Abbeyside and Passage gain ground - SHC Round 4

In a bunched finish behind De La Salle in Group 1, Abbeyside and Passage made telling moves over the weekend to boost their quarter final hopes.

Abbeyside shaded a lively contest against Lismore at Fraher Field on Saturday night (3-13 to 1-15). John Hurney (2-1), Patrick Hurney (1-4) and Mark Ferncombe (six points) all impressed for the victors.

The Villagers held a three point half time lead (2-5 to 1-5). Patrick Hurney lashed in a low shot on 14 minutes to give them the upper hand. John Heneghan pounced for Lismore on 27 minutes after Maurice Shanahan’s shot was saved. Abbeyside went straight up the other end when John Hurney whipped home after his first effort was hooked.

Four points in succession from Lismore levelled the tie on 43 minutes as they used the breeze at their backs. Maurice Shanahan scored nine points and Ray Barry popped up two corkers from midfield. The teams were on equal terms three times during the second period. Abbeyside only clung to a slender lead when John Hurney charged through the centre on 55 minutes to unleash a powerful bullet through Seanie Barry and seal the deal.

Passage came out fighting on Friday night to claim a 3-18 to 1-18 win over Fourmilewater in a crunch clash at Fraher Field. Goals through Eoin Kelly, Conor Carey and Rory Walsh got them back in the shake-up.

In the ninth minute, Fitzgerald’s mishit point attempt landed to the left of the uprights but Eoin Kelly was lurking to deflect the ball to the far corner past Brendan Lawlor (1-4 to 0-2). Passage number one Eddie Lynch pulled off two saves but he could do little to prevent Fourmilewater’s goal on 25 minutes. Dermot Ryan flicked in a clever shot with his back to goal after Lynch initially blocked Shane Ryan. Passage rebounded on 27 minutes when Rory Walsh teed up Conor Carey to fire to the net and they made the dressing rooms 2-11 to 1-9 in front.

Although Fourmilewater reduced the damage to three points with a Barron double from frees, a scrambled concession put them on the backfoot once more. Sean Hogan dropped in a dangerous delivery and Rory Walsh eventually finished from close range. Eoin Kelly shot over an audacious point to complete the job and he contributed 1-6 in all. Their opponents enter the final round with just one win under their belt.

A double blast from John Keane allowed De La Salle to maintain their unbeaten streak as they dispatched Roanmore by 2-19 to 0-11 at Walsh Park. Allen Dillon’s side left four in front at half time (1-8 to 0-7). Keane’s first came in a fortuitous manner as he managed to get his fingers to Kevin Moran’s cross on the quarter hour as he attempted to catch. Gavin O’Brien accounted for six of Roanmore’s first half takings. Paul O’Sullivan trimmed the gap to three on the restart but the Sky Blues were shaken when O’Brien departed injured after 35 minutes. Salle added six singles without reply before Keane struck for his second with five minutes left.

Dungarvan strolled towards the quarters from Group 2 as they did enough in the first half to brush off Ballyduff Upper by seven (1-18 to 1-11). With wind assistance, all six forwards posted scores by the break as they raced ten clear (0-14 to 0-4). Full forward Ryan Donnelly hit four of those. The Reds threatened a recovery and narrowed to within five by the close of the third quarter. Chief scorer Mikey Kearney struck seven and Cian Leamy also foraged at midfield. The Blues quelled the comeback and Patrick Curran returned from minor duty to strike a goal in off the post on 52 minutes. Jamie Kearney bagged a late consolation when Stephen Molumphy burst through and Kearney fizzed the roof of the net.

Free scoring Ballygunner kept up their one hundred per cent record on Sunday night with an eighteen point hammering of Tallow (1-25 to 1-7). Although Evan Sheehan’s goal on 37 minutes brought Tallow back into contention, Conor Power responded instantly at the other end. Pauric Mahony bagged ten points (six from play) and Brian O’Sullivan struck six as ten separate sources delivered.

Mount Sion walloped Ardmore by 15 points at the Kill grounds (1-26 to 2-8) to confirm their progression. Richie Roche’s goal after merely 30 seconds pushed Sion 1-15 to 1-4 ahead by half time. Martin O’Neill (ten points) and Austin Gleeson (six points) also enjoyed prolific outings as Anthony Kirwan’s side coasted through. Seamus Prendergast shot 2-6 in a losing cause for Ardmore. They must defeat Tallow next Saturday to avoid a relegation play-off.