Ringtown pay the penalty as Plunkett's secure second win

St Oliver Plunkett's 1-18, Ringtown 1-15

Eight points, including six frees, from midfielder, Matthew Cunningham, helped St Oliver Plunkett’s to victory over Ringtown, in round two of the Senior B hurling championship on Sunday in Killucan.

The game had two scores before the clock ticked by one minute as James Boylan for Ringtown and Cunningham for Plunkett’s traded efforts. There was no shortage of chances for scores as the game took on a strange sort of dynamic but with Emmet Corrigan firing well from frees for Ringtown, they always looked in good shape. Corrigan would hit three while his midfield teammate, Mark Cunningham, also found his range. To keep pace, Plunkett’s had their own sharpshooters in the Cunningham’s of Matthew and Andrew (one apiece), a superb score from Davy Gavin, and a well struck long range free from goalkeeper, Conor Bracken.

Level at 0-5 each and heading into the final ten minutes of the half, Ringtown applied the pressure again and got reward with Corrigan’s free going over soon after white flags were raised by Ciaran Moran and Mark Cunningham. Now on a good roll of scores and chances, Ringtown hit the net just approaching the break. A long, hopeful ball into the Plunkett’s defence was not dealt with and Luke Moore gathered well before taking aim and drilling to the net, giving Conor Bracken no chance. Credit to Plunkett’s, however, as they still found time to hit two more points, both from Matthew Cunningham, to only trail by the Moore goal at the interval, 1-10 to 0-10.

Ringtown opened the second half as they did the first by getting an early point. This time, Mark Cunningham striking well less than twenty seconds after the restart. The game had been quite devoid of a real flow and this pattern continued as no score from play came in the following period. Plunkett’s relying on Cunningham (two frees) and Davy Gavin (free) for their points while Ringtown also replied with two Corrigan placed balls. With just under twenty to go and trailing by that goal still, Plunkett’s were handed a lifeline. Ringtown corner-back, Desmond Smyth, tried to swing to clear a loose ball but only ended up leaving Colm O’Leary on the ground and Seán Carroll awarded the penalty. Goalkeeper, Conor Bracken, strode forward to strike home and level the tie.

A quick swapping of points from the two number 12’s, Andrew Cunningham and Corrigan, kept the tie on parity before an unanswered trio from Plunkett’s Cunningham, O’Leary, and Bracken (free) put breathing space between the sides. Late scores at either end changed nothing and despite having chances to get more points on the board and perhaps secure something from the game, Ringtown missed out with some poor wides as Plunkett’s took the points and kept their 100% start going.

Scorers – St Oliver Plunkett’s: M Cunningham 0-8 (6f), C Bracken 1-2 (2f, 1 pen), A Cunningham, D Gavin 0-3 (1f) each, A Craig, C O’Leary 0-1 each.

Ringtown: E Corrigan 0-9 (7f), M Cunningham 0-4, L Moore 1-0, C Moran, J Boylan 0-1 each.

St Oliver Plunkett’s: Conor Bracken; John Fry, Zach Aherne, Dylan Carey; Liam Carey, Aaron Craig, Conor Kelly; Matthew Cunningham, Nathan Cornally; Cathal Craig, Thomas Meehan, Andrew Cunningham; Donnacha Maguire, Colm O’Leary, Davy Gavin. Subs used: Ross Corroon for Maguire (50), Dáire Cleary for A Cunningham (56), Darragh Hughes for Gavin (inj., 60+1), Darragh Geraghty for Fry (inj., 60+6)

Ringtown: Darragh Moran; Desmond Smyth, Niall Moran, Ryan Moore; Paul Nangle, Ciarán Moran, Owen Harper; James Boylan, Mark Cunningham; Callum O’Boyle, Charles Flynn, Emmet Corrigan; Darren Kilcoyne, Luke Moore, Seán Boylan. Subs used: Johnny Hardman for O’Boyle (h-t), Jason Moran for S Boylan (38), Dominic Flynn for Smyth (56).

Referee: Seán Carroll (Cullion).