Dungarvan emerge victorious in clash of father and son
Fourmilewater's Oisin Walsh in action with Dungarvan's Sean Crotty.
After a stop start encounter on Saturday, full of frees, injuries and bad misses, Dungarvan players and management punched the air with delight.
The team coached by Eoin Cadogan conceded eight goals in their previous two games and lost to Ballygunner by 23 points but a dogged defensive effort earned them a clean sheet and a quarter final against local rivals Abbeyside. A wasteful Fourmilewater shot thirteen wides and lost top scorer Aaron Ryan to a head injury after 21 minutes. Last year’s county semi finalists now face Clonea in a relegation play-off.
Father and son came up against each other with Derek Lyons in charge of Fourmile and Darragh back from America to start at centre back for Dungarvan. With two minutes left, Darragh cleared a whipped effort from Ciaran Walsh off the line. A match winning moment. Derek congratulated his son when they met in the middle of the field afterwards.
Michael Kiely nailed nine placed balls for Dungarvan. He missed four in the first half but stuck at it and sent six over the blue spot during the second period. Cathal Curran (0-3), Tristan Loftus (0-2) and Sean Crotty (0-2) also made telling contributions. Curran man marked Jamie Barron throughout. The three-time All Star saw a last gasp strike at goal blocked down by Jack Lacey. Barron, Tholom Guiry and Oisin Walsh tried in vain to force extra time.
Without the injured John Curran, Dungarvan rearranged their defence. Jack Lacey dropped to full back where he confronted Sean Walsh. Cathal Curran went to wing back and Lyons returned at number six.
Fourmile edged an error strewn first half eight points to seven. It featured fifteen wides as well as fifteen scores. Nine to Fourmile, six to Dungarvan. The Ballymacarbry men, playing with a slight breeze, led 4-1 after ten minutes with Sean Walsh, Aaron Ryan and Michael Morrissey all on target. Michael Kiely mishit two Dungarvan frees. A Cathal Curran shot sailed over the bar as Conor Gleeson and Patrick Curran went to ground. Gleeson needed treatment before Eoin Morrissey flashed two yellow cards.
Ryan took a shoulder to the head which resulted in a yellow for Gavin Power. He was helped off the field and subsequently taken away in an ambulance after the match. Evan Spellman and Jamie Barron converted frees in his absence. Tholom Guiry and Morrissey made it 8-5 but Fourmile squandered chances to extend that advantage. Ciaran Walsh mishit a shot and Billy Byrne got blocked down when they tried to force a goal. Those misses and those overworked moves kept Dungarvan afloat. After a blood injury to Gavin Power, Cathal Curran’s second point and a Kiely 65 left just one between them.
Moving Patrick Curran to centre forward brought the county man to life as Kiely slotted four frees within seven minutes of the restart. A Tristan Loftus point from 65 metres made it 12-8. Fourmile were barely hanging on as Byrne got their first second half score on 40 minutes. Goalkeeper Stephen Ryan denied Brian Curran and Jamie Barron pointed off the counter attack. The wides continued to mount however as Sean Crotty scored from an acute angle along the stand sideline. Another Kiely free sent the Blues four clear with six minutes remaining (0-15 to 0-11).
Darragh Lyons got back on the line to divert a Ciaran Walsh pull onto the post. Two Spellman frees and Tholom Guiry’s second point narrowed the gap to one entering six added minutes. Patrick Curran then fended off four defenders and delivered his first point of the evening. With Kiely off the field injured, Cathal Curran stepped up and nailed a long range free.
Oisin Walsh blasted over as Fourmile couldn’t find a goal. Jack Lacey intercepted a Barron pass and a point from Eoin O’Callaghan followed at the other end. Tom Barron grabbed the sliotar and offloaded to Jamie but Lacey blocked down. Eddie Burke made another vital interception as Dungarvan held firm.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Cathal Curran struck three points while shadowing Jamie Barron.
TURNING POINT: That Darragh Lyons save off the line.
TALKING POINT: Derek Lyons going up against his own club and his own son.
WHAT’S NEXT? Two derby games. Fourmile face Clonea in Saturday’s curtain raiser while Dungarvan meet Abbeyside in the main event.
Michael Kiely 0-9 (8fs, 1 65), Cathal Curran 0-3 (1f), Tristan Loftus, Sean Crotty 0-2 each, Eoin O’Callaghan, Patrick Curran 0-1 each.
Evan Spellman (3fs), Jamie Barron (1f) 0-3 each, Tholom Guiry, Michael Morrissey, Aaron Ryan (1f) 0-2 each, Oisin Walsh, Billy Byrne, Sean Walsh 0-1 each.
Craig Barry; Kealan Daly, Jack Lacey, Gavin Power; Eddie Burke, Darragh Lyons, Cathal Curran; Tristan Loftus, Eoin O’Callaghan; Colm Curran, Michael Kiely, Sean Crotty; Brian Curran, Patrick Curran, Joe Duggan. Conor Sheridan for Power (29), Gavin Power for Loftus (Blood, 32-34), Cormac Curran for Brian Curran (57), Jack Fitzgerald for Kiely (65).
Stephen Ryan; Fionn Hallinan, Conor Gleeson, James McGrath; Oisin Walsh, Tom Barron, Tholom Guiry; Dermot Ryan, Evan Spellman; Jamie Barron, Ciaran Walsh, Billy Byrne; Michael Morrissey, Sean Walsh, Aaron Ryan. Tadgh Walsh for Gleeson (Blood, 15-17), Dylan Guiry for Aaron Ryan (21), Patrick Walsh for Byrne (45).
Eoin Morrissey (Erins Own).
