Intermediate Football Championship 2023
August 27: Taghmon-Camross 1-14, Ferns St. Aidans 1-11
NOT FOR the first time in their careers, the Carty brothers were the guiding lights for Taghmon-Camross as Ian and Darren hit 1-6 between them as they edged Ferns St. Aidans by 1-14 to 1-11 in Sunday's Amber Springs Hotel and Health Spa Intermediate football championship Group A curtain-raiser in a sunny St. Patrick's Park.
All the more impressive from the New Ross District side is the fact that they didn't wilt after Ferns rattled the net inside two minutes, with Darren Carty responding with a goal on eleven minutes, while lively substitute Luke Sinnott kicked two points off the bench to generate a 1-7 to 1-5 interval lead that Ferns couldn't quite reel in thereafter.
Stephen O'Gorman was a commanding presence up front for the winners too, and he opened their account with a quick point before Eoin Murphy did extremely well to work his way out of the corner before thudding low to the net despite being buffeted by a couple of opponents in the process.
Patrick Breen tagged on a free as Ferns held a 1-1 to 0-1 lead by the sixth minute, although Taghmon-Camross responded with an unanswered 1-3 to take a grip on proceedings.
O'Gorman notched two more points during this prominent spell, with Ian Carty kicking his first just after his brother Darren made the most of a turnover and quick transition to fire low under Conor Swaine, back playing with his native club after a previous stint with Horeswood.
The continued hustle of Eoin Murphy saw him create three points and add another himself as Ferns St. Aidans edged closer at the break, and their tails were up on the restart as well when substitute Ryan Nolan booted over a beauty with his first touch.
However, Taghmon-Camross replied when Cathal Doyle sped away to split the posts, and further singles from Michael Foley (free) and Ian Carty left them 1-10 to 1-6 in front after 34 minutes.
Ferns halved that deficit courtesy of a free from Breen and a '45 from Nolan, but they probably didn't create enough chances with the amount of possession they enjoyed with the aid of the significant wind blowing towards the dressing-rooms.
Nevertheless, they remained in touch with a strong fourth-quarter squeeze as earlier efforts from Darren and Ian Carty (two frees) were negated by Chris Turner, Corey Byrne-Dunbar and Eoin Murphy as the score stood at 1-13 to 1-11 in injury-time.
But when Ferns pushed everyone up for one last kick-out, Taghmon-Camross broke away and Chris Cullen hit the insurance point to secure a hard-fought win.
They will hope to carry some momentum into this Saturday's encounter against Naomh Éanna in Oylegate, while Ferns St. Aidans know a win is imperative when they travel back to St. Patrick's Park for a meeting with St. Mary's (Maudlintown) 24 hours later.
Ferns St. Aidans: Conor Swaine; Byron Jordan, Robert Murphy, Brian O'Neill; Keith Breen, Conor Scallan, James Lawlor (capt.); Patrick Breen (0-4, 3 frees), Pádraig Bolger; Niall Murphy, Eoin Murphy (1-2), Chris Turner (0-2); Corey Byrne-Dunbar (0-1), Ian Byrne, Peter Nolan. Subs. - Ryan Nolan (0-2, 1 '45) for R. Murphy (HT), Shane Breen for P. Breen, inj. (39), Ciarán Roberts for P. Nolan (41), Patrick Breen for Byrne (56).
Taghmon-Camross: Jack Dunne; David O'Keeffe, Alan Nolan, Shane Lacey; Conor Murphy, Barry O'Gorman, Darren Carty (1-2); Ian Carty (0-4, 2 frees), Darren Hayden (capt.); Ryan Cashin, Tom Banville, Adam Sinnott; Michael Foley (0-1 free), Stephen O'Gorman (0-3), Cathal Doyle (0-1). Subs. - Luke Sinnott (0-2) for A. Sinnott, inj. (16), Chris Cullen (0-1) for Foley (40), Adam Sinnott for Murphy (60+1).
Referee: Kevin Kehoe (Our Lady's Island).
September 3: St. Mary’s Maudlintown 1-13, Ferns St. Aidans 2-6
ST. MARY'S (Maudlintown) registered what could turn out to be a crucial win in Group A of the Amber Springs Hotel and Health Spa Intermediate football championship when three injury-time points saw them secure a 1-13 to 2-6 victory over Ferns St. Aidans in Sunday's tense round two tie played in a sun-baked St. Patrick's Park.
Despite suffering the double whammy of seeing Eddie Pitman enter the sin-bin for ten minutes, and, more significantly, losing defensive lynchpin Christy Lane to a straight red card midway through the second-half, the Wexford town lads displayed considerable resolve to fend off a Ferns side who enjoyed the lion's share of the possession in the final quarter but didn't find enough gaps in the defence to do damage against the 14 men.
Ferns are left with a lot of work to do now to reach the quarter-finals as they will need at least two wins in their last three games, but two of those are against two of the favourites for the championship, namely Naomh Éanna (this Sunday in McCauley Park, Bellefield) and St. Martin's in round four.
For the second weekend in a row, the Gorey District side were boosted by a goal inside the opening ten minutes only to ship one at the other end a few moments later.
And although their second green flag early in the second-half wiped out St. Mary's 1-7 to 1-4 interval advantage, the fact they hit just one more score from play with their numerical advantage is a concern.
It must be noted that lady luck didn't shine on them in the sweltering heat either as two of the substitutes they introduced were subsequently replaced through injury not long after their introductions.
Dermot Flood opened the scoring for Maudlintown, but that first Ferns goal arrived on six minutes when Pádraig Bolger claimed a mark and Eoin Murphy and Patrick Breen linked up to slip in Ian Byrne for a low finish.
However, their defence was caught napping three minutes later as an avoidable turnover saw Mark O'Connor located in a mile of space inside, and he kept his composure to net beyond Conor Swaine.
Breen (free) and Flood swapped quick points, but two breakaway scores from Warren Broaders and Ola Sofola opened up a three-point gap for St. Mary's.
And that difference remained at the break as a Breen free sandwiched points from play by Byrne and player-selector Peter Nolan, with Martin O'Connor, Flood and Broaders (free) replying at the other end.
Ferns restored parity when a key tackle from Declan Byrne set in train a counter-attack that was eventually finished by Chris Turner, and the ball looked firmly in their court when Christy Lane was dismissed for a mis-timed tackle on Gavin Bailey, who was clearly concussed from the impact.
However, they were outscored by 0-4 to 0-2 in the final quarter as St. Mary's dug in to grind out their first win of the campaign.
Kallum Broaders made it 1-10 to 2-5 after 48 minutes, and insurance points followed from Mark O'Connor, Todd Hynes (free) and Sofola as they leap-frogged Ferns in the standings.
Ferns St. Aidans: Conor Swaine; Conor O'Toole, Declan Byrne, Conor Scallan; Brian O'Neill, Ciarán Roberts, James Lawlor (capt.); Patrick Breen (0-3 frees), Pádraig Bolger; Niall Murphy, Eoin Murphy, Chris Turner (1-0); Keith Breen, Ian Byrne (1-2), Peter Nolan (0-1). Subs. - Corey Byrne-Dunbar for Roberts (HT), Liam Byrne for Nolan (39), Gavin Bailey for D. Byrne (39), Robert Murphy for Bailey, temp. (43-FT), Byron Jordan for L. Byrne, inj. (47).
St. Mary's (Maudlintown): Eoin Kinsella; Mark Doyle, Christy Lane, Kallum Broaders (0-1); Jamie Thomas, Graham Carty (joint-capt.), Ramesh Badhan; Eddie Pitman, Martin O'Connor (0-2); Dermot Flood (0-3), Todd Hynes (0-2 frees), Ola Sofola (0-2); Mark O'Connor (1-1), Warren Broaders (0-2, 1 free), Aaron Roche. Sin-bin: Eddie Pitman (47).
Referee: Justin Heffernan (Blackwater).
September 10: Naomh Éanna 1-13, Ferns St. Aidans 3-2
NAOMH ÉANNA piled more misery on Gorey District rivals Ferns St. Aidans on the way to securing their third straight win in Group A of the Amber Springs Hotel and Health Spa Intermediate football championship, with the Senior hurling victors defeating their predecessors to that particular trophy by 1-13 in 3-2 in McCauley Park, Bellefield on Sunday.
Holding a slim 1-7 to 2-2 lead at half-time, Gorey completely controlled the second period, outscoring their rivals by 0-6 to 1-0, with Ferns' complete lack of thrust up front after the break, apart from an excellent Eoin Murphy goal, of huge concern for their mentors.
This latest defeat means they will need to win their last two games against St. Martin's and Clongeen respectively if they are to join Naomh Éanna in the last-eight, and to do so, they will need to perform across the next four halves of football, not just in the fits and starts that have blighted them all campaign.
They had a first quarter goal for the third tie on the spin when Murphy turned his marker inside out before teeing up Ian Byrne for a palmed finish after seven minutes, with Michael Molloy tagging on a free at the other end to make it 1-0 to 0-2.
Some more good work from Murphy preceded Byrne splitting the posts, and Murphy was the creator too as Corey Byrne-Dunbar pointed just before the water break in the humid conditions.
But Gorey resumed with three points in a row from Rian Fitzpatrick, substitute Cian Molloy with his first touch, and Fitzpatrick again to edge 0-6 to 1-2 in front on 22 minutes.
Ferns missed a straightforward free in their next attack and when Gorey broke up the field, Michael Molloy eventually finished from close range for a sucker-punch goal.
However, Ferns hit back almost immediately when Chris Turner won the restart and fed Patrick Breen, who in turn put Byrne away to drill low to the net.
The game was blighted by an unseemly row in the moments after those goals, with Daragh Canavan and Niall Murphy both shown red cards, and a rather intense first-half drew to a close when Fitzpatrick converted a free.
Michael Molloy and Fitzpatrick (free) then made it 1-9 to 2-2 for Gorey before Ferns St. Aidans received what everyone thought was a jolt when Eoin Murphy cut in from the left wing and crashed home a spectacular goal.
But they were completely devoid of any attacking purpose thereafter as Naomh Éanna kept adding to the scoreboard through Cian Molloy, top scorer Fitzpatrick (two, one free) and Jack Cullen to book their quarter-final spot with two games to spare.
Ferns St. Aidans: Conor Swaine; Byron Jordan, Declan Byrne, Brian O'Neill; Conor O'Toole, Conor Scallan, Pádraig Bolger; Patrick Breen, Niall Murphy; Corey Byrne-Dunbar (0-1), James Lawlor, Keith Breen; Chris Turner, Ian Byrne (2-1), Eoin Murphy (1-0). Subs. - Ciarán Roberts for Bolger (46), Peter Nolan for Turner (52). Sin-bin: Corey Byrne-Dunbar (49).
Naomh Éanna: Rory Tubritt; Conor Kelly, Eoin Molloy, Micheál Kennedy; Brian Cushe, Pádraig Doyle (capt.), Charlie McGuckin; Jack Cullen (0-1), Rian Fitzpatrick (0-7, 4 frees); Aodhán Doyle, Cathal Dunbar, Daragh Canavan; Seán Doyle, Michael Molloy (1-2, 0-1 free), Dylan Cooke-Leonard (0-1). Subs. - Cian Molloy (0-2) for Kennedy (17), Jack Doran for Cooke-Leonard (HT), Stephen Drake for Kelly (59).
Referee: Fintan O'Reilly (Kilmore).
September 16: St. Martin’s 2-8, Ferns St. Aidans 0-4
ST. MARTIN’S maintained their one hundred per cent record in Group A of the Amber Springs Hotel and Health Spa Intermediate football championship when easily taking account of a listless Ferns St. Aidans outfit by 2-8 to 0-4 in Saturday’s fourth round game in a windswept but dry Hollymount.
Powered by a well-taken Darren Codd penalty midway through the first-half, the Piercestown and Murrintown collective managed the game thereafter, boosting a 1-4 to 0-3 interval lead into a double-digits advantage by the final whistle.
The stats sheet doesn’t make for pretty reading for the Ferns connections, as they only managed a solitary point from play despite having first use of the significant wind, and indeed playing virtually the entire second-half with an extra man after Darren Codd was red-carded for his part in a fracas.
However, with Taghmon-Camross defeating Clongeen earlier in the day, Ferns’ hopes of a last-eight spot were crushed long before the end here.
And now it all comes down to a final round tussle with Clongeen in New Ross this Saturday to avoid dropping into a dreaded relegation decider.
Corey Byrne-Dunbar supplied that sole point from play when he curled over nicely after four minutes, with Patrick Breen making it 0-2 to nil from a free he won on eight minutes.
Darren Codd crossed for Luke Kavanagh to get St. Martin’s up and running soon after, and when the latter was cleaned out with a late challenge a few minutes later, Codd beat Conor Swaine from the subsequent spot-kick to leave St. Martin’s in command.
Codd also punished an over-carrying offence to tag on a free, with Ian Byrne replying from similar means immediately afterwards, although his initial intention was to boot long inside, but his pass carried in the wind to clear the crossbar.
Codd showed his free-taking acumen with a fine effort off the ground on 24 minutes, while Kavanagh bookended the half with his second from play to create that four-point interval gap.
And there was very little to excite spectators in a drab second-half, with no score of any description arriving until Zac Firman started and finished a move after 49 minutes.
Joe Barrett rattled the net three minutes later as the leaders weren’t fazed in the slightest by their numerical disadvantage, and they hit three more points from play before the finish from Jack Devereux, Oisín Waters and substitute Joe Coleman respectively.
Meanwhile, player-selector Peter Nolan converted a free deep into injury-time for a Ferns team missing a flurry of regulars, and they will need everyone at the pump this weekend in what has become the biggest football game for the club since their county final appearance in 2020.
Ferns St. Aidans: Conor Swaine; Conor O’Toole, Declan Byrne, Brian O’Neill; Robert Murphy, Conor Scallan, Ciarán Roberts; Rory Scallan, James Lawlor; Keith Breen, Peter Nolan (0-1 free), Pádraig Bolger; Corey Byrne-Dunbar (0-1), Patrick Breen (0-1 free), Ian Byrne (0-1 free). Subs. - Patrick O’Toole for Nolan (47), Nolan for O’Neill (60).
St. Martin’s: Conor Coleman; David Codd, Philip Dempsey, Jamie Berry; Diarmuid O’Leary, Conor Firman, Sam Audsley; Joe Barrett (1-0), Ben Maddock; Zac Firman (0-1), Darren Codd (1-2, 1-0 pen., 0-2 frees), Luke Kavanagh (0-2); Kyle Firman, Oisín Waters (0-1), Jack Devereux (0-1). Subs. - Joe Coleman (0-1) for Kavanagh (49), Joe O’Connor for K. Firman (49), Ben Stafford for Z. Firman (52), Jack O’Connor for O’Leary (55), O’Leary for Audsley (60).
Referee: Mick Lanigan (Shelmaliers).
September 23: Ferns St. Aidans 5-12, Clongeen 0-11
THE SENSE of relief upon the last shrill of Jimmy Heavey's whistle was palpable among everyone associated with Ferns St. Aidans when they chose the perfect moment to produce their best display of the year, blitzing Clongeen by 5-12 in 0-11 in Saturday's Amber Springs Hotel and Health Spa Intermediate football championship Group A round five game in an overcast and windy O'Kennedy Park, New Ross.
The jeopardy of the threat of falling into a relegation decider had long since extinguished when Eoin Murphy and Chris Turner tucked away the winners' fourth and fifth goals right at the death, but to win in such commanding fashion is a pleasing footnote to an otherwise underwhelming season.
And it begs the question: why could they be so serene and tuned in here, but fall away so regularly in the other four group games?
That will surely be analysed in the winter, but for now it was all about their attacking power coming to the fore when it was needed most, with Corey Byrne-Dunbar beating all-comers before blasting home an excellent goal after only one minute.
Clongeen hit back through Paul Curtis and a Darryl Murphy free, but Ferns' second green flag on six minutes was a work of art.
Ryan Nolan created the chance with a crossfield pass to Ian Byrne, and Eoin Murphy also featured before Byrne-Dunbar eventually knocked the ball across for Nolan to tuck away soccer-style.
Still, three points on the spin from Adam Ryan, Curtis and Murphy (free) meant that Clongeen remained in touch after twelve minutes, but the Gorey District side completely took over to develop a 2-7 to 0-5 half-time lead with the use of the wind still to come.
Goalkeeper Ivan Meegan ventured forward for three successful frees from different areas of the field. Nolan planted an audacious effort from the right wing, with Eoin Murphy and Byrne adding to their tally during this decisive spell.
It was all about not letting Clongeen in for a couple of confidence-boosting goals after the break, and they passed that test with flying colours, in fact raising their third green flag on 38 minutes when Murphy released Nolan to blast home.
Clongeen had five of the next six points, including efforts from play by Ryan, Patrick Finn and Murphy, as the score stood at 3-9 to 0-10 after 52 minutes, but the runaway leaders finished with aplomb to confirm their Intermediate status for another year.
Meegan added his fourth free and also curled over from play, with Eoin Murphy and Chris Turner hitting almost identical goals before it was all said and done.
For Clongeen, they must summon one massive performance when they tackle New Ross District rivals Bannow-Ballymitty in the relegation play-off if they are to avoid dropping back into the grade they won in 2021.
Ferns St. Aidans: Ivan Meegan (0-5, 4 frees); Brian O'Neill, Declan Byrne, Conor O'Toole; Niall Murphy, Conor Scallan, James Lawlor (capt.); Rory Scallan, Patrick Breen (0-1 free); Peter Nolan (0-1), Eoin Murphy (1-2), Corey Byrne-Dunbar (1-0); Ryan Nolan (2-2), Ian Byrne (0-1), Keith Breen. Subs. - Chris Turner (1-0) for P. Nolan (39), Pádraig Bolger for Lawlor (50), Robert Murphy for Byrne-Dunbar (55), Ciarán Roberts for O'Neill (58).
Clongeen: Ricky Rochford; Jamie Keating (capt.), Enda Murphy, Donal Whelan; Peter Anthony Wall, Shane Cahill, Ger Foxe; Paudie Cahill, Robert Farrell; Darryl Murphy (0-4, 2 frees), Páraic Cullen (0-1 free), Seamie Kiely; Paul Curtis (0-2), Patrick Finn (0-1), Adam Ryan (0-3, 1 free). Subs. - Jamesie Rochford for Wall, inj. (9), Michael Dundon for S. Cahill (HT), Leon Stafford for J. Rochford (42), Robbie Rochford for Ryan (54).
Referee: Jimmy Heavey (Geraldine O'Hanrahans).
NOT FOR the first time in their careers, the Carty brothers were the guiding lights for Taghmon-Camross as Ian and Darren hit 1-6 between them as they edged Ferns St. Aidans by 1-14 to 1-11 in Sunday's Amber Springs Hotel and Health Spa Intermediate football championship Group A curtain-raiser in a sunny St. Patrick's Park.
All the more impressive from the New Ross District side is the fact that they didn't wilt after Ferns rattled the net inside two minutes, with Darren Carty responding with a goal on eleven minutes, while lively substitute Luke Sinnott kicked two points off the bench to generate a 1-7 to 1-5 interval lead that Ferns couldn't quite reel in thereafter.
Stephen O'Gorman was a commanding presence up front for the winners too, and he opened their account with a quick point before Eoin Murphy did extremely well to work his way out of the corner before thudding low to the net despite being buffeted by a couple of opponents in the process.
Patrick Breen tagged on a free as Ferns held a 1-1 to 0-1 lead by the sixth minute, although Taghmon-Camross responded with an unanswered 1-3 to take a grip on proceedings.
O'Gorman notched two more points during this prominent spell, with Ian Carty kicking his first just after his brother Darren made the most of a turnover and quick transition to fire low under Conor Swaine, back playing with his native club after a previous stint with Horeswood.
The continued hustle of Eoin Murphy saw him create three points and add another himself as Ferns St. Aidans edged closer at the break, and their tails were up on the restart as well when substitute Ryan Nolan booted over a beauty with his first touch.
However, Taghmon-Camross replied when Cathal Doyle sped away to split the posts, and further singles from Michael Foley (free) and Ian Carty left them 1-10 to 1-6 in front after 34 minutes.
Ferns halved that deficit courtesy of a free from Breen and a '45 from Nolan, but they probably didn't create enough chances with the amount of possession they enjoyed with the aid of the significant wind blowing towards the dressing-rooms.
Nevertheless, they remained in touch with a strong fourth-quarter squeeze as earlier efforts from Darren and Ian Carty (two frees) were negated by Chris Turner, Corey Byrne-Dunbar and Eoin Murphy as the score stood at 1-13 to 1-11 in injury-time.
But when Ferns pushed everyone up for one last kick-out, Taghmon-Camross broke away and Chris Cullen hit the insurance point to secure a hard-fought win.
They will hope to carry some momentum into this Saturday's encounter against Naomh Éanna in Oylegate, while Ferns St. Aidans know a win is imperative when they travel back to St. Patrick's Park for a meeting with St. Mary's (Maudlintown) 24 hours later.
Ferns St. Aidans: Conor Swaine; Byron Jordan, Robert Murphy, Brian O'Neill; Keith Breen, Conor Scallan, James Lawlor (capt.); Patrick Breen (0-4, 3 frees), Pádraig Bolger; Niall Murphy, Eoin Murphy (1-2), Chris Turner (0-2); Corey Byrne-Dunbar (0-1), Ian Byrne, Peter Nolan. Subs. - Ryan Nolan (0-2, 1 '45) for R. Murphy (HT), Shane Breen for P. Breen, inj. (39), Ciarán Roberts for P. Nolan (41), Patrick Breen for Byrne (56).
Taghmon-Camross: Jack Dunne; David O'Keeffe, Alan Nolan, Shane Lacey; Conor Murphy, Barry O'Gorman, Darren Carty (1-2); Ian Carty (0-4, 2 frees), Darren Hayden (capt.); Ryan Cashin, Tom Banville, Adam Sinnott; Michael Foley (0-1 free), Stephen O'Gorman (0-3), Cathal Doyle (0-1). Subs. - Luke Sinnott (0-2) for A. Sinnott, inj. (16), Chris Cullen (0-1) for Foley (40), Adam Sinnott for Murphy (60+1).
Referee: Kevin Kehoe (Our Lady's Island).
September 3: St. Mary’s Maudlintown 1-13, Ferns St. Aidans 2-6
ST. MARY'S (Maudlintown) registered what could turn out to be a crucial win in Group A of the Amber Springs Hotel and Health Spa Intermediate football championship when three injury-time points saw them secure a 1-13 to 2-6 victory over Ferns St. Aidans in Sunday's tense round two tie played in a sun-baked St. Patrick's Park.
Despite suffering the double whammy of seeing Eddie Pitman enter the sin-bin for ten minutes, and, more significantly, losing defensive lynchpin Christy Lane to a straight red card midway through the second-half, the Wexford town lads displayed considerable resolve to fend off a Ferns side who enjoyed the lion's share of the possession in the final quarter but didn't find enough gaps in the defence to do damage against the 14 men.
Ferns are left with a lot of work to do now to reach the quarter-finals as they will need at least two wins in their last three games, but two of those are against two of the favourites for the championship, namely Naomh Éanna (this Sunday in McCauley Park, Bellefield) and St. Martin's in round four.
For the second weekend in a row, the Gorey District side were boosted by a goal inside the opening ten minutes only to ship one at the other end a few moments later.
And although their second green flag early in the second-half wiped out St. Mary's 1-7 to 1-4 interval advantage, the fact they hit just one more score from play with their numerical advantage is a concern.
It must be noted that lady luck didn't shine on them in the sweltering heat either as two of the substitutes they introduced were subsequently replaced through injury not long after their introductions.
Dermot Flood opened the scoring for Maudlintown, but that first Ferns goal arrived on six minutes when Pádraig Bolger claimed a mark and Eoin Murphy and Patrick Breen linked up to slip in Ian Byrne for a low finish.
However, their defence was caught napping three minutes later as an avoidable turnover saw Mark O'Connor located in a mile of space inside, and he kept his composure to net beyond Conor Swaine.
Breen (free) and Flood swapped quick points, but two breakaway scores from Warren Broaders and Ola Sofola opened up a three-point gap for St. Mary's.
And that difference remained at the break as a Breen free sandwiched points from play by Byrne and player-selector Peter Nolan, with Martin O'Connor, Flood and Broaders (free) replying at the other end.
Ferns restored parity when a key tackle from Declan Byrne set in train a counter-attack that was eventually finished by Chris Turner, and the ball looked firmly in their court when Christy Lane was dismissed for a mis-timed tackle on Gavin Bailey, who was clearly concussed from the impact.
However, they were outscored by 0-4 to 0-2 in the final quarter as St. Mary's dug in to grind out their first win of the campaign.
Kallum Broaders made it 1-10 to 2-5 after 48 minutes, and insurance points followed from Mark O'Connor, Todd Hynes (free) and Sofola as they leap-frogged Ferns in the standings.
Ferns St. Aidans: Conor Swaine; Conor O'Toole, Declan Byrne, Conor Scallan; Brian O'Neill, Ciarán Roberts, James Lawlor (capt.); Patrick Breen (0-3 frees), Pádraig Bolger; Niall Murphy, Eoin Murphy, Chris Turner (1-0); Keith Breen, Ian Byrne (1-2), Peter Nolan (0-1). Subs. - Corey Byrne-Dunbar for Roberts (HT), Liam Byrne for Nolan (39), Gavin Bailey for D. Byrne (39), Robert Murphy for Bailey, temp. (43-FT), Byron Jordan for L. Byrne, inj. (47).
St. Mary's (Maudlintown): Eoin Kinsella; Mark Doyle, Christy Lane, Kallum Broaders (0-1); Jamie Thomas, Graham Carty (joint-capt.), Ramesh Badhan; Eddie Pitman, Martin O'Connor (0-2); Dermot Flood (0-3), Todd Hynes (0-2 frees), Ola Sofola (0-2); Mark O'Connor (1-1), Warren Broaders (0-2, 1 free), Aaron Roche. Sin-bin: Eddie Pitman (47).
Referee: Justin Heffernan (Blackwater).
September 10: Naomh Éanna 1-13, Ferns St. Aidans 3-2
NAOMH ÉANNA piled more misery on Gorey District rivals Ferns St. Aidans on the way to securing their third straight win in Group A of the Amber Springs Hotel and Health Spa Intermediate football championship, with the Senior hurling victors defeating their predecessors to that particular trophy by 1-13 in 3-2 in McCauley Park, Bellefield on Sunday.
Holding a slim 1-7 to 2-2 lead at half-time, Gorey completely controlled the second period, outscoring their rivals by 0-6 to 1-0, with Ferns' complete lack of thrust up front after the break, apart from an excellent Eoin Murphy goal, of huge concern for their mentors.
This latest defeat means they will need to win their last two games against St. Martin's and Clongeen respectively if they are to join Naomh Éanna in the last-eight, and to do so, they will need to perform across the next four halves of football, not just in the fits and starts that have blighted them all campaign.
They had a first quarter goal for the third tie on the spin when Murphy turned his marker inside out before teeing up Ian Byrne for a palmed finish after seven minutes, with Michael Molloy tagging on a free at the other end to make it 1-0 to 0-2.
Some more good work from Murphy preceded Byrne splitting the posts, and Murphy was the creator too as Corey Byrne-Dunbar pointed just before the water break in the humid conditions.
But Gorey resumed with three points in a row from Rian Fitzpatrick, substitute Cian Molloy with his first touch, and Fitzpatrick again to edge 0-6 to 1-2 in front on 22 minutes.
Ferns missed a straightforward free in their next attack and when Gorey broke up the field, Michael Molloy eventually finished from close range for a sucker-punch goal.
However, Ferns hit back almost immediately when Chris Turner won the restart and fed Patrick Breen, who in turn put Byrne away to drill low to the net.
The game was blighted by an unseemly row in the moments after those goals, with Daragh Canavan and Niall Murphy both shown red cards, and a rather intense first-half drew to a close when Fitzpatrick converted a free.
Michael Molloy and Fitzpatrick (free) then made it 1-9 to 2-2 for Gorey before Ferns St. Aidans received what everyone thought was a jolt when Eoin Murphy cut in from the left wing and crashed home a spectacular goal.
But they were completely devoid of any attacking purpose thereafter as Naomh Éanna kept adding to the scoreboard through Cian Molloy, top scorer Fitzpatrick (two, one free) and Jack Cullen to book their quarter-final spot with two games to spare.
Ferns St. Aidans: Conor Swaine; Byron Jordan, Declan Byrne, Brian O'Neill; Conor O'Toole, Conor Scallan, Pádraig Bolger; Patrick Breen, Niall Murphy; Corey Byrne-Dunbar (0-1), James Lawlor, Keith Breen; Chris Turner, Ian Byrne (2-1), Eoin Murphy (1-0). Subs. - Ciarán Roberts for Bolger (46), Peter Nolan for Turner (52). Sin-bin: Corey Byrne-Dunbar (49).
Naomh Éanna: Rory Tubritt; Conor Kelly, Eoin Molloy, Micheál Kennedy; Brian Cushe, Pádraig Doyle (capt.), Charlie McGuckin; Jack Cullen (0-1), Rian Fitzpatrick (0-7, 4 frees); Aodhán Doyle, Cathal Dunbar, Daragh Canavan; Seán Doyle, Michael Molloy (1-2, 0-1 free), Dylan Cooke-Leonard (0-1). Subs. - Cian Molloy (0-2) for Kennedy (17), Jack Doran for Cooke-Leonard (HT), Stephen Drake for Kelly (59).
Referee: Fintan O'Reilly (Kilmore).
September 16: St. Martin’s 2-8, Ferns St. Aidans 0-4
ST. MARTIN’S maintained their one hundred per cent record in Group A of the Amber Springs Hotel and Health Spa Intermediate football championship when easily taking account of a listless Ferns St. Aidans outfit by 2-8 to 0-4 in Saturday’s fourth round game in a windswept but dry Hollymount.
Powered by a well-taken Darren Codd penalty midway through the first-half, the Piercestown and Murrintown collective managed the game thereafter, boosting a 1-4 to 0-3 interval lead into a double-digits advantage by the final whistle.
The stats sheet doesn’t make for pretty reading for the Ferns connections, as they only managed a solitary point from play despite having first use of the significant wind, and indeed playing virtually the entire second-half with an extra man after Darren Codd was red-carded for his part in a fracas.
However, with Taghmon-Camross defeating Clongeen earlier in the day, Ferns’ hopes of a last-eight spot were crushed long before the end here.
And now it all comes down to a final round tussle with Clongeen in New Ross this Saturday to avoid dropping into a dreaded relegation decider.
Corey Byrne-Dunbar supplied that sole point from play when he curled over nicely after four minutes, with Patrick Breen making it 0-2 to nil from a free he won on eight minutes.
Darren Codd crossed for Luke Kavanagh to get St. Martin’s up and running soon after, and when the latter was cleaned out with a late challenge a few minutes later, Codd beat Conor Swaine from the subsequent spot-kick to leave St. Martin’s in command.
Codd also punished an over-carrying offence to tag on a free, with Ian Byrne replying from similar means immediately afterwards, although his initial intention was to boot long inside, but his pass carried in the wind to clear the crossbar.
Codd showed his free-taking acumen with a fine effort off the ground on 24 minutes, while Kavanagh bookended the half with his second from play to create that four-point interval gap.
And there was very little to excite spectators in a drab second-half, with no score of any description arriving until Zac Firman started and finished a move after 49 minutes.
Joe Barrett rattled the net three minutes later as the leaders weren’t fazed in the slightest by their numerical disadvantage, and they hit three more points from play before the finish from Jack Devereux, Oisín Waters and substitute Joe Coleman respectively.
Meanwhile, player-selector Peter Nolan converted a free deep into injury-time for a Ferns team missing a flurry of regulars, and they will need everyone at the pump this weekend in what has become the biggest football game for the club since their county final appearance in 2020.
Ferns St. Aidans: Conor Swaine; Conor O’Toole, Declan Byrne, Brian O’Neill; Robert Murphy, Conor Scallan, Ciarán Roberts; Rory Scallan, James Lawlor; Keith Breen, Peter Nolan (0-1 free), Pádraig Bolger; Corey Byrne-Dunbar (0-1), Patrick Breen (0-1 free), Ian Byrne (0-1 free). Subs. - Patrick O’Toole for Nolan (47), Nolan for O’Neill (60).
St. Martin’s: Conor Coleman; David Codd, Philip Dempsey, Jamie Berry; Diarmuid O’Leary, Conor Firman, Sam Audsley; Joe Barrett (1-0), Ben Maddock; Zac Firman (0-1), Darren Codd (1-2, 1-0 pen., 0-2 frees), Luke Kavanagh (0-2); Kyle Firman, Oisín Waters (0-1), Jack Devereux (0-1). Subs. - Joe Coleman (0-1) for Kavanagh (49), Joe O’Connor for K. Firman (49), Ben Stafford for Z. Firman (52), Jack O’Connor for O’Leary (55), O’Leary for Audsley (60).
Referee: Mick Lanigan (Shelmaliers).
September 23: Ferns St. Aidans 5-12, Clongeen 0-11
THE SENSE of relief upon the last shrill of Jimmy Heavey's whistle was palpable among everyone associated with Ferns St. Aidans when they chose the perfect moment to produce their best display of the year, blitzing Clongeen by 5-12 in 0-11 in Saturday's Amber Springs Hotel and Health Spa Intermediate football championship Group A round five game in an overcast and windy O'Kennedy Park, New Ross.
The jeopardy of the threat of falling into a relegation decider had long since extinguished when Eoin Murphy and Chris Turner tucked away the winners' fourth and fifth goals right at the death, but to win in such commanding fashion is a pleasing footnote to an otherwise underwhelming season.
And it begs the question: why could they be so serene and tuned in here, but fall away so regularly in the other four group games?
That will surely be analysed in the winter, but for now it was all about their attacking power coming to the fore when it was needed most, with Corey Byrne-Dunbar beating all-comers before blasting home an excellent goal after only one minute.
Clongeen hit back through Paul Curtis and a Darryl Murphy free, but Ferns' second green flag on six minutes was a work of art.
Ryan Nolan created the chance with a crossfield pass to Ian Byrne, and Eoin Murphy also featured before Byrne-Dunbar eventually knocked the ball across for Nolan to tuck away soccer-style.
Still, three points on the spin from Adam Ryan, Curtis and Murphy (free) meant that Clongeen remained in touch after twelve minutes, but the Gorey District side completely took over to develop a 2-7 to 0-5 half-time lead with the use of the wind still to come.
Goalkeeper Ivan Meegan ventured forward for three successful frees from different areas of the field. Nolan planted an audacious effort from the right wing, with Eoin Murphy and Byrne adding to their tally during this decisive spell.
It was all about not letting Clongeen in for a couple of confidence-boosting goals after the break, and they passed that test with flying colours, in fact raising their third green flag on 38 minutes when Murphy released Nolan to blast home.
Clongeen had five of the next six points, including efforts from play by Ryan, Patrick Finn and Murphy, as the score stood at 3-9 to 0-10 after 52 minutes, but the runaway leaders finished with aplomb to confirm their Intermediate status for another year.
Meegan added his fourth free and also curled over from play, with Eoin Murphy and Chris Turner hitting almost identical goals before it was all said and done.
For Clongeen, they must summon one massive performance when they tackle New Ross District rivals Bannow-Ballymitty in the relegation play-off if they are to avoid dropping back into the grade they won in 2021.
Ferns St. Aidans: Ivan Meegan (0-5, 4 frees); Brian O'Neill, Declan Byrne, Conor O'Toole; Niall Murphy, Conor Scallan, James Lawlor (capt.); Rory Scallan, Patrick Breen (0-1 free); Peter Nolan (0-1), Eoin Murphy (1-2), Corey Byrne-Dunbar (1-0); Ryan Nolan (2-2), Ian Byrne (0-1), Keith Breen. Subs. - Chris Turner (1-0) for P. Nolan (39), Pádraig Bolger for Lawlor (50), Robert Murphy for Byrne-Dunbar (55), Ciarán Roberts for O'Neill (58).
Clongeen: Ricky Rochford; Jamie Keating (capt.), Enda Murphy, Donal Whelan; Peter Anthony Wall, Shane Cahill, Ger Foxe; Paudie Cahill, Robert Farrell; Darryl Murphy (0-4, 2 frees), Páraic Cullen (0-1 free), Seamie Kiely; Paul Curtis (0-2), Patrick Finn (0-1), Adam Ryan (0-3, 1 free). Subs. - Jamesie Rochford for Wall, inj. (9), Michael Dundon for S. Cahill (HT), Leon Stafford for J. Rochford (42), Robbie Rochford for Ryan (54).
Referee: Jimmy Heavey (Geraldine O'Hanrahans).
