Intermediate Football Championship 2025
July 12: Ferns St. Aidans 1-11, Rathgarogue-Cushinstown 0-13
REVISION OF the new football rules always carried the danger of generating some confusion, and such was the case in Samaritans St. Patrick's Park on Saturday in this Amber Springs and Ashdown Park Hotels Intermediate football championship Group A opener.
Indeed, Ferns St. Aidans connections were left irate four minutes into added-time when Eoin Porter brought Rathgarogue-Cushinstown level on 0-13 to 1-10 from an advanced free.
It was awarded after Ferns were found to have only two players in the opposition half.
But the rules now state that teams must have four defenders in their own half and three in their rivals' at all times, irrespective of whether anyone is off for disciplinary or medical reasons.
With Patrick Breen (Ferns) and Ollie Bolger (Rathgarogue-Cushinstown) temporarily off the field having received medical attention, both sides were down a player when linesman Ian Dwyer alerted referee Stephen Burke to the fact that Ferns had only two men in opposition territory.
That brought strong protest from Ferns, who believed that they only had to leave a minimum of two men up front while Patrick Breen was waiting to return to the action.
That was a proviso under Jim Gavin's original drafting of the new rules, but no longer, and Porter's close-range free conversion had 2023 finalists Rathgarogue-Cushinstown seriously threatening to deny the runners-up from 2020.
But some of Ferns' frustration subsided after captain Breen sent over a free earned by Corey Byrne-Dunbar six minutes into added-time as Peter Nolan's charges deservedly shaded the issue.
Byrne-Dunbar had slammed Ferns into a 1-1 to 0-1 fourth-minute lead when slotting a penalty after Eoin Murphy was brought down.
The winners shaded matters by 1-3 to 0-5 before generating another gilt-edged goaling chance straight after the re-start following the first water-break, only for Stephen O'Toole to drag his effort wide of the far post.
And relieved Rathgarogue-Cushinstown responded as Eric Cummins (free) levelled matters for the first time after 23 minutes, before midfielder Matthew Cody and Eoin Porter nudged Mark Roche's men ahead at the break (0-8 to 1-3).
Eoin Murphy somehow squandered another goaling chance for Ferns as the sides shared the first four points of the second-half, before the red and whites went ahead by 1-10 to 0-10 after 54 minutes courtesy of Patrick Breen (two), Byrne-Dunbar, and substitutes Charlie Roark and Ian Byrne.
Frees from Porter and Cummins had it down to the minimum before all the rules upheaval caused frustration, with Porter levelling before Ferns edged matters.
Rathgarogue-Cushinstown have a big date with Horeswood on Friday, while Ferns duel with Adamstown on Saturday.
Ferns St. Aidans: Conor Swaine; Conor Scallan, Paddy O'Hagan, Jack Brennan; Niall Murphy, Keith Breen, Conor O'Toole; Patrick Breen (capt., 0-7, 6 frees), Brian Stafford; Danny Dreelan, Rory Scallan (0-1), Eoin Murphy; Byron Jordan, Corey Byrne-Dunbar (1-1, 1-0 pen.), Stephen O'Toole. Subs. - Chris Turner for Dreelan (HT), Ian Byrne (0-1) for S. O'Toole (37), Charlie Roark (0-1) for Jordan (41).
Rathgarogue-Cushinstown: Luke O'Connor; Ollie Bolger, Peadar Cody, Brian O'Neill; Shane O'Connor, Daniel Martin-Carroll, Mark Power (capt.); Eoin Porter (0-8, 2pf, 2 frees), Matthew Cody (0-2); Ian Kennedy, Robert Murphy, Niall Kehoe; Patrick Barron, Eric Cummins (0-3, 2 frees), Eoin Burke. Sub. - Pat Kehoe for Murphy (52).
Referee: Stephen Burke (Volunteers).
July 19: St. Abban’s Adamstown 1-18, Ferns St. Aidans 0-11
A GOAL from out of the blue by Donnacha Tobin after 23 minutes put Adamstown firmly on course for back-to-back Group A wins in Saturday's Amber Springs and Ashdown Park Hotels Intermediate football championship tie in Samaritans St. Patrick's Park.
Ferns St. Aidans, the 2020 runners-up, possess the required competitiveness and athleticism, and edging Rathgarogue-Cushinstown a week earlier suggested they might bother Adamstown too.
And they did until that major setback, with Adamstown benefiting from two-pointers from Colum Feeney (free) and Conor Hickey to forge a 0-7 to 0-4 advantage after 17 minutes.
Patrick Breen (frees) and the bright Corey Byrne-Dunbar, with a brace apiece, accounted for the Ferns tally to that stage.
But as Adamstown 'keeper Alan Bradley prepared the kick-out arising from Breen closing the gap to three, some unwarranted words by a Ferns player saw referee Fintan O'Reilly award a free for Adamstown on their own 65-yard line.
The wind was howling, but nobody could have foreseen what was to follow, as Feeney's booming free found a perfect descent for Meath-man Tobin to fist to the country-end net (1-7 to 0-3).
It created a distinct gap for the first time, and even worse for Ferns was that it lent inspiration to Adamstown, with Feeney helping himself to a couple more two-pointers - from play on the extreme right after 25 minutes, and an injury-time free earned by Tobin - to extend the 2022 Intermediate 'A' champions ahead by 1-12 to 0-5 at half-time.
Ferns were honest in their endeavour, but were lacking on the attacking front, with countless aimless deliveries being gobbled up by Lorcan French and company.
A Rory Scallan point within 18 seconds of the restart and a two-pointer free from Breen after Conor O'Toole was impeded had the gap back to 1-12 to 0-8.
But Adamstown were never really troubled again, and a chain of scores from Feeney, captain Ruairí O'Brien, Hickey, Seánie O'Neill and the lively Dean Kehoe had them 1-17 to 0-8 clear before Ferns substitute Ian Byrne pegged back a quality two-pointer from a Breen assist out on the left on 50 minutes.
A late exchange closed out an uninspiring second-half as Adamstown completed a hat-trick of group wins over the red and whites, adding to their 2018 and 2024 triumphs in this head-to-head.
Ferns St. Aidans: Conor Swaine; Conor Scallan, Paddy O'Hagan, Jack Brennan; Niall Murphy, Keith Breen, Conor O'Toole; Eoin Murphy, Patrick Breen (capt., 0-6, 4 frees, 1 2p free); Stephen O'Toole, Rory Scallan (0-1), Charlie Roark; Corey Byrne-Dunbar (0-2), Brian Stafford, Byron Jordan. Subs. - Chris Turner for S. O'Toole (HT), Ian Byrne (0-2, 2p) for Jordan (38), Brian O'Neill (St. Aidans) for C. O'Toole (48).
Adamstown: Alan Bradley; Kieran Finn, Lorcan French, Kevin Dunleavy; Andrew Boland, Seán Barden, Harry Cosgrave (0-1); Donnacha Tobin (1-1), Colum Feeney (0-8, 2 2p frees, 1 2p, 1 free, 1 '45); Dean Kehoe (0-1), Ruairí O'Brien (capt., 0-1), Jonathan Moore; Conor Hickey (0-3, 1 2p), Seánie O'Neill (0-3), Mervyn Moloney. Subs. - Tomás French for Moloney (55), Tadhg McDonald for Hickey (55).
Referee: Fintan O'Reilly (Kilmore).
Footnote: A minute's silence was observed to honour the late Ger Bennett (Ferns).
August 15: St. Martin’s 1-15, Ferns St. Aidans 1-9
ST. MARTIN'S got their first Amber Springs and Ashdown Park Hotels Intermediate football championship victory of 2025 in Samaritans St. Patrick's Park on Friday, corralling a potentially dangerous Ferns St. Aidans challenge in the process.
Panic was hardly a state of mind permeating around Piercestown and Murrintown after losing back-to-back matches to get their Group A campaign under way but, with several weeks to go to the next round of hurling, the footballs did come out during the week in training.
And they looked the better for it. St. Martin's dominated the first-half with the light breeze at their backs and displayed good control and zero evidence of panic when Ferns made a few inroads in the second period.
It never got as nervy as the Ballyhogue defeat, as the Wexford District side had a spell when decisions didn't go their way but they maintained composure and got an important victory on the board.
For Ferns, that's two losses on the bounce and suddenly their hopes of advancing to the last eight are looking a little precarious. Horeswood is not really the game you want when you need a win, and one suspects there will be a lot riding on their final group match-up with Ballyhogue.
Niall Murphy kicked a fourth-minute two-point free to give Ferns their only lead of the evening at 0-2 to 0-1.
They were still in touch at 0-3 each when Corey Byrne-Dunbar pointed, but St. Martin's soon began to power ahead.
Oisín Waters had two points on the board from two possessions early and Diarmuid O'Leary matched that tally with his second to make it 0-4 to 0-3.
From there St. Martin's pushed on, with Joe Barrett kicking a lovely two-pointer before Sam Audsley burst away on the left and rattled the net.
Down by 1-7 to 0-3, Ferns St. Aidans responded with a well-taken goal through young gun Charlie Roark, from a strong James Lawlor assist.
However, Barry O'Connor brought his tally to four by the interval as St. Martin's went in 1-10 to 1-4 up.
The third quarter was an exercise in control for the victors, as they won it by 0-3 to 0-2 with a Conor Firman brace aiding their bid for the win.
It could have been better, as Jake Firman appeared to be fouled inside but no penalty was forthcoming, which grated more when Gavin Bailey was impeded at the other end and Ferns did get a spot-kick.
Corey Byrne-Dunbar fired it over off the crossbar but he did add another point, with Patrick Breen knocking over his to make it a five-point game (1-14 to 1-9).
However, St. Martin's won a penalty of their own when Oisín Waters was fouled in added-time, with Barry O'Connor making an interesting decision to purposely fire over to round out a six-point win for the Piercestown-based men.
Ferns St. Aidans: Conor Swaine; Keith Breen, Paddy O'Hagan, Jack Brennan; Jonny Dwyer (0-1), Conor Scallan, Niall Murphy (0-2, 1 2p free); Patrick Breen (capt., 0-3, 2 frees), Charlie Roark (1-0); Brian Stafford, Rory Scallan, Conor O'Toole; Corey Byrne-Dunbar (0-3, 1 pen.), Chris Turner, James Lawlor. Subs. - Gavin Bailey for Turner (31), Byron Jordan for Dwyer (50), Danny Dreelan for R. Scallan (58).
St. Martin's: Ryan Sinnott; Eoin O'Leary, Michael Codd, Jamie Berry; Daithí Waters, Philip Dempsey, Conor Firman (0-2); Ben Maddock, Barry O'Connor (0-7, 1 2p free, 1 free, 1 pen.); Aaron Maddock, Sam Audsley (1-0), Joe Barrett (0-2, 1 2p); Oisín Waters (0-2), Kyle Firman, Diarmuid O'Leary (0-2). Subs. - David Codd for E. O'Leary, inj. (16), Ben Stafford for Audsley, inj. (59).
Referee: Barry Redmond (Na Fianna Clonard).
August 23: Ferns St. Aidans 2-22, Horeswood 2-6
TWO WORLDS collided for this reporter in McCauley Park, Bellefield on Saturday, when Ferns St. Aidans demolished Horeswood by 16 points in an outcome nobody would have predicted in Group A of the Amber Springs and Ashdown Park Hotels Intermediate football championship.
On the one hand, I would rate it as the best display I can ever recall from the victors - even superior to anything they produced en route to the final of this grade in 2020.
However, by the same token I've never seen Horeswood as disjointed or listless, and they have some serious soul-searching to do ahead of their must-win last-round clash with St. Martin's.
When Declan Murphy practically walked the ball into the net in the eleventh minute after good work by David Larkin and Ryan Harris, the Ross District men led by 1-3 to 0-1 and there wasn't even a hint of what was about to follow.
Quite incredibly, Ferns St. Aidans went on to register 1-16 without reply - 0-10 up to half-time and another 1-6 on the restart - before a Seán Nolan pointed free near the end of the third quarter was the first Horeswood score in 35 minutes of actual playing time.
It was a meltdown of astronomical proportions from the losers, but let's give credit where it's due too because Ferns St. Aidans were immense in every aspect of the game.
Their dominance around the middle third and near-complete control of kick-outs and breaks meant that the supply to their inside line was constant and accurate, with the ball-winning Eoin Murphy and the skilful Corey Byrne-Dunbar utterly dominant as a result.
And once they sensed Horeswood were vulnerable, their relentless approach was rewarded with an avalanche of scores, with Paul Morris introduced to kick 1-4 including a pair of two-pointers.
Good and all as Ferns St. Aidans were in this demolition, they still have a job to do against Ballyhogue in order to qualify. It's in their own hands, but a worst-case scenario would see them bow out in the event of a defeat, coupled with a draw between Horeswood and St. Martin's.
A do-or-die battle between the latter pair on the final day wouldn't have featured among any pre-championship predictions either, but this group more than any other across the top five grades has been full of surprises.
Who would have said that tenacious young Ferns defender Jack Brennan was going to hold Seán Nolan scoreless here?
It could be argued that the supply to Horeswood's star man was poor, and even non-existent at times, but the Ferns corner-back still emerged from this game with immense credit.
That was just one example of the utter dominance enjoyed by a Ferns side whose incredible march to victory started when county hurler Niall Murphy pointed a '45 in the 13th minute.
They were level seven minutes later, after a Byrne-Dunbar brace plus efforts from Murphy and James Lawlor, with five more points added before half-time, from Eoin Murphy, Gavin Bailey, Patrick Breen (free), Byrne-Dunbar and Niall Murphy.
Horeswood couldn't even avail of the interval to get their act together, as Will Foley spilled a Niall Murphy delivery and Eoin Murphy was on hand to guide the breaking ball to the net after 54 seconds (1-11 to 1-3).
Another six points followed, including a first orange flag for Paul Morris, before Seán Nolan - who had scuffed a close-range goal shot in the opening minute of the game - finally ended that shocking spell of Horeswood inactivity on the scoreboard from a free (1-17 to 1-4).
Morris scored the second Ferns goal in the 53rd minute after Rory Scallan caught a Horeswood kick-out, and the losers' consolation goal was a stroke of good fortune.
Conor Swaine is back with his native parish after a stint with the Ross District men, and he lost his bearings close to his right-hand post as a high, hopeful kick from his good friend P.J. Banville deflected off his fingertips to the net.
It made no difference to the outcome, though, with Ferns coasting to victory.
Ferns St. Aidans: Conor Swaine; Jack Brennan, Paddy O'Hagan, Conor Scallan; Conor O'Toole, Keith Breen, Gavin Bailey (0-1); Charlie Roark, Brian Stafford; Niall Murphy (0-4, 2 '45s), Rory Scallan, James Lawlor (0-2); Patrick Breen (capt., 0-4, 2 frees), Eoin Murphy (1-2), Corey Byrne-Dunbar (0-4). Subs. - Paul Morris (1-4, 2 2p) for Roark, inj. (34), Byron Jordan (0-1) for O'Toole (38), Chris Turner for Lawlor (46), Ian Byrne for E. Murphy (52), Danny Dreelan for Byrne-Dunbar (56).
Horeswood: Will Foley; Shane Rowe, Barry Hearn (capt.), Callum Murphy; Ryan Harris, Jack Kehoe, David Larkin; Jason Murphy, Danny Nolan; Cathal Parker (0-1), Declan Murphy (1-2), Joe O'Sullivan; Jamie Myler, P.J. Banville (1-0), Seán Nolan (0-3 frees). Subs. - Andrew Shore for Kehoe, inj. (28), Tom Cummins for D. Nolan (35), Adam Harris for Myler (39). Sin-bin: Jason Murphy (60+2).
Referee: Stephen Burke (Volunteers).
September 20: Ferns St. Aidans 3-17, Ballyhogue 1-9
FERNS ST. Aidans recovered from early turbulence in McCauley Park, Bellefield on Saturday to maintain their recent swashbuckling form in the Amber Springs and Ashdown Park Hotels Intermediate football championship with a decisive closing-round Group A victory over Ballyhogue.
The outcome saw Ferns rise from fourth to a third-place finish while Ballyhogue drop from second to fourth, leaving them facing St. Fintan's in the quarter-finals where Ferns and St. Anne's will duel in a rematch of the 2020 decider when Ferns lost out after a late penalty hammered off the woodwork.
The red and whites were rocked here when James Lawlor was sin-binned inside the first minute after a trip on Ben Asple.
But there was even worse to follow for Ballyhogue during an incident-packed opening, as full-back Eamonn Doyle was red-carded in the third minute arising from an incident with Ferns captain Patrick Breen.
Thus it was 14 v. 14 for a spell, and before Lawlor returned for Ferns in the eleventh minute, Ballyhogue responded to Corey Byrne-Dunbar and Breen (free) claiming the opening points for the eventual winners as their Enniscorthy District rivals moved ahead by 0-5 to 0-3.
Peter Kelly was packing danger at this stage, and he was denied a goal before captain Noel Roche (three), Kelly and Cian Wickham had Tom Wall's charges motoring.
But Lawlor's positive impact after he resumed helped turn the tide, and while Noel Roche stretched the gap to 0-6 to 0-3 from a 12th-minute free that he earned, an exquisite long delivery from Patrick Breen saw Niall Murphy forcing Ballyhogue 'keeper Eamonn Asple into a low save as Ferns began to resurrect the form of their fourth round thrashing of Horeswood.
Breen and Murphy again combined to telling effect on 19 minutes when Breen's drop-kick pass led to Murphy forcing a penalty which the outstanding Corey Byrne-Dunbar bagged to turn the tables decisively (1-5 to 0-6), before Ferns swept clear by 1-9 to 0-8 at the break.
Ballyhogue resumed brightly only to kick three quick wides, and Ferns compounded their frustrations when launching five points before substitute Paul Morris collected from Rory Scallan and slipped inside his marker to slot to the town-end net after 49 minutes (2-14 to 0-8).
Three minutes later Shane Doyle went close with a goaling effort for Ballyhogue. But Ferns consolidated hugely impressive back-to-back victories when Niall Murphy slotted a deserved major for his Trojan efforts - collecting a line ball from the right by Morris on 57 minutes before rounding the 'keeper to finish with aplomb.
Ferns St. Aidans: Conor Swaine; Conor Scallan, Paddy O'Hagan, Jack Brennan; Mikie Dempsey (0-1), Keith Breen, Gavin Bailey; Charlie Roark, Brian Stafford; Niall Murphy (1-3), Rory Scallan (0-2), James Lawlor; Patrick Breen (capt.. 0-3, 2 frees), Chris Turner, Corey Byrne-Dunbar (1-6).Subs. - Ian Byrne for Breen, temp. (4-5), Paul Morris (1-1) for Turner (36), Ian Byrne for Bailey (52), Byron Jordan (0-1) for Lawlor (52), Danny Dreelan for Byrne-Dunbar (56). Sin-bin: James Lawlor (1).
Ballyhogue: Eamonn Asple; Mark Dawson, David Hennebry, Conor Dawson; Adam Cairney, James Parle, Ben Asple; Conor Byrne (0-1), Shane Doyle; Peter Kelly (0-1), Cian Wickham (0-1), Odhrán Kehoe; Noel Roche (capt., 0-6, 1 2p free, 1 free), Dean Doyle, Tadhg Malone. Subs. - Dylan Dalton (1-0) for Wickham (38), Tomás Moriarty for Parle (46), Darragh Byrne for Hennebry (57), Daire Cloke-Rochford for D. Doyle (57), Cian Wickham for Asple (60+3).
Referee: James Owens (Kilrush).
October 4, quarter-final: St. Anne’s Rathangan 3-15, Ferns St. Aidans 0-14
AFTER EXPERIENCING contrasting fortunes in the Senior hurling quarter-finals a week earlier, St. Anne's picked up the pieces from their exit in that competition to ease through to the semi-finals of the Amber Springs and Ashdown Park Hotels Intermediate football championship after Saturday's duel in Samaritans St. Patrick's Park.
The Rathangan men are seeking an immediate return to the football top-flight having previously got back up there with their somewhat fortunate Intermediate final triumph over Ferns St. Aidans in 2020 - Ryan Nolan seeing a late penalty saved before crashing the rebound off a post seconds before the final whistle ushered the Sky Blues back up.
There was a sense that, now with all eggs in the one basket, St. Anne's would bring added momentum to their assault on the football, and that was certainly the case here as they brought a halt to Ferns' recent gallop in the code to set up a big derby semi-final against St. Martin's.
While Ferns opened against the strong wind on an otherwise idyllic evening, Patrick Breen pointed them in front from a third-minute free.
But St. Anne's attacked with tremendous gusto from deep, and they responded with some authority to leaking that score as roving corner-forward Aidan Rochford played a one-two with midfielder Eoin Ryan before feeding full-forward Justin Moran to find the town-end net four minutes in (1-0 to 0-1).
The sides shared four points before Ryan and Darragh Furlong - the latter from a free forced by instrumental defender Finn Ryan - sandwiched a third Patrick Breen score to forge a 1-4 to 0-4 advantage, just before Aidan Rochford was denied a goal by recent Wexford football custodian Conor Swaine following a powerful surge by Furlong.
Justin Moran made it double scores after 27 minutes, and Darragh Furlong from play on the left wing together with his second from a free - an advantage call on Moran - opened up a 1-7 to 0-4 gap at the change-of-ends.
But that was only after hard-trying Ferns had a late Corey Byrne-Dunbar point cancelled after the intervention of both linesmen.
Paul Morris has been a substitute of some impact in recent football outings for the Gorey District men, and he was sprung from the bench for the second-half as they gained wind assistance.
The winners weren't showing any reliance on the wind though as they hit 1-4 without reply between the 34th and 44th minutes to seize absolute control (2-12 to 0-5).
Darragh Furlong put over three frees - one for a breach of the three-up rule - before Páidí Doyle found the country-end net only seconds after being subbed in, palming home after neat work by the Rochford brothers, Aidan and Liam.
Furlong then extended the gap to 13 points before Ferns' determination realised a four-point burst to close to within 2-12 to 0-9 on 49 minutes, including a two-pointer from Morris.
Morris and Breen (free) each added late two-pointers, but Aidan Rochford put the cherry on St. Anne's cake when closing out the tie with a goal five minutes into added-time, finishing a rebound after he had initially put substitute Andy Kennedy through to force a block that Rochford pounced upon.
Ferns St. Aidans: Conor Swaine; Jack Brennan, Paddy O'Hagan, Conor Scallan; Mikie Dempsey, Keith Breen, Gavin Bailey; Charlie Roark, Brian Stafford; Niall Murphy, Rory Scallan, James Lawlor; Chris Turner, Patrick Breen (capt., 0-7, 4 frees, 1 2p free), Corey Byrne-Dunbar (0-2, 1 free). Subs. - Paul Morris (0-5, 2 2p) for Turner (HT), Conor O'Toole for C. Scallan, inj. (38), Ian Byrne for Lawlor (48), Eoin Murphy for Stafford (48).
St. Anne's: Shane Carroll; Finn Ryan, Tomás Cullen, Brian Kavanagh; Bobby Reville, Ciarán Doyle, Finn O'Driscoll; Cillian Byrne, Eoin Ryan (0-1); Liam Rochford (capt., 0-1), Darragh Furlong (0-10, 7 frees), Kevin Breen; Aidan Rochford (1-0), Justin Moran (1-1), Corey Ryan. Subs. - Liam Óg McGovern for Reville (38), Páidí Doyle (1-0) for C. Ryan (42), Seán Kelly (0-2) for Byrne (48), Andy Kennedy for L. Rochford (52), Shane Ryan for Furlong (55).
Referee: Thomas Furlong (Adamstown).
REVISION OF the new football rules always carried the danger of generating some confusion, and such was the case in Samaritans St. Patrick's Park on Saturday in this Amber Springs and Ashdown Park Hotels Intermediate football championship Group A opener.
Indeed, Ferns St. Aidans connections were left irate four minutes into added-time when Eoin Porter brought Rathgarogue-Cushinstown level on 0-13 to 1-10 from an advanced free.
It was awarded after Ferns were found to have only two players in the opposition half.
But the rules now state that teams must have four defenders in their own half and three in their rivals' at all times, irrespective of whether anyone is off for disciplinary or medical reasons.
With Patrick Breen (Ferns) and Ollie Bolger (Rathgarogue-Cushinstown) temporarily off the field having received medical attention, both sides were down a player when linesman Ian Dwyer alerted referee Stephen Burke to the fact that Ferns had only two men in opposition territory.
That brought strong protest from Ferns, who believed that they only had to leave a minimum of two men up front while Patrick Breen was waiting to return to the action.
That was a proviso under Jim Gavin's original drafting of the new rules, but no longer, and Porter's close-range free conversion had 2023 finalists Rathgarogue-Cushinstown seriously threatening to deny the runners-up from 2020.
But some of Ferns' frustration subsided after captain Breen sent over a free earned by Corey Byrne-Dunbar six minutes into added-time as Peter Nolan's charges deservedly shaded the issue.
Byrne-Dunbar had slammed Ferns into a 1-1 to 0-1 fourth-minute lead when slotting a penalty after Eoin Murphy was brought down.
The winners shaded matters by 1-3 to 0-5 before generating another gilt-edged goaling chance straight after the re-start following the first water-break, only for Stephen O'Toole to drag his effort wide of the far post.
And relieved Rathgarogue-Cushinstown responded as Eric Cummins (free) levelled matters for the first time after 23 minutes, before midfielder Matthew Cody and Eoin Porter nudged Mark Roche's men ahead at the break (0-8 to 1-3).
Eoin Murphy somehow squandered another goaling chance for Ferns as the sides shared the first four points of the second-half, before the red and whites went ahead by 1-10 to 0-10 after 54 minutes courtesy of Patrick Breen (two), Byrne-Dunbar, and substitutes Charlie Roark and Ian Byrne.
Frees from Porter and Cummins had it down to the minimum before all the rules upheaval caused frustration, with Porter levelling before Ferns edged matters.
Rathgarogue-Cushinstown have a big date with Horeswood on Friday, while Ferns duel with Adamstown on Saturday.
Ferns St. Aidans: Conor Swaine; Conor Scallan, Paddy O'Hagan, Jack Brennan; Niall Murphy, Keith Breen, Conor O'Toole; Patrick Breen (capt., 0-7, 6 frees), Brian Stafford; Danny Dreelan, Rory Scallan (0-1), Eoin Murphy; Byron Jordan, Corey Byrne-Dunbar (1-1, 1-0 pen.), Stephen O'Toole. Subs. - Chris Turner for Dreelan (HT), Ian Byrne (0-1) for S. O'Toole (37), Charlie Roark (0-1) for Jordan (41).
Rathgarogue-Cushinstown: Luke O'Connor; Ollie Bolger, Peadar Cody, Brian O'Neill; Shane O'Connor, Daniel Martin-Carroll, Mark Power (capt.); Eoin Porter (0-8, 2pf, 2 frees), Matthew Cody (0-2); Ian Kennedy, Robert Murphy, Niall Kehoe; Patrick Barron, Eric Cummins (0-3, 2 frees), Eoin Burke. Sub. - Pat Kehoe for Murphy (52).
Referee: Stephen Burke (Volunteers).
July 19: St. Abban’s Adamstown 1-18, Ferns St. Aidans 0-11
A GOAL from out of the blue by Donnacha Tobin after 23 minutes put Adamstown firmly on course for back-to-back Group A wins in Saturday's Amber Springs and Ashdown Park Hotels Intermediate football championship tie in Samaritans St. Patrick's Park.
Ferns St. Aidans, the 2020 runners-up, possess the required competitiveness and athleticism, and edging Rathgarogue-Cushinstown a week earlier suggested they might bother Adamstown too.
And they did until that major setback, with Adamstown benefiting from two-pointers from Colum Feeney (free) and Conor Hickey to forge a 0-7 to 0-4 advantage after 17 minutes.
Patrick Breen (frees) and the bright Corey Byrne-Dunbar, with a brace apiece, accounted for the Ferns tally to that stage.
But as Adamstown 'keeper Alan Bradley prepared the kick-out arising from Breen closing the gap to three, some unwarranted words by a Ferns player saw referee Fintan O'Reilly award a free for Adamstown on their own 65-yard line.
The wind was howling, but nobody could have foreseen what was to follow, as Feeney's booming free found a perfect descent for Meath-man Tobin to fist to the country-end net (1-7 to 0-3).
It created a distinct gap for the first time, and even worse for Ferns was that it lent inspiration to Adamstown, with Feeney helping himself to a couple more two-pointers - from play on the extreme right after 25 minutes, and an injury-time free earned by Tobin - to extend the 2022 Intermediate 'A' champions ahead by 1-12 to 0-5 at half-time.
Ferns were honest in their endeavour, but were lacking on the attacking front, with countless aimless deliveries being gobbled up by Lorcan French and company.
A Rory Scallan point within 18 seconds of the restart and a two-pointer free from Breen after Conor O'Toole was impeded had the gap back to 1-12 to 0-8.
But Adamstown were never really troubled again, and a chain of scores from Feeney, captain Ruairí O'Brien, Hickey, Seánie O'Neill and the lively Dean Kehoe had them 1-17 to 0-8 clear before Ferns substitute Ian Byrne pegged back a quality two-pointer from a Breen assist out on the left on 50 minutes.
A late exchange closed out an uninspiring second-half as Adamstown completed a hat-trick of group wins over the red and whites, adding to their 2018 and 2024 triumphs in this head-to-head.
Ferns St. Aidans: Conor Swaine; Conor Scallan, Paddy O'Hagan, Jack Brennan; Niall Murphy, Keith Breen, Conor O'Toole; Eoin Murphy, Patrick Breen (capt., 0-6, 4 frees, 1 2p free); Stephen O'Toole, Rory Scallan (0-1), Charlie Roark; Corey Byrne-Dunbar (0-2), Brian Stafford, Byron Jordan. Subs. - Chris Turner for S. O'Toole (HT), Ian Byrne (0-2, 2p) for Jordan (38), Brian O'Neill (St. Aidans) for C. O'Toole (48).
Adamstown: Alan Bradley; Kieran Finn, Lorcan French, Kevin Dunleavy; Andrew Boland, Seán Barden, Harry Cosgrave (0-1); Donnacha Tobin (1-1), Colum Feeney (0-8, 2 2p frees, 1 2p, 1 free, 1 '45); Dean Kehoe (0-1), Ruairí O'Brien (capt., 0-1), Jonathan Moore; Conor Hickey (0-3, 1 2p), Seánie O'Neill (0-3), Mervyn Moloney. Subs. - Tomás French for Moloney (55), Tadhg McDonald for Hickey (55).
Referee: Fintan O'Reilly (Kilmore).
Footnote: A minute's silence was observed to honour the late Ger Bennett (Ferns).
August 15: St. Martin’s 1-15, Ferns St. Aidans 1-9
ST. MARTIN'S got their first Amber Springs and Ashdown Park Hotels Intermediate football championship victory of 2025 in Samaritans St. Patrick's Park on Friday, corralling a potentially dangerous Ferns St. Aidans challenge in the process.
Panic was hardly a state of mind permeating around Piercestown and Murrintown after losing back-to-back matches to get their Group A campaign under way but, with several weeks to go to the next round of hurling, the footballs did come out during the week in training.
And they looked the better for it. St. Martin's dominated the first-half with the light breeze at their backs and displayed good control and zero evidence of panic when Ferns made a few inroads in the second period.
It never got as nervy as the Ballyhogue defeat, as the Wexford District side had a spell when decisions didn't go their way but they maintained composure and got an important victory on the board.
For Ferns, that's two losses on the bounce and suddenly their hopes of advancing to the last eight are looking a little precarious. Horeswood is not really the game you want when you need a win, and one suspects there will be a lot riding on their final group match-up with Ballyhogue.
Niall Murphy kicked a fourth-minute two-point free to give Ferns their only lead of the evening at 0-2 to 0-1.
They were still in touch at 0-3 each when Corey Byrne-Dunbar pointed, but St. Martin's soon began to power ahead.
Oisín Waters had two points on the board from two possessions early and Diarmuid O'Leary matched that tally with his second to make it 0-4 to 0-3.
From there St. Martin's pushed on, with Joe Barrett kicking a lovely two-pointer before Sam Audsley burst away on the left and rattled the net.
Down by 1-7 to 0-3, Ferns St. Aidans responded with a well-taken goal through young gun Charlie Roark, from a strong James Lawlor assist.
However, Barry O'Connor brought his tally to four by the interval as St. Martin's went in 1-10 to 1-4 up.
The third quarter was an exercise in control for the victors, as they won it by 0-3 to 0-2 with a Conor Firman brace aiding their bid for the win.
It could have been better, as Jake Firman appeared to be fouled inside but no penalty was forthcoming, which grated more when Gavin Bailey was impeded at the other end and Ferns did get a spot-kick.
Corey Byrne-Dunbar fired it over off the crossbar but he did add another point, with Patrick Breen knocking over his to make it a five-point game (1-14 to 1-9).
However, St. Martin's won a penalty of their own when Oisín Waters was fouled in added-time, with Barry O'Connor making an interesting decision to purposely fire over to round out a six-point win for the Piercestown-based men.
Ferns St. Aidans: Conor Swaine; Keith Breen, Paddy O'Hagan, Jack Brennan; Jonny Dwyer (0-1), Conor Scallan, Niall Murphy (0-2, 1 2p free); Patrick Breen (capt., 0-3, 2 frees), Charlie Roark (1-0); Brian Stafford, Rory Scallan, Conor O'Toole; Corey Byrne-Dunbar (0-3, 1 pen.), Chris Turner, James Lawlor. Subs. - Gavin Bailey for Turner (31), Byron Jordan for Dwyer (50), Danny Dreelan for R. Scallan (58).
St. Martin's: Ryan Sinnott; Eoin O'Leary, Michael Codd, Jamie Berry; Daithí Waters, Philip Dempsey, Conor Firman (0-2); Ben Maddock, Barry O'Connor (0-7, 1 2p free, 1 free, 1 pen.); Aaron Maddock, Sam Audsley (1-0), Joe Barrett (0-2, 1 2p); Oisín Waters (0-2), Kyle Firman, Diarmuid O'Leary (0-2). Subs. - David Codd for E. O'Leary, inj. (16), Ben Stafford for Audsley, inj. (59).
Referee: Barry Redmond (Na Fianna Clonard).
August 23: Ferns St. Aidans 2-22, Horeswood 2-6
TWO WORLDS collided for this reporter in McCauley Park, Bellefield on Saturday, when Ferns St. Aidans demolished Horeswood by 16 points in an outcome nobody would have predicted in Group A of the Amber Springs and Ashdown Park Hotels Intermediate football championship.
On the one hand, I would rate it as the best display I can ever recall from the victors - even superior to anything they produced en route to the final of this grade in 2020.
However, by the same token I've never seen Horeswood as disjointed or listless, and they have some serious soul-searching to do ahead of their must-win last-round clash with St. Martin's.
When Declan Murphy practically walked the ball into the net in the eleventh minute after good work by David Larkin and Ryan Harris, the Ross District men led by 1-3 to 0-1 and there wasn't even a hint of what was about to follow.
Quite incredibly, Ferns St. Aidans went on to register 1-16 without reply - 0-10 up to half-time and another 1-6 on the restart - before a Seán Nolan pointed free near the end of the third quarter was the first Horeswood score in 35 minutes of actual playing time.
It was a meltdown of astronomical proportions from the losers, but let's give credit where it's due too because Ferns St. Aidans were immense in every aspect of the game.
Their dominance around the middle third and near-complete control of kick-outs and breaks meant that the supply to their inside line was constant and accurate, with the ball-winning Eoin Murphy and the skilful Corey Byrne-Dunbar utterly dominant as a result.
And once they sensed Horeswood were vulnerable, their relentless approach was rewarded with an avalanche of scores, with Paul Morris introduced to kick 1-4 including a pair of two-pointers.
Good and all as Ferns St. Aidans were in this demolition, they still have a job to do against Ballyhogue in order to qualify. It's in their own hands, but a worst-case scenario would see them bow out in the event of a defeat, coupled with a draw between Horeswood and St. Martin's.
A do-or-die battle between the latter pair on the final day wouldn't have featured among any pre-championship predictions either, but this group more than any other across the top five grades has been full of surprises.
Who would have said that tenacious young Ferns defender Jack Brennan was going to hold Seán Nolan scoreless here?
It could be argued that the supply to Horeswood's star man was poor, and even non-existent at times, but the Ferns corner-back still emerged from this game with immense credit.
That was just one example of the utter dominance enjoyed by a Ferns side whose incredible march to victory started when county hurler Niall Murphy pointed a '45 in the 13th minute.
They were level seven minutes later, after a Byrne-Dunbar brace plus efforts from Murphy and James Lawlor, with five more points added before half-time, from Eoin Murphy, Gavin Bailey, Patrick Breen (free), Byrne-Dunbar and Niall Murphy.
Horeswood couldn't even avail of the interval to get their act together, as Will Foley spilled a Niall Murphy delivery and Eoin Murphy was on hand to guide the breaking ball to the net after 54 seconds (1-11 to 1-3).
Another six points followed, including a first orange flag for Paul Morris, before Seán Nolan - who had scuffed a close-range goal shot in the opening minute of the game - finally ended that shocking spell of Horeswood inactivity on the scoreboard from a free (1-17 to 1-4).
Morris scored the second Ferns goal in the 53rd minute after Rory Scallan caught a Horeswood kick-out, and the losers' consolation goal was a stroke of good fortune.
Conor Swaine is back with his native parish after a stint with the Ross District men, and he lost his bearings close to his right-hand post as a high, hopeful kick from his good friend P.J. Banville deflected off his fingertips to the net.
It made no difference to the outcome, though, with Ferns coasting to victory.
Ferns St. Aidans: Conor Swaine; Jack Brennan, Paddy O'Hagan, Conor Scallan; Conor O'Toole, Keith Breen, Gavin Bailey (0-1); Charlie Roark, Brian Stafford; Niall Murphy (0-4, 2 '45s), Rory Scallan, James Lawlor (0-2); Patrick Breen (capt., 0-4, 2 frees), Eoin Murphy (1-2), Corey Byrne-Dunbar (0-4). Subs. - Paul Morris (1-4, 2 2p) for Roark, inj. (34), Byron Jordan (0-1) for O'Toole (38), Chris Turner for Lawlor (46), Ian Byrne for E. Murphy (52), Danny Dreelan for Byrne-Dunbar (56).
Horeswood: Will Foley; Shane Rowe, Barry Hearn (capt.), Callum Murphy; Ryan Harris, Jack Kehoe, David Larkin; Jason Murphy, Danny Nolan; Cathal Parker (0-1), Declan Murphy (1-2), Joe O'Sullivan; Jamie Myler, P.J. Banville (1-0), Seán Nolan (0-3 frees). Subs. - Andrew Shore for Kehoe, inj. (28), Tom Cummins for D. Nolan (35), Adam Harris for Myler (39). Sin-bin: Jason Murphy (60+2).
Referee: Stephen Burke (Volunteers).
September 20: Ferns St. Aidans 3-17, Ballyhogue 1-9
FERNS ST. Aidans recovered from early turbulence in McCauley Park, Bellefield on Saturday to maintain their recent swashbuckling form in the Amber Springs and Ashdown Park Hotels Intermediate football championship with a decisive closing-round Group A victory over Ballyhogue.
The outcome saw Ferns rise from fourth to a third-place finish while Ballyhogue drop from second to fourth, leaving them facing St. Fintan's in the quarter-finals where Ferns and St. Anne's will duel in a rematch of the 2020 decider when Ferns lost out after a late penalty hammered off the woodwork.
The red and whites were rocked here when James Lawlor was sin-binned inside the first minute after a trip on Ben Asple.
But there was even worse to follow for Ballyhogue during an incident-packed opening, as full-back Eamonn Doyle was red-carded in the third minute arising from an incident with Ferns captain Patrick Breen.
Thus it was 14 v. 14 for a spell, and before Lawlor returned for Ferns in the eleventh minute, Ballyhogue responded to Corey Byrne-Dunbar and Breen (free) claiming the opening points for the eventual winners as their Enniscorthy District rivals moved ahead by 0-5 to 0-3.
Peter Kelly was packing danger at this stage, and he was denied a goal before captain Noel Roche (three), Kelly and Cian Wickham had Tom Wall's charges motoring.
But Lawlor's positive impact after he resumed helped turn the tide, and while Noel Roche stretched the gap to 0-6 to 0-3 from a 12th-minute free that he earned, an exquisite long delivery from Patrick Breen saw Niall Murphy forcing Ballyhogue 'keeper Eamonn Asple into a low save as Ferns began to resurrect the form of their fourth round thrashing of Horeswood.
Breen and Murphy again combined to telling effect on 19 minutes when Breen's drop-kick pass led to Murphy forcing a penalty which the outstanding Corey Byrne-Dunbar bagged to turn the tables decisively (1-5 to 0-6), before Ferns swept clear by 1-9 to 0-8 at the break.
Ballyhogue resumed brightly only to kick three quick wides, and Ferns compounded their frustrations when launching five points before substitute Paul Morris collected from Rory Scallan and slipped inside his marker to slot to the town-end net after 49 minutes (2-14 to 0-8).
Three minutes later Shane Doyle went close with a goaling effort for Ballyhogue. But Ferns consolidated hugely impressive back-to-back victories when Niall Murphy slotted a deserved major for his Trojan efforts - collecting a line ball from the right by Morris on 57 minutes before rounding the 'keeper to finish with aplomb.
Ferns St. Aidans: Conor Swaine; Conor Scallan, Paddy O'Hagan, Jack Brennan; Mikie Dempsey (0-1), Keith Breen, Gavin Bailey; Charlie Roark, Brian Stafford; Niall Murphy (1-3), Rory Scallan (0-2), James Lawlor; Patrick Breen (capt.. 0-3, 2 frees), Chris Turner, Corey Byrne-Dunbar (1-6).Subs. - Ian Byrne for Breen, temp. (4-5), Paul Morris (1-1) for Turner (36), Ian Byrne for Bailey (52), Byron Jordan (0-1) for Lawlor (52), Danny Dreelan for Byrne-Dunbar (56). Sin-bin: James Lawlor (1).
Ballyhogue: Eamonn Asple; Mark Dawson, David Hennebry, Conor Dawson; Adam Cairney, James Parle, Ben Asple; Conor Byrne (0-1), Shane Doyle; Peter Kelly (0-1), Cian Wickham (0-1), Odhrán Kehoe; Noel Roche (capt., 0-6, 1 2p free, 1 free), Dean Doyle, Tadhg Malone. Subs. - Dylan Dalton (1-0) for Wickham (38), Tomás Moriarty for Parle (46), Darragh Byrne for Hennebry (57), Daire Cloke-Rochford for D. Doyle (57), Cian Wickham for Asple (60+3).
Referee: James Owens (Kilrush).
October 4, quarter-final: St. Anne’s Rathangan 3-15, Ferns St. Aidans 0-14
AFTER EXPERIENCING contrasting fortunes in the Senior hurling quarter-finals a week earlier, St. Anne's picked up the pieces from their exit in that competition to ease through to the semi-finals of the Amber Springs and Ashdown Park Hotels Intermediate football championship after Saturday's duel in Samaritans St. Patrick's Park.
The Rathangan men are seeking an immediate return to the football top-flight having previously got back up there with their somewhat fortunate Intermediate final triumph over Ferns St. Aidans in 2020 - Ryan Nolan seeing a late penalty saved before crashing the rebound off a post seconds before the final whistle ushered the Sky Blues back up.
There was a sense that, now with all eggs in the one basket, St. Anne's would bring added momentum to their assault on the football, and that was certainly the case here as they brought a halt to Ferns' recent gallop in the code to set up a big derby semi-final against St. Martin's.
While Ferns opened against the strong wind on an otherwise idyllic evening, Patrick Breen pointed them in front from a third-minute free.
But St. Anne's attacked with tremendous gusto from deep, and they responded with some authority to leaking that score as roving corner-forward Aidan Rochford played a one-two with midfielder Eoin Ryan before feeding full-forward Justin Moran to find the town-end net four minutes in (1-0 to 0-1).
The sides shared four points before Ryan and Darragh Furlong - the latter from a free forced by instrumental defender Finn Ryan - sandwiched a third Patrick Breen score to forge a 1-4 to 0-4 advantage, just before Aidan Rochford was denied a goal by recent Wexford football custodian Conor Swaine following a powerful surge by Furlong.
Justin Moran made it double scores after 27 minutes, and Darragh Furlong from play on the left wing together with his second from a free - an advantage call on Moran - opened up a 1-7 to 0-4 gap at the change-of-ends.
But that was only after hard-trying Ferns had a late Corey Byrne-Dunbar point cancelled after the intervention of both linesmen.
Paul Morris has been a substitute of some impact in recent football outings for the Gorey District men, and he was sprung from the bench for the second-half as they gained wind assistance.
The winners weren't showing any reliance on the wind though as they hit 1-4 without reply between the 34th and 44th minutes to seize absolute control (2-12 to 0-5).
Darragh Furlong put over three frees - one for a breach of the three-up rule - before Páidí Doyle found the country-end net only seconds after being subbed in, palming home after neat work by the Rochford brothers, Aidan and Liam.
Furlong then extended the gap to 13 points before Ferns' determination realised a four-point burst to close to within 2-12 to 0-9 on 49 minutes, including a two-pointer from Morris.
Morris and Breen (free) each added late two-pointers, but Aidan Rochford put the cherry on St. Anne's cake when closing out the tie with a goal five minutes into added-time, finishing a rebound after he had initially put substitute Andy Kennedy through to force a block that Rochford pounced upon.
Ferns St. Aidans: Conor Swaine; Jack Brennan, Paddy O'Hagan, Conor Scallan; Mikie Dempsey, Keith Breen, Gavin Bailey; Charlie Roark, Brian Stafford; Niall Murphy, Rory Scallan, James Lawlor; Chris Turner, Patrick Breen (capt., 0-7, 4 frees, 1 2p free), Corey Byrne-Dunbar (0-2, 1 free). Subs. - Paul Morris (0-5, 2 2p) for Turner (HT), Conor O'Toole for C. Scallan, inj. (38), Ian Byrne for Lawlor (48), Eoin Murphy for Stafford (48).
St. Anne's: Shane Carroll; Finn Ryan, Tomás Cullen, Brian Kavanagh; Bobby Reville, Ciarán Doyle, Finn O'Driscoll; Cillian Byrne, Eoin Ryan (0-1); Liam Rochford (capt., 0-1), Darragh Furlong (0-10, 7 frees), Kevin Breen; Aidan Rochford (1-0), Justin Moran (1-1), Corey Ryan. Subs. - Liam Óg McGovern for Reville (38), Páidí Doyle (1-0) for C. Ryan (42), Seán Kelly (0-2) for Byrne (48), Andy Kennedy for L. Rochford (52), Shane Ryan for Furlong (55).
Referee: Thomas Furlong (Adamstown).
