Leinster Schools Senior Hurling B Championship

Gorey CS........................1-20

Wexford CBS..................1-8

The senior hurlers of Gorey Community Schools completed the group stages of the Leinster Schools ‘B’ championship with a 100% record following this twelve point victory over a brave and defiant but ultimately outclassed Wexford CBS last Thursday in Gorey CS.

As a result Gorey CS face Callan CBS in the quarter-final this week while Wexford CBS fail to qualify from the group. Group runners-up Enniscorthy CBS will take on Abbey CC (Ferrybank) in the last eight.
Wexford CBS dominated the opening fifteen minutes but only led by 0-4 to 0-2 as Stephen Kearney (2), Conor Coleman (free) and Liam Rockett pointed whereas Gary Molloy grabbed a brace for the home side (one free).

It was a tied game at 0-4 all on twenty minutes after Molloy converted a ’65 and a free but it was at this stage that Gorey upped the pace and they raced into a 0-9 to 0-6 lead with Dickie Murphy’s half-time whistle approaching as Molloy continued his hot form from frees along with points from Aidan Doyle and influential midfielder Cathal Dunbar.

Conor Fenlon and Stephen Kearney kept CBS in touch but they suffered a killer blow just before the break when James Lynch pounced on a rebounded save by Jack O’Leary and rattled the net to leave six points between the sides (1-9 to 0-6).

Gorey continued their dominance in the second half as Cathal Dunbar showed his class with four points from play and Gary Molloy continued to punish an overworked CBS defence with accurate free-taking.

CBS’s Liam Rockett flicked home a goal in the 40^th minute to make the score 1-14 to 1-6 but the Gorey students kept them at arm’s length with a spread of points before the end from Molloy, Dunbar and a trio of fine scores by James Lynch.

In fairness Wexford CBS – in their first year at this grade – never gave up and fought until the end but they found it extremely difficult to score throughout the game while the Gorey lads scored much easier despite a strong showing from the CBS defence led by Nicky Lawlor, Daniel Lynch and Ciaran Kirwan while Stephen Kearney was the pick of their attack.

Gorey had strong performances from Ollie Doran, Cathal Dunbar, James Lynch, Yusif Frih and Gary Molloy and can look forward to the rest of the championship with confidence as they are a well balanced and hard working side.

Gorey CS: Darragh Hughes (Naomh Eanna); Eoin Molloy (Naomh Eanna), Eoin Corcoran (Ballygarret); Ross Murphy (Naomh Eanna); Jack Cullen (Naomh Eanna), Ollie Doran (Craanford), Kevin Harrington (Naomh Eanna 0-1); Rhys Owley (Tara Rocks), Cathal Dunbar (Ballygarret 0-5); James Lynch (Naomh Eanna 1-3), Yusif Frih (Liam Mellows), Gary Molloy (Naomh Eanna, 0-10 7 frees, 1 ’65); Tiernan Doyle (Naomh Eanna), Aidan Doyle (Naomh Eanna 0-1), Kevin Byrne (Liam Mellows).
Subs: Cillian Donohoe (Naomh Eanna) for A. Doyle, Eanna Carroll (Blackwater) for Murphy, John Kehoe (Naomh Eanna) for Byrne, Seamus O’Donnell (Naomh Eanna) for Harrington.
Wexford CBS: Jack O’Leary (Volunteers); Cormac Byrne (Faythe Harriers), Nicky Lawlor (Faythe Harriers), Daniel Lynch (Faythe Harriers); Jack Murphy (Faythe Harriers), Ciaran Kirwan (Faythe Harriers), Joe Redmond (Shelmaliers Capt.); Conor Fenlon (Glynn-Barntown 0-1), John Hamilton (St. Martin’s); Darragh Rossiter (St. Martin’s), Liam Rockett (Shelmaliers 1-1), Mikey Coleman (St. Martin’s); Conor Coleman (St. Martin’s 0-2 frees), Stephen Kearney (0-4, 1 free), Rob Donnelly (Buffers Alley).
Subs: Kevin Corrigan (Blackwater) for Fenlon inj., Padraig Rossiter (St. Martin’s) for M. Coleman, Stephen Rossiter (Shelmaliers) for C. Coleman.

Ref: Dickie Murphy (Rapparees).