Dungarvan's 17-year stint in the senior ranks comes to an end
Dungarvan's young guns are downbeat as they leave the field after suffering relegation from the JJ Kavanagh & Sons Co. Senior Hurling Championship after defeat to Roanmore at Cappoquin Logistics Fraher Field. Photos: Eddie Dee
Dungarvan’s 17-year stay in the Waterford Senior Hurling Championship came to an end on Sunday afternoon as they suffered a seven-point defeat to Roanmore at Cappoquin Logistics Fraher Field in the final round of the group stage of the JJ Kavanagh & Sons County Senior Hurling Championship.
Ironically, Roanmore were the side that joined Dungarvan in the senior ranks following their Intermediate Championship triumph in 2010, and it was the city club that ultimately sealed the Old Boro's relegation with a deserved victory.
The signs had been ominous for Dungarvan throughout the year. Competing in Division 2 of the County Senior Hurling League, they failed to win any of their five league matches and will drop to Division 3 next season. Their championship campaign followed a similar pattern, with no victories from five outings. Their best result came against Ballygunner's second string when the sides finished level at the St Molleran's Club Grounds.
In fairness to Dungarvan, injuries and player availability issues meant they were rarely able to field their strongest team throughout either competition.
Roanmore, meanwhile, enjoyed an impressive group-stage campaign. They finished with nine points from five games, their only dropped point coming against Fourmilewater in the penultimate round. They ultimately finished behind the Ballymacarbry side only on scoring difference.
The contest itself struggled to spark into life for long periods. Roanmore had already secured their place in the quarter-finals, while Dungarvan appeared weighed down by the knowledge that relegation was a real possibility.
The opening quarter was competitive, however, with the sides level on three separate occasions during the first 12 minutes. Sean Roche and Ryan McGovern traded early scores before Ian Chester and Billy Hickey did likewise. Scores from Sean Burke and Chester edged Roanmore two clear, but replies from McGovern and Pierce Quann restored parity.
A brace of points from the influential Sean Burke pushed Roanmore ahead once more. Johnny Burke responded for Dungarvan to leave the minimum between the sides, and after another Burke effort for Roanmore, scores from Ryan McGovern and Eddie Burke levelled matters for a fourth time.
That proved to be Dungarvan's final scoring contribution of the half. Roanmore finished strongly, with Gavin O'Brien landing two frees and Billy Nolan and Ian Chester also finding the target to give their side a 0-11 to 0-7 advantage at the interval.
The teams exchanged early second-half scores through O'Brien and Eoin O'Callaghan before Dungarvan struck for the opening goal on 40 minutes. Donnacha Hayes Hamilton delivered a cross-field ball towards the stand side where Billy Hickey gathered possession and surged forward before setting up Ryan McGovern, who finished clinically to the net and cut the deficit to a single point.
The next score was always likely to be significant and it arrived for Roanmore. More importantly, it came in the form of a goal. Conor Ryan gathered a Dungarvan sideline ball on 46 minutes and found Gavin O'Brien. O'Brien quickly released Rory Furlong, who in turn picked out Lee Hearne, and the substitute blasted past Rian Crotty to restore daylight between the sides.
That major left Roanmore five points clear and effectively ended Dungarvan's hopes of a comeback.
The final quarter produced a flurry of scores. Ryan McGovern led the Dungarvan challenge with two points, while Joe Duggan, Kealan Daly and Jack Lacey also raised white flags. Roanmore responded through Sean Burke and Ian Chester, who both added two points, while Gavin O'Brien, Lee Hearne and Sean Roche also chipped in as the city side closed out a comfortable 1-20 to 1-13 victory.
Sean Burke 0-6, Lee Hearne 1-2 (0-1f), Ian Chester 0-4, Gavin O'Brien 0-4 (3f), Sean Roche 0-2, Brian Nolan 0-1, Billy Nolan 0-1.
Ryan McGovern 1-5 (0-4f), Jack Lacey 0-1, Kealan Daly 0-1, Joe Duggan 0-1, Eoin O'Callaghan 0-1, Eddie Burke 0-1, Johnny Burke 0-1, Pierce Quann 0-1, Billy Hickey 0-1.
Jack Chester; Alex Furlong, Conor Ryan, Cian Carroll; Frank McGrath, Billy Nolan, Dean Walsh; Sean Burke, Gavin O'Brien; Ian Chester, Emmett O'Toole, Ethan Flynn; Paul O'Sullivan, Rory Furlong, Sean Roche.
Lee Hearne for Emmett O'Toole (36), Brian Nolan for Paul O'Sullivan (44), Eoin Burke for Alex Furlong (56).
Rian Crotty; Robbie Wall, Jack Lacey, Brendan Dillon; Eddie Burke, Donnacha Hayes Hamilton, John Meehan; Billy Hickey, Joe Duggan; Brian Curran, Pierce Quann, Ryan McGovern; Eoin O'Callaghan, Johnny Burke, Luke Power.
Oisin Byrne for Eoin O'Callaghan (47), Daniel Healy for Luke Power (52), Kealan Daly for Pierce Quann (52), Ronan Gleeson for Billy Hickey (60).
Paddy Smith (Shamrocks).
