Ryan runs riot with five-star display for Fourmilewater
Lismore's Joseph O'Keeffe gets away from the challenge of Fourmilewater's Paddy Spelman.
The outstanding Aaron Ryan hit 2-11 and Sean Walsh notched 2-2 as Fourmilewater ran Lismore ragged with a five star showing to make it two wins from two in Group B of the Waterford Senior Hurling Championship.
The game was finely balanced before three Fourmilewater goals in ten minutes approaching half time turned matters on their head, and Walsh and substitute Michael Morrissey found the net in the second period to cap off a superb showing from the Nire men.
Jamie Barron got things started after just 17 seconds but two frees from Jack Prendergast and a Paudie Prendergast effort soon had Lismore 3-1 in front. A free and a 65 from Aaron Ryan levelled matters, before Lismore reeled off four on the spin in an early statement of intent.
Jack Prendergast found the target from another free, before Oisin O’Gorman struck from distance, Ray Barry cut inside and Paudie Prendergast was found in a pocket of space to make it 0-7 to 0-3.
Evan Spelman reduced arrears for Fourmilewater before Seanie Barry made a great save to deny Tom Barron on 16 minutes after he had been brilliantly picked out by Sean Walsh.
It didn’t take Fourmilewater long to level however as Aaron Ryan, Chris Ryan and a Walsh strike over the shoulder restored parity before they moved ahead with the opening goal on 20 minutes.
A searching ball into the square broke fortuitously into the path of Aaron Ryan, and he clinically buried to the bottom right corner past Barry. A Jack Prendergast free made it a two-point game, but Ryan struck for his and Fourmilewater’s second goal just moments later.
On 23 minutes, Sean Walsh rose highest and knocked it to Chris Ryan, he flicked it on to namesake Aaron and he bundled his strike under Barry to establish a five-point cushion.
Lismore responded well through Jack Prendergast, Ben O’Sullivan and Oisin O’Gorman but after Prendergast’s first from play - Jamie Barron popped up twice and Aaron Ryan struck off his left side to keep the five point lead intact.
Joseph O’Keeffe got in on the act for Lismore approaching half time, but they were soon seven down as goal number three arrived in the additional period.
A ruck of sorts emerged in the area but Sean Walsh refused to give up the cause, and he wrestled free of his man before squirming a strike to the net. O’Sullivan and a superb Jack Prendergast strike left matters finely poised as Fourmilewater went into the break 3-11 to 0-15 ahead.
Lismore would score just four points from here as Fourmilewater established real control. An Aaron Ryan free, a Spelman strike, a great score from Ryan from play and a 65 from the same man pushed the boat out further - while Seanie Barry had to be on hand to deny Michael Morrissey with a fine save at his near post.
Prendergast converted a free for Lismore’s first point in 17 minutes, before he saw a goalbound strike saved by Stephen Ryan. He then pointed the resultant 65, but it mattered little as Fourmilewater soon plundered goal number four.
Barry batted out a dipping effort from range but Sean Walsh did well to keep the sliotar in play, before cutting inside from the right and firing to the net with ease to kill any fleeting hope of a contest on 52 minutes.
He then turned provider to set up Aaron Ryan with another from play, before the cherry atop the cake arrived on 55 minutes - a superb ball from Paddy Spelman afforded Michael Morrissey the chance to turn on the afterburners, and he raced clear to bury to the bottom right corner and bring up goal number five.
Stephen Ryan then made a point-blank stop from Ben O’Sullivan to keep their clean sheet intact, before two from Ryan and a Walsh strike cancelled out efforts from youngsters Hugo Quann and Kealan Dunne as Fourmilewater romped to a deserved 5-19 to 0-19 success.
Aaron Ryan (2-11; 0-6f; 0-1 ‘65); Sean Walsh (2-2); Michael Morrissey (1-0); Jamie Barron (0-3); Evan Spelman (0-2); Chris Ryan (0-1)
ack Prendergast (0-9; 0-6f; 0-1 ‘65); Paudie Prendergast, Ben O’Sullivan and Oisin O’Gorman (0-2 each); Ray Barry, Joseph O’Keeffe, Hugo Quann and Kealan Dunne (0-1 each)
Stephen Ryan; James McGrath, Tadhg Walsh, Pat Walsh; Tholom Guiry, Oisin Walsh, Dermot Ryan; Tom Barron, Paddy Spelman; Jamie Barron, Liam O’Brien, Evan Spelman; Chris Ryan, Sean Walsh, Aaron Ryan.
Michael Morrissey for Chris Ryan (42); Fionn Hallinan for Tholom Guiry (44); Diarmuid Fahey for Liam O’Brien (58)
Seanie Barry; Josh Kiely, Jordan Shanahan, Connor Howard; Aaron Whelan, Jack Prendergast, Iarlaith Daly; Joseph O’Keeffe, Joe Lenihan; Charlie Lineen, Paudie Prendergast, Ben O’Sullivan; Oisin O’Gorman, Stephen Barry, Ray Barry.
Tadhg Duffin for Iarlaith Daly (40; blood); Iarlaith Daly for Tadhg Duffin (45); Hugo Quann for Joe Lenihan (56); Joseph O’Keeffe for Jamie O’Keeffe (56); Kealan Dunne for Stephen Barry (58)
Killian O’Sullivan (Cappoquin)
