*Aaron Landy meets resistance from Shane Golden and Caimin Morey. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
FADING light greeted the final whistle in Fr. Murphy Memorial Park but there is still plenty of electricity in Sixmilebridge’s legs as proven with a gritty opening victory over the Parish.
Sixmilebridge 1-18
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield 1-12
Venue: Fr Murphy Memorial Park, Newmarket-on-Fergus
Having settled into their stride with Alex Morey’s eleventh minute goal, Sixmilebridge appeared to quash St Joseph’s youthful revolt all too easily on their way to a 1-10 to 0-07 half-time cushion.
However, despite facing into the conditions, the Parish, who had an average age of 20 in their rearguard, finally ignited their challenge with five of the first six points including two from captain Cian Barron the first of which could have easily been a goal.
Lowering the deficit to just two by the two-thirds mark, Oisin O’Brien’s side simply couldn’t complete their recovery as a few needless errors and below-par shooting let the ‘Bridge off the hook.
With room to breathe, Sixmilebridge’s title winning know-how of five titles since 2013 stormed to the fore in turning the screw on their fresh-faced opponents as they raided for the next six points including a brace of monster frees from goalkeeper Derek Fahy who had also stopped an Alan O’Neill 20 metre free.
Eight clear by the hour mark, Sixmilebridge could even afford to concede a second O’Neill piledriving free to the net and still win comfortably as substitute Brian Carey responded with the final score of an entertaining opening contest.
For the Parish, it was another frustrating case of what could have been as they had more than enough chances to go blow-for-blow with their lofty opponents but were too easily thrown off track by Alex Morey’s opening goal and outside of O’Neill’s injury-time strike, they inexplicably failed to grab another score in the final twenty minutes.
Cian Barron and substitute Tom Hannan led best by example with Alan O’Neill (second half) and centre-back Darragh McMahon also influential.
On the flip side, Sixmilebridge will be content to have passed their first test, particularly as this was a major step into the unknown. Alex Morey’s ruthlessness in front of the post and Barry Fitzpatrick’s superb defensive defiance were the clear highlights of their first half offering, with a lot less to appreciate in the second period outside of inspirational leadership from the versatile Seadna Morey, the lively return of Jason Loughnane and Derek Fahy’s final quarter impact at both ends.
Their attention diverts to Ruan tomorrow afternoon (2pm) to see how Group 4 rivals Newmarket-on-Fergus and Crusheen fare, with last year’s finalists Crusheen up next for the ‘Bridge while the Blues will take on neighbours St Joseph’s in a fortnight’s time.
Scorers for Sixmilebridge: Alex Morey 1-9 (6f, 1’65), Brian Corry 0-3, Derek Fahy 0-2 (2f), Seadna Morey 0-1, Cathal Malone 0-1, Conor Deasy 0-1, Brian Carey 0-1
Scorers for St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield: Davie Conroy 0-4 (1f), Cian Barron 0-3, Alan O’Neill 1-0, Eoin Lahiffe 0-2, Darragh McMahon 0-1, Tom Hannan 0-1, Michael Nash 0-1
Sixmilebridge
1: Derek Fahy
17: Colm Flynn
3: Barry Fitzpatrick
4: Fiachra Ó Braoin
5: Conor Deasy
6: Leon Kelly
20: Paidi Fitzpatrick
7: Seadna Morey
8: Jason Loughnane
10: Jamie Shanahan
29: Cathal Malone
12: Shane Golden
13: Brian Corry
14: Lorcan Fitzpatrick
15: Alex Morey
Subs
11: Caimin Morey for L. Fitzpatrick (43)
21: David Kennedy for A. Morey (55)
9: Brian Carey for Golden (57)
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield
1: Aaron Landy
4: Adam Mungovan
3: Fionn Kelleher
2: Francis Meaney
7: Mark O’Connor
6: Darragh McMahon
5: Eoin McMahon
8: Jack Hannan
9: Darragh O’Shea
17: Eoghan Thynne
11: Davie Conroy
12: Michael Nash
14: Alan O’Neill
13: Cian Barron
15: Eoin Lahiffe
Subs
10: Tom Hannan for J. Hannan (19, inj)
23: Conor Daly for E. McMahon (36-38, BS)
20: Brian Guilfoyle for Nash (51)
Referee: Eoghan O’Leary (Whitegate)
