Oulart The Ballagh 2-13 St Rynagh's 0-09
Reigning Leinster and Wexford champions, Oulart-the-Ballagh turned in a tremendous performance over 60 minutes to register a comfortable ten point victory over St Rynagh’s in their AIB Leinster Club senior hurling championship quarter-final at Innovate Wexford Park on Sunday.
The Wexford champions held their nerve despite the loss of key players as they totally dominated their opponents for the most part.
With the experienced Keith Rossiter (back injury) and Nicky Kirwan (gilmour groin) ruled out before the game they lost defender Eoin Moore to concussion midway through the opening half.
Just to add to their problems, experienced defender Paul Roche received a straight red carded two minutes into the second half, but the manner in which they overcame the setback speaks volumes for the young talent coming through.
Such was Oulart-the-Ballagh’s dominance through the opening stages they led 1-04 to 0-02 after 18 minutes, the goal coming through minor player Murtha Doyle who was on the receiving end of a movement initiated by Dessie Mythen and Garret Sinnot to find the net from close range.
Earlier they had points from Rory Jacob (2), Tommy Storey and Dessie Mythen, while the Rynagh’s opening two points came through Aidan Treacy and Matthew Maloney frees.
With David Redmond dominant in midfield, and Shaun Murphy outstanding at centre-back, the St. Rynagh’s attack was starved of quality ball only managing a further points through the remainder of the opening period, a Joseph O’Connor effort from out of midfield, but with the Wexford champions tagging on five further points they looked comfortable at the break, leading 1-09 to 0-03.
Two minutes into the second half Oulart-the-Ballagh had Paul Roche dismissed on a straight red card following an off the ball offence, which left Michael Jacob who had been introduced to midfield dropping back into a wing-back role.
Rory Jacob and Matthew Maloney exchanged points inside the opening five minutes of the second half, while midfielder David Redmond fired over an inspirational point out of midfield to extend his side into a 1-11 to 0-04 lead.
However St Rynagh’s were finding it difficult to fashion out scores with their short passing game making little gain against a determined home defence who continually cut out any threat to goal with fine interceptions and quality clearance from deep inside their own half.
Although the visitors did manage two successive points through Aidan Treacy and Matthew Maloney frees, to reduce the deficit - 1-11 to 0-06 - after 40 minutes, it was Oulart who took total control in the second half playing into the breeze, responding with points from Dessie Mythen and Peter Murphy.
It was sub Martin Óg Storey who closed out the scoring in the final minute finishing a Dessie Mythen pass to the net. as the reigning provincial tasted victory once again.
Oulart The Ballagh: C O’Leary; A Roche, D Morton, B Kehoe; P Roche (0-1), S Murphy, K Sheridan; D Redmond (0-1), E Moore; D Mythen (0-2), T Storey (0-1), P Murphy (0-1); R Jacob (0-6, 0-4 frees), G Sinnott (0-1), M Doyle (1-0). Subs: M Jacob for Moore (inj. 21); M Óg Storey (1-0) for Doyle (52); B Dunne for Redmond (55); N Redmond for Mythen (58).
St. Rynagh’s: C Clancy; D Maloney, D Shortt, B Conneely; C Hernon, A Treacy (0-3 frees), S Kenny; G Kelly; J O’Connor(0-2); P Quirke, S Dolan, R Hughes; N Wynne (0-1), G Rafferty, M Maloney (0-3, 0-1 free). Subs: N White for M Maloney (51); E Woods for Quirke (53).
Referee: J Keenan (Wicklow).
