Champions Clonoulty Rossmore make winning start to defence of Minor B hurling title

Defending champions Clonoulty/Rossmore made a winning start to this year’s Bewley’s West Minor B Hurling championship with a comfortable 3-17 to 1-7 victory over Emly/Treacys in Kilcommon.

Emly/Treacys went into the game knowing defeat would see them out of the competition. 

Goals were key for Clonoulty/Rossmore in the first half as they laid the foundation for their victory.

Danny Slattery opened the scoring for them within the first minute. Two minutes later Cathal Ryan followed up with a superb goal, which would be the last score they had for some time.  Emly/Treacys opened their account with a point from play after seven minutes and followed this with another from play seven minutes later.  

During this period of low scoring both goalies pulled off a great save each.  

Stephen Ferncombe ended the Clonoulty/Rossmore drought when he had his first point from a place ball on the eighteenth minute.  Clonoulty/Rossmore took control of the game at this stage outscoring their opponents 2-4 to 0-2 for the remainder of the half. Jack Kennedy with both goals. 

Emly Treacys started the second half well and had two points in as many minutes but then Clonoulty/Rossmore gradually started to score at will and the Emly/Treacys had no answer to this. Emly/Treacys did create chances but were struggling to find the target. They did however get a goal in the end.

Clonoulty/Rossmore will now play Lattin/Cullen Gaels to see who finishes first and second in the group while Emly/Treacys will now play in the shield competition. 

Clonoulty/Rossmore: Jason O’Dwyer, Eoin O’Gorman, Thomas Croke, Paddy Ryan L, Robert Doyle, Tommy Ryan, Patrick Kennedy, Sean Ryan R(0.01), Stephen Ferncombe (0.08, 5 frees), Jack Ryan Casey (0.03) Aidan Slattery (0.02), Aaron Kennedy, Cathal Ryan R (1.01) Jack Kennedy (2.0), Danny Slattery (0.02)

Subs used: Evan Donnelly, Will Ryan, Sean Ryan H, Ryan Davern