Brownstown bow out after heroic effort in Drogheda

St Feichins 1-16 Brownstown 1-14

It was not to be for Brownstown who came up just short down the home straight, as St Fechins landed three points without reply in added time to seal their place in the Leinster Junior Hurling semi final.

Despite defeat, a hugely vocal Brownstown support who travelled to the Gaelic Grounds, Drogheda, appreciated the herculean effort that their players put in over the 60 minutes and clapped them off at the end. The visitors stayed neck and neck with the Fechins, despite being reduced to 14 players following the second half dismissal of Kenny Higgins after 42 minutes.

In fact, both sides deserve huge plaudits for their willingness to fight for that second ball, as they brought fire and brimstone to the heat of battle, which included a frenetic first half in what was a wonderful advertisement for Junior club hurling.

Both sides went toe to toe from the start, trading scores inside the opening minute. The lively Paul Matthews opened the scoring for the Fechins, which was cancelled out by a fine strike from Donal Lane following neat set up play by Patrick O’Reilly.

By the 6th minute, Brownstown had established a 0-4 to 0-2 lead, thanks to some accurate shooting from Donal Lane, Robbie Dugdale, and Niall Leonard, who played a key role in several scores, by winning turnovers for his side.

The Fechins had made it 0-2 apiece through Seaghan Conneely, before Dugdale and Leonard gave Brownstown a two point lead.

After a Patrick Lynch free closed the gap to a point, the Fechins landed the first knockout blow, when the marauding Ross Berkery’s shot found its way to the net, after David Stephenson had got his hand to the Brownstown puckout.

Whenever the Fechins fired the direct ball from the half back line into the inside line, especially into Paul Matthews, they caused havoc, and Matthews collected a long ball from

George Allen before pointing for the second time to give his side a three point lead at 1-4 to 0-4 on 8 minutes.

Thanks to some more fine shooting from Patrick Lynch, and Ryan Walsh, St Fechins were able to keep their opponents at arm’s length, as they led by 1-6 to 0-6 by the end of the first quarter.

The Fechins had to withstand noticeable pressure from the Westmeath champions, with defenders Peter Fortune and Oisin Byrne standing up when counted and clearing their lines time and time again.

A Jamie Fitzsimons free closed the gap to two points, before two frees from Lynch gave the Fechins a 1-8 to 0-7 lead with 8 minutes left until the break.

However, Brownstown came roaring back into the game with a goal that you felt was always coming. Surrounded by several Fechins defenders and with his back to goal, a clever Donal Lane pass was collected by Robbie Dugdale 14 metres out from goal. Dugdale’s fizzing strike found its way to the top corner of the net, leaving it 1-8 to 1-7.

Lane himself finished with 13 possessions over the hour.

St Fechins responded to this setback, when Patrick Lynch fired over from play to regain that two point lead for his side, as both sides traded two scores each, with Emmett Cunneen (2), trading scores with Patrick Lynch and the energetic Ross Berkery for the Fechins.

In the midst of all this, Brownstown keeper James Moore produced a fine stop to deny St Fechins’ David Stephenson from close range.

That left it at 1-11 to 1-9 in St Fechins’ favour at the break, with little to choose between the sides. Both sides showed impressive efficiency in front of the posts, with the Fechins amassing 1-11 from 15 shots in that half, and Brownstown scoring 1-9 from 16 efforts.

Upper-hand

The second half was a slightly scrappier affair, with both sides knowing that a Leinster championship semi final appearance was at stake.

Paul Matthews continued to cause problems for the Brownstown backline, as another score from him cancelled out an early strike from Brownstown captain Conor Shaw from long range.

A fine strike from range by David Stephenson gave the Fechins a three point lead at 1-13 to 1-10, eight minutes after the restart.

Brownstown were then reduced to fourteen players when defender Kenny Higgins was sent off for a second yellow card by referee Dean Alford, and with that, you felt that Brownstown’s dreams were dashed.

Despite the numerical advantage, St Fechins failed to register a score for 20 minutes, following Stephenson’s point.

Brownstown were getting the upper-hand on the second ball in the middle sector, winning 12 out of 21 second half puckouts, including 6 out of 12 on the Fechins puckout.

Players like Cormac Foley, Emmett Cunneen, Niall Leonard, Anthony Mulaney and Patrick O’Reilly were particularly effective in winning second balls, as well as captain Conor Shaw.

Thanks to the free taking of Jamie Fitzsimons, Brownstown were level at 1-13 apiece, with 12 minutes remaining.

However, Garry Mangan’s side will rue not making it count on the scoreboard, scoring only 0-5 from 17 second half shots, including 0-1 from 12 shots in open play.

Sub Shaun Smith’s ground stroke on the angle was kept out by Fechins keeper Dan O’Neill, only for Emmett Cunneen to fire the rebound wide, while St Fechins’ Conor Matthews decisive hook denied Cunneen a free shot at goal moments later.

Having lost their way for periods in that second half, St Fechins kept their composure when it mattered.

Patrick Lynch gave the Fechins the lead deep into added time, before points from Sean Kerrisk and Ruairi Morrissey gave the Fechins a 1-16 to 1-13 lead.

A late score from Emmett Cunneen closed the gap to two, but St Fechins held on to seal their place in the Leinster semi final, despite a gallant effort from Brownstown.

St Fechins: Dan O’Neill; Conor Matthews, Peter Fortune, Colin Griffin; George Allen, Oisin Byrne, Danny Morgan; David Stephenson (0-1), Donal Ryan; Ryan Walsh (0-1), Ross Berkery (1-1), Seaghán Conneely (0-1); Sean Kerrisk (0-1), Patrick Lynch (0-7; 5f), Paul Matthews (0-3). Subs: Ruairi Morrissey (0-1) for Conneely (HT), Sean Hodgins for Conor Matthews (45 mins).

Brownstown: James Moore; Oisin Kiernan, Philip Gilsenan, Kenny Higgins; Anthony Mulvaney, Patrick O’Reilly, Cormac Foley; Robbie Dugdale (1-1), Conor Shaw (0-1; 1f); Donal Lane (0-2), Brian Guerin, Tiernan Purcell; Niall Leonard (0-1), Emmett Cunneen (0-3), Jamie Fitzsimons (0-6; 6f). Subs: Shaun Smith for Purcell (43 mins), Tom Flynn for Lane (50 mins).

Referee: Dean Alford (Co Dublin).