Wolfe Tones were always in control

Wolfe Tones will compete in senior B hurling again in 2013 following an easy win over Smith O’Briens at O’Garney Park in Sixmilebridge on Wednesday evening.

The Shannon club established control from an early stage and the outcome was clear long before Jim Hickey sounded the final whistle.

County U-21 forward Aaron Cunningham led the way and finished with a tally of 1-9 before he was substituted with just under ten minutes remaining.

Smith O’Brien’s went into this game without a number of key players. Trevor Howard, one of their more consistent players over the past seven or eight years, recently emigrated to Australia. Pat Vaughan, another of their more experienced players didn’t play on Wednesday as he departs for New Zealand this Thursday while Seamus Gleeson was ruled out due to injury.

There are three of the team’s leading lights and their absence was a huge blow to their hopes. They have one more chance to save their status and they will play either Whitegate or Ballyea in a few weeks time to determine who will drop to intermediate status for next season.

Wolfe Tones had 0-3 on the scoreboard through John Guilfoyle, Aaron Cunningham and Stephen McInerney before the Killaloe side opened their account through Liam Walsh in the seventh minute.

It was 0-6 to 0-2 by the end of the opening quarter and the Killaloe side were struggling to put pressure on the Wolfe Tones defence. A good move by the Shannon side ended with a Daniel Gallery goal after 22 minutes and they went on to lead at the break on a score of 1-9 to 0-4.

Seven unanswered points for the winners in the opening ten minutes of the second half put the issue beyond doubt. Smith O’Brien’s had one opportunity during this period but Paul Hogan in the Wolfe Tones goal saved well from John Cusack.

Tones were dominant throughout the field and it took an excellent save by Mark McInerney from Aaron Cunningham, midway through the half, to keep the Killaloe side from going further behind.

Barry Loughnane, Jamie Roughan, Brian O’Connell, John Guilfoyle and the very impressive Aaron Cunningham were always prominent for the winners. Mark McInerney and Mark Stritch were prominent throughout for Smith O’Brien’s while John Cusack caused a few problems for Wolfe Tones in the second half.

In proved to be a good night for the Shannon club as their minors recorded a 5-13 to 2-11 win over Whitegate in a C championship game played at Shannon

Wolfe Tones: Paul Hogan; Declan McCarthy, Brendan Hughes, Barry Loughnane; Jamie Roughan, Bobby McPhillips, Stephen McInerney; Kevin McCafferty, Brian O’Connell; Daniel Gallery, Gary O’Connell, John Guilfoyle; Davy Dunne, Aaron Cunningham, Daithi O’Connell.
Subs: Alan Hehir for G O’Connell (47 minutes); Gareth McPhilips for McCarthy (50 minutes); Gary Leahy for Cunningham (52 minutes); Shane Chambers for McInerney (54 minutes); Martin O’Connell for B O’Connell (57 minutes).
Scorers: Aaron Cunningham (1-9); Daniel Gallery (1-1); John Guilfoyle (0-3); Bobby McPhillips (65s), Gary Leahy (0-2 each); Barry Loughnane, Gary O’Connell, Daithi O’Connell, Gareth McPhillips (free), Stephen McInerney (0-1 each).
Frees: 8; wides: 11; 65s: 2.
Bookings: Daithi O’Connell (16 minutes); Shane Chambers (59 minutes).

Smith O’Brien’s: Mark McInerney; David Gough, Brian McInerney, Joe Furlong; Mark Stritch, Cian Nolan, Micheál Ryan; Mark O’Halloran, Liam Walsh; John Cusack, Shane O’Brien, Dean Sinnott; Anthony O’Sullivan, Keith Stritch, Kevin Walsh.
Subs: Eoghan Ryan for Furlong (52 minutes); Niall McInerney for Sinnott (57 minutes).
Scorers: John Cusaack (1-1); Mark Stritch (0-2); Liam Walsh, Keith Stritch (0-1 each).
Frees: 9; wides: 12; 65s: 1.

Referee: Jim Hickey, Cratloe.