Carnew cruise to big win
ARP's Phillip Byrne stumbles as Carnew's Mark Collins closes in.
COUNTY CHAMPIONS Carnew are through to the semi-final of the Senior hurling championship after romping their way to the last four with a comprehensive 19-points win over luckless Arklow Rock Parnells at Aughrim on Saturday. There was a time when there would scarcely be a puck of a sliothar between these two great hurling rivals, but a yawning gap has opened up in latter years as the Arklow seasiders strive to rise phoenix like from the ashes.
This really was a no-contest game from the start with Carnew in total control from the word go, careering out of sight by half-time as they built up an untouchable lead of 1-11 to 0-2.
In contrast to the relatively smooth running Carnew hurling machine, ARP are just not gelling in the same way as they did in 2009 and the task facing their backroom team now is to get the players refocused over the next two weeks for the quarter-finals in the hope of making it to the last four.
TJ Byrne was back from London for this match and he showed with his two points what a valuable asset he can be to ARP when on song. He was also unlucky to be whistled back for a free in the first-half when he was bearing down on the Carnew goal with menacing intent of raising a green flag.
Willy Cullen also had a half chance of a goal for ARP in the opening half, but overall the Arklow seasiders were dining off the scraps from the table of hurling riches that Carnew (and indeed Glenealy) possess at the moment.
Midfielder TJ Hennessy towered above the rest for Carnew on this occasion, with full-forward Emmett O'Sullivan and Barry Bolger at corner-back not far behind.
ARP had a solid full-back line in Michael Priest, Trevor Mellon and Pat Bracken; Danny Curran gave his everything to match as usual, while young Minor players Eamonn Quirke and Mark Murphy give some hope for the future with their promising performances.
Carnew scorers: Don Hyland (1-5), TJ Hennessy (0-4), Emmett O'Sullivan (0-4), Thomas Kennedy (1-0), Gary Doran (0-2), Eugene Jordan (0-1), Joe Murphy (0-1).
ARP scorers: TJ Byrne (0-2), Danny Curran (0-2).
- MARK KENNEDY
