Gaels starting to brew up a hurling storm
WESTERN GAELS ST PATRICK’S 3-10 1-13
WESTERN GAELS made it two wins from two championship encounters in the Junior hurling championship with a hardearned victory over St. Patrick’s on Wednesday evening last.
Conditions were excellent in a sunny Blessington with little to no breeze.
Western Gaels were short a number of regulars, possibly due to the upcoming season defining round of football championship for some west clubs, while St. Pats had lost a couple of players to the Senior ranks.
This was an action-packed battle throughout the 60 odd minutes, with a flurry of goal chances and some clinical free taking on display by both sides.
Kevin Cody opened the scoring when firing over from an acute angle to get the Dunbur Park side off the mark which was duly doubled by Cody in the next play after good work by John O’Brien.
Jake O’Kelly replied for the Gaels by firing over their opener and then Brian Keogh landed his first score of the evening, steering over a beast of a point to level proceedings after a frantic start to the game.
The Gaels landed the opening major of the game from the hurl of Niall Toolis after a powerful run by Jake O’Kelly, to build up an early cushion on the scoreboard.
Mick O’Brien and Brian Keogh traded points to close out the opening quarter with the Gaels leading 1-3 to 0-3.
Another point from a placed ball by Kevin Cody followed, as the play ebbed up and down the field in this well-balanced encounter. Moments later a powerful save by Tom O’Connor denied Kevin Cody what looked a certain goal for St Pat’s.
Jake O’Kelly pointed just before the water break and a hard-fought finish ensued to the opening half with the tackles and pulls flying in.
Chris Breslin went off injured and was replaced by Declan Healy.
Both sides’ marksmen were clinical from any placed ball that came their way; the lively Brian Keogh landed a brace of points before Kevin Cody nailed a brace also, the pick of which was a gem of a 65, out on the wing as the half-time whistle sounded, with the score reading 1-6 to 0-6 in favour of the westerners.
The second half recommenced where we left off with all out attacking hurling on display at a rapid pace.
George O’Brien was tugged back going through and Kevin Cody knocked over his fifth point of the battle to cut the deficit from the resultant free.
Eoin Higgins replied with a super point while Kevin Cody harvested another white flag for the Saints. However, the Gaels put another huge chink in the St. Pats armory - Brian Keogh stood over a free about 50m out, three meters in from the sideline and his sweetly hit shot caught everyone off guard as the sliotar nestled beneath the crossbar into the top corner, like a postage stamp, for Gaels’ second major.
Another point from Brian Keogh soon followed, however Pat’s rallied with Kevin Cody finding his range with a massive point and when Wayne Farrell put Michael O’Brien through to beautifully rifle home a sublime goal, it was game on big time.
Another pointed free from Cody left the score reading 2-8 to 1-10, to close out a huge third quarter of hurling in this nip-and-tuck affair.
Conall Byrne and Oisin Brogan were working tirelessly in the Gaels rearguard to stifle the Saint’s offence. The next score was going to be crucial at this stage.
Jake O’Kelly stormed up the field for the Gaels, a penetrating solo run through the Pat’s rearguard, possibly getting away with a step or two.
Jake hadn’t room to swing the hurl in full flight, brilliantly he dropped the sliotar and right footed, volleyed it into the roof of the net for their third green flag in this enthralling battle.
Yet again Keogh and Cody both traded pointed frees going into the final ten minutes with the game on a knife-edge. Conall Byrne took one for the team and picked up a second yellow for a cynical foul on Tom O’Brien, who was bearing down, one on one with the Gaels goalie.
Kevin Cody fired over the resultant 21m free to leave two points between the sides in a rousing finish.
St. Pats won possession of the puck-out and Noel White dropped a bomb into the large square where Oisin Brogan gathered and cleared up field. Gaels won a free which sharpshooter Brian Keogh fired over to restore a three-point cushion.
St. Pat’s got one final chance in which George O’Brien could have dramatically made a draw of the game in the 63rd minute, however his quick 45m free took the paint off the outside of the upright with
Photos: Barry Hamilton the last puck of the game.
Best for St. Pats were Kevin Cody, Wayne Farrell and Michael and Tom O’Brien while for the Gaels, Brian Keogh, Jake O’Kelly and Eoin Higgins stood out.