SAINT BRIGIDS HURLING CLUB NOTES

Just how seriously this game was being taken was evident as far back as last October when both managers got their panels together for the first time.

The Veterans manager Liam Maher had his panel training three nights mid week and at weekends alternated between high altitude training on top of Croghan Hill and swimming lengths of Lough Ennell. With a number of his panel also on the Tyrrellspass Football team, who were training for the county final, Ger Kenny, the Novices Manager, had to make do with two nights per week plus a number of weekend sessions held at Finnstown House.

In the days leading up to the game the rumour machine was working overtime. Liam Maher was reported to have engaged the services of a sports psychologist for his team while Jimmy Barry Murphy was reported to have been seen leaving Ger Kenny's house in the early hours of the morning, etc..

There was very little small talk as both teams assembled for the game with the minds of all preoccupied with the contest that lay ahead.

Due to the heavy rainfall of the previous week the game originally fixed for Dalystown had to be rescheduled to Rochfortbridge and those who walked the new Saint Mary's pitch prior to the game could only marvel at excellent condition of it despite all the rainfall of the previous weeks.

Liam Maher's charges were on the field at least thirty minutes prior to throw in as they went through a very intense warm up routine. The confidence in the Novices side was evident as they strutted around the field prior to the start.

The man with the unenviable task of keeping law and order for the duration was Owen Loran, a vastly experienced referee for Milltownpass. Prior to the start of the game, much of the discussion centred on wither Owen would be able to retain an unbiased position with his own son Damien playing for the Novices.

That Owen was facing a busy afternoon was obvious with several minor skirmishes breaking out on the field before the ball was even thrown in.

However having called both captains one side and lain down the law, the game was eventually started.

The tactics that both sides were going to employ were immediately evident with the Veterans putting their most experienced men in the full back and full forward lines. The Novices ploy of trying to neutralise the danger of Liam Maher by putting three men marking him soon came unstuck with the lethal full forward line of Ollie Egan, Mick Dunne and Vinny Bagnall, reveling in open spaces this tactic afforded them. Time and time again, Maher tried to go on his defence splitting solo runs only to be unceremoniously dragged to the ground, and each time Ollie Egan proved he lost none of his deftness with the dead ball by pointing the ensuing frees.

However, this game was never going to be one way traffic and soon the Gavin brothers, Damien and Alan, started to control matters at centre field and deliver the ball goalwards only for it to be cleared immediately by the Veterans full back line. It was like old times, with Tommy Colgan ably assisted by Dixie Nugget and Joe Quinn mopping up anything the Novices could launch at them. At this stage the Novices realising that they were in a game began to dig deep and players like Viv Doonan, Enda Carey, Damien Loran,Bernie Kiernan and Liam Casey started to hurl as they are able and eventually a move that started deep in defence by Johnny Maloney ended with Alan Gavin crashing the ball to the net past the stranded Sean Gallagher. This setback only strengthened the resolve of the Veterans and with Ger Gill, Jay Faulkner, Jimmy Gallagher, Nollaig McEntegart, Pat Brady and Noel Gavin finding their rhythm the game was end to end stuff and the acrimony of the earlier exchanges was soon forgotten. The scores came tick and fast at both ends with some of them a joy to behold. Christopher Colgan for once evaded the shackles of his father to score a brilliant goal, a long range point from the youthful Damien Loran,vother masterpieces were from Eamon Gallagher, Niall Seery, Paul Brady, Willie Maloney, Kenneth Gunning and Kenneth Berry.

It was no wonder that the large attendance gave both teams a standing ovation as they left the field at half time.

The eagerly awaited challenge game between the veterans and the novices within the club took place on Sunday January 2^nd.

Just how seriously this game was being taken was evident as far back as last October when both managers got their panels together for the first time.

The Veterans manager Liam Maher had his panel training three nights mid week and at weekends alternated between high altitude training on top of Croghan Hill and swimming lengths of Lough Ennell. With a number of his panel also on the Tyrrellspass Football team, who were training for the county final, Ger Kenny, the Novices Manager, had to make do with two nights per week plus a number of weekend sessions held at Finnstown House.

In the days leading up to the game the rumour machine was working overtime. Liam Maher was reported to have engaged the services of a sports psychologist for his team while Jimmy Barry Murphy was reported to have been seen leaving Ger Kenny's house in the early hours of the morning, etc..

There was very little small talk as both teams assembled for the game with the minds of all preoccupied with the contest that lay ahead.

Due to the heavy rainfall of the previous week the game originally fixed for Dalystown had to be rescheduled to Rochfortbridge and those who walked the new Saint Mary's pitch prior to the game could only marvel at excellent condition of it despite all the rainfall of the previous weeks.

Liam Maher's charges were on the field at least thirty minutes prior to throw in as they went through a very intense warm up routine. The confidence in the Novices side was evident as they strutted around the field prior to the start.

The man with the unenviable task of keeping law and order for the duration was Owen Loran, a vastly experienced referee for Milltownpass. Prior to the start of the game, much of the discussion centred on wither Owen would be able to retain an unbiased position with his own son Damien playing for the Novices.

That Owen was facing a busy afternoon was obvious with several minor skirmishes breaking out on the field before the ball was even thrown in.

However having called both captains one side and lain down the law, the game was eventually started.

The tactics that both sides were going to employ were immediately evident with the Veterans putting their most experienced men in the full back and full forward lines. The Novices ploy of trying to neutralise the danger of Liam Maher by putting three men marking him soon came unstuck with the lethal full forward line of Ollie Egan, Mick Dunne and Vinny Bagnall, reveling in open spaces this tactic afforded them. Time and time again, Maher tried to go on his defence splitting solo runs only to be unceremoniously dragged to the ground, and each time Ollie Egan proved he lost none of his deftness with the dead ball by pointing the ensuing frees.

However, this game was never going to be one way traffic and soon the Gavin brothers, Damien and Alan, started to control matters at centre field and deliver the ball goalwards only for it to be cleared immediately by the Veterans full back line. It was like old times, with Tommy Colgan ably assisted by Dixie Nugget and Joe Quinn mopping up anything the Novices could launch at them. At this stage the Novices realising that they were in a game began to dig deep and players like Viv Doonan, Enda Carey, Damien Loran,Bernie Kiernan and Liam Casey started to hurl as they are able and eventually a move that started deep in defence by Johnny Maloney ended with Alan Gavin crashing the ball to the net past the stranded Sean Gallagher. This setback only strengthened the resolve of the Veterans and with Ger Gill, Jay Faulkner, Jimmy Gallagher, Nollaig McEntegart, Pat Brady and Noel Gavin finding their rhythm the game was end to end stuff and the acrimony of the earlier exchanges was soon forgotten. The scores came tick and fast at both ends with some of them a joy to behold. Christopher Colgan for once evaded the shackles of his father to score a brilliant goal, a long range point from the youthful Damien Loran,vother masterpieces were from Eamon Gallagher, Niall Seery, Paul Brady, Willie Maloney, Kenneth Gunning and Kenneth Berry.

It was no wonder that the large attendance gave both teams a standing ovation as they left the field at half time.

The Second Half

The masterstroke of the afternoon was pulled just prior to resumption.

The Veterans having played with the aid of a strong wind in the first half, rushed back on the field before the novices and promptly proceeded to take up their position to play with the wind again for the second half. The Novices on noticing this un-sportsmanlike tactic refused to restart and sat down on the pitch in protest

However after the intervention of some officials and amid cries of "We will still beat them anyway" the game was restarted.

Those in the crowd who reckoned that the second half could not reach the dizzy heights of the first were soon to be proved wrong. For the Veterans players like Rom Deegan and Padraig Gavin realising that some of their colleagues were running out of steam, came more and more into the game.

The Novices goalkeeper Enda Seery switched placed with Willie Maloney and this move paid dividends immediately when Enda latched on to a pass from his brother Niall to drill the ball to the back of the net. With the Gallagher Brothers, Damien and Adrian and substitute Dermot Berry hurling well in the Novices forward line, it appeared at this stage that youth was going to have its day. Michael Carley substituted earlier in the game because he could not handle the Chairman Paul Deegan upon seeing that Paul was starting to tire persuaded Ger Kenny to give him another chance and re-entered the fray and soon the Novices had built up a commanding lead.

Whether it was lack of experience or overconfidence that overcame the youngsters they certainly were not prepared for what was to happen next.

A harmless free lobbed into the square from Eamon Gallagher was fumbled by the Novices defence and Mick Dunne dashed in to flick the ball past Willie Maloney. From the puck out, Ger Gill gained possession lofted the ball towards the square,Vinny Bagnall fielded brilliantly rounded his man and crashed the ball into the roof of the net. Three minutes later, Paul Deegan gathered a ball on the forty jinked his way past eight players, laid on a pinpoint pass to Ollie Egan loose on the right. Ollie's crossing ball was met by Vinny Bagnall, who gave the goalkeeper no chance, drilling the ball to the top left corner of the net. Immediately, Ger Kenny introduced Westmeath and Leinster footballer, John O Brien, in at full back to try and curb the treat of Bagnall. However, it was to no avail because five minutes later Vinny scored his hat trick to leave the Veterans leading by a point . Ger Kenny's obvious frustration boiled over with a few minutes go when he was spotted by the referee walking the ball into the ground before Rom Deegan took a line ball and only for the season of goodwill, he would have watched the remainder of the game from the stand. This only served to incense the very partisan crowd who at this stage were really getting behind the Veterans.

In the remaining minutes the Novices piled on the pressure but could not score that vital point. The final whistle was greeted by jubilant scenes from the Veterans team and supporters.

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Finally the Club wished to thank Vinny Bagnall of Newbrook Tyres for his kind gesture and urges all members to support those who support us.