Cumann Pheadaír Naofa 4-12
Ballyvarley 1-0
With the U16s having their game cancelled at the last minute, it was down to the seniors to start the season off with a much hoped for win. Although just a challenge game, Brian & Marty were using this occasion to give youth a run out and to experience senior hurling for the first time. From the start Warrenpoint laid down the marker and showed that the movement and speed of James O’Hare was going to torture the Ballyvarley defence, as he scored two points within the first 10 minutes along with a John O’Kane point had the blues in front and looking like the sharper team. It was then that debutant Shane Rooney grabbed his first senior team score when he gathered the sliotar and slotted it over the bar. With John O’Kane winning a lot of possession and some wonderful long passes out of defence from Conor Keenan, Mitch Murphy the scores kept coming. The pick of the scores from the first have was when a high ball into the square from Oggy was doubled on in the air by the hurl of Marty Patterson, leaving the Ballyvarley keeper no chance. Further points from Mitch Murphy and the young Thomas Magill, who really impressed on the day left the blues well on top as all Ballyvarley could muster were three wides over the first 30 minutes. Halftime score 1-7 to 0-0.
At half time a number of switches and substitions were made. Within the first minute Cathal Fagan showed how dangerous he can be given half a chance as his effort struck the post. Within the next 8 minutes the blues went on a scoring rampage as the new additions to the ranks, along with Cathal Fagan and Oggy Murphy, scored 2-3, the goals coming from Jack Rafferty and Shane Rooney. Another Cathal Fagan score, this time from a free pushed the blues well out of sight and when a shot from distance by the young Rafferty came back off the far post and landed sweetly in front of James McParland he had the easiest of tasks sweeping the sliotar into the net. With time almost up Oggy Murphy brought the scoring to an end with the last point of the game.
Although this was a very weakened Ballyvarley side, they never gave up until the end and their management were full of praise for the point side, especially the young lads making their first appearance in a senior jersey.
Managers Brian & Marty will surely be well pleased with the result and the fact that the scores were well spread over the team, with no less than ten different names on the scoresheet, but on reflection they both know that the opposition they face this year in the league and Tain league will require a stronger and more clinical defensive unit as they look to sharpen reactions and speed over the next few weeks. Nevertheless, a win is good for moral and this will lift the boys’ spirits going into what is sure to be a tough year.
CPN Scorers: Shane Rooney 1-1, Jack Rafferty 1-0, Marty Patterson 1-0, James McParland 1-0, Cathal Fagan 0-3, James O’Hare 0-2, John O’Kane 0-2, Oggy Murphy 0-2, Mitch Murphy 0-1, Thomas Magill 0-1
