Allianz NHL Division Three Round Five – Wicklow5-14 Fermanagh 0-07
A HAT-TRICK from Padraig Doyle helped fire Wicklow to a big 22-point victory over Fermanagh in the fifth round of the National Hurling League at Aughrim on Sunday afternoon.
Fermanagh’s wait for a win goes on, with relegation to Division Four seemingly very likely after a fifth straight defeat for the Erne hurlers.
Wicklow raced into an early lead with Brandon Ryan and Willie
Cash scoring early points, before Caolan Duffy registered the
opening point for the Fermanagh men.
Daniel Teague levelled the game with a good free for Fermanagh as they appeared to have settled into the game, only for their hard work to be outdone when Doyle struck for his first goal.
With 18 minutes on the clock, the ball was angled high into the Wicklow forward and he coolly turned his defender before smashing the ball high into the roof of the Erne net.
The physical Doyle then added three points for his side, before he swooped for a second goal to put his team 2-06 to 0-02 in front after 20 minutes. Doyle extended the Wicklow lead with two frees. Teague had a good goal chance when he took a quick free from 21 yards out but his effort was saved by Wicklow’s Conor McNally.
Teague did manage to point a free for Fermanagh and Wicklow were then dealt a blow when Ryan was sent off following a high challenge on Ciaran Duffy.
Fermanagh went in search of a much-needed goal and they came close after Sean Corrigan created a good chance, but his effort was again saved by the Wicklow goalkeeper. The Leinster side finished the half on top, opening up a 13-point advantage at the break, 2-10 to 0-03, as they had all but wrapped up the victory.
Fermanagh made a good start after the interval with Flanagan firing over from distance. Any chance of an Erne comeback was quickly dismissed however, when Teague was sent to the stands following a high tackle on Wicklow’s James Boland, with 46 minutes played.
Caoimhín Heaney and Danann McKeogh hit a few consolation frees for Fermanagh, but Wicklow controlled the second half, scoring 3-04, as they romped to a comfortable victory in Aughrim.
Teams
Wicklow: Conor McNally, Ian Clancy, Ben Kearney, Conall Byrne, Tommy Collins, Padráig Doran (0-02, 1f), James Boland, Brandon Ryan (0-01), Sam O’Dowd, Jack Phelan (0-01), Luke Evans, Willie Cash (0-01), Jack Doyle (0-01), Padraig Doyle (3-06, 1-4f), Seanie Germaine (1-00). Subs: Ken Cullen for O’Dowd (15), Eoin McCormack (1-00) for W Cash (46), Emmet Blanchfield for T Collins (54) Fionn Darcy (0-2) for L Evans (60), Patrick Murphy for J Phelan (60).
Fermanagh: Mark Slevin, Ronan McGurn, Seamus Cleary, Ciaran Duffy, Ben Corrigan, Caoimhín Heaney (0-01, 1f), Odhrán Johnston, Caolan Duffy (0-01), Thomas Burns, Daniel Teague (0-02, 2f), Aidan Flanagan (0-01), Jimmy Tormey, Shea McElroy, Danann McKeogh (0-02, 2f), Sean Corrigan. Subs: Padraig Johnston for Ciaran Duffy (temp), Darragh Flanagan for B Corrigan (51), Michael Rafferty for A Flanagan (51), Padraig Johnston for C Duffy (61), Darragh Donegan for J Tormey (68).
Referee: Nicky O’Toole (Waterford)
