Underage Finals 2023
June 21, O’Loughlin Shield (U18 Football) Final: Ferns St. Aidans 6-10, St. Joseph’s 0-11
FERNS ST. Aidans responded in decisive fashion to an early second-half St. Joseph’s surge as the red and whites captured the O’Loughlin Shield Minor football league title in Wednesday’s decider at a pleasant St. Patrick’s Park.
Having shipped a goal just before half-time to break in arrears by 1-6 to 0-5, St. Joseph’s had their opponents on high alert when dominating the first six minutes of the second period to tie on 0-9 to 1-6.
But roving Ferns number six James Murray dashed forward to stitch a dream 39th-minute goal as the winners re-asserted themselves with force.
Indeed, they capitalised upon St. Joseph’s losing bright defender Logan Byrne to the sin-bin to dominate proceedings to the tune of 3-2 to 0-1 before he returned.
Ferns possessed an interchangeable diamond of Murray, midfielders Stephen O’Toole and Danny Dreelan, along with centre-forward Charlie Roark, and Murray certainly wasn’t shy about getting forward to pose a serious threat.
Roark together with Seán Gahan were each denied goals at the country-end while St. Joseph’s profited in between, with Dean Hillis (free) and Cian O’Dowd pointing on five and six minutes respectively.
Ferns soon translated their rich promise as Murray and Dreelan levelled by the eleventh minute, before Lukas Kinsella (free) and Roark made it 0-4 to 0-2 midway through the half.
St. Joseph’s, with Logan Byrne prominent and Dean Hillis a superb target-man up front, were anything but intimidated, and Lee Byrne cut in from the end-line to angle a classy 18th-minute score, before Hillis had a goal-bound shot cleared by Jack Curran.
Hillis responded with a pointed free, only for Ferns to drive on with singles from Murray and Oisín Cronin, before overcoming another near-goal miss – Murray being denied – for Roark to feed Stephen O’Toole for a sweet 29th-minute finish to the net.
Tommy Hillis pointed off a Ryan Gavin assist to keep St. Joseph’s within range at the break (1-6 to 0-5).
And the Wexford town boys simply flourished on the resumption as Tommy Hillis, Logan Byrne, Ryan Gavin and Dean Hillis tied matters within six minutes (0-9 to 1-6).
Ferns soon began to hum again though, and Seán Murphy had a goal chance scrambled clear, before he sent James Murray haring in from the right to put an angled missile to the far top corner of the net on 39 minutes (2-6 to 0-9).
A brief flare-up interrupted proceedings, before an exchange of points was followed by Logan Byrne being left with little option but to haul down Roark as he bore down on goal in the 44th minute.
Byrne was sin-binned while Jack Young netted indirectly from the resultant penalty – spot-taker Seán Murphy seeing his effort saved by Ben Mallon before Murphy broke the ball for Young to crash home (3-7 to 0-10).
With their numerical advantage, Ferns simply soared. Dreelan and Kinsella (free) each pointed, before Charlie Roark buried 52nd- and 54th-minute goals – gathering from Seán Murphy and shaking off some close attention for the first, while being fed by Jack Brennan to cut in from the left end-line for the second.
It was 15 v. 15 again after that, but after another exchange of scores, Jack Brennan put the cherry on Ferns’ cake with a chipped finish to the net a couple of minutes into added-time.
Ferns St. Aidans: William Kavanagh; Jack Curran, Charlie Murphy (capt.), Matthew Hanley; Jack Brennan (1-0), James Murray (1-3), Jerry Sheridan; Stephen O’Toole (1-0), Danny Dreelan (0-3); Lukas Kinsella (0-2 frees), Charlie Roark (2-1), Jack Young (1-0); Seán Murphy, Seán Gahan, Oisín Cronin (0-1). Subs. – Kenny Murphy for Kinsella (52), Darragh Breen for Curran (52), Liam Redmond for Young (59), Daniel Nolan for Cronin (59), Peter Logan for S. Murphy (59), also Niall Logan, Freddy Davis.
St. Joseph’s: Ben Mallon; Dougie O’Dowd, Shane Curran, Logan Byrne (0-1); Josh Casey, James Whelan, Josh Frayne; Cian O’Dowd (0-1), Ryan Gavin (1-1, 1-0 pen.); Conor Shortall, Eoin Murphy, Lee Byrne (0-1); Conor Galvin, Dean Hillis (capt., 0-5, 3 frees), Tommy Hillis (0-2). Sin-bin: Logan Byrne (44).
Referee: Ger Cullen (Ballyhogue).
September 21, U16 Football Div. 5 Shield Final: Ferns St. Aidans 3-8, Shamrocks 2-5
FERNS ST. Aidans ability to take their chances proved vital in St. Patrick's Park on Thursday as they claimed the Gorey Guardian Under-16 football Division 5 shield against Shamrocks.
The victors had some spells of excellent play, good movement and superb finishing, but they also had to withstand pressure from their Enniscorthy opponents at periods in the game. While they spent time under the cosh, they never buckled and emerged as deserving winners.
The Shamrocks were a lot rawer than Ferns but had plenty of talent themselves. If they can harness what they have here, and continue to develop their lads, then there's ample room for improvement as the basis for a bunch of talented footballers is there.
This decider started 21 minutes late after assigned referee Niall McDonald didn't arrive. Luckily, new Gorey referee Alan O'Neill was at a meeting in the town at the time and was able to get the game under way with a much shorter delay than may have otherwise been expected.
When it did start it didn't take the champions long to get on the front foot and start to build a lead. Captain Jack Young opened the scoring with a nice point before the excellent Bobby Murray followed with another to make it 0-2 to nil.
Stephen Wallace responded from a free but Ferns were still looking the brighter side and moved into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead after the opening quarter thanks to scores from Murray, Peter Logan and Davy Redmond.
Murray got on the end of a searching Kenny Murphy ball and dispatched past Milosz Dolatowski, but Shamrocks did hit back with the next three points, which included a Ronan McGrath penalty that flew over the crossbar.
Just when they appeared to be gaining a head of steam, Ferns finished the first-half in the ascendancy, with a Darragh Gahan goal and a nice point from Conor Lacey making it 2-6 to 0-4 at the break.
Three minutes into the second-half Wallace earned a penalty that he converted. Murray hit back with a converted free at the other end, but when Wallace tucked home Shamrocks' third penalty of the evening at the end of the third quarter the deficit was down to three.
However, Ferns found another gear in the last 15 minutes. Davy Redmond punched home the critical goal with ten minutes left from Murray's assist before the major provider pointed to up the lead to seven. Shamrocks put on some late pressure, with Wallace adding a point, but there was no denying Ferns St. Aidans their title.
Ferns St. Aidans: Rhys Meegan; James Brennan, Ryan Rossiter, Darragh Gahan (1-0); Kevin Leonard, Jack Young (capt., 0-1), Liam Redmond; Shane Whelan-Turner, Kenny Murphy; Freddie Davis, Adam Connolly, Peter Logan (0-1); Bill Moulds, Davy Redmond (1-1), Bobby Murphy (1-4, 0-1 free). Subs. (rolling) - Conor Lacey (0-1), Mattieu Bates, Adam Kehoe, Ben Cleere, Daniel Nolan.
Shamrocks: Milosz Dolatowski; Lochlann O'Brien, Callum Doyle, Ciarán Kenny; Piers Hogan, Tadhg Kenny, Tomás Manning; Brendan Power, Jack Byrne; Ronan McGrath (0-2, 1 pen.), Stephen Wallace (2-3, 2-0 pens., 0-3 frees), Lee Jordan; Seán O'Brien, Marcus Doyle, Ben Kirwan. Subs. (rolling) - John Rossiter, Jake O'Neill, Conan Steadman, Aaron Phillips, Keenan Quirke, Billy McHugh, Jack Murphy, Bobby Rackard.
Referee: Alan O'Neill (Naomh Éanna).
October 4, U16 Hurling Div. 4 Shield Final: Ferns St. Aidans 5-13, St. Patrick’s 4-12 (AET)
Ferns St. Aidans wrapped up an Under-16 double in St. Patrick’s Park, Enniscorthy, defeating St. Patrick’s in a crazy Enniscorthy Guardian Division 4 hurling shield decider.
The champions were on a high coming into the game after seeing off Shamrocks for the Division 5 football shield, but they were given a serious battle here by their neighbours from up the R772.
In truth, it could have gone either way in normal time, as both clubs had periods in the lead and both had spells when it looked like they might get on top.
The second-half, in particular, was breath-taking stuff as punch was quickly followed by counter-punch to create an outstanding affair.
There were two keys to the game setting fire at that stage as, not only were the best players on both sides playing at the peak of their powers, the lads whom less might be expected from were coming to the fore too and making superb contributions.
Yet extra-time was more of a war of attrition that Ferns St. Aidans had the components to master. Winning by 0-5 to 0-1 in over-time, there was no doubt that they deserve the shield in the end, despite the gargantuan effort of St. Patrick’s.
The early stages were tight and tense as the Camolin-based club went 0-3 to nil up on the back of Alex Carton and Adam Furlong points.
Ferns St. Aidans star Bobby Murray, who ended the game with 2-9, registered his side’s first score in the 15th minute.
Things started to open up after that. Murray powered through to net in the 18th minute, only for Noah James to match that effort moments later.
St. Patrick’s saw Eoin Kenny and Noah Byrne add their names to the scoresheet, but a late Kenny Murphy free to the net left just three between them at the interval (1-8 to 2-2).
Murray levelled the game up moments after the restart, but again St. Patrick’s bounced back with a goal from Furlong.
Enda Byrne was next to raise a green flag, and two points from Murray tied the match in the 47th minute (2-10 to 4-4).
Back came St. Patrick’s with an audacious Alex Devereux flick to the net, but a long-range Conor Leacy major in amongst three Ferns points gave the eventual winners a 5-7 to 3-10 lead. Once again the response arrived, with Eoin Kenny’s 56th-minute goal.
A Kenny Murphy point seconds later gave Ferns St. Aidans a lead they held for seven minutes, until Noah James heroically levelled the scores with the second-last puck of regulation time.
Yet extra-time belonged to Ferns St. Aidans, with Murray (four) and Murphy outscoring St. Patrick’s to take the crown.
Ferns St. Aidans: Aidan Bowe; Darragh Gahan, Ryan Rossiter, James Brennan; Kevin Leonard, Kenny Murphy (capt., 1-2, 1-1 frees), Peter Logan; Jack Young, Conor Leacy (1-2); Adam Connolly, Bobby Murray (2-9, 0-2 frees), Davy Redmond; Bill Moulds, Daniel Nolan, Mattieu Bates. Subs. - Adam Kehoe for Gahan (31), Ben Cleere for Bates (31), Enda Byrne (1-0) for D. Redmond (33), Redmond for Connolly (61), Shane Whelan for Cleere (69), Cleere for D. Redmond (76), also Liam Redmond, Freddie Davis.
St. Patrick’s: Eoghan Hogan; John Maher, Seán Dunne, Gerry McCormack; George Murphy, Jack Murphy (capt.), Leo James; Alex Carton (0-1), Adam Furlong (1-6, 0-6 frees); Noah Byrne (0-1), Noah James (1-3), Tom Waugh; Alex Devereux (1-0), Eoin Kenny (1-1), Sam O’Connor. Subs. - Dylan Cooper for O’Connor (46), Coby Byrne for Dunne, inj. (65), Josh Scully for Waugh (71), Liam Doyle for Devereux (71), Kyle Jones for Kenny (80), also Aaron Bailey, Mikie Murphy, Steve Kavanagh, Cormack Kinsella.
Referee: Aidan Foley (Shelmaliers).
October 15, U18 Football Div. 2 Shield Final: Ferns St. Aidans 3-8, St. Joseph’s 0-5
Ferns St. Aidans outlasted St. Joseph’s to take the Wexford People Minor football Division 2 shield in Hollymount.
The Gorey District club were put under pressure by an opponent that started and ended with 13 men, but a Seán Murphy goal on the stroke of half-time proved absolutely critical to setting the champions on their way to success.
Up to that point St. Joseph’s were giving as good as they got, despite struggling to get to 15 players. It’s great to see the Bishopswater boys continuing to field teams on their own, but numbers are tight at this age group so there was a bit of a scramble to get 15 together.
The lads that did turn up put in a fantastic shift and not an ounce more could have been asked of them. Indeed, they were gracious in defeat, even staying behind after the presentation to take a team photograph without a single word of complaint.
Ferns St. Aidans might have been a little unsure how to approach the game in the circumstances, and it took them a good while to settle and find their football.
However, they put some good moves together in the second-half, led by the excellent James Murray, to win with a bit to spare.
Niall Logan kicked Ferns St. Aidans ahead in the ninth minute, but Dean Hillis responded with a successful free in the eleventh minute.
The Joey’s were up to a full complement of players when Hillis put them ahead at the start of the second quarter, only for Seán Murphy to respond at the other end.
Moments later Conor Galvin kicked a lovely point for the Whiterock Hill lads, but Ferns St. Aidans were able to finish the period on the front foot, with Logan and Charlie Murphy points added to by Murphy’s well-taken goal in over-time.
Lucas Kinsella and Cian O’Dowd exchanged points at the start of the second-half, but when James Murray soloed in and fired past Rhian O’Dowd the champions had the critical second goal of the contest.
From there Ferns St. Aidans eased their way clear, with points from Kinsella and Logan followed by another 1-1 from Murray.
There wasn’t a bad hit in the game but St. Joseph’s picked up two late dismissals to end the way they started. They also added the last point, a Tommy Hillis free, to leave them twelve in arrears at full-time.
Ferns St. Aidans: William Kavanagh; Jack Curran, Jerry Sheridan, Darragh Breen; Jack Brennan, James Murray (2-1), Charlie Murphy (0-1); Stephen O’Toole, Matthew Hanley; Oisín Cronin, Niall Logan (0-3), Lucas Kinsella (0-2, 1 free); Kenny Murphy, Seán Gahan, Seán Murphy (1-1). Subs. - Darragh Gahan for Curran, inj. (13), Peter Logan for Hanley (54), Daniel Nolan for Breen (54).
St. Joseph’s: Rhian O’Dowd; Darragh Holmes, Josh Frayne, Dougie O’Dowd; Josh Casey, Tadhg Berry, Cian O’Dowd (0-1); Dean Hillis (0-2 frees), Shane Curran; Eoin Murphy, Conor Shortall, James Whelan; Conor Galvin (0-1), Tommy Hillis (0-1 free), Cian Roche.
Referee: Niall McDonald (Crossabeg-Ballymurn).
October 29, U14 Div. 3 Football Shield Final: Ferns St. Aidans 4-5, Shelmaliers 0-3
A mud bath failed to slow a confident host as Ferns St. Aidans took the New Ross Standard Under-14 football Division 3 shield.
Visitors Shelmaliers never quite came to terms with the slippery surface like their game opponents, battling to the end but failing to create or take the chances Ferns St. Aidans were able to dispatch on a horrible morning for football.
While 4-5 would probably win a good percentage of games, the key to this Ferns success was a sensational defensive effort.
The whole team chipped in but the full-back line of Adam Kehoe, Lee Allen Kenny and Ben Gahan were absolutely sensational.
It's not like Shels didn't try different combinations in the inside-forward line, as they mixed it up and swapped around options, but no matter who they threw in there, the full-back trio were in dominant mood throughout.
Ferns St. Aidans started on the front foot and went ahead after five minutes when Ben Cleere knocked over a nice score.
It got even better one minute later when Bobby Murray's long-range effort was blocked into the goalmouth and Cian Kavanagh followed up to find the net.
Matters got even worse for the visitors when Murray's free-kick found the net in the eighth minute, but Shelmaliers did respond and were able to keep Ferns St. Aidans scoreless in the remainder of the opening period.
They got two points themselves, with Barry O'Leary and Donnacha O'Sullivan on the scoresheet, to go in 2-1 to 0-2 behind at the interval.
With the conditions sapping energy, Ferns added the only score of the first 18 minutes of the second period, a Kavanagh point.
However, a second Murray goal from a free-kick broke the Shelmaliers resolve. Substitute Richard Browne tucked away a fourth goal two minutes later before Aaron Shallott-Ronan flighted over the bar (4-3 to 0-2).
The hosts added two more Murray points, sandwiching a late Charlie Ennis minor at the other end, as Ferns added the Division 3 football shield to the hurling one they picked up a few weeks earlier.
Ferns St. Aidans: Andrew Fortune; Adam Kehoe, Lee Allen Kenny, Ben Gahan; Conor Leacy, Ryan Rossiter, Aidan Bowe; Aaron Sharlott-Ronan (0-1), Enda Byrne; Ben Cleere (0-1), Bobby Murray (2-2, 2-0 frees), Jack Skelton; Ian Hanley (capt.), Cian Kavanagh (1-1), Noah Ryan. Subs. - Richard Browne (1-0) for Ryan (34), Jack Byrne for Skelton (45), also Charlie Murray, Séamus Doyle, Oisín Breen, Jake Morris, Cian Redmond, Charlie Kelly, Alan Lau, Bill Moulds, Paddy Kinsella.
Shelmaliers: Lochlann Gately; Noah Deering, Daryl O'Brien, Luke Corrigan; Corey Roche, Jack Harding-Kenny, Liam Murphy; Zach Deering, Barry O'Leary (0-1); Donnacha O'Sullivan (0-1 free), Charlie Ennis (0-1), Cathal Donoghue; Joe Power, Aaron Tobin, Alex Jones. Subs. - Ronan Mulqueen for Jones (34), Ben Walsh for Power (45), Ryan Curran for N. Deering (45), Harry Coone for Corrigan (45), Jude Kehoe for Donoghue (45), also Liam O'Brien, Dylan Redmond, Kian Byrne, Jon Negru.
Referee: David Fitzgerald (St. Joseph's).
November 3, U18 Hurling Div. 2 Final: Ferns St. Aidans 1-16, Crossabeg/Ballymurn 1-16 (aet)
THE FAILURE of Ferns St. Aidans to maximise a couple of first-half penalties went a long way towards their deadlock with Crossabeg-Ballymurn after extra-time in Friday's Wexford People Under-18 hurling Division 2 championship decider in a floodlit St. Patrick's Park, Enniscorthy.
And the Gorey District crew were ultimately left chasing a replay-clinching score, with Charlie Roark earning the free out on the right from which he bisected the town-end uprights three minutes into added-time.
Crossabeg-Ballymurn defender Jack Purcell had actually extended the duel to extra-time when netting a rebound in the closing seconds of normal time.
But Ferns St. Aidans had their chances to steal a march in that opening-half through those penalties, only to muster a point in total from those opportunities, with Crossabeg-Ballymurn 'keeper Adam Murphy saving the second on 26 minutes.
Crossabeg-Ballymurn had clipped their rivals by 3-20 to 0-19 during the group stages, but they lost the attacking impetus of Jack Redmond through injury since that particular clash.
Midfielder David McCarthy demonstrated his growing potential as he carried a considerable burden with great maturity.
Ferns led by 0-3 to 0-2 through three James Murray scores (two frees) - McCarthy responding from placed balls - before the first penalty award arrived on twelve minutes after William Kavanagh was impeded.
Murray cut a frustrated figure though as his attempt flew over the country-end crossbar, but Ferns continued to set the pace and led by 0-6 to 0-4 just before Charlie Roark, shortly after being switched inside from the right wing, earned the second penalty.
Roark elected to have a go himself, but met with resistance from the opposition 'keeper before defender Pearce Doyle cleared the danger.
However, Roark, a prominent force in the grade these past few years (and one of eleven of Ferns' 2021 Division 1 Minor champions on duty) returned with a vengeance on 29 minutes when collecting from Murray to net for a 1-6 to 0-4 advantage.
Murray was unfortunate to shoot across the face of goal shortly afterwards before Ferns went in at the break with a slight 1-6 to 0-5 lead.
Charlie Murphy was an absolute lion-heart in the Ferns rearguard as they surged ahead by 1-9 to 0-7, before David McCarthy had opposition hearts in mouths when his mis-hit free bobbled towards the goal on 49 minutes.
In fairness, McCarthy didn't fluff anything else, and he was central to their recovery when tying on 1-10 apiece 45 seconds into added-time.
The number eight fed Niall Cullen who forced an initial save, before none other than wing-back Jack Purcell netted the rebound to force the game to extra-time.
The additional 20 minutes began with James Murray again going close to goal for Ferns, before he put over a free and a '65, while Roark also chipped in for a 1-13 to 1-12 divide at the change of ends.
David McCarthy levelled for a sixth time from a Niall Cullen free before Conor O'Brien nudged Crossabeg-Ballymurn in front.
But it was nip-and-tuck stuff, with defenders Ross Walker and Jack Purcell actually putting Crossabeg-Ballymurn on the brink of glory by 1-16 to 1-14 after 80 minutes.
Ferns St. Aidans had the resolve to salvage it, as James Murray tagged on a plucky 13th point, before Roark made the most of earning that absolute last-gasp shot at a re-match - scheduled for the same venue on Friday with a 7.30 p.m. throw-in time.
Ferns St. Aidans: Kenny Murphy; Charlie Murphy, Jerry Sheridan, Darragh Breen; Jack Young, Seán Gahan, Lukas Kinsella; Stephen O'Toole, Jack Brennan; Charlie Roark (1-2, 0-1 free), James Murray (0-13, 8 frees, 2 '65s, 1 pen.), Niall Logan (capt., 0-1); Oisín Cronin, Seán Murphy, William Kavanagh. Sub. - Matthew Hanley for Breen, inj. (34).
Crossabeg-Ballymurn: Adam Murphy; Evan O'Leary, Ross Walker (0-1), Killian O'Toole; Pearce Doyle, William Murphy, Jack Purcell (1-1); David McCarthy (capt., 0-9, 5 frees), Matthew Bishop (0-1); Seán Hennessy, Niall Cullen (0-1), Pádraig Byrne; Ryan Doyle (0-1), Conor O'Brien (0-2), Robin Hawkins. Subs. - Rory Davis for Byrne, inj. (26), Josh Bota for Hawkins (69).
Referee: Paddy Brady (Ballygarrett).
FERNS ST. Aidans responded in decisive fashion to an early second-half St. Joseph’s surge as the red and whites captured the O’Loughlin Shield Minor football league title in Wednesday’s decider at a pleasant St. Patrick’s Park.
Having shipped a goal just before half-time to break in arrears by 1-6 to 0-5, St. Joseph’s had their opponents on high alert when dominating the first six minutes of the second period to tie on 0-9 to 1-6.
But roving Ferns number six James Murray dashed forward to stitch a dream 39th-minute goal as the winners re-asserted themselves with force.
Indeed, they capitalised upon St. Joseph’s losing bright defender Logan Byrne to the sin-bin to dominate proceedings to the tune of 3-2 to 0-1 before he returned.
Ferns possessed an interchangeable diamond of Murray, midfielders Stephen O’Toole and Danny Dreelan, along with centre-forward Charlie Roark, and Murray certainly wasn’t shy about getting forward to pose a serious threat.
Roark together with Seán Gahan were each denied goals at the country-end while St. Joseph’s profited in between, with Dean Hillis (free) and Cian O’Dowd pointing on five and six minutes respectively.
Ferns soon translated their rich promise as Murray and Dreelan levelled by the eleventh minute, before Lukas Kinsella (free) and Roark made it 0-4 to 0-2 midway through the half.
St. Joseph’s, with Logan Byrne prominent and Dean Hillis a superb target-man up front, were anything but intimidated, and Lee Byrne cut in from the end-line to angle a classy 18th-minute score, before Hillis had a goal-bound shot cleared by Jack Curran.
Hillis responded with a pointed free, only for Ferns to drive on with singles from Murray and Oisín Cronin, before overcoming another near-goal miss – Murray being denied – for Roark to feed Stephen O’Toole for a sweet 29th-minute finish to the net.
Tommy Hillis pointed off a Ryan Gavin assist to keep St. Joseph’s within range at the break (1-6 to 0-5).
And the Wexford town boys simply flourished on the resumption as Tommy Hillis, Logan Byrne, Ryan Gavin and Dean Hillis tied matters within six minutes (0-9 to 1-6).
Ferns soon began to hum again though, and Seán Murphy had a goal chance scrambled clear, before he sent James Murray haring in from the right to put an angled missile to the far top corner of the net on 39 minutes (2-6 to 0-9).
A brief flare-up interrupted proceedings, before an exchange of points was followed by Logan Byrne being left with little option but to haul down Roark as he bore down on goal in the 44th minute.
Byrne was sin-binned while Jack Young netted indirectly from the resultant penalty – spot-taker Seán Murphy seeing his effort saved by Ben Mallon before Murphy broke the ball for Young to crash home (3-7 to 0-10).
With their numerical advantage, Ferns simply soared. Dreelan and Kinsella (free) each pointed, before Charlie Roark buried 52nd- and 54th-minute goals – gathering from Seán Murphy and shaking off some close attention for the first, while being fed by Jack Brennan to cut in from the left end-line for the second.
It was 15 v. 15 again after that, but after another exchange of scores, Jack Brennan put the cherry on Ferns’ cake with a chipped finish to the net a couple of minutes into added-time.
Ferns St. Aidans: William Kavanagh; Jack Curran, Charlie Murphy (capt.), Matthew Hanley; Jack Brennan (1-0), James Murray (1-3), Jerry Sheridan; Stephen O’Toole (1-0), Danny Dreelan (0-3); Lukas Kinsella (0-2 frees), Charlie Roark (2-1), Jack Young (1-0); Seán Murphy, Seán Gahan, Oisín Cronin (0-1). Subs. – Kenny Murphy for Kinsella (52), Darragh Breen for Curran (52), Liam Redmond for Young (59), Daniel Nolan for Cronin (59), Peter Logan for S. Murphy (59), also Niall Logan, Freddy Davis.
St. Joseph’s: Ben Mallon; Dougie O’Dowd, Shane Curran, Logan Byrne (0-1); Josh Casey, James Whelan, Josh Frayne; Cian O’Dowd (0-1), Ryan Gavin (1-1, 1-0 pen.); Conor Shortall, Eoin Murphy, Lee Byrne (0-1); Conor Galvin, Dean Hillis (capt., 0-5, 3 frees), Tommy Hillis (0-2). Sin-bin: Logan Byrne (44).
Referee: Ger Cullen (Ballyhogue).
September 21, U16 Football Div. 5 Shield Final: Ferns St. Aidans 3-8, Shamrocks 2-5
FERNS ST. Aidans ability to take their chances proved vital in St. Patrick's Park on Thursday as they claimed the Gorey Guardian Under-16 football Division 5 shield against Shamrocks.
The victors had some spells of excellent play, good movement and superb finishing, but they also had to withstand pressure from their Enniscorthy opponents at periods in the game. While they spent time under the cosh, they never buckled and emerged as deserving winners.
The Shamrocks were a lot rawer than Ferns but had plenty of talent themselves. If they can harness what they have here, and continue to develop their lads, then there's ample room for improvement as the basis for a bunch of talented footballers is there.
This decider started 21 minutes late after assigned referee Niall McDonald didn't arrive. Luckily, new Gorey referee Alan O'Neill was at a meeting in the town at the time and was able to get the game under way with a much shorter delay than may have otherwise been expected.
When it did start it didn't take the champions long to get on the front foot and start to build a lead. Captain Jack Young opened the scoring with a nice point before the excellent Bobby Murray followed with another to make it 0-2 to nil.
Stephen Wallace responded from a free but Ferns were still looking the brighter side and moved into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead after the opening quarter thanks to scores from Murray, Peter Logan and Davy Redmond.
Murray got on the end of a searching Kenny Murphy ball and dispatched past Milosz Dolatowski, but Shamrocks did hit back with the next three points, which included a Ronan McGrath penalty that flew over the crossbar.
Just when they appeared to be gaining a head of steam, Ferns finished the first-half in the ascendancy, with a Darragh Gahan goal and a nice point from Conor Lacey making it 2-6 to 0-4 at the break.
Three minutes into the second-half Wallace earned a penalty that he converted. Murray hit back with a converted free at the other end, but when Wallace tucked home Shamrocks' third penalty of the evening at the end of the third quarter the deficit was down to three.
However, Ferns found another gear in the last 15 minutes. Davy Redmond punched home the critical goal with ten minutes left from Murray's assist before the major provider pointed to up the lead to seven. Shamrocks put on some late pressure, with Wallace adding a point, but there was no denying Ferns St. Aidans their title.
Ferns St. Aidans: Rhys Meegan; James Brennan, Ryan Rossiter, Darragh Gahan (1-0); Kevin Leonard, Jack Young (capt., 0-1), Liam Redmond; Shane Whelan-Turner, Kenny Murphy; Freddie Davis, Adam Connolly, Peter Logan (0-1); Bill Moulds, Davy Redmond (1-1), Bobby Murphy (1-4, 0-1 free). Subs. (rolling) - Conor Lacey (0-1), Mattieu Bates, Adam Kehoe, Ben Cleere, Daniel Nolan.
Shamrocks: Milosz Dolatowski; Lochlann O'Brien, Callum Doyle, Ciarán Kenny; Piers Hogan, Tadhg Kenny, Tomás Manning; Brendan Power, Jack Byrne; Ronan McGrath (0-2, 1 pen.), Stephen Wallace (2-3, 2-0 pens., 0-3 frees), Lee Jordan; Seán O'Brien, Marcus Doyle, Ben Kirwan. Subs. (rolling) - John Rossiter, Jake O'Neill, Conan Steadman, Aaron Phillips, Keenan Quirke, Billy McHugh, Jack Murphy, Bobby Rackard.
Referee: Alan O'Neill (Naomh Éanna).
October 4, U16 Hurling Div. 4 Shield Final: Ferns St. Aidans 5-13, St. Patrick’s 4-12 (AET)
Ferns St. Aidans wrapped up an Under-16 double in St. Patrick’s Park, Enniscorthy, defeating St. Patrick’s in a crazy Enniscorthy Guardian Division 4 hurling shield decider.
The champions were on a high coming into the game after seeing off Shamrocks for the Division 5 football shield, but they were given a serious battle here by their neighbours from up the R772.
In truth, it could have gone either way in normal time, as both clubs had periods in the lead and both had spells when it looked like they might get on top.
The second-half, in particular, was breath-taking stuff as punch was quickly followed by counter-punch to create an outstanding affair.
There were two keys to the game setting fire at that stage as, not only were the best players on both sides playing at the peak of their powers, the lads whom less might be expected from were coming to the fore too and making superb contributions.
Yet extra-time was more of a war of attrition that Ferns St. Aidans had the components to master. Winning by 0-5 to 0-1 in over-time, there was no doubt that they deserve the shield in the end, despite the gargantuan effort of St. Patrick’s.
The early stages were tight and tense as the Camolin-based club went 0-3 to nil up on the back of Alex Carton and Adam Furlong points.
Ferns St. Aidans star Bobby Murray, who ended the game with 2-9, registered his side’s first score in the 15th minute.
Things started to open up after that. Murray powered through to net in the 18th minute, only for Noah James to match that effort moments later.
St. Patrick’s saw Eoin Kenny and Noah Byrne add their names to the scoresheet, but a late Kenny Murphy free to the net left just three between them at the interval (1-8 to 2-2).
Murray levelled the game up moments after the restart, but again St. Patrick’s bounced back with a goal from Furlong.
Enda Byrne was next to raise a green flag, and two points from Murray tied the match in the 47th minute (2-10 to 4-4).
Back came St. Patrick’s with an audacious Alex Devereux flick to the net, but a long-range Conor Leacy major in amongst three Ferns points gave the eventual winners a 5-7 to 3-10 lead. Once again the response arrived, with Eoin Kenny’s 56th-minute goal.
A Kenny Murphy point seconds later gave Ferns St. Aidans a lead they held for seven minutes, until Noah James heroically levelled the scores with the second-last puck of regulation time.
Yet extra-time belonged to Ferns St. Aidans, with Murray (four) and Murphy outscoring St. Patrick’s to take the crown.
Ferns St. Aidans: Aidan Bowe; Darragh Gahan, Ryan Rossiter, James Brennan; Kevin Leonard, Kenny Murphy (capt., 1-2, 1-1 frees), Peter Logan; Jack Young, Conor Leacy (1-2); Adam Connolly, Bobby Murray (2-9, 0-2 frees), Davy Redmond; Bill Moulds, Daniel Nolan, Mattieu Bates. Subs. - Adam Kehoe for Gahan (31), Ben Cleere for Bates (31), Enda Byrne (1-0) for D. Redmond (33), Redmond for Connolly (61), Shane Whelan for Cleere (69), Cleere for D. Redmond (76), also Liam Redmond, Freddie Davis.
St. Patrick’s: Eoghan Hogan; John Maher, Seán Dunne, Gerry McCormack; George Murphy, Jack Murphy (capt.), Leo James; Alex Carton (0-1), Adam Furlong (1-6, 0-6 frees); Noah Byrne (0-1), Noah James (1-3), Tom Waugh; Alex Devereux (1-0), Eoin Kenny (1-1), Sam O’Connor. Subs. - Dylan Cooper for O’Connor (46), Coby Byrne for Dunne, inj. (65), Josh Scully for Waugh (71), Liam Doyle for Devereux (71), Kyle Jones for Kenny (80), also Aaron Bailey, Mikie Murphy, Steve Kavanagh, Cormack Kinsella.
Referee: Aidan Foley (Shelmaliers).
October 15, U18 Football Div. 2 Shield Final: Ferns St. Aidans 3-8, St. Joseph’s 0-5
Ferns St. Aidans outlasted St. Joseph’s to take the Wexford People Minor football Division 2 shield in Hollymount.
The Gorey District club were put under pressure by an opponent that started and ended with 13 men, but a Seán Murphy goal on the stroke of half-time proved absolutely critical to setting the champions on their way to success.
Up to that point St. Joseph’s were giving as good as they got, despite struggling to get to 15 players. It’s great to see the Bishopswater boys continuing to field teams on their own, but numbers are tight at this age group so there was a bit of a scramble to get 15 together.
The lads that did turn up put in a fantastic shift and not an ounce more could have been asked of them. Indeed, they were gracious in defeat, even staying behind after the presentation to take a team photograph without a single word of complaint.
Ferns St. Aidans might have been a little unsure how to approach the game in the circumstances, and it took them a good while to settle and find their football.
However, they put some good moves together in the second-half, led by the excellent James Murray, to win with a bit to spare.
Niall Logan kicked Ferns St. Aidans ahead in the ninth minute, but Dean Hillis responded with a successful free in the eleventh minute.
The Joey’s were up to a full complement of players when Hillis put them ahead at the start of the second quarter, only for Seán Murphy to respond at the other end.
Moments later Conor Galvin kicked a lovely point for the Whiterock Hill lads, but Ferns St. Aidans were able to finish the period on the front foot, with Logan and Charlie Murphy points added to by Murphy’s well-taken goal in over-time.
Lucas Kinsella and Cian O’Dowd exchanged points at the start of the second-half, but when James Murray soloed in and fired past Rhian O’Dowd the champions had the critical second goal of the contest.
From there Ferns St. Aidans eased their way clear, with points from Kinsella and Logan followed by another 1-1 from Murray.
There wasn’t a bad hit in the game but St. Joseph’s picked up two late dismissals to end the way they started. They also added the last point, a Tommy Hillis free, to leave them twelve in arrears at full-time.
Ferns St. Aidans: William Kavanagh; Jack Curran, Jerry Sheridan, Darragh Breen; Jack Brennan, James Murray (2-1), Charlie Murphy (0-1); Stephen O’Toole, Matthew Hanley; Oisín Cronin, Niall Logan (0-3), Lucas Kinsella (0-2, 1 free); Kenny Murphy, Seán Gahan, Seán Murphy (1-1). Subs. - Darragh Gahan for Curran, inj. (13), Peter Logan for Hanley (54), Daniel Nolan for Breen (54).
St. Joseph’s: Rhian O’Dowd; Darragh Holmes, Josh Frayne, Dougie O’Dowd; Josh Casey, Tadhg Berry, Cian O’Dowd (0-1); Dean Hillis (0-2 frees), Shane Curran; Eoin Murphy, Conor Shortall, James Whelan; Conor Galvin (0-1), Tommy Hillis (0-1 free), Cian Roche.
Referee: Niall McDonald (Crossabeg-Ballymurn).
October 29, U14 Div. 3 Football Shield Final: Ferns St. Aidans 4-5, Shelmaliers 0-3
A mud bath failed to slow a confident host as Ferns St. Aidans took the New Ross Standard Under-14 football Division 3 shield.
Visitors Shelmaliers never quite came to terms with the slippery surface like their game opponents, battling to the end but failing to create or take the chances Ferns St. Aidans were able to dispatch on a horrible morning for football.
While 4-5 would probably win a good percentage of games, the key to this Ferns success was a sensational defensive effort.
The whole team chipped in but the full-back line of Adam Kehoe, Lee Allen Kenny and Ben Gahan were absolutely sensational.
It's not like Shels didn't try different combinations in the inside-forward line, as they mixed it up and swapped around options, but no matter who they threw in there, the full-back trio were in dominant mood throughout.
Ferns St. Aidans started on the front foot and went ahead after five minutes when Ben Cleere knocked over a nice score.
It got even better one minute later when Bobby Murray's long-range effort was blocked into the goalmouth and Cian Kavanagh followed up to find the net.
Matters got even worse for the visitors when Murray's free-kick found the net in the eighth minute, but Shelmaliers did respond and were able to keep Ferns St. Aidans scoreless in the remainder of the opening period.
They got two points themselves, with Barry O'Leary and Donnacha O'Sullivan on the scoresheet, to go in 2-1 to 0-2 behind at the interval.
With the conditions sapping energy, Ferns added the only score of the first 18 minutes of the second period, a Kavanagh point.
However, a second Murray goal from a free-kick broke the Shelmaliers resolve. Substitute Richard Browne tucked away a fourth goal two minutes later before Aaron Shallott-Ronan flighted over the bar (4-3 to 0-2).
The hosts added two more Murray points, sandwiching a late Charlie Ennis minor at the other end, as Ferns added the Division 3 football shield to the hurling one they picked up a few weeks earlier.
Ferns St. Aidans: Andrew Fortune; Adam Kehoe, Lee Allen Kenny, Ben Gahan; Conor Leacy, Ryan Rossiter, Aidan Bowe; Aaron Sharlott-Ronan (0-1), Enda Byrne; Ben Cleere (0-1), Bobby Murray (2-2, 2-0 frees), Jack Skelton; Ian Hanley (capt.), Cian Kavanagh (1-1), Noah Ryan. Subs. - Richard Browne (1-0) for Ryan (34), Jack Byrne for Skelton (45), also Charlie Murray, Séamus Doyle, Oisín Breen, Jake Morris, Cian Redmond, Charlie Kelly, Alan Lau, Bill Moulds, Paddy Kinsella.
Shelmaliers: Lochlann Gately; Noah Deering, Daryl O'Brien, Luke Corrigan; Corey Roche, Jack Harding-Kenny, Liam Murphy; Zach Deering, Barry O'Leary (0-1); Donnacha O'Sullivan (0-1 free), Charlie Ennis (0-1), Cathal Donoghue; Joe Power, Aaron Tobin, Alex Jones. Subs. - Ronan Mulqueen for Jones (34), Ben Walsh for Power (45), Ryan Curran for N. Deering (45), Harry Coone for Corrigan (45), Jude Kehoe for Donoghue (45), also Liam O'Brien, Dylan Redmond, Kian Byrne, Jon Negru.
Referee: David Fitzgerald (St. Joseph's).
November 3, U18 Hurling Div. 2 Final: Ferns St. Aidans 1-16, Crossabeg/Ballymurn 1-16 (aet)
THE FAILURE of Ferns St. Aidans to maximise a couple of first-half penalties went a long way towards their deadlock with Crossabeg-Ballymurn after extra-time in Friday's Wexford People Under-18 hurling Division 2 championship decider in a floodlit St. Patrick's Park, Enniscorthy.
And the Gorey District crew were ultimately left chasing a replay-clinching score, with Charlie Roark earning the free out on the right from which he bisected the town-end uprights three minutes into added-time.
Crossabeg-Ballymurn defender Jack Purcell had actually extended the duel to extra-time when netting a rebound in the closing seconds of normal time.
But Ferns St. Aidans had their chances to steal a march in that opening-half through those penalties, only to muster a point in total from those opportunities, with Crossabeg-Ballymurn 'keeper Adam Murphy saving the second on 26 minutes.
Crossabeg-Ballymurn had clipped their rivals by 3-20 to 0-19 during the group stages, but they lost the attacking impetus of Jack Redmond through injury since that particular clash.
Midfielder David McCarthy demonstrated his growing potential as he carried a considerable burden with great maturity.
Ferns led by 0-3 to 0-2 through three James Murray scores (two frees) - McCarthy responding from placed balls - before the first penalty award arrived on twelve minutes after William Kavanagh was impeded.
Murray cut a frustrated figure though as his attempt flew over the country-end crossbar, but Ferns continued to set the pace and led by 0-6 to 0-4 just before Charlie Roark, shortly after being switched inside from the right wing, earned the second penalty.
Roark elected to have a go himself, but met with resistance from the opposition 'keeper before defender Pearce Doyle cleared the danger.
However, Roark, a prominent force in the grade these past few years (and one of eleven of Ferns' 2021 Division 1 Minor champions on duty) returned with a vengeance on 29 minutes when collecting from Murray to net for a 1-6 to 0-4 advantage.
Murray was unfortunate to shoot across the face of goal shortly afterwards before Ferns went in at the break with a slight 1-6 to 0-5 lead.
Charlie Murphy was an absolute lion-heart in the Ferns rearguard as they surged ahead by 1-9 to 0-7, before David McCarthy had opposition hearts in mouths when his mis-hit free bobbled towards the goal on 49 minutes.
In fairness, McCarthy didn't fluff anything else, and he was central to their recovery when tying on 1-10 apiece 45 seconds into added-time.
The number eight fed Niall Cullen who forced an initial save, before none other than wing-back Jack Purcell netted the rebound to force the game to extra-time.
The additional 20 minutes began with James Murray again going close to goal for Ferns, before he put over a free and a '65, while Roark also chipped in for a 1-13 to 1-12 divide at the change of ends.
David McCarthy levelled for a sixth time from a Niall Cullen free before Conor O'Brien nudged Crossabeg-Ballymurn in front.
But it was nip-and-tuck stuff, with defenders Ross Walker and Jack Purcell actually putting Crossabeg-Ballymurn on the brink of glory by 1-16 to 1-14 after 80 minutes.
Ferns St. Aidans had the resolve to salvage it, as James Murray tagged on a plucky 13th point, before Roark made the most of earning that absolute last-gasp shot at a re-match - scheduled for the same venue on Friday with a 7.30 p.m. throw-in time.
Ferns St. Aidans: Kenny Murphy; Charlie Murphy, Jerry Sheridan, Darragh Breen; Jack Young, Seán Gahan, Lukas Kinsella; Stephen O'Toole, Jack Brennan; Charlie Roark (1-2, 0-1 free), James Murray (0-13, 8 frees, 2 '65s, 1 pen.), Niall Logan (capt., 0-1); Oisín Cronin, Seán Murphy, William Kavanagh. Sub. - Matthew Hanley for Breen, inj. (34).
Crossabeg-Ballymurn: Adam Murphy; Evan O'Leary, Ross Walker (0-1), Killian O'Toole; Pearce Doyle, William Murphy, Jack Purcell (1-1); David McCarthy (capt., 0-9, 5 frees), Matthew Bishop (0-1); Seán Hennessy, Niall Cullen (0-1), Pádraig Byrne; Ryan Doyle (0-1), Conor O'Brien (0-2), Robin Hawkins. Subs. - Rory Davis for Byrne, inj. (26), Josh Bota for Hawkins (69).
Referee: Paddy Brady (Ballygarrett).
