Saturday 5th August saw the commencement of our Junior Hurling campaign. First up for us were Caherline in a game played in windy conditions in Fedamore.
We started against the wind so we were under pressure from the off. Caherline rattled off the first 3 scores of the game but we gradually came into the game and by the mid-way point had reduced the deficit to 0-4 to 0-2 with 2 frees from Cathal O’Neill.
The pace of the game picked up in the second quarter and we had a number of opportunities we didn’t take and Caherline capitalised on theirs to leave the score at 0-12 to 0-4 at Half Time.
We turned around with the elements in our favour in the second half and a number of frees from Cathal reduced the deficit. In an uneven and scrappy second half, we were struggling to establish momentum but with 10 minutes to go a swerving run and goal from Chris Shanahan brought us right into the game.
A point from Rian O’Byrne gave us hope of turning the game in our favour. Caherline put on 4 frees in the second half to keep their noses in front and it took a great defensive block by Jack Dalton to prevent what looked like a certain goal from making our task even harder.
Another crucial moment saw Brendan Power round his man and finish to the net but the referee had already signalled a free before the finish. Cormac Flanagan added a point and the game was finely balanced in the closing minutes with just a goal in it.
We had a free from distance which Cathal hit with a sweet strike and was unlucky to see his shot rebound from the crossbar. The final whistle went soon after to leave the final score at 0-16 to 1-10.
Next up for is in Round 2 is Claughan in Rathbane on Saturday 12th August at 7pm.
Team : Gerard Kennedy, David Power, Jack Dalton, Tim Moloney, Mark Shanahan, Paraic O’Neill, James Conheady, Shane Moloney, Rian O’Byrne, Darach Skelly, Cathal O’Neill, Conor Kirby, Rob Henehan, Cormac Flanagan, Rory Hannan.
Subs Brendan Power, Richard Murphy, Chris Shanahan, Tomas Connolly, Donnacha Connolly, Damien Kearney, Ciaran Heagney, Ciaran Kennedy, Cian Leahy, Fergal Egan, Ciaran Humphreys, Shane O’Connor, Sean Malone, Sean Keyes, Ciaran Cusack, Fegal Carey, Conor Hannan.
