By Larry Cooney

Fermanagh      2-15

Warwickshire  2-05

There was no fairytale ending for hurling league debutants Warwickshire who were heavily defeated by Fermanagh in the Division 3B final atParnellParklast Sunday. The Exiles were never in contention against theUlstermen who always played with a higher level of intensity that gave them the edge from start to finish.

Although having the benefit of whatever breeze there was playing into the Donnycarney end, Warwickshire looked distinctly nervy in the opening exchanges after falling behind by two points in the opening three minutes through scores from Sean Corrigan and a Ryan Bogue free.

Warwickshire corner back Chris Brough did eventually get the Exiles off the mark in the sixth minute but it was very evident that they were struggling with the pace in a number of areas including midfield. Consequently Warwickshire fell further behind through points from Shea Curran and Eoin Morrissey after ten minutes before Fermanagh corner forward Sean ‘Rambo’ Corrigan accepted a pass from Shea Curran to score the first of his brace of goals for the Ernesiders.

Warwickshire simply had no answer to the lively Corrigan whose pace always caused concern in the Exiles defence. They should have fallen further behind soon afterwards when John Paul McGarry looked set to score a second Fermanagh goal but goalkeeper Mick Cremin somehow saved the day for the Exiles.

But after Kieran Courtney scored Warwickshire’s second point in the ninth minute, a foul on the same player gave Michael Ivors an opportunity to open his account in the sixteenth minute.

When midfielder Mick Bermingham found the same player with a pass two minutes later the Exiles had reduced the deficit to just  a goal when the score was 1-4 to 0-4.

But instead of settling into their stride Warwickshire again found themselves playing second fiddle in the second quarter and were outscored by 0-4 to just a Mick Bermingham point on the half-hour. Three of the Fermanagh points came from impressive midfielder Ryan Bogue including two frees and a sideline ball and the fourth score was also the last action of the first half from Andrew Breslin that left the half-time score: Fermanagh 1-8 Warwickshire 0-5.

Nothing less than a good third quarter could recover the situation for the struggling Warwickshire team. But the winners began the second half just as they started in the opening period and with an unmarked John Duffy getting on the score-sheet in the opening minute the Ernesiders continued to build on their first half advantage.

By the end of the third quarter a completely routed Exiles team’s only remaining priority was damage limitation after falling behind by twelve points. Points from Shea Curran, Declan McGarry, a pointed free from substitute Paul McGoldrick and a brace of points from top scorer and man-of-the-match Sean ‘Rambo’ Corrigan left the Ulstermen in cruise control.

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By Damian Dolan

Wicklow          1-16

London           0-12

Londoncould have won this game. The final seven-point winning margin flattered Wicklow, but again it was a lesson for the Exiles that they must take their chances when Leitrim come to town on June 3, and can ill afford to leak some of scores they did.

Leighton Glynn’s last gasp penalty undoubtedly added a gloss to the scoreline - it was very harsh onLondon. Ultimately the difference came when Wicklow racked up six unanswered scores in 12 second half minutes to open up a five-point, with the Exiles unable to stem the tide.

Of course, there were plenty more positives for manager Paul Coggins to extract, on the back of encouraging displays against Clare, Leitrim and Kilkenny. As one might hope, with only one round of league action to go, Coggins’ starting line up for the clash with Leitrim is beginning to take shape.

TheLondonboss can also warm himself with the fact that Sunday saw the Exiles’ net found for the first time in nearly three games, and only from the penalty spot. In addition, Lorcan Mulvey and Sean McVeigh were inspirational, Alan Raftery gave arguably his best performance since his return toLondoncolours and Mark Gottsche got another valuable 70 minutes under his belt.

London also played some delightful football at times, and had Michael Mullins finished one such flowing move then the outcome might well have been different, or at the very least a better reflection.

The Exiles had begun in clinical mood. Sharper from the first whistle, with Wicklow left in their starting blocks, Gotsche landed a 45.

London’s work-rate in the first half was exceptional; they harried and hassled Wicklow at every opportunity and pressure high up the field resulted in a score for Padraig McGoldrick. Gottsche extended the lead and the home side led by three points after just five minutes.

Londonwere on top, with Wicklow struggling to string a few passes together, but they needed to press home their advantage. They might have done so when Shane Doolan intercepted and the Exiles swept down field, only for Gottche to be denied by John Flynn, although it looked as if the Tir Chonaill Gaels man was being held by Anthony McLoughlin.

Gottsche couldn’t add the resulting 45 and Tony Hannon got Wicklow on the board with a free. When Michael McLoughlin closed the gap to a point, the Exiles had already chalked up four wides.

Wicklow had bluntedLondon’s flying start and Seanie Furlong levelled with a free, and a loose pass by Tony Gaughan, as the Exiles threatened to break out, eventually led to the away side taking the lead through Hannon, who then added another free.

London needed a response and it came from a fine score by McGoldrick – his side’s first for 25 minutes – and the same player immediately tied the scores at 0-5 a piece after being set up by Raftery.

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By Larry Cooney

Warwickshire              2-20

Leitrim                       2-10

League debutants Warwickshire qualified for the final of the National Hurling League Division 3B on Sunday April 15 after a thoroughly deserved ten-point victory over Leitrim at Heslin Park Ballinamore last Sunday afternoon. But although they were not flattered by their margin of victory they were made to battle all the way against a game and plucky Leitrim team.

Still reeling from a heavy defeat by their neighbours and Division 3B finalists Fermanagh, the Connacht men were playing for their pride just as much as a place in the Division 3B final and made it difficult for the visitors for much of the opening quarter and even led by 0-5 to 1-1 after 17 minutes.

Although Warwickshire were given a perfect start with a well-worked goal from Daragh Maskey in their opening attack into the Swanlinbar Road End after six minutes, the Leitrim midfield was dominating all the early exchanges.

After Daragh Poniard had opened the scoring in the fourth minute a brace of points from Clement Cunniffe from a free and a ’65 sandwiched between a point from play by Semaco Moradi put Leitrim ahead for the second time.

The Warwickshire defence had looked very shaky and unsettled in the opening quarter and it was no surprise when Leitrim were still ahead five minutes later after Michael Ivors and Clement Cunniffe had traded pointed frees.

But suddenly the Warwickshire midfield inspired by the impressive Michael Bermingham took the game by the scruff of the neck to hit an unanswered 1-8 in a fifteen minute spell and even threatened to overwhelm the hosts. The Warwickshire inside forward line of Emmett McCabe, Conal Maskey and top scorer Michael Ivors always appeared to have the measure of their opponents.

After two pointed frees from Ivors as well as points from Bermingham, Conal and Daragh Maskey, top scorer Ivors raised the second green flag of the afternoon.

Warwickshire were now in complete control and an Ivors point from play and scores from Emmett McCabe and Dwayne Sheedy opened up a 2-9 0-5 lead as half-time beckoned. But in a rare attack in the second quarter a menacing run from Semaco Moradi resulted in an untidy goal for Leitrim just before the half-time whistle to leave the half-time score: Warwickshire 2-9 Leitrim 1-5. 

Warwickshire’s seven-point interval lead became ten within seven minutes of the restart with scores from Emmet McCabe and Ivors (2) including his fourth successful free.

But although the visitors were also guilty of some very erratic shooting Leitrim simply failed to capitalise and had to wait until the 43^rd minute for their opening score of the second half from David Poinard. When the same player was fouled soon afterwards Clement Cunniffe pointed the resultant free.

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By Ian Cooney

London                       3-22

Roscommon                2-14 

London’s hurlers wound up their league campaign with a comfortable win over Roscommon at Athleague.

Eamonn Phelan’s men continued where they’d left off against Mayo to end the league on a high note, and they can now look forward to their opening round Christy Ring Cup clash with Meath on May 5 with renewed confidence after their defeats to Meath and Kildare.

The Exiles had targeted promotion and a place in the final at the start of the year, but those losses proved the difference. With so many changes to the panel, however, the Exiles can point to progress having been made.

“That was probably our best performance over the whole campaign,” said Phelan. “We’ve got better and better each week.

“For a good 60 minutes we played very well – we dominated bar the first five minutes of the game and the first five minutes of the second half.

“At this stage we’ve given everybody an opportunity and we know where we are. Player wise it’s gone very well and we’re quire happy with what we’ve got. We’re a long way towards it [knowing the starting line up], but at the same time we’ve five weeks to go to Meath. In five weeks time it could be a different team.

“We’ve been getting as the league has gone on - even the new lads coming in. PJ Rowe has been getting better and better every game, Lee Mackey came on a ton from where he was the week before.”

London and Roscommon went toe-to-toe in the Nicky Rackard Cup in Ruislip under a year ago. Since that London win, the contrast between the two paths both sides have taken was very much in evidence during this game.

Like all the teams they've played this season, however, Roscommon weren't sharp enough. They allowed London, who gave first starts to Shane Egan, Dave Maher and Kevin Walsh, too much space and time in possession and the Exiles had the players to make the home side pay for affording them too much latitude.

Once London weathered the early physical exchanges, they set about putting the scores on the board with Henry Vaughan and Martin Finn to the fore. But corner-forward Kevin Walsh proved to be the real scoring threat.

His first goal arrived in the 11th minute when a long delivery from midfielder Colm Quinn bounced awkwardly in front of Roscommon goalkeeper David Dowd and Walsh was on hand to raise his side's first green flag.

Roscommon responded six minutes later with a goal from Gerry Fallon's expertly-taken free butLondongoaled again three minutes from the interval. An excellent team move resulted in Shane Egan drilling the sliothar to the net to give his side a 2-11 to 1-6 advantage.

Roscommon rallied on the resumption with points from Micheal Kelly, his side's best player, Kevin Conneely and Johnny Coyne. The gap was down to five points but it merely gaveLondonthe impetus to put the game to bed.

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