Ballyfad went out of the Intermediate Hurling Championship after this well-fought Quarter-final with St. Anne's. The game was really decided in the first half when last year's Junior Champions Ballyfad were given a hurling lesson and trailed St. Anne's by 3-8 to 0-4. Eventually the margin was 9 at the end of the game played in Belfield, Enniscorthy on Saturday August 21^st.

Last year's captain Jim Bushe missed the game after dislocating a shoulder in the first round while Jim D'Arcy was also absent after a recent re-occurence of his troublesome thigh injury. In hindsight the loss of D'Arcy's physical presence was a key factor in the game as he would have probably helped curb the opposing forward line's physical power and hurling guile.

Only ace marksman Matty Forde was able to keep Kilanerin on the scoreboard with 4 first half points and in an effort to bolster the team he along with full-forward, John Hegarty, was moved to midfield and the switch worked for much of the second half.

Through second half points from Forde, John Hegarty, Seamus Hughes and Tommy Boland Ballyfad fought back to trail by only 5 points, 3-10 to 0-14. However a further St. Anne's goal ended the fight back and the Rathangan side went on to record a comfortable 9 point win.

Team: Enda O'Leary; John Gethings, Michael Higgins, Niall Gethings; Stephen Kavanagh, Aodhan Kavanagh, Pat Forde; Pat Jones (0-1), Peter Kavanagh; Matty Forde (0-11), Seamus Hughes (0-1), Gordon hughes; Donie Noonan, John Hegarty (0-2), Tommy Boland (0-1).Subs: Eddie Fanning for Gethings.

Full Details of the 1999 Skoda Intermediate Hurling Championship

Ballyfad qualified for the quarter-finals of the Intermediate Hurling Championship after surviving a late Horeswood fightback and securing a 1 point victory in St. Patrick's Park, Enniscorthy on Sunday 25^th July.

Wind-assisted Ballyfad opened up a 11 point lead before half-time but after scoring a quick 1-1 just before the break, Horeswood were right back into the game only down 7 points.

However, Horeswood could never get on level terms and 3 late points from Matty Forde put the match beyond doubt.

Ballyfad started the game with 11 of the team that started the 1998 Junior A Hurling final. With Chris Murray and Jim D'Arcy (injured), County Minor Aodhan Kavanagh moved to centre-back with Niall and John Gethings moving into the 2 corner-back positions. Gordon Hughes came in at right half-forward while Stephen Kavanagh played at right half-back.

Initially most would be forgiven if thinking that the jump up to the Intermediate ranks would prove too much for Ballyfad, but with the centre-back, midfield and centre-forward lines playing superbly, a lead was built up.

Matty Forde took up where he left off in the Senior Football Championship; after 11 minutes he had scored all of Ballyfad's 6 points and they lead by 5. However after John Hegarty had pointed, a goal from Horeswood put the lead back to 4.

Ballyfad then started to use the wind well and points from John Hegarty, Seamus Hughes and Matty Forde were followed by a well-taken Tommy Boland goal. Peter Kavanagh and Forde pointed and the lead was a remarkable 11. However this was just to signal a dramatic Horeswood fightback.

The Kilanerin defence had found defending under the high ball difficult all day and this weakness had lead to a 65 going directly to the net for Horeswood's second goal just before half-time. They opened up the second half very well and scored 1-4 in the first 20 minutes of the second half, whilst Ballyfad could only muster an excellent Peter Kavanagh point.

However, the introduction of Niall Kavanagh and the move of John Hegarty back from full-forward to the goalkeeper's position tightened up the defence and 3 points from Matty Forde put some daylight between the sides. A late Horeswood goal made for an exciting climax, but Ballyfad held on for the win.

Team: Enda O'Leary; Niall Gethings, Michael Higgins, John Gethings; Stephen Kavanagh, Aodhan Kavanagh, Pat Forde; Pat Jones (capt), Peter Kavanagh (0-2); Gordon Hughes, Seamus Hughes (0-1), Matty Forde (0-11, 6 frees); Tommy Boland (1-0), John Hegarty (0-2), Jim Bushe.
Subs: Donal Noonan for Jim Bushe (inj); Niall Kavanagh for Enda O'Leary.