JJ Kavanagh and Sons County Senior Hurling Championship Dungarvan 0-22 Tallow 3-12 This wasn’t the best of the six SHC games played over the weekend but it possessed perhaps the best goal of all with Tommy Ryan’s second green flag in the 54th minute from an inch perfect Paul O Brien pass, the latter back after a lengthy spell injured and the former County player was impressive on his return inside the white lines. Trailing by 0-18 to 0-12 in the 51st minute, Ryan struck green first from a peno after sub William Henley had been upended and two minutes later Tommy scored his wonder goal which was highlighted on TG4 last Monday evening. The Tallow player’s third goal into an empty net from a William Henley pass in the 62nd minute levelled the game before Dungarvan’s Gavin Crotty came up trumps for the locals with the winner in the third of the five minutes of added time. The Bridesiders could have had a close in free at the end for a foul on Tommy Ryan which may have levelled the game and nobody could have quibbled about an equal sharing of the championship points. However, Tallow should have had this game wrapped up as hero come villain Tommy Ryan missed seven very score able free taking opportunities and one must question the Tallow sideline for not giving the placed ball duties to a free taker of the calibre of Ryan Grey after a few misses. Tallow had first use of the strong wind and they led at the break by 0-10 to 0-8. The teams were level on five first have occasions, the first in the 4th minute after an exchange of scores between Jordan Henley and Patrick Curran(f). The Dungarvan free taker enjoyed better fortune than his Tallow counterpart and he finished the game with 0-10(8f, 1’65’) behind his name. Tallow shot seven first half wides and Dungarvan five. The first half was , in essence, a free taking dua,l accounting for eleven of the 18 successful attempts. The Dungarvan player edged this period of the game by 0-6 to 0-5 while Tallow struck 0-4 from play per Jordan Henley(2), Darah Buckley and Ryan Grey. On target for the winners were Gavin Crotty and Cormac Curran whose team did not score from play from the 12th minute to half time. It was only in the second half that Tommy Ryan exerted his influence when moved out from the full forward line. With the wind behind them , the Blues were back on level terms by the 35th minute at 0-11 each following scores by Patrick Curran(f), Jamie Nagle and Cathal Curran with Tommy Ryan missing two frees during these minutes. Dungarvan enjoyed their best spell at this stage with further minors by Nagle, Gavin Crotty (2), Jack Lacey, Patrick Curran(2) and Kieran Power with a lone reply by Jordan Henley. This left the winners 0-18 to 0-12 ahead and they had one foot in the winner’s enclosure. However, Tallow received a lifeline with a correct penalty decision and Tommy Ryan’s successful strike breathed new life into the Bridesiders. Ryan’s second goal encouraged Tallow further and his third looked as if Tallow had secured a draw at least. But Dungarvan showed solid resolve after all three green flags with Cathal Curran, Ryan Donnolly, Patrick Curran and Gavin Crotty pointing immediately. There is little currently between these sides but both are off the mark required to make a serious impression in this year’s championship on the form displayed in this game. Dungarvan’s Top Three :
Gavin Crotty, Kieran Power, Patrick Curran. Tallow’s Top Three : Tommy Ryan, Jordan Henley, Paul O Brien. Observer’s Man of the Match : Tommy Ryan. Number of Scorers : Dungarvan : 8. Tallow : 5. Scores From Play : Dungarvan : 0-13. Tallow : 2-6. Frees For : Dungarvan : 14. Tallow : 16. Wides : Dungarvan : 10. Tallow : 13. Score of the Match : Tallow’s second goal engineered by Paul O Brien and executed by Tommy Ryan. Scorers : Dungarvan : Patrick Curran 0-10(8f, 1’65’), Gavin Crotty 0-4, Cathal Curran and Jamie Nagle 0-2 each, Cormac Curran, Kieran Power and Jack Lacey 0-1 each, Ryan Donnolly 0-1f. Tallow : Tommy Ryan 3-6(1-6f), Jordan Henley 0-3, Paul O Brien, Darah Buckley and Ryan Grey 0-1 each. Teams : Dungarvan : Gavin Power; Luke Egan, John Curran, Sean Ryan; Jamie Nagle, Kieran Power, Kenny Moore; Cathal Curran, Jack Lacey; Darragh Lyons, Kevin Daly, Cormac Curran; Patrick Curran, Ryan Donnelly, Gavin Crotty. Subs : Conor Sheridan for Kevin Daly(45), Michael Kiely for Cormac Curran(58), Aaron Donnolly for Kieran Power(inj. 60). Tallow : Shaun O Sullivan; Jake Beecher, Mark O Brien, David O Brien; Darragh Mulcahy, Robbie Geary, Ken Kearney; Jordan Henley, Kieran Geary; Bob McCarthy, Ian Beecher, Paul O Brien; Darah Buckley, Thomas Ryan, Ryan Grey. Subs : Tommy Daly for Kieran Geary(45), William Henley for Bob McCarthy(46), Rob O Sullivan for Ken Kearney(52). Referee : Tom Mansfield (Affane/ Cappoquin).
