Crookedwood have the edge over battling Brownstown

Crookedwood 1-13, Brownstown 2-9

An impressive 0-7 from Barry O’Mara helped Crookedwood to take the narrowest of victories over Brownstown in The Downs last Saturday evening, in a game full of stop-starts.

The main drama of the contest came in the opening seconds but from there it proved to be – despite the scoreline – a game littered with basic mistakes. In the end, the early positives for Brownstown did not last and they would succumb to yet another defeat in the Senior Hurling B Championship

Brownstown won the possession from the throw-in and following a few strides forward, midfielder Conor Rice opted to strike for goal with the first shot. He would probably have been forgiven for turning away expecting to be covering back as his effort dropped tamely short, only for Alan O’Mara in goals to lose his bearings and let the ball slide over the line.

Jamie Fitzsimons then pointed from distance before his opposite number Barry O’Mara did likewise from further out. The two swapped scores once again on ten minutes, Conor Shaw helping create the score for Fitzsimons with a deft flick while on his knees. Shaw then found the net in bizarre circumstances when his lofted ball into the forwards hopped into the goals making it 2-3 to 0-2.

John Ryan was having a tough time against Darren Dugdale and the sweeping Philip Gilsenan (back from injury) but did get a lovely score from out wide. It was the first score for The Wood since they stopped hitting hopeless balls high into the forwards, instead option for low, accurate passes.

The killer twist in the game came just prior to the interval when Ian McGovern beat James Moore to the ball inside and flicked to the unguarded goal. Quick scores in injury time at either end from Conor Rice and Brendan McCarthy meant it was honours-even heading to the dressing rooms – 2-5 to 1-8.

BLOCKS

A far less intense second half ensued but with neither side really taking a grip on proceedings it meant the outcome was always in the balance. By the 45th minute there was still no separating the sides as Lorcan and Barry O’Mara (free) bookended the replies in between from Emmet Cunneen and Fitzsimons (free), following a crude drag-down on Niall Leonard on the 20-metre line.

With seven minutes remaining and the Brownstown men one ahead, Feichin Brennan took aim from near half-way to split the posts and leave it 2-8 to 1-11. Darren Dugdale made a sensational catch under pressure to stop a potential goal chance for Crookedwood but there was nothing any of the defence could do to stop two quick scores from Ryan and McCarthy.

Although Fitzsimons replied to narrow it to one point, the Wood men were determined to hold out, putting in some big blocks at crucial moments. Overall, this was a good win for Feichin Brennan’s side, especially given the drawn game between the two top sides above them before the game.

Scorers - Crookedwood: B O’Mara 0-7 (5 frees), I McGovern 1-0, B McCarthy, J Ryan 0-2 each, F Brennan, L O’Mara 0-1 each. Brownstown: J Fitzsimons 0-5 (4 frees), C Rice, C Shaw 1-0 each, N Leonard 0-2, J Gavin, E Cunneen 0-1 each.

Crookedwood: Alan O’Mara; Keelan Varley, Séamus Savage, Ger Brennan; John Nally, Feichin Brennan, Adam Bate; Edward Nally, Matthew Ryan; Lorcan O’Mara, Ian McGovern, Brendan

McCarthy; John Ryan, Brian McLoughlin, Barry O’Mara. Subs used: Oisín Boyle for L O’Mara (50), Conor Savage for McLoughlin (50), Simon McCarthy for Bate (59).

Brownstown: James Moore; Kenny Higgins, Shaun Smith, Darren Dugdale; Tom Flynn, Philip Gilsenan, Oisín Kiernan; Conor Rice, Robbie Dugdale; Jack Gavin, Conor Shaw, Tiernan Purcell; Emmet Cunneen, Niall Leonard, Jamie Fitzsimons. Subs used: Gary Smith for Purcell (49).

Referee: John Dermody (Lough Lene Gaels).

Examiner's Eye on the game

Player-Of-The-Match

Barry O’Mara (Crookedwood): O’Mara got the scores when needed, both from placed-balls and play, which proved crucial.