Wolfe Tones on course for senior hurling four-in-a-row

02.10.10 | SHC Semi-Final | Wolfe Tones 2-16 Longford Slashers 0-12 | By Padraic O'Brien

Goals from John Newman and Andy Kelly in the early stages of the second half proved decisive as Wolfe Tones went on to beat Longford Slashers by the comfortable margin of ten points in the finish and must now be strongly fancied to complete the Senior Hurling Championship four-in-a-row when they confront Clonguish in the County Final at Pearse Park on Saturday next.

Already without the unavailable Seanie Stakelum going into the semi-final clash at Allen Park on Saturday evening last, Slashers suffered a significant setback when they were reduced to 14 players with just eight minutes gone in the game after corner-back Liam Kavanagh received a straight red card for his challenge on Wolfe Tones opponent Paddy Cullen.

However, it took the title holders quite some time to assert their superiority as they only held a slender 0-7 to 0-4 lead at the break but the extra man advantage was eventually utilised on the changeover and with just 30 seconds gone in the second half Seamus Hannon raced through to create the chance for John Newman to score the opening goal.

Things went from bad to worse for Slashers as less than three minutes later Andy Kelly planted the ball in the corner of the net after he received the perfect pass from Paddy Cullen in a well-worked move that also involved Hannon and the prominent county dual player was in the thick of the action again soon after when he fired over a fine point.

Slashers were now struggling badly as they trailed by 2-8 to 0-4 and while Michael Morrissey landed a well struck long range point in the 36th minute, Wolfe Tones quickly regained the upper hand with a point apiece from Cullen and Newman in quick succession.

Badly in need of a goal to give them a glimmer of hope, Slashers went close in the 39th minute when a shot from Karl Murray was fumbled by the opposing keeper John Nolan but he recovered to clear the danger before Gareth Ghee converted a free moments later.

Scores were then exchanged between Benny Stakem and Eoin Donnellan and after Martin Coyle registered another Wolfe Tones point, Gareth Ghee almost grabbed a spectacular goal when his brilliantly struck shot dropped just over the bar in the 46th minute.

Andy Kelly was then on target for Wolfe Tones and Slashers enjoyed a decent spell that yielded three points in quick succession through Eoin Donnellan (a magnificent long range free), Rory Donnellan and David Trappe – the latter setting off on a penetrating run through the Mostrim defence on his way to shooting over the bar from a tight angle.

Leading by 2-13 to 0-11, back came Wolfe Tones with a brace of points from Seamus Hannon (who once again raced through the slack Slashers defence) and John Newman (free) to consolidate their firm grip on the game and the losers got a consolation score from a Gareth Ghee free in the 57th minute.

The Edgeworthstown outfit had the last say in the final minute of normal time when John Newman landed a well struck point and it will be a big surprise if Mattie McLoughlin's well-balanced team fail to retain the JJ Duignan Cup at the expense of Clonguish, the beaten finalists in 2008 and 2009 and who last won the senior hurling title back in 2006.

However, Wolfe Tones were far from impressive in the first half and there was little separating the sides at the end of the first quarter with Slashers trailing by 0-3 to 0-1 after having a goal disallowed for a square infringement in the 13th minute.

Gareth Ghee (free) opened the scoring in the first minute but Wolfe Tones replied with three points from Paddy Cullen (a '65' and two frees) and by the 25th minute had extended their lead to 0-6 to 0-1 following excellent efforts from Seamus Hannon, John Newman and Mark Cassidy.

Just before the long range point from Cassidy, the Slashers keeper Tommy Hawes produced a fine save to stop a shot from substitute John Cullen and Hawes came to the rescue again soon after to prevent John Newman from finding the back of the net.

After going 25 minutes without a score, Gareth Ghee fired over a free for Slashers and while Paddy Cullen (free) replied for Wolfe Tones the underdogs finished the first half on a positive note with a point apiece from Eoin Donnellan and Ghee (another free).

That kept the sky-blues very much in contention but the reigning champions stepped up another gear direct from the throw-in at the start of the second half to score a couple of killer goals and maintained a commanding advantage throughout the second half.

WOLFE TONES: John Nolan; Sean McNally, Thomas Stakem, James Haam; Joe Dempsey, Sean Browne, Nathan Cox; John Lynam, Benny Stakem (0-1); Seamus Hannon (0-3), Martin Coyle (0-1), Andy Kelly (1-1); Mark Cassidy (0-1), John Newman (1-4, one point from free), Paddy Cullen (0-5, three frees, one '65').

Subs:- John Cullen for J Haam (14 mins); Jamie Carroll for S McNally (44 mins); Kevin Shine for J Lynam (44 mins); Keelan Cox for P Cullen (50 mins).

LONGFORD SLASHERS: Tommy Hawes; Liam Kavanagh, Hugh O'Kane, Brian Stakelum; Paddy Hegarty, Eoin Kavanagh, John Balfe; Gareth Ghee (0-6, five frees), David Trappe (0-1); Rory Donnellan (0-1), Eoin Donnellan (0-3, one free), Philip Stakelum; Fergal Walshe, Michael Morrissey (0-1), Karl Murray.

Sub:- Joe McDermott for F Walshe (half-time).

REFEREE: Fiachra Brennan (Westmeath).