Monageer-Boolavogue eventually ease clear of Kent-inspired Clongeen
MONAGEER-BOOLAVOGUE WILL go into next month’s Joyces Expert Intermediate ‘A’ hurling championship quarter-finals in fine fettle after maintaining their one hundred per cent Group B record with a five-point win over an Emmet Kent-inspired Clongeen in sunbaked Oylegate on Saturday.
One of only four teams across the top five grades to secure maximum points, they were pushed all the way by the Junior titleholders and were grateful for a Cathal Walsh goal in the 44th minute that finally gave them a small bit of breathing space on a stiflingly-hot afternoon (3-9 to 1-9).
The county footballer had faced a tough opponent in Paul Curtis who relished his man-marking responsibility, but he took his goal in considerable style.
Niall O’Reilly arrowed a lovely ball into the left corner, and Walsh cut in before batting across Ricky Rochford and into the far side of the net.
Clongeen, to their credit, didn’t flinch, and they narrowed the gap to two points (3-10 to 2-11) in the 48th minute when Kilkenny native Jim Kehoe showed good persistence to gain control of a Shane Cahill free before blasting to the net at the scoreboard end.
It took a run of three points from the ever-accurate Peter Mernagh – two frees and one from play – before Monageer-Boolavogue could finally relax, with the sharpshooter showing that he is equally adept whether it’s a hurl or a commentator’s mic in his hand.
Michael Dundon was a huge loss for Clongeen, and one could tell how frustrated he felt at not being involved from his constant roars of encouragement on the sideline.
It would be a shame for them to dice with relegation in their first year up, but if Dundon is back they shouldn’t be fearful of the task that lies ahead against Ballygarrett.
Emmet Kent must surely rank as one of the most stylish hurlers the club has ever produced, and Monageer-Boolavogue never got to grips with the man who started at full-forward and contributed twelve of their 14 scores.
His fine haul of 1-11 included 1-5 from play, with the goal in the second minute giving the underdogs an immediate lift after a strong solo run in from the right wing.
However, Monageer-Boolavogue hit back inside a minute, with Fionn Walsh catching a Peter Mernagh delivery and seeing his shot enter the net via a Clongeen stick.
Midfielder Paudie Cahill was the only player to take the scoring burden off Kent with a sixth-minute point as the New Ross District side went on to trail by 2-5 to 1-7 at half-time.
They were disappointed to concede that goal, in the 27th minute when they led by 1-6 to 1-4, because it came from a penalty that Peter Mernagh dispatched with aplomb.
It was 2-5 to 1-7 at the break, and Monageer-Boolavogue had scored four of the six points added on the restart before that Cathal Walsh goal.
Another key contributor for the Colin Breen-managed side was wing-forward Diarmuid Fenlon, as he reeled off four eye-catching points, while young corner-back Ruairí Lacey is a fine prospect.
Monageer-Boolavogue: Seán Murphy; Ruairí Lacey, Tommy Breen, Paul Gahan; Páuric Walshe, Niall O’Reilly, Ian Hawkins (capt.); Damien Fenlon, Larry Murphy; Peter Mernagh (1-7, 0-4 frees, 1-0 pen., 0-1 ’65), Cathal Walsh (1-0), Diarmuid Fenlon (0-4); Fionn Walsh (1-1), Conor Dolan, Pádraig Flynn (0-1). Subs. – Eoghan Kehoe for F. Walsh (HT), Matthew Dunne (0-1) for Flynn (41), Brian O’Loughlin for L. Murphy (41).
Clongeen: Ricky Rochford; Ger Foxe, Enda Murphy, Jamie Keating; Shane Cahill (capt.), Paul Curtis, Peter Anthony Wall; Seamie Kiely, Paudie Cahill (0-1); Robert Farrell, Jim Kehoe (1-0), Darryl Murphy; Marty Reville, Emmet Kent (1-11, 0-6 frees), Páraic Cullen. Subs. – Cathal Murpht for Wall (HT), Jamesie Rochford for Reville (HT), Patrick Finn for Cullen (43).
Referee: John Tobin (Geraldine O’Hanrahans).