’Neill (St. Aidans, capt.), Seán Walsh (0-2), P.J. O’Neill; Pádraig Bolger, Brian Stafford (0-3); Peter O’Toole (0-2), Jack O’Hagan, Seb Rynhart (0-1); Derek Thorpe (0-2), Paddy O’Leary (0-1), Pádraig Kinsella (0-2). Subs. - Barry Murphy for P.J. O’Neill, John Breen (0-3) for O’Hagan, Andy Cash (0-3) for O’Leary, Anthony Dwyer (0-1) for Thorpe, Barry O’Toole for Nolan.
Marshalstown-Castledockrell: Mark Quigley (0-2 frees); P.J. O’Brien, Jack Quigley, Naoise O’Leary; Fionn O’Leary, Colm Bennett (capt.), Ken Doyle; David Kinsella, John Atkinson (0-2); Cathal Roche (0-2), Mark Morris (0-1), Noah Kearney; James Finn, Colm Quigley, Ryan Quigley (0-6, 5 frees). Subs. - Mark Brennan for Kearney (35), James Byrne for C. Quigley (45), Mick Morris for Kinsella (45), Joe Kelly for O’Brien (52).
Referee: Jamie Farrell (HWH-Bunclody).
July 16: Ferns St. Aidans 2-6, Our Lady’s Island 0-11
HOSTS FERNS St. Aidans booked their place in the Permanent TSB Junior hurling championship quarter-finals with a nervy Group B victory over Our Lady’s Island on Saturday.
This was a really tense, dour encounter between two sides that struggled to find a rhythm for the entirety of the 60 minutes. That will be a lot easier for Ferns to stomach than their opponents, given they will be in the last eight in two weeks’ time.
For Our Lady’s Island it was the end of the line. They will need to find a big performance next week to stave off any lingering relegation fears, and that’s no guarantee unless they can raise it up a level from this showing.
The first and only score of the first nine minutes was a Pádraig Walsh goal, after he hauled in a long Jack O’Hagan ball and forced his shot past visiting ’keeper David Meyler to open the scoring.
Our Lady’s Island came back with a trio of Dean Maloney frees to tie the game up after 14 minutes, only for Walsh to collect another searching ball a minute later, this time from Peter O’Toole, and fire to the visitors’ net again.
The point-less Ferns performance ended when Paddy O’Leary hit the target in the 20th minute. When two more quick minors followed from Pádraig Kinsella and O’Toole, it seemed possible that Ferns would run away from their rivals.
However, they didn’t score again until the fourth quarter, by which time the game was back in the melting pot.
Maloney and Quinn Saunders knocked two points off the deficit by the interval (2-3 to 0-5), while the former scored the only four points of the third quarter from dead-balls.
A 46th-minute Walsh point gave Ferns a lead they doubled eleven minutes later through Tomás Hawkins (2-5 to 0-9).
Saunders and Maloney both scored to tie the game again, only for Hawkins to tap over after Our Lady’s Island overcarried in defence in the 63rd minute.
There was one last moment of drama deep in added-time, when a visiting indirect free from their own half flew all the way to the net.
It was deemed to not have touched Ferns ’keeper Mick Walsh after discussions between Martin Quigley and his umpire, meaning the hosts emerged victorious.
A loss for Our Lady’s Island against Marshalstown-Castledockrell this weekend will condemn them to a relegation play-off against Bannow-Ballymitty from the other group.
Ferns will be hoping to get the better of Faythe Harriers and cement a more favourable last eight match-up.
Ferns St. Aidans: Mick Walsh; Brian O’Neill (Clone), Paddy O’Hagan, Barry Murphy; Brian O’Neill (St. Aidans, capt.), Seán Walsh, Barry O’Toole; Pádraig Bolger, P.J. O’Neill; Pádraig Kinsella (0-1), Jack O’Hagan, Peter O’Toole (0-1 free); Paddy O’Leary (0-1), Pádraig Walsh (2-1), Shane Stafford. Subs. - John Breen for J. O’Hagan (35), Andy Cash for Stafford (38), Tomás Hawkins (0-2 frees) for Kinsella, inj. (52), Anthony Dwyer for O’Leary (56).
Our Lady’s Island: David Meyler; Josh Burke, David Pettit, Davy Corish (capt.); Cathal Devereux, Fintan Mullins, Dean Corish; Daniel Devereux, Jason Devereux; Quinn Saunders (0-2), Dylan Murphy, Liam Flood; Eamonn Maloney, Aaron Corish, Dean Maloney (0-9 frees). Subs. - Dylan Connick for Flood (31), Martin Russell for E. Maloney (45).
Referee: Martin Quigley (Rathnure).
July 23: Ferns 0-10, Faythe Harriers 0-9
A STRONG showing from the bench propelled Ferns St. Aidans to victory in Páirc Charman on Saturday, ensuring a second place finish for the visitors in the Permanent TSB Junior hurling championship Group B table.
Jack O’Hagan, Pádraig Kinsella and Tomás Hawkins were all on target in the last ten minutes as Ferns overturned a 0-9 to 0-7 deficit to win by the minimum and set up a last eight clash with local rivals St. Patrick’s in St. Patrick’s Park on Friday.
For the hosts it was a disappointing end to the game and it left them fourth in the table, sending them into the knockout stages with a local derby for themselves too, against Group A table-toppers Glynn-Barntown in Tagoat on Saturday.
Despite horrific conditions, the game actually started at a superb clip, with both sides on the scoresheet twice in the opening few minutes. Brian Stafford and Pádraig Bolger were on target for Ferns, while Calum Corcoran and Jason Gordon matched those scores at the other end. After the quick start it wasn’t until early in the second quarter that Faythe Harriers scored again through Ben Hynes.
They added further scores from Podge Farrell and Gordon, but Stafford did convert his second free to leave just two between the sides at the break (0-5 to 0-3).
The third quarter was a nip and tuck affair as, every time the hosts stretched their lead to three, Ferns came back with a response.
Gordon (two) and Hynes were on target for the Harriers while Pádraig Bolger, Pádraig Walsh and Peter O’Toole countered.
Stafford and Farrell frees cancelled each other out to leave the Harriers 0-9 to 0-7 ahead in the final ten minutes, but the visitors won their second one-point game in consecutive weeks with a set of supercharged substitutions seeing them home.
Ferns St. Aidans: Mick Walsh; Brian O’Neill (Clone), Paddy O’Hagan, Peter Nolan; Barry Murphy, Brian O’Neill (St. Aidans), Barry O’Toole; Pádraig Bolger (0-2), P.J. O’Neill; Brian Stafford (0-3 frees), Peter O’Toole (0-1 free), James Kinsella; Paddy O’Leary, Pádraig Walsh (0-1), Conor O’Toole. Subs. - Tomás Hawkins (0-1) for Nolan, Andy Cash for O’Leary, Jack O’Hagan (0-1) for P.J. O’Neill, Pádraig Kinsella (0-1) for J. Kinsella.
Faythe Harriers: Tírnan Doyle; Seán Byrne, Mark Henebery, Alex Kirby; Alex Boggan, Cillian Lawlor, Calum Corcoran (0-1); Emmett Nolan, Jack Murphy; Ben Hynes (0-2), Seán Pailing, Jason Gordon (0-4 frees); Stephen Kearney, Podge Farrell (0-2, 1 free), Eoin Kavanagh. Subs. - Conor Kehoe for Pailing, Eoin Doyle for Murphy, Conor Halligan for Hynes.
Referee: Derek Murphy (St. Martin’s).
July 29, quarter-final: St. Patrick's 2-16, Ferns St. Aidans 1-9
ST. PATRICK’S produced a second-half turnaround of epic proportions in this Permanent TSB Junior hurling championship quarter-final tie in St. Patrick’s Park on Friday, as they scored what was a comfortable-in-the-end victory over local rivals, Ferns St. Aidan’s.
To call the Pat’s lack-lustre in the first-half would be generous to them and, in fact, they were lucky to be only two points down at the break (1-6 to 0-7).
The Ferns men were well on top through the opening quarter in particular, spurred on by a goal from Pádraig Kinsella on eleven minutes after a lovely move that also involved Pádraig Bolger and Derek Thorpe.
Only a brilliant save by St. Patrick’s goalkeeper Andrew Doyle denied Thorpe a second Ferns goal four minutes later, but still the red and whites were doing enough to hold a treble scores lead (1-6 to 0-3) after 20 minutes.
In a sign of things to come though, St. Patrick’s rallied for the remainder of the half, and reeled off four points in a row through John Doyle (three, including two frees) and Michael O’Brien, to trail by just two at the interval.
Paddy O’Leary shot the first score of the second-half for Ferns, but St. Patrick’s were level by 34 minutes thanks to another point from Doyle and others by Paul McDonald and Tommy Dunne.
Dunne then put them into the lead for the first time with another point on 40 minutes, before Ciarán Murphy really put them in the driving seat with a good goal on the three-quarter mark.
He turned inside his marker by the sideline in front of the stand, and his speed saw him burst through to plant a fine shot into the Ferns net (1-11 to 1-7).
A needless altercation involving several players from both sides was the next action of note, and it ended with referee John O’Loughlin brandishing red cards to two players: Paul McDonald (St. Patrick’s) and Derek Thorpe (Ferns).
With the dust settled, St. Patrick’s struck for their second goal on 52 minutes, and Ciarán Murphy was again the scorer – this time capitalising on the rebound from an initial John Doyle effort.
Seb Rynhart replied with a point for Ferns, but St. Patrick’s saw the game out with an exhibition of point-taking of the sort of flair and panache that was a million miles removed from their first-half performance.
Particularly noteworthy were three good points from distance by substitute Tomás Morris, all in the space of just two minutes.
Ferns had the last score of the game through Andy Cash, but it was way too little and way too late, and St. Patrick’s go on to the semi-final where they will meet Glynn-Barntown in Bellefield on Saturday.
Ferns St. Aidan’s: Mick Walsh; Brian O’Neill (Clone), Paddy O’Hagan, Brian O’Neill (St. Aidan’s); Peter Nolan, Seán Walsh, Conor O’Toole; Pádraig Bolger, P.J. O’Neill; Pádraig Kinsella (1-0), Brian Stafford (0-3, 2 frees, 1 ’65), Peter O’Toole (0-1); Derek Thorpe (0-1), Pádraig Walsh, Paddy O’Leary (0-2). Subs. - Tomás Hawkins for P. O’Toole (HT), Seb Rynhart (0-1) for P. Walsh (HT), James Kinsella for Stafford (52); Barry O’Toole for P.J. O’Neill (52), Andy Cash (0-1) for O’Leary (58).
St. Patrick’s: Andrew Doyle; Peter Roche, Joe Cousins, Brian Murphy; Michael O’Brien (0-1), Dermot O’Leary, Michael Carroll; Conor O’Leary, Daryl Murphy; Fergal Maguire, Parish Flynn, Tommy Dunne (0-2); Ashley Tully, Ciarán Murphy (2-1), John Doyle (0-7, 3 frees). Subs. - Paul McDonald (0-2) for Maguire (20), Niall O’Brien for B. Murphy (20), Tomás Morris (0-3) for Flynn (HT), Fergal Maguire for N. O’Brien, inj. (35), Brian Cadigan for Tully (58).
Referee: John O’Loughlin (Monageer-Boolavogue).
KILMORE WERE reminded of one of sport’s key lessons on Wednesday – one good campaign doesn’t mean things will fall into place any easier in the following year.
On all known form, the 2021 Permanent TSB Junior hurling championship runners-up would have been expected to account for the Ferns St. Aidans seconds in this Group B opener on their home patch.
And although that’s how it transpired, it was a prolonged struggle for the Wexford District side and their game rivals were unfortunate not to take something positive out of the game. They deserved a draw at least for their efforts, and they were shaping up for even better after the accurate Brian Stafford pointed from a free and from play to push them clear by 1-9 to 1-6 after 38 minutes.
The teams had been level at half-time (1-5 each), and a Kilmore side fielding 13 of last year’s county final team (with Criostóir Reville and Tom White the only absentees) were struggling to gain a foothold.
All that changed in the 42nd minute when teenage newcomer Cian Murphy-Reddy kicked goalwards and Conor Moore was fouled, leading to an equalising penalty goal from midfielder Páraic Reville (2-6 to 1-9).
The two accurate number 12s, Aaron Goff (’65) and Brian Stafford (free), went on to swap points before Kilmore finally enjoyed a fruitful purple patch that got them over the line.
Goff (two frees) and Chris O’Connor landed three vital points in two minutes, although Ferns replied instantly to the latter score, courtesy of Pádraig Kinsella.
Another ten minutes were played, including four extra, but neither side registered again and the main drama centred around the straight red card shown to Ferns substitute Anthony Dwyer for an incident involving Seán Carley in the 58th minute.
It was 1-5 each at the interval, with Seb Rynhart’s tenth-minute goal pushing the visitors into a 1-2 to 0-2 lead before a quick response from Conor Moore, after he caught a Cian Murphy-Reddy delivery and finished in style.
Wasteful Kilmore shot ten wides before the break, but Ferns found the posts at the cemetery end just as hard to locate on the restart as they amassed the same tally.
The game was preceded by a minute’s silence for the late Tom Guinan, President of the Ferns club and one of life’s true gentlemen. May he rest in peace.
Ferns St. Aidans: Mick Walsh; Barry Murphy, Peter Nolan, Brian O’Neill (Clone); Conor O’Toole, Seán Walsh (0-1 free), Paddy O’Hagan; P.J. O’Neill (0-1), Brian O’Neill (St. Aidans, capt.); Seb Rynhart (1-0), Jack O’Hagan, Brian Stafford (0-8, 6 frees); Derek Thorpe, Pádraig Bolger, Pádraig Kinsella (0-1). Subs. – Barry O’Toole for B. O’Neill (St. Aidans, HT), Peter O’Toole for Murphy (HT), Pádraig Walsh for J. O’Hagan (39), Anthony Dwyer for Bolger (53), Paddy O’Leary for Thorpe (58).
Kilmore: Graham Mernagh; Shane Goff, Stevie Cousins (capt.), Aaron Kielthy; Denis Kenny, Seán Carley, Daithí Moore; Páraic Reville (1-0 pen.), Tom Byrne; Cian Murphy-Reddy, Dean Farrell, Aaron Goff (0-8, 5 frees, 1 ’65); Chris O’Connor (0-1), Paddy Byrne (0-1), Conor Moore (1-0).
Referee: Philip Murphy (Faythe Harriers).
July 3: Ferns St. Aidans 1-15, Davidstown-Courtnacuddy 1-10
A STRONG second-half performance was enough to see Ferns St. Aidans pull away from their visitors Davidstown-Courtnacuddy in Group B of the Permanent TSB Junior hurling championship on Sunday.
The home side were the first to work the scoreboard with a free from Brian Stafford, but the visitors were rewarded from a long ball in the next phase of play.
Walter Furlong managed to grab it and finish to the back of the net for the first major of the game.
However, this early blow didn’t really upset Ferns as they sent over the next three scores, with two coming from Jack O’Hagan while Seb Rynhart fired over after a great run through the defence.
The sides then traded scores, with Liam Lynch stemming the tide by raising a white flag before Stafford added another free.
Seán Fitzpatrick came off the bench for the visitors and within minutes he spilt the posts from his own half.
This score was a catalyst for his team as David Dunne fired over points from either side of the field before Conal Kervick raised another white flag.
With the game heading to the break, Pádraig Kinsella pulled one back before Dunne added his third point in quick succession. The final score of the half was a major from Pádraig Walsh who levelled the game on the interval whistle (1-6 each).
The second period was a tight affair in the early stages. The first score of the half came from the home side’s wing-back Conor O’Toole whose effort from the sideline split the posts, before Stafford raised another white flag from a free.
The visitors responded via Lynch and a ’65 from Oisín Hayes. Scores were coming in twos, with substitute Peter O’Toole pointing wide out on the wing.
Brian Stafford was controlling the game around the middle, firing over three of the next four points, with Lynch breaking up this scoring spree.
Davidstown-Courtnacuddy’s last score of the contest game from a free from Hayes, but Ferns notched the last three points to make sure of success.
Both corner-forwards, Derek Thorpe and Pádraig Kinsella, raised white flags, and the final point of the game came from Peter O’Toole to ensure there was no way back for the opposition.
Ferns St. Aidans: Mick Walsh; Brian O’Neill (Clone), Peter Nolan, Paddy O’Hagan; Brian O’Neill (St. Aidans, capt.), Seán Walsh, Conor O’Toole (0-1); P.J. O’Neill, Seb Rynhart (0-1); Pádraig Walsh (1-0), Jack O’Hagan (0-2), Brian Stafford (0-6, 5 frees); Derek Thorpe (0-1), Pádraig Bolger, Pádraig Kinsella (0-2). Subs. - Peter O’Toole (0-2) for P.J. O’Neill (40), James Kinsella for J. O’Hagan (45), Andy Cash for Walsh (54).
Davidstown-Courtnacuddy: Stephen Kennedy; Seán Cooper, Andrew Shore (capt.), Daryl Freeman; Dylan Sharkey, Eddie Kelly, Jack O’Regan; David Dunne (0-3), Tom Quigley; David O’Dwyer, Liam Lynch (0-3), Bill Harrington; Oisín Hayes (0-2, 1 free, 1 ’65), Walter Furlong (1-0), Conal Kervick (0-1). Subs. - Seán Fitzpatrick (0-1) for Freeman, inj. (8), Stephen Dunbar for Furlong (30).
Referee: Eddie O’Sullivan (Kilanerin).
July 10: Ferns St. Aidans 0-20, Marshalstown-Castledockrell 0-13
FERNS ST. Aidans turned on the style in the second-half to beat neighbours Marshalstown-Castledockrell in Sunday’s Permanent TSB Junior hurling championship Group B derby at scintillating Farmleigh.
The hosts, under the stewardship of David Shore, were seeking their first victory of the campaign, while Ferns were out to back up their second round success over Davidstown-Courtnacuddy.
There was little to choose between the sides during an evenly-contested opening period, after which Ferns held a slight upper hand of 0-8 to 0-6.
Marshalstown-Castledockrell were at their best when working the ball through the lines, but as they deviated from that strategy during the second-half, Ferns capitalised.
And the visitors really began to limit Marshalstown-Castledockrell gaining any real quality ball as the red and whites’ forwards invested good energy in defending when out of possession.
Attacker Peter O’Toole and centre-back Seán Walsh were two shining stars in the Ferns performance, while Pádraig Bolger got on a huge amount of ball around midfield for the Ian Byrne-managed outfit.
Ryan Quigley was reliable from frees for Marshalstown-Castledockrell and John Atkinson also worked hard for the home side.
But Ferns kicked on in the second-half to pull away and deservedly boost their qualification ambitions. Their substitutes made a real difference, with Andy Cash and John Breen both helping themselves to three points.
Ferns St. Aidans: Evan Murphy; Brian O’Neill (Clone), Patrick O’Hagan, Peter Nolan; Brian O’Neill (St. Aidans, capt.), Seán Walsh (0-2), P.J. O’Neill; Pádraig Bolger, Brian Stafford (0-3); Peter O’Toole (0-2), Jack O’Hagan, Seb Rynhart (0-1); Derek Thorpe (0-2), Paddy O’Leary (0-1), Pádraig Kinsella (0-2). Subs. - Barry Murphy for P.J. O’Neill, John Breen (0-3) for O’Hagan, Andy Cash (0-3) for O’Leary, Anthony Dwyer (0-1) for Thorpe, Barry O’Toole for Nolan.
Marshalstown-Castledockrell: Mark Quigley (0-2 frees); P.J. O’Brien, Jack Quigley, Naoise O’Leary; Fionn O’Leary, Colm Bennett (capt.), Ken Doyle; David Kinsella, John Atkinson (0-2); Cathal Roche (0-2), Mark Morris (0-1), Noah Kearney; James Finn, Colm Quigley, Ryan Quigley (0-6, 5 frees). Subs. - Mark Brennan for Kearney (35), James Byrne for C. Quigley (45), Mick Morris for Kinsella (45), Joe Kelly for O’Brien (52).
Referee: Jamie Farrell (HWH-Bunclody).
July 16: Ferns St. Aidans 2-6, Our Lady’s Island 0-11
HOSTS FERNS St. Aidans booked their place in the Permanent TSB Junior hurling championship quarter-finals with a nervy Group B victory over Our Lady’s Island on Saturday.
This was a really tense, dour encounter between two sides that struggled to find a rhythm for the entirety of the 60 minutes. That will be a lot easier for Ferns to stomach than their opponents, given they will be in the last eight in two weeks’ time.
For Our Lady’s Island it was the end of the line. They will need to find a big performance next week to stave off any lingering relegation fears, and that’s no guarantee unless they can raise it up a level from this showing.
The first and only score of the first nine minutes was a Pádraig Walsh goal, after he hauled in a long Jack O’Hagan ball and forced his shot past visiting ’keeper David Meyler to open the scoring.
Our Lady’s Island came back with a trio of Dean Maloney frees to tie the game up after 14 minutes, only for Walsh to collect another searching ball a minute later, this time from Peter O’Toole, and fire to the visitors’ net again.
The point-less Ferns performance ended when Paddy O’Leary hit the target in the 20th minute. When two more quick minors followed from Pádraig Kinsella and O’Toole, it seemed possible that Ferns would run away from their rivals.
However, they didn’t score again until the fourth quarter, by which time the game was back in the melting pot.
Maloney and Quinn Saunders knocked two points off the deficit by the interval (2-3 to 0-5), while the former scored the only four points of the third quarter from dead-balls.
A 46th-minute Walsh point gave Ferns a lead they doubled eleven minutes later through Tomás Hawkins (2-5 to 0-9).
Saunders and Maloney both scored to tie the game again, only for Hawkins to tap over after Our Lady’s Island overcarried in defence in the 63rd minute.
There was one last moment of drama deep in added-time, when a visiting indirect free from their own half flew all the way to the net.
It was deemed to not have touched Ferns ’keeper Mick Walsh after discussions between Martin Quigley and his umpire, meaning the hosts emerged victorious.
A loss for Our Lady’s Island against Marshalstown-Castledockrell this weekend will condemn them to a relegation play-off against Bannow-Ballymitty from the other group.
Ferns will be hoping to get the better of Faythe Harriers and cement a more favourable last eight match-up.
Ferns St. Aidans: Mick Walsh; Brian O’Neill (Clone), Paddy O’Hagan, Barry Murphy; Brian O’Neill (St. Aidans, capt.), Seán Walsh, Barry O’Toole; Pádraig Bolger, P.J. O’Neill; Pádraig Kinsella (0-1), Jack O’Hagan, Peter O’Toole (0-1 free); Paddy O’Leary (0-1), Pádraig Walsh (2-1), Shane Stafford. Subs. - John Breen for J. O’Hagan (35), Andy Cash for Stafford (38), Tomás Hawkins (0-2 frees) for Kinsella, inj. (52), Anthony Dwyer for O’Leary (56).
Our Lady’s Island: David Meyler; Josh Burke, David Pettit, Davy Corish (capt.); Cathal Devereux, Fintan Mullins, Dean Corish; Daniel Devereux, Jason Devereux; Quinn Saunders (0-2), Dylan Murphy, Liam Flood; Eamonn Maloney, Aaron Corish, Dean Maloney (0-9 frees). Subs. - Dylan Connick for Flood (31), Martin Russell for E. Maloney (45).
Referee: Martin Quigley (Rathnure).
July 23: Ferns 0-10, Faythe Harriers 0-9
A STRONG showing from the bench propelled Ferns St. Aidans to victory in Páirc Charman on Saturday, ensuring a second place finish for the visitors in the Permanent TSB Junior hurling championship Group B table.
Jack O’Hagan, Pádraig Kinsella and Tomás Hawkins were all on target in the last ten minutes as Ferns overturned a 0-9 to 0-7 deficit to win by the minimum and set up a last eight clash with local rivals St. Patrick’s in St. Patrick’s Park on Friday.
For the hosts it was a disappointing end to the game and it left them fourth in the table, sending them into the knockout stages with a local derby for themselves too, against Group A table-toppers Glynn-Barntown in Tagoat on Saturday.
Despite horrific conditions, the game actually started at a superb clip, with both sides on the scoresheet twice in the opening few minutes. Brian Stafford and Pádraig Bolger were on target for Ferns, while Calum Corcoran and Jason Gordon matched those scores at the other end. After the quick start it wasn’t until early in the second quarter that Faythe Harriers scored again through Ben Hynes.
They added further scores from Podge Farrell and Gordon, but Stafford did convert his second free to leave just two between the sides at the break (0-5 to 0-3).
The third quarter was a nip and tuck affair as, every time the hosts stretched their lead to three, Ferns came back with a response.
Gordon (two) and Hynes were on target for the Harriers while Pádraig Bolger, Pádraig Walsh and Peter O’Toole countered.
Stafford and Farrell frees cancelled each other out to leave the Harriers 0-9 to 0-7 ahead in the final ten minutes, but the visitors won their second one-point game in consecutive weeks with a set of supercharged substitutions seeing them home.
Ferns St. Aidans: Mick Walsh; Brian O’Neill (Clone), Paddy O’Hagan, Peter Nolan; Barry Murphy, Brian O’Neill (St. Aidans), Barry O’Toole; Pádraig Bolger (0-2), P.J. O’Neill; Brian Stafford (0-3 frees), Peter O’Toole (0-1 free), James Kinsella; Paddy O’Leary, Pádraig Walsh (0-1), Conor O’Toole. Subs. - Tomás Hawkins (0-1) for Nolan, Andy Cash for O’Leary, Jack O’Hagan (0-1) for P.J. O’Neill, Pádraig Kinsella (0-1) for J. Kinsella.
Faythe Harriers: Tírnan Doyle; Seán Byrne, Mark Henebery, Alex Kirby; Alex Boggan, Cillian Lawlor, Calum Corcoran (0-1); Emmett Nolan, Jack Murphy; Ben Hynes (0-2), Seán Pailing, Jason Gordon (0-4 frees); Stephen Kearney, Podge Farrell (0-2, 1 free), Eoin Kavanagh. Subs. - Conor Kehoe for Pailing, Eoin Doyle for Murphy, Conor Halligan for Hynes.
Referee: Derek Murphy (St. Martin’s).
July 29, quarter-final: St. Patrick's 2-16, Ferns St. Aidans 1-9
ST. PATRICK’S produced a second-half turnaround of epic proportions in this Permanent TSB Junior hurling championship quarter-final tie in St. Patrick’s Park on Friday, as they scored what was a comfortable-in-the-end victory over local rivals, Ferns St. Aidan’s.
To call the Pat’s lack-lustre in the first-half would be generous to them and, in fact, they were lucky to be only two points down at the break (1-6 to 0-7).
The Ferns men were well on top through the opening quarter in particular, spurred on by a goal from Pádraig Kinsella on eleven minutes after a lovely move that also involved Pádraig Bolger and Derek Thorpe.
Only a brilliant save by St. Patrick’s goalkeeper Andrew Doyle denied Thorpe a second Ferns goal four minutes later, but still the red and whites were doing enough to hold a treble scores lead (1-6 to 0-3) after 20 minutes.
In a sign of things to come though, St. Patrick’s rallied for the remainder of the half, and reeled off four points in a row through John Doyle (three, including two frees) and Michael O’Brien, to trail by just two at the interval.
Paddy O’Leary shot the first score of the second-half for Ferns, but St. Patrick’s were level by 34 minutes thanks to another point from Doyle and others by Paul McDonald and Tommy Dunne.
Dunne then put them into the lead for the first time with another point on 40 minutes, before Ciarán Murphy really put them in the driving seat with a good goal on the three-quarter mark.
He turned inside his marker by the sideline in front of the stand, and his speed saw him burst through to plant a fine shot into the Ferns net (1-11 to 1-7).
A needless altercation involving several players from both sides was the next action of note, and it ended with referee John O’Loughlin brandishing red cards to two players: Paul McDonald (St. Patrick’s) and Derek Thorpe (Ferns).
With the dust settled, St. Patrick’s struck for their second goal on 52 minutes, and Ciarán Murphy was again the scorer – this time capitalising on the rebound from an initial John Doyle effort.
Seb Rynhart replied with a point for Ferns, but St. Patrick’s saw the game out with an exhibition of point-taking of the sort of flair and panache that was a million miles removed from their first-half performance.
Particularly noteworthy were three good points from distance by substitute Tomás Morris, all in the space of just two minutes.
Ferns had the last score of the game through Andy Cash, but it was way too little and way too late, and St. Patrick’s go on to the semi-final where they will meet Glynn-Barntown in Bellefield on Saturday.
Ferns St. Aidan’s: Mick Walsh; Brian O’Neill (Clone), Paddy O’Hagan, Brian O’Neill (St. Aidan’s); Peter Nolan, Seán Walsh, Conor O’Toole; Pádraig Bolger, P.J. O’Neill; Pádraig Kinsella (1-0), Brian Stafford (0-3, 2 frees, 1 ’65), Peter O’Toole (0-1); Derek Thorpe (0-1), Pádraig Walsh, Paddy O’Leary (0-2). Subs. - Tomás Hawkins for P. O’Toole (HT), Seb Rynhart (0-1) for P. Walsh (HT), James Kinsella for Stafford (52); Barry O’Toole for P.J. O’Neill (52), Andy Cash (0-1) for O’Leary (58).
St. Patrick’s: Andrew Doyle; Peter Roche, Joe Cousins, Brian Murphy; Michael O’Brien (0-1), Dermot O’Leary, Michael Carroll; Conor O’Leary, Daryl Murphy; Fergal Maguire, Parish Flynn, Tommy Dunne (0-2); Ashley Tully, Ciarán Murphy (2-1), John Doyle (0-7, 3 frees). Subs. - Paul McDonald (0-2) for Maguire (20), Niall O’Brien for B. Murphy (20), Tomás Morris (0-3) for Flynn (HT), Fergal Maguire for N. O’Brien, inj. (35), Brian Cadigan for Tully (58).
Referee: John O’Loughlin (Monageer-Boolavogue).
