Pat’s are too powerful

SENIOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP

A ‘Baptism of fire for senior debutants Shillelagh’ read the headline over the match report from the Senior hurling championship clash between the 1999 IHC winners and the improving St Patrick’s side that left reporter Peter Keogh wondering if this showing was the start of a revival in the capital town side.

Veterans Casey O’Brien, David Bury, George Johnson and goalie Colin Byrne formed the backbone of what the late Peter calls a ‘young team’ who did all that was required of them on the day.

‘Shillelagh were taking their first hesitant, some might say reluctant, step into Senior ranks,’ wrote Peter Keogh. ‘As always, they are fine athletes, strength and speed to burn, good fielders and reasonable strikers.

‘Their trouble is they don’t take the game of hurling seriously. They did not take part in the league and, according to one club official, did little or no hurling training,’ he added.

Nevertheless, things were tight enough up until half-time with St Patrick’s taking a 1-6 to 0-5 lead into the dressing rooms, David Bury with the goal.

However, the Pat’s men proved too strong for Shillelagh in the second half and when the underdogs lost full-back Anthony Grey it was curtains.

ST Patrick’s: Colin Byrne; Paddy O’Brien, Aidan Delaney, JJ McCoy; Dave Scully, Casey O’Brien (0-1), Ed Reilly; Willie Carey, Ta O’Brien; Michael Gavin (0-1), David Bury (1-3), Gerry Connors; George Johnson (1-1), Mick O’Brien (0-1), Dee O’Brien. Subs: Jim O’Brien (0-1). SHILLELAGH: Paddy O’Brien; Anthony Cullen, Anthony Grey, Francis Simpson; Fergal Haskins, Stephen Dagg, K. Moore; Paddy Byrne, Ciaran Byrne (1-0); Richard Doyle (0-1), Frank Deegan, Padraig Haskins; David Dillon, Ray Phelan (0-1), Keith Byrne (0-1). Subs: Tony Darcy, Paddy Kavanagh, John Gahan.