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Roinn
A semi-final
We reach our second successive
A final
Having played our first A final last
year, what an achievement it was to reach another final
this year-and beat reigning champions Clara in sunny
Nowlan Park last Monday (June 13th).
This was a classic encounter, with fortunes leaning
one way and then another throughout the game. We won
3-8 to 2-8, but this was a game neither team deserved
to lose.
Indeed, with about ten minutes to go, it looked as though
we were down and out, trailing as we did by four points
and not really playing with much confidence.
Luckily for us, the ball broke to Aidan Nolan, who had
been moved from centre field to full forward after taking
a heavy blow on the hand. He collected it neatly and
struck an unstoppable low ball into the O Loughlin's
end net to give our team new energy. Very shortly afterwards,
the key score of the game- an unlikely goal- arrived
when the same player again stroked a ball from the endline
across the goalmouth. Somehow the ball ended up in the
net and we were now two points up. We added another
point with about five minutes left and from there to
the end it was a tense, tense hurling match. The skill
level and the determination of the young hurlers was
a joy to witness, as Clara showed why they were champions
and repeatedly attacked our goal. But the closer they
came to it, the nearer they came to Sam Johnson who
had a simply marvellous game. James McGarry never played
like this as a schoolboy! His finest save, a point blank
one in the dying seconds, was one of a string of blocks,
catches, killing of the ball on the hurl and sweeping
up behind the fullback line. This was the finest display
seen in this field for many a day.
There were other heroes on Monday- Sean Treacy, Thomas
Phelan, Evan Guilfoyle, Darragh Buggy, Cillian Buckley,
Peter Vickery, Gerry Walsh Eoin Cantwell all played
a big part. But what really won the battle for us was
the way that each and every one of the sixteen players
used tried their hearts out- it was the most satisfying
aspect of the victory.
That 16th man merits special mention. Having last week
starred in the Roinn C quarter final, David McGeary
was brought on to do a tough job- to mark the impressive
Clara centre back, Jack Langton. Not only did he do
that job, but he led the attack brilliantly and showed
that fantastic will to win that encouraged others around
him to even greater efforts.
That attitude is one that will be needed in abundance
next Thursday when we take on Thomastown. They comfortably
beat St. Pats in the other semi-final. They are a big
skillful side and will have no fear whatsoever of playing
St. Canices. We played them earlier in the league, were
being well led at half time, and were it not for two
early second half goals from Eoin Cantwell we would
have been well beaten.However ,this Thomastown team
has improved dramatically, and we will definitely need
to up our game to another level to beat them.
It is a great feeling to be back in the final again.
It’s a game we can win if we play to our potential.
We will only know that after we play next Thursday!!
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