2024 Intermediate Football
July 19: Horeswood 1-13, Ferns St. Aidans 1-6
P.J. BANVILLE kicked 1-9 as 14-man Horeswood got off to a strong start in the Amber Springs and Ashdown Park Hotels Intermediate football championship in Samaritans St. Patrick's Park on Friday.
Things didn't go exactly as planned for Horeswood, with Jason Murphy sent-off with just eight minutes on the clock in this Group A opener, but the signs are good going forward for this team as they responded like championship contenders to dominate the game and take the win.
If there's one little concern with a long autumn ahead, it's that winning games like this, where you have to dig that little bit deeper and expend more reserves than you might want in week one, may have a lasting impact.
However, the good vibes and confidence gained from seeing off a decent Ferns St. Aidans side will stand to Horeswood in the coming weeks, starting with a fascinating assignment against Rathgarogue-Cushinstown on Friday.
On the flip side, one suspects Ferns had been leaning heavily on preparations for the hurling championship in recent weeks and might struggle with the better sides in this grade.
Adamstown will be another really tough opponent on Saturday, and they will need considerable improvement to be competitive.
There was less than two minutes on the board when Horeswood got the critical opening score, a P.J. Banville goal that left a Ferns side with Conor Swaine back between the posts for his native parish after a long stint with the opposition in an early hole.
The Gorey District club did respond with a point from a Ryan Nolan free before Murphy got his marching orders from referee Barry Redmond for an off-the-ball incident.
Banville tacked on the first of his points after Horeswood settled back down in the 13th minute.
Nolan chipped one off the deficit moments later but the New Ross District side ended the opening quarter with a 1-2 to 0-2 lead following a point from a '45 by Banville.
Seán Nolan became Horeswood's second scorer and Banville converted from a mark as his side appeared to ease into a comfortable position, but a Pádraig Kinsella goal followed by a Ryan Nolan free left just a point between the sides.
Banville pointed from play to give his side a two-point lead at the interval, but with Seán Hunt on a yellow card they made a change, bringing in Eddie Shiely, who subsequently had to withdraw injured early in the second-half.
Horeswood were able to stretch their lead after the change of ends, with points from Joe O'Sullivan, Jack Kehoe and Banville bettering a solitary dead-ball score from Nolan for Ferns (1-8 to 1-4).
Numbers were evened up for much of the remainder of the game, as Keith Breen was first to pick up a black card in the 42nd minute, with Banville's two points and a Seán Nolan effort exceeding a Ryan Nolan free to make the lead six in that spell.
Then with eight minutes of normal time remaining, Seb Rynhart was next to see black.
By that stage Horeswood were coasting to the win, with Banville rounding out his haul with two more frees before Ferns closed the scoring through Ryan Nolan late on.
Ferns St. Aidans: Conor Swaine; Seb Rynhart, Keith Breen, Charlie Murphy; Byron Jordan, Barry Murphy, James Murray; Patrick Breen, Rory Scallan; Liam Byrne, Shane Breen, Pádraig Kinsella (1-0); James Kinsella, Chris Turner, Ryan Nolan (0-6, 4 frees). Subs. - Brian O'Neill (Clone) for C. Murphy (31), Peter O'Toole for B. Murphy (57), Robert Murphy for P. Breen (57).
Horeswood: John Bradley; Jason Murphy, Michael Moloney, David Larkin; Seán Hunt, Barry Hearn (capt.), Cathal Mernagh; Joe O'Sullivan (0-1), Colin Nolan; Jack Kehoe (0-1), Declan Murphy, Barry Walsh; Danny Nolan, P.J. Banville (1-9, 0-5 frees, 0-1 '45, 0-1 mark), Seán Nolan (0-2). Subs. - Eddie Shiely for Hunt (30), Ryan Harris for Shiely, inj. (39).
Referee: Barry Redmond (Na Fianna Clonard).
July 27: Adamstown 1-12, Ferns St. Aidans 1-6
ADAMSTOWN EVENTUALLY corrected their misfiring ways to make it back-to-back Group A victories in the Amber Springs and Ashdown Park Hotels Intermediate football championship as Ferns St. Aidans succumbed to successive defeats in sunny Oylegate on Saturday evening.
Ferns led by 1-3 to 1-2 at half-time, and Peter Nolan's men still couldn't be ruled out when top scorer Ryan Nolan brought them back within 1-5 to 1-4 after 47 minutes.
But Adamstown made light of their astonishingly erratic shooting - numbering 13 wides, two shots dropping short, and two off the uprights - when sweeping home with seven of the remaining nine points to offset considerable frustrations had they even drawn a tie they should have been winning comfortably.
Adamstown can be happy heading into the football break with maximum spoils, but they clearly still need to sharpen their attacking tools having also compiled quite some wastage in round one against Clongeen.
Ferns, runners-up in 2020, are lacking nothing in effort. However, they are coming up short on the scoring front, with Ryan Nolan carrying much of the burden in that respect.
He requires a few willing allies when football resumes on the third weekend of August.
Neither side did anything to flatter during a low-quality albeit lively first-half, which saw Ryan Nolan point Ferns in front before he somehow squandered a gilt-edged chance after gathering a Shane Breen delivery inside, only to blaze across the face of goal and wide.
And it certainly wouldn't have helped his mood when Adamstown instantly worked a goal to turn the tables after six minutes (1-0 to 0-1), with Mervyn Moloney netting after Colum Feeney was sent surging through by centre-back Seán Barden.
Michael Furlong and Tadhg McDonald points padded out their lead. But they also had six wides by now, and Ferns rattled them when Nolan forced a penalty which he rifled home on 20 minutes (1-2 to 1-1), before collecting from Patrick Breen to force a smart save from Alan Bradley three minutes later.
Nevertheless, Ferns had their noses in front at the break after late submissions from James Lawlor and Patrick Breen (free).
Adamstown gave Ruairí O'Brien his first run of the championship season as an interval substitute, and he showed some of the composure his colleagues needed when fashioning two early points, before Conor Hickey stroked over a free for a 1-5 to 1-3 'bounce' after 38 minutes.
Ferns then lost centre-forward Shane Breen to the sin-bin for a challenge on Páraic Wickham, and while they initially responded with Ryan Nolan collecting from Byron Jordan to swing over from the right wing, Adamstown began to pull clear.
They had two more points - Hickey and Feeney - before Ferns were restored to 15 men.
Significantly though, Adamstown had begun to find the target with consistency, and despite Ferns' battling efforts, the black and ambers were full value for the ultimately comfortable success.
Ferns St. Aidans: Conor Swaine; Seb Rynhart (0-1), Barry Murphy, Brian O'Neill (Clone); Byron Jordan, Conor Scallan, James Murray; Patrick Breen (0-2 frees), Rory Scallan (capt.); Peter O'Toole, Shane Breen, James Lawlor (0-1); Niall Murphy, Chris Turner, Ryan Nolan (1-2, 1-0 pen.). Subs. - Conor O'Toole for B. Murphy (35), Liam Byrne for Turner (47), James Kinsella for S. Breen (51), Pádraig Kinsella for P. O'Toole (58), Robert Murphy for Jordan (58). Sin-bin: Shane Breen (42).
Adamstown: Alan Bradley; Páraic Wickham, Lorcan French, Ciarán Finn; Andrew Boland (capt.), Seán Barden (0-1), David O'Gorman; Seánie O'Neill, Colum Feeney (0-2); Dean Kehoe, Michael Furlong (0-2), Harry Cosgrave; Conor Hickey (0-3, 2 frees), Mervyn Moloney (1-0), Tadhg McDonald (0-1). Subs. - Ruairí O'Brien (0-3) for Cosgrave (HT), Jonathan Moore for Moloney (48), Daniel O'Gorman for McDonald.
Referee: Stephen Burke (Volunteers).
August 17: St. Mary’s Maudlintown 0-8, Ferns St. Aidans 0-3
IT'S A game that won't live long in the memory.
A late surge by St. Mary's (Maudlintown) in Samaritans St. Patrick's Park on Saturday ensured they moved into third in Group A of the Amber Springs and Ashdown Park Hotels Intermediate football championship.
For long spells of this game, both teams competed well but struggled to get scores on the board.
At half-time it was 0-2 each, and with 52 minutes on the clock, it was 5-3.
A point kicked by Todd Hynes following a turnover gave Maudlintown a two-point lead, and in the final eight minutes they would add another three points - Conor Gilbert kicking a neat score on the turn, followed by two further efforts from Hynes.
He scored his side's seventh point after good work by Eddie Pitman, and tapped over a free late on following a strong run by Ramesh Badhan.
It's now three defeats from three for Ferns, and they have only managed to score 2-15 in total over the three games.
With both sides kicking a few bad wides, and generally struggling to create scoring chances, it became apparent from early on that this would be a low-scoring encounter.
Both teams were very risk-averse, with endless fist-passing, and recycling of possession. In such games, positions mean very little.
Add to the fact that both sides made numerous switches from early on; a high number of players ended up playing in a few different positions, but in the same system.
The game's opening score came in the fifth minute. Playmaker Ryan Nolan sent a fine delivery to Ian Byrne, and he collected and signalled for a mark, which he pointed.
It's remarkable to think Ferns only added two more points over the next 55 minutes - a point from play by Byrne in the 29th minute, and a mark from Patrick Breen in the 34th minute. This would prove to be their last score.
And yet, they were well in the game at the three-quarter stage. Maudlintown looked the better-balanced team, but they demanded endless amounts of running to yield any progress.
They got points in the opening quarter through Conor Gilbert and the hugely influential Martin O'Connor, but didn't score again until the 37th minute.
They would end the game with five wides and four balls kicked short into the goalkeeper. That Ferns only kicked 0-3 and four wides sums up their day.
Ferns had Conor Scallan to thank for keeping them in the game in the 43rd minute.
A Pitman delivery was gathered by Gilbert and his effort from close range was blocked by Scallan. Moments later Fergal O'Gara won a free that Hynes converted to make it 4-3.
Two minutes later, Ferns almost raised a green flag. James Murray darted in from the left wing but his shot was pushed behind for a '45 by Paul Dempsey.
By now, Maudlintown were starting to gain the upper hand. Dermot Flood missed a good chance on 49 minutes before Hynes got a team-settling score three minutes later.
Ferns made three substitutions in the following few minutes, but by now the ball to their inside men - Byrne and Breen - had dried up considerably.
Ferns had been ground down by Maudlintown's collective sheer force of will.
Ferns St. Aidans: Ivan Meegan; Seb Rynhart, Conor O'Toole, Brian O'Neill; Niall Murphy, Conor Scallan, James Murray; Rory Scallan (capt.), James Lawlor; Chris Turner, Liam Byrne, Keith Breen; Ryan Nolan, Ian Byrne (0-2, 1 mark), Patrick Breen (0-1 mark). Subs. - Byron Jordan for Lawlor (56), Rob Murphy for Turner (56), Shane Breen for L. Byrne (58).
St. Mary's (Maudlintown): Paul Dempsey; Alex Lynch, Graham Carty, Mark Doyle; Eddie Pitman, Jamie Thomas, Barry Browne; Christy Lane, Martin O'Connor (capt., 0-1); Dermot Flood, Warren Broaders, Emmet Connor; Todd Hynes (0-5, 3 frees), Conor Gilbert (0-2), Fergal O'Gara. Sub. - Ramesh Badhan for Connor (HT).
Referee: John O'Loughlin (Monageer-Boolavogue).
September 8: Clongeen 1-11, Ferns St. Aidans 0-6
Clongeen picked up their first win in this season’s Amber Springs and Ashdown Park Hotels Intermediate football championship in Samaritans St. Patrick’s Park on Sunday, but it wasn’t enough to keep them in contention for a place in the quarter-finals.
The ’Geeners were looking for a morale-boosting Group A success against a struggling Ferns St. Aidans side and they were able to get on top, be in control of the contest at half-time, and maintain their lead in the second period.
However, owing to their head-to-head loss to St. Mary’s (Maudlintown), the only side they can catch on points if they win their final game this weekend against Horeswood, they are unable to finish higher than fifth and are therefore eliminated from contention for the title.
Had Ferns won they would have been in a similar spot, but with this loss they are now certain of finishing bottom of the table.
They will look to find some form ahead of their battle to avoid the drop when they face Rathgarogue-Cushinstown on Sunday, but they will need to shoot better to have a chance.
The Gorey District club, who amassed 14 wides, dropped seven shot attempts short and only scored six times, will likely be without Ryan Nolan who received a red card for an incident with Shane Cahill late on, a fracas that also saw the Clongeen man fail to complete the 60 minutes.
It started off in a little more mundane manner than it finished as Darryl Murphy scored the first of his five points in the fourth minute to put Clongeen ahead.
Ferns did respond well initially, with quickfire scores from Nolan and Patrick Breen, but at 0-2 to 0-1 they held their only lead.
Darryl Murphy levelled up the contest again, this time from a free, before Ferns missed three straight shots.
Paul Curtis kicked his side into the lead and it was soon added to by the on-form Murphy to make it 0-4 to 0-2.
Páraic Cullen added to the advantage before Emmet Kent got on the scoresheet in the 26th minute.
Ferns did chip one away from the deficit with a James Lawlor score, but they went in at the interval trailing by 0-7 to 0-3 after Cathal Murphy’s late minor.
Darryl Murphy started the second period the way he began the first, with a successful shot between the uprights.
Ivan Meegan got his customary score from a free for Ferns, but Murphy hit his fifth point just over a minute later in response.
Patrick Breen kicked his second before Paul Curtis and Corey Byrne-Dunbar quickly exchanged points (0-10 to 0-6).
Emmet Kent’s second raised white flag edged the advantage to five with four minutes left before Seamie Kiely put a seal on victory with the only goal in additional time.
Ferns St. Aidans: Ivan Meegan (0-1 free); Brian O’Neill (Clone), Conor O’Toole, Seb Rynhart; James Lawlor (0-1), Conor Scallan, Liam Byrne; Rory Scallan (capt.), Patrick Breen (0-2); Niall Murphy, Chris Turner, James Murray; Keith Breen, Rob Murphy, Ryan Nolan (0-1). Subs. - Paul Morris for Turner (31), Peter O’Toole for R. Murphy (31), Corey Byrne-Dunbar (0-1) for Byrne (31).
Clongeen: Ricky Rochford; Patrick Whelan, Enda Murphy, Patrick Finn; Jamie Keating, Shane Cahill, Paudie Cahill; Páraic Cullen (0-1), Robert Farrell; Darryl Murphy (0-5, 2 frees), Paul Curtis (0-2), Seamie Kiely (1-0); Cathal Murphy (0-1), Ger Foxe, Emmet Kent (0-2, 1 free). Subs. - Peter Anthony Wall for P. Cullen, inj. (45), Jamesie Rochford for Foxe (50).
Referee: Mick Lanigan (Shelmaliers).
September 14: Rathgarogue-Cushinstown 3-14, Ferns St. Aidans 0-2
LAST YEAR'S runners-up Rathgarogue-Cushinstown probably could have done with a better run-out than Saturday's facile closing Group A win over 2020 finalists Ferns St. Aidans as they head into the quarter-finals of the Amber Springs and Ashdown Park Hotels Intermediate football championship.
The need for a bit of a sharpener for the Balinaboola outfit was particularly relevant after their flat showing a week earlier in drawing with Adamstown.
And Rathgarogue-Cushinstown will definitely have to be on their game in the upcoming quarter-final against a vibrant St. Fintan's outfit, who finished third in Group B.
They won't have any hurling before that, as they are straight through to the quarter-finals of the Intermediate 'A' championship.
Ferns St. Aidans have a Senior hurling preliminary quarter-final against Oylegate-Glenbrien this weekend, and really their first team's footballing slump won't affect the mood there.
This was Ferns' first time to lose all their games in the football group stage since 2019, when they ultimately escaped in the relegation decider against St. Joseph's - a year before going so close to gaining dual Senior status against St. Anne's in the Intermediate showpiece.
Current joint-managers Peter Nolan and Patrick Breen have been doing everything in their powers to deliver better fortunes but it just hasn't worked out, despite eleven of their 2020 finalists lining-out in this campaign, with five of them on duty against Rathgarogue-Cushinstown.
The red and whites were enthusiastic in the opening 20 minutes, but they were simply outclassed, as Rathgarogue-Cushinstown basically exercised their limbs.
The winners made quite a statement 76 seconds in when the Porter brothers combined for a goal, with centre-back Eoin feeding wing-forward Gary to find the dressing-room end net.
Ferns St. Aidans were wide from a couple of frees as the gap mushroomed to 1-5 to nil, while captain Rory Scallan met with a strong challenge from Eoin Porter after James Murray won a kick-out to establish a promising move.
Rathgarogue-Cushinstown had 1-9 on the scoreboard without reply by half-time - Eoin Porter (three) and Dáire Bolger (two) their chief point-getters.
Ferns defender Byron Jordan finally pointed them on target two minutes into the second-half as winter-like conditions began to develop.
The forecast remained nothing but bright for Rathgarogue-Cushinstown though as they responded with Eoin Burke flashing to the net on 34 minutes from a Matthew Cody set-up for his second goal of the campaign.
Paddy Barron and Eoin Porter each forced saves midway through the half as Rathgarogue-Cushinstown did as they pleased.
And although Ferns regained James Murray from the sin-bin in the closing stages, Pearse Murphy put the seal on the green and golds' third victory in qualifying - with a couple of draws also included - when forcing a Mark Power delivery to the country-end net on 57 minutes.
Ferns St. Aidans: Ivan Meegan; Seb Rynhart, Conor O'Toole, Brian O'Neill (Clone); Byron Jordan, Barry Murphy (0-1), James Murray; Patrick Breen, Rory Scallan (capt.); Liam Byrne (0-1), Robert Murphy, Peter O'Toole; Kevin Stafford, Keith Breen, Oisín McPartlin. Subs. - Conor Scallan for R. Scallan (HT), Frank Devereux for P. Breen (38). Sin-bin: James Murray (47).
Rathgarogue-Cushinstown: Jamie O'Rourke; Ollie Bolger, Brian O'Neill, Patrick Murphy (0-1); Shane O'Connor (0-1), Eoin Porter (capt., 0-6, 3 frees), Mark Power; Matthew Cody (0-1), Ian Kennedy; Robert Murphy, Pearse Murphy (1-0), Gary Porter (1-0); Paddy Barron (0-1), Dáire Bolger (0-2, 1 free), Eoin Burke (1-1). Sub. - Niall Kehoe (0-1) for D. Bolger, inj. (38).
Referee: Justin Heffernan (Blackwater).
September 27, Relegation playoff: Ferns St. Aidans 2-12, St. Mary’s Rosslare 1-9
ROSSLARE RETURN to the Intermediate 'A' ranks one year after leaving the grade. At a bitterly cold Bree on Friday, they could have no complaints with the outcome against a Ferns St. Aidans side that came out with all guns blazing to stay in the second tier of championship football.
Ferns didn't impress in the group stages. They didn't look to have the firepower up front. Their scoring tallies in the five group games were 1-6, 1-6, 0-3, 0-6 and 0-2 respectively.
Finalists in 2020, a different Ferns needed to turn up for this relegation final. And boosted by the return of a few figures, they were transformed.
Key figures stood up, none more so than Patrick Breen, who was simply outstanding. He conducted affairs around the middle from first whistle to last.
His point after a powerful run in the 53rd minute, with the gap back at two, crowned a wonderful evening for the midfielder.
With Ryan Nolan and Corey Byrne-Dunbar forming a formidable two-man inside line, a low-scoring slog didn't look on.
Rosslare struggled to cope early on. Their opponents brought an attitude and sense of urgency that had them overwhelmed. Ferns' running, passing and support play was very impressive.
In such games, the team that trails making a comeback is nearly expected, but that takes energy. And the team who first established the lead generally has a second period of dominance. This was how it played out.
The winners were 4-0 up after twelve minutes. Ryan Nolan, with his favoured outside of the boot style of kicking, had two points on the board, and turned provider for a Corey Byrne-Dunbar mark and point.
On the few occasions that Rosslare did get the ball forward, they were closed down, turned over, or beaten in the race to possession. The intensity levels were high, and it was taking them a lot of time to adjust.
Cian Byrne finally settled his side with a free and effort from play in the 17th and 21st minutes. It looked like they had time to breathe, but only momentarily.
Ferns hit back with two goals in a minute. Ryan Nolan surveyed his options and played a delightful pass over the top of a couple of defenders for Eoin Murphy to gather and slot to the bottom left corner.
Moments later, following a turnover, Nolan redirected the ball into Byrne-Dunbar's direction and as it bounced in front of him, he volleyed it brilliantly to the net.
The seasiders looked in all sorts of trouble, but they managed to regroup. Byrne and Lee Devereux popped over frees, with the latter also turning well before pointing from play after collecting a Tiarnan Rossiter pass.
Nolan steered over another booming effort for the leaders but following a dash forward, Seán Stewart cut the lead to five (2-5 to 0-6) with a score just before the break.
Rosslare's start to the second-half was the opposite of the first. They were winning breaks, forcing turnovers and generally being more intense in their approach.
An effort from Corey Byrne-Dunbar pushed the gap out to six after the restart. But then the game took a turn.
Rees Broaders broke forward, and while his initial shot was half-blocked, he gathered the ball again near the endline. He lobbed it across where Tiarnan Rossiter, now at full-forward, jumped highest to fist the ball to the net.
Shea Boggan then pointed after a period of good recycling of possession. Suddenly, it was a two-point game.
Then Ferns almost grabbed a third goal, but Ryan Nolan couldn't keep his effort down after the ball fell short from a Byrne-Dunbar effort for a point.
On 41 minutes, goalkeeper Ivan Meegan, who made a few of his customary bursts forward, landed a crucial '45.
Ferns were now four in front, and Rosslare's case wasn't helped when Rees Broaders got his marching orders for a second yellow card in attempting to win back possession with a form of a sliding tackle.
But the Wexford District side kept battling. Devereux and Byrne both landed frees to again make it a two-point game.
However, in the final ten minutes, Ferns regained the momentum, and had a bit more in their legs.
Breen landed his second point after a powerful run. Then James Lawlor and the hard-working Rory Scallan combined to set up Eoin Murphy for a point.
A well-executed Breen free made it 2-11 to 1-9 by the 57th minute before Byrne-Dunbar sent over the final score of the game in injury time.
Solid defensively, on top at midfield, and always creative up front, it was a strong display from Ferns.
Rosslare were strong Intermediate 'A' champions last year. They'll have to try to do it all over again in 2025.
Ferns St. Aidans: Ivan Meegan (0-1 '45); Keith Breen, Niall Murphy, Seb Rynhart; Barry Murphy, Conor Scallan, James Murray; Patrick Breen (0-3, 1 free); Eoin Murphy (1-1); Chris Turner, James Lawlor, Rory Scallan (capt.); Byron Jordan, Corey Byrne-Dunbar (1-3, 0-1 free, 0-1 mark), Ryan Nolan (0-4). Sub. - Ian Byrne for Turner (51).
St. Mary's (Rosslare): Eoghan Byrne; Tadhg Hayes, Seán Stewart (0-1), Conor Murphy; Darragh Hayes, Liam O'Connor, Kyle Clark- Hanglow; Shea Boggan (0-1), Naomhan Rossiter (capt.); Tadhg Brohan, Tiarnan Rossiter (1-0), Jason Ellard; Rees Broaders, Cian Byrne (0-4, 3 frees), Lee Devereux (0-3, 2 frees). Subs. - Diarmuid Roche for Clarke-Hanglow (29), Robert Butler for Ellard (39), Leigh Newport for Murphy (44), Barry Quirke for Hayes (57).
Referee: Kevin Carty (Sarsfields).
P.J. BANVILLE kicked 1-9 as 14-man Horeswood got off to a strong start in the Amber Springs and Ashdown Park Hotels Intermediate football championship in Samaritans St. Patrick's Park on Friday.
Things didn't go exactly as planned for Horeswood, with Jason Murphy sent-off with just eight minutes on the clock in this Group A opener, but the signs are good going forward for this team as they responded like championship contenders to dominate the game and take the win.
If there's one little concern with a long autumn ahead, it's that winning games like this, where you have to dig that little bit deeper and expend more reserves than you might want in week one, may have a lasting impact.
However, the good vibes and confidence gained from seeing off a decent Ferns St. Aidans side will stand to Horeswood in the coming weeks, starting with a fascinating assignment against Rathgarogue-Cushinstown on Friday.
On the flip side, one suspects Ferns had been leaning heavily on preparations for the hurling championship in recent weeks and might struggle with the better sides in this grade.
Adamstown will be another really tough opponent on Saturday, and they will need considerable improvement to be competitive.
There was less than two minutes on the board when Horeswood got the critical opening score, a P.J. Banville goal that left a Ferns side with Conor Swaine back between the posts for his native parish after a long stint with the opposition in an early hole.
The Gorey District club did respond with a point from a Ryan Nolan free before Murphy got his marching orders from referee Barry Redmond for an off-the-ball incident.
Banville tacked on the first of his points after Horeswood settled back down in the 13th minute.
Nolan chipped one off the deficit moments later but the New Ross District side ended the opening quarter with a 1-2 to 0-2 lead following a point from a '45 by Banville.
Seán Nolan became Horeswood's second scorer and Banville converted from a mark as his side appeared to ease into a comfortable position, but a Pádraig Kinsella goal followed by a Ryan Nolan free left just a point between the sides.
Banville pointed from play to give his side a two-point lead at the interval, but with Seán Hunt on a yellow card they made a change, bringing in Eddie Shiely, who subsequently had to withdraw injured early in the second-half.
Horeswood were able to stretch their lead after the change of ends, with points from Joe O'Sullivan, Jack Kehoe and Banville bettering a solitary dead-ball score from Nolan for Ferns (1-8 to 1-4).
Numbers were evened up for much of the remainder of the game, as Keith Breen was first to pick up a black card in the 42nd minute, with Banville's two points and a Seán Nolan effort exceeding a Ryan Nolan free to make the lead six in that spell.
Then with eight minutes of normal time remaining, Seb Rynhart was next to see black.
By that stage Horeswood were coasting to the win, with Banville rounding out his haul with two more frees before Ferns closed the scoring through Ryan Nolan late on.
Ferns St. Aidans: Conor Swaine; Seb Rynhart, Keith Breen, Charlie Murphy; Byron Jordan, Barry Murphy, James Murray; Patrick Breen, Rory Scallan; Liam Byrne, Shane Breen, Pádraig Kinsella (1-0); James Kinsella, Chris Turner, Ryan Nolan (0-6, 4 frees). Subs. - Brian O'Neill (Clone) for C. Murphy (31), Peter O'Toole for B. Murphy (57), Robert Murphy for P. Breen (57).
Horeswood: John Bradley; Jason Murphy, Michael Moloney, David Larkin; Seán Hunt, Barry Hearn (capt.), Cathal Mernagh; Joe O'Sullivan (0-1), Colin Nolan; Jack Kehoe (0-1), Declan Murphy, Barry Walsh; Danny Nolan, P.J. Banville (1-9, 0-5 frees, 0-1 '45, 0-1 mark), Seán Nolan (0-2). Subs. - Eddie Shiely for Hunt (30), Ryan Harris for Shiely, inj. (39).
Referee: Barry Redmond (Na Fianna Clonard).
July 27: Adamstown 1-12, Ferns St. Aidans 1-6
ADAMSTOWN EVENTUALLY corrected their misfiring ways to make it back-to-back Group A victories in the Amber Springs and Ashdown Park Hotels Intermediate football championship as Ferns St. Aidans succumbed to successive defeats in sunny Oylegate on Saturday evening.
Ferns led by 1-3 to 1-2 at half-time, and Peter Nolan's men still couldn't be ruled out when top scorer Ryan Nolan brought them back within 1-5 to 1-4 after 47 minutes.
But Adamstown made light of their astonishingly erratic shooting - numbering 13 wides, two shots dropping short, and two off the uprights - when sweeping home with seven of the remaining nine points to offset considerable frustrations had they even drawn a tie they should have been winning comfortably.
Adamstown can be happy heading into the football break with maximum spoils, but they clearly still need to sharpen their attacking tools having also compiled quite some wastage in round one against Clongeen.
Ferns, runners-up in 2020, are lacking nothing in effort. However, they are coming up short on the scoring front, with Ryan Nolan carrying much of the burden in that respect.
He requires a few willing allies when football resumes on the third weekend of August.
Neither side did anything to flatter during a low-quality albeit lively first-half, which saw Ryan Nolan point Ferns in front before he somehow squandered a gilt-edged chance after gathering a Shane Breen delivery inside, only to blaze across the face of goal and wide.
And it certainly wouldn't have helped his mood when Adamstown instantly worked a goal to turn the tables after six minutes (1-0 to 0-1), with Mervyn Moloney netting after Colum Feeney was sent surging through by centre-back Seán Barden.
Michael Furlong and Tadhg McDonald points padded out their lead. But they also had six wides by now, and Ferns rattled them when Nolan forced a penalty which he rifled home on 20 minutes (1-2 to 1-1), before collecting from Patrick Breen to force a smart save from Alan Bradley three minutes later.
Nevertheless, Ferns had their noses in front at the break after late submissions from James Lawlor and Patrick Breen (free).
Adamstown gave Ruairí O'Brien his first run of the championship season as an interval substitute, and he showed some of the composure his colleagues needed when fashioning two early points, before Conor Hickey stroked over a free for a 1-5 to 1-3 'bounce' after 38 minutes.
Ferns then lost centre-forward Shane Breen to the sin-bin for a challenge on Páraic Wickham, and while they initially responded with Ryan Nolan collecting from Byron Jordan to swing over from the right wing, Adamstown began to pull clear.
They had two more points - Hickey and Feeney - before Ferns were restored to 15 men.
Significantly though, Adamstown had begun to find the target with consistency, and despite Ferns' battling efforts, the black and ambers were full value for the ultimately comfortable success.
Ferns St. Aidans: Conor Swaine; Seb Rynhart (0-1), Barry Murphy, Brian O'Neill (Clone); Byron Jordan, Conor Scallan, James Murray; Patrick Breen (0-2 frees), Rory Scallan (capt.); Peter O'Toole, Shane Breen, James Lawlor (0-1); Niall Murphy, Chris Turner, Ryan Nolan (1-2, 1-0 pen.). Subs. - Conor O'Toole for B. Murphy (35), Liam Byrne for Turner (47), James Kinsella for S. Breen (51), Pádraig Kinsella for P. O'Toole (58), Robert Murphy for Jordan (58). Sin-bin: Shane Breen (42).
Adamstown: Alan Bradley; Páraic Wickham, Lorcan French, Ciarán Finn; Andrew Boland (capt.), Seán Barden (0-1), David O'Gorman; Seánie O'Neill, Colum Feeney (0-2); Dean Kehoe, Michael Furlong (0-2), Harry Cosgrave; Conor Hickey (0-3, 2 frees), Mervyn Moloney (1-0), Tadhg McDonald (0-1). Subs. - Ruairí O'Brien (0-3) for Cosgrave (HT), Jonathan Moore for Moloney (48), Daniel O'Gorman for McDonald.
Referee: Stephen Burke (Volunteers).
August 17: St. Mary’s Maudlintown 0-8, Ferns St. Aidans 0-3
IT'S A game that won't live long in the memory.
A late surge by St. Mary's (Maudlintown) in Samaritans St. Patrick's Park on Saturday ensured they moved into third in Group A of the Amber Springs and Ashdown Park Hotels Intermediate football championship.
For long spells of this game, both teams competed well but struggled to get scores on the board.
At half-time it was 0-2 each, and with 52 minutes on the clock, it was 5-3.
A point kicked by Todd Hynes following a turnover gave Maudlintown a two-point lead, and in the final eight minutes they would add another three points - Conor Gilbert kicking a neat score on the turn, followed by two further efforts from Hynes.
He scored his side's seventh point after good work by Eddie Pitman, and tapped over a free late on following a strong run by Ramesh Badhan.
It's now three defeats from three for Ferns, and they have only managed to score 2-15 in total over the three games.
With both sides kicking a few bad wides, and generally struggling to create scoring chances, it became apparent from early on that this would be a low-scoring encounter.
Both teams were very risk-averse, with endless fist-passing, and recycling of possession. In such games, positions mean very little.
Add to the fact that both sides made numerous switches from early on; a high number of players ended up playing in a few different positions, but in the same system.
The game's opening score came in the fifth minute. Playmaker Ryan Nolan sent a fine delivery to Ian Byrne, and he collected and signalled for a mark, which he pointed.
It's remarkable to think Ferns only added two more points over the next 55 minutes - a point from play by Byrne in the 29th minute, and a mark from Patrick Breen in the 34th minute. This would prove to be their last score.
And yet, they were well in the game at the three-quarter stage. Maudlintown looked the better-balanced team, but they demanded endless amounts of running to yield any progress.
They got points in the opening quarter through Conor Gilbert and the hugely influential Martin O'Connor, but didn't score again until the 37th minute.
They would end the game with five wides and four balls kicked short into the goalkeeper. That Ferns only kicked 0-3 and four wides sums up their day.
Ferns had Conor Scallan to thank for keeping them in the game in the 43rd minute.
A Pitman delivery was gathered by Gilbert and his effort from close range was blocked by Scallan. Moments later Fergal O'Gara won a free that Hynes converted to make it 4-3.
Two minutes later, Ferns almost raised a green flag. James Murray darted in from the left wing but his shot was pushed behind for a '45 by Paul Dempsey.
By now, Maudlintown were starting to gain the upper hand. Dermot Flood missed a good chance on 49 minutes before Hynes got a team-settling score three minutes later.
Ferns made three substitutions in the following few minutes, but by now the ball to their inside men - Byrne and Breen - had dried up considerably.
Ferns had been ground down by Maudlintown's collective sheer force of will.
Ferns St. Aidans: Ivan Meegan; Seb Rynhart, Conor O'Toole, Brian O'Neill; Niall Murphy, Conor Scallan, James Murray; Rory Scallan (capt.), James Lawlor; Chris Turner, Liam Byrne, Keith Breen; Ryan Nolan, Ian Byrne (0-2, 1 mark), Patrick Breen (0-1 mark). Subs. - Byron Jordan for Lawlor (56), Rob Murphy for Turner (56), Shane Breen for L. Byrne (58).
St. Mary's (Maudlintown): Paul Dempsey; Alex Lynch, Graham Carty, Mark Doyle; Eddie Pitman, Jamie Thomas, Barry Browne; Christy Lane, Martin O'Connor (capt., 0-1); Dermot Flood, Warren Broaders, Emmet Connor; Todd Hynes (0-5, 3 frees), Conor Gilbert (0-2), Fergal O'Gara. Sub. - Ramesh Badhan for Connor (HT).
Referee: John O'Loughlin (Monageer-Boolavogue).
September 8: Clongeen 1-11, Ferns St. Aidans 0-6
Clongeen picked up their first win in this season’s Amber Springs and Ashdown Park Hotels Intermediate football championship in Samaritans St. Patrick’s Park on Sunday, but it wasn’t enough to keep them in contention for a place in the quarter-finals.
The ’Geeners were looking for a morale-boosting Group A success against a struggling Ferns St. Aidans side and they were able to get on top, be in control of the contest at half-time, and maintain their lead in the second period.
However, owing to their head-to-head loss to St. Mary’s (Maudlintown), the only side they can catch on points if they win their final game this weekend against Horeswood, they are unable to finish higher than fifth and are therefore eliminated from contention for the title.
Had Ferns won they would have been in a similar spot, but with this loss they are now certain of finishing bottom of the table.
They will look to find some form ahead of their battle to avoid the drop when they face Rathgarogue-Cushinstown on Sunday, but they will need to shoot better to have a chance.
The Gorey District club, who amassed 14 wides, dropped seven shot attempts short and only scored six times, will likely be without Ryan Nolan who received a red card for an incident with Shane Cahill late on, a fracas that also saw the Clongeen man fail to complete the 60 minutes.
It started off in a little more mundane manner than it finished as Darryl Murphy scored the first of his five points in the fourth minute to put Clongeen ahead.
Ferns did respond well initially, with quickfire scores from Nolan and Patrick Breen, but at 0-2 to 0-1 they held their only lead.
Darryl Murphy levelled up the contest again, this time from a free, before Ferns missed three straight shots.
Paul Curtis kicked his side into the lead and it was soon added to by the on-form Murphy to make it 0-4 to 0-2.
Páraic Cullen added to the advantage before Emmet Kent got on the scoresheet in the 26th minute.
Ferns did chip one away from the deficit with a James Lawlor score, but they went in at the interval trailing by 0-7 to 0-3 after Cathal Murphy’s late minor.
Darryl Murphy started the second period the way he began the first, with a successful shot between the uprights.
Ivan Meegan got his customary score from a free for Ferns, but Murphy hit his fifth point just over a minute later in response.
Patrick Breen kicked his second before Paul Curtis and Corey Byrne-Dunbar quickly exchanged points (0-10 to 0-6).
Emmet Kent’s second raised white flag edged the advantage to five with four minutes left before Seamie Kiely put a seal on victory with the only goal in additional time.
Ferns St. Aidans: Ivan Meegan (0-1 free); Brian O’Neill (Clone), Conor O’Toole, Seb Rynhart; James Lawlor (0-1), Conor Scallan, Liam Byrne; Rory Scallan (capt.), Patrick Breen (0-2); Niall Murphy, Chris Turner, James Murray; Keith Breen, Rob Murphy, Ryan Nolan (0-1). Subs. - Paul Morris for Turner (31), Peter O’Toole for R. Murphy (31), Corey Byrne-Dunbar (0-1) for Byrne (31).
Clongeen: Ricky Rochford; Patrick Whelan, Enda Murphy, Patrick Finn; Jamie Keating, Shane Cahill, Paudie Cahill; Páraic Cullen (0-1), Robert Farrell; Darryl Murphy (0-5, 2 frees), Paul Curtis (0-2), Seamie Kiely (1-0); Cathal Murphy (0-1), Ger Foxe, Emmet Kent (0-2, 1 free). Subs. - Peter Anthony Wall for P. Cullen, inj. (45), Jamesie Rochford for Foxe (50).
Referee: Mick Lanigan (Shelmaliers).
September 14: Rathgarogue-Cushinstown 3-14, Ferns St. Aidans 0-2
LAST YEAR'S runners-up Rathgarogue-Cushinstown probably could have done with a better run-out than Saturday's facile closing Group A win over 2020 finalists Ferns St. Aidans as they head into the quarter-finals of the Amber Springs and Ashdown Park Hotels Intermediate football championship.
The need for a bit of a sharpener for the Balinaboola outfit was particularly relevant after their flat showing a week earlier in drawing with Adamstown.
And Rathgarogue-Cushinstown will definitely have to be on their game in the upcoming quarter-final against a vibrant St. Fintan's outfit, who finished third in Group B.
They won't have any hurling before that, as they are straight through to the quarter-finals of the Intermediate 'A' championship.
Ferns St. Aidans have a Senior hurling preliminary quarter-final against Oylegate-Glenbrien this weekend, and really their first team's footballing slump won't affect the mood there.
This was Ferns' first time to lose all their games in the football group stage since 2019, when they ultimately escaped in the relegation decider against St. Joseph's - a year before going so close to gaining dual Senior status against St. Anne's in the Intermediate showpiece.
Current joint-managers Peter Nolan and Patrick Breen have been doing everything in their powers to deliver better fortunes but it just hasn't worked out, despite eleven of their 2020 finalists lining-out in this campaign, with five of them on duty against Rathgarogue-Cushinstown.
The red and whites were enthusiastic in the opening 20 minutes, but they were simply outclassed, as Rathgarogue-Cushinstown basically exercised their limbs.
The winners made quite a statement 76 seconds in when the Porter brothers combined for a goal, with centre-back Eoin feeding wing-forward Gary to find the dressing-room end net.
Ferns St. Aidans were wide from a couple of frees as the gap mushroomed to 1-5 to nil, while captain Rory Scallan met with a strong challenge from Eoin Porter after James Murray won a kick-out to establish a promising move.
Rathgarogue-Cushinstown had 1-9 on the scoreboard without reply by half-time - Eoin Porter (three) and Dáire Bolger (two) their chief point-getters.
Ferns defender Byron Jordan finally pointed them on target two minutes into the second-half as winter-like conditions began to develop.
The forecast remained nothing but bright for Rathgarogue-Cushinstown though as they responded with Eoin Burke flashing to the net on 34 minutes from a Matthew Cody set-up for his second goal of the campaign.
Paddy Barron and Eoin Porter each forced saves midway through the half as Rathgarogue-Cushinstown did as they pleased.
And although Ferns regained James Murray from the sin-bin in the closing stages, Pearse Murphy put the seal on the green and golds' third victory in qualifying - with a couple of draws also included - when forcing a Mark Power delivery to the country-end net on 57 minutes.
Ferns St. Aidans: Ivan Meegan; Seb Rynhart, Conor O'Toole, Brian O'Neill (Clone); Byron Jordan, Barry Murphy (0-1), James Murray; Patrick Breen, Rory Scallan (capt.); Liam Byrne (0-1), Robert Murphy, Peter O'Toole; Kevin Stafford, Keith Breen, Oisín McPartlin. Subs. - Conor Scallan for R. Scallan (HT), Frank Devereux for P. Breen (38). Sin-bin: James Murray (47).
Rathgarogue-Cushinstown: Jamie O'Rourke; Ollie Bolger, Brian O'Neill, Patrick Murphy (0-1); Shane O'Connor (0-1), Eoin Porter (capt., 0-6, 3 frees), Mark Power; Matthew Cody (0-1), Ian Kennedy; Robert Murphy, Pearse Murphy (1-0), Gary Porter (1-0); Paddy Barron (0-1), Dáire Bolger (0-2, 1 free), Eoin Burke (1-1). Sub. - Niall Kehoe (0-1) for D. Bolger, inj. (38).
Referee: Justin Heffernan (Blackwater).
September 27, Relegation playoff: Ferns St. Aidans 2-12, St. Mary’s Rosslare 1-9
ROSSLARE RETURN to the Intermediate 'A' ranks one year after leaving the grade. At a bitterly cold Bree on Friday, they could have no complaints with the outcome against a Ferns St. Aidans side that came out with all guns blazing to stay in the second tier of championship football.
Ferns didn't impress in the group stages. They didn't look to have the firepower up front. Their scoring tallies in the five group games were 1-6, 1-6, 0-3, 0-6 and 0-2 respectively.
Finalists in 2020, a different Ferns needed to turn up for this relegation final. And boosted by the return of a few figures, they were transformed.
Key figures stood up, none more so than Patrick Breen, who was simply outstanding. He conducted affairs around the middle from first whistle to last.
His point after a powerful run in the 53rd minute, with the gap back at two, crowned a wonderful evening for the midfielder.
With Ryan Nolan and Corey Byrne-Dunbar forming a formidable two-man inside line, a low-scoring slog didn't look on.
Rosslare struggled to cope early on. Their opponents brought an attitude and sense of urgency that had them overwhelmed. Ferns' running, passing and support play was very impressive.
In such games, the team that trails making a comeback is nearly expected, but that takes energy. And the team who first established the lead generally has a second period of dominance. This was how it played out.
The winners were 4-0 up after twelve minutes. Ryan Nolan, with his favoured outside of the boot style of kicking, had two points on the board, and turned provider for a Corey Byrne-Dunbar mark and point.
On the few occasions that Rosslare did get the ball forward, they were closed down, turned over, or beaten in the race to possession. The intensity levels were high, and it was taking them a lot of time to adjust.
Cian Byrne finally settled his side with a free and effort from play in the 17th and 21st minutes. It looked like they had time to breathe, but only momentarily.
Ferns hit back with two goals in a minute. Ryan Nolan surveyed his options and played a delightful pass over the top of a couple of defenders for Eoin Murphy to gather and slot to the bottom left corner.
Moments later, following a turnover, Nolan redirected the ball into Byrne-Dunbar's direction and as it bounced in front of him, he volleyed it brilliantly to the net.
The seasiders looked in all sorts of trouble, but they managed to regroup. Byrne and Lee Devereux popped over frees, with the latter also turning well before pointing from play after collecting a Tiarnan Rossiter pass.
Nolan steered over another booming effort for the leaders but following a dash forward, Seán Stewart cut the lead to five (2-5 to 0-6) with a score just before the break.
Rosslare's start to the second-half was the opposite of the first. They were winning breaks, forcing turnovers and generally being more intense in their approach.
An effort from Corey Byrne-Dunbar pushed the gap out to six after the restart. But then the game took a turn.
Rees Broaders broke forward, and while his initial shot was half-blocked, he gathered the ball again near the endline. He lobbed it across where Tiarnan Rossiter, now at full-forward, jumped highest to fist the ball to the net.
Shea Boggan then pointed after a period of good recycling of possession. Suddenly, it was a two-point game.
Then Ferns almost grabbed a third goal, but Ryan Nolan couldn't keep his effort down after the ball fell short from a Byrne-Dunbar effort for a point.
On 41 minutes, goalkeeper Ivan Meegan, who made a few of his customary bursts forward, landed a crucial '45.
Ferns were now four in front, and Rosslare's case wasn't helped when Rees Broaders got his marching orders for a second yellow card in attempting to win back possession with a form of a sliding tackle.
But the Wexford District side kept battling. Devereux and Byrne both landed frees to again make it a two-point game.
However, in the final ten minutes, Ferns regained the momentum, and had a bit more in their legs.
Breen landed his second point after a powerful run. Then James Lawlor and the hard-working Rory Scallan combined to set up Eoin Murphy for a point.
A well-executed Breen free made it 2-11 to 1-9 by the 57th minute before Byrne-Dunbar sent over the final score of the game in injury time.
Solid defensively, on top at midfield, and always creative up front, it was a strong display from Ferns.
Rosslare were strong Intermediate 'A' champions last year. They'll have to try to do it all over again in 2025.
Ferns St. Aidans: Ivan Meegan (0-1 '45); Keith Breen, Niall Murphy, Seb Rynhart; Barry Murphy, Conor Scallan, James Murray; Patrick Breen (0-3, 1 free); Eoin Murphy (1-1); Chris Turner, James Lawlor, Rory Scallan (capt.); Byron Jordan, Corey Byrne-Dunbar (1-3, 0-1 free, 0-1 mark), Ryan Nolan (0-4). Sub. - Ian Byrne for Turner (51).
St. Mary's (Rosslare): Eoghan Byrne; Tadhg Hayes, Seán Stewart (0-1), Conor Murphy; Darragh Hayes, Liam O'Connor, Kyle Clark- Hanglow; Shea Boggan (0-1), Naomhan Rossiter (capt.); Tadhg Brohan, Tiarnan Rossiter (1-0), Jason Ellard; Rees Broaders, Cian Byrne (0-4, 3 frees), Lee Devereux (0-3, 2 frees). Subs. - Diarmuid Roche for Clarke-Hanglow (29), Robert Butler for Ellard (39), Leigh Newport for Murphy (44), Barry Quirke for Hayes (57).
Referee: Kevin Carty (Sarsfields).
