Andy enough for Pat’s
O’Brien bags 3-10 despite carrying leg injury
ST PATRICK’S KILTEGAN 4-11 2-12
WICKLOW hurling’s most lethal attacking player continued to cause havoc in the Dacia Cars Senior Hurling Championship last weekend as Andy O’Brien contributed a stunning 3-10 to St Patrick’s tally of 4-11 against Kiltegan despite dragging a leg for the entire game.
O’Brien’s effect on most defences is incredible to watch. If he gets possession of the ball within 40 yards of the goal you can almost sense the fear and dread of the defenders who are bursting their gut to keep the St Pat’s sharpshooter subdued.
This clash was a decent struggle between two improving sides in Joule Park Aughrim last Saturday evening and the victory for Michael Neary’s men has earned them a shot against Éire Óg Greystones in the quarter-finals while Nigel Byrne’s soldiers must face the men of Carnew for the second time in this campaign in their lasteight encounter that promises to be a hectic battle after Kiltegan put James Hickey’s men to the sword in the earlier clash.
The key for Éire Óg when they meet St Pat’s is how to limit Andy O’Brien’s influence on the game, which, as Bryan Kearney and his colleagues found out to their cost, is not as easily said as done.
It’s unfair, despite the evidence to the contrary, to say that Pat’s are a one-man show. There are plenty of talented hurlers in their ranks, but they are living in the shadow of Andy in terms of scoring and if the injury the full-forward seemed to be suffering from last Saturday recurs or worsens then they might have to step into the light fairly lively if Pat’s are to go that one step further than last season and reach the county decider.
George O’Brien had the ball in the back of the net after 16 seconds of this game as Pat’s broke from the throw in. Liam Keogh was withdrawn from the Kiltegan attack and this released Gerry Connors to sweep in front of his own defence at the other end.
Seanie Germaine, a vitally important player for Kiltegan, got them off the mark with a free after a foul on Padraig O’Toole by Ricky Quinn and then a sweet cross-field ball from George O’Brien to Andy saw the full-forward split the posts with aplomb to make it 1-1 to 0-1 early doors.
It was a weekend for umpiring dilemmas in Joule Park Aughrim and Kiltegan’s Rory Finn watched as his effort from distance seemed to come back off the crossbar and eventually go wide. However, a point was awarded and then after consultation between referee John Keenan and his umpires the flags were crossed, and the point was cancelled out.
Kiltegan’s recovery looked well under way by the ninth minute when Seanie Germaine had fired over two more scores (one free) but a long ball from deep to Andy O’Brien saw the tormentor gather and blast past Luke Byrne for the game’s second goal with 11 on the clock for a 2-1 to 0-3 lead for Pat’s.
Nigel Byrne’s side would raise their own green flag three minutes later when Mark Murphy gathered a Michael Mangan ball to fire home past John ‘Dee’ O’Brien.
The sides were evenly matched for the second quarter and Pat’s looked to be heading for the break with just a one-point lead after four Andy O’Brien points (three frees) were answered by white flags from Mark Murphy, a bomb of a free from Padraig O’Toole from his own 65, Rory Finn and a Seanie Germaine free. However, a Patrick Murphy ball to Andy O’Brien saw the Pat’s prowler rifle a shot that was blocked by Luke Byrne who watched helplessly as it rolled back to O’Brien who finished to the back of the net.
Seanie Germaine’s late free left the score reading 3-5 to 1-8 and you wondered how much more damage Andy O’Brien could cause even after his injury was taken into consideration.
Things looked bright for Kiltegan within minutes of the restart when Liam Keogh profited from a defensive error to fire home to the back of the Pat’s net to level the game.
A 65 from Andy O’Brien was answered by a point from Seanie Germaine who showed lightening reflexes and then Kiltegan took the lead through Mark Murphy after Rory Finn displayed some lovely soccer skills in dribbling the hurling ball up the field.
Andy levelled again, despite protests from the Kiltegan players and management that the ball was wide, and then Padraig O’Toole again split the posts from distance from a free as the tension started to rise on and off the field.
But Pat’s weren’t for beating last Saturday. It just wasn’t part of their plans. They ripped a rapid 1-3 without reply past Kiltegan, 1-2 from Andy (one free), the goal thanks to a wicked Terry Healy ball, and a fine effort from Ricky Quinn to effectively end the game as a contest.
There were a few sideshows to the hurling in the second half.
Michael Neary’s attempt to question county board officials in the middle dug out as to why Kiltegan midfielder Padraig Byrne’s twin brother Darragh was appointed as linesman for this Senior championship game was drowned out by Kiltegan supporters on the bank and some fairly blunt comments were exchanged.
Separately, referee John Keenan appeared to take exception to comments passed by Kiltegan manager Nigel Byrne at one stage and sent him to the dug out and warned Kiltegan GAA club Chairman Damien Byrne that he would following the team manager if it continued.
All in all, this was a decent battle on the field and both teams will fancy their chances in their respective quarter-finals.
Have they the ability to go on to the semi-finals? Very much so. Can they trouble either Bray Emmets or Glenealy? Possibly not, but neither camp will accept that for a second.
– St Patrick’s 3-10 (5f, 1 65), George O’Brien 1-0, Niall Hanton 0-1.
Kiltegan: Mark Murphy 1-3 (1f), Seanie Germaine 0-6 (3f), Padraig O’Toole 0-2 (2f), Rory Finn 0-1, Liam Keogh 1-0.
John ‘Dee’ O’Brien; Dale Quinn, John Connors, Eddie Kelly; Chris Kavanagh, Gerry Connors, Niall Hanton; Christy Moorehouse, Ricky Quinn; Terry Healy, George O’Brien, George ‘Boo’ O’Brien; Patrick Murphy, Andy O’Brien, Michael Connors. Subs: Mikey Griffin for G ‘Boo’ O’Brien, James O’Brien for M Griffin.
Luke Byrne; Eoin O’Neill, Bryan Kearney, Colm Keogh; Seamus Coogan, Ronan Byrne, MJ Moran; Padraig O’Toole, Padraig Byrne; Jonathan Tallon, Rory Finn, Mark Murphy; Liam Keogh, Michael Mangan, Seanie Germaine. Subs: David Williamson for R Byrne, Steven Coogan for S Germaine, Nigel Nolan for MJ Moran, JJ Phelan for J Tallon.
Scorers St Patrick’s: Kiltegan: Referee:
John Keenan (Aughrim)