Andy stars as

ST PATRICK’S KILTEGAN 2-10 1-07

THE big news before this Senior hurling championship clash was that Andy O’ Brien’s 12-week suspension following his red card against Glenealy had been overturned by the Wicklow GAA Hearings Committee on Friday evening, leaving him free to line out against Kiltegan the following day.

Somewhat ominously, O’Brien was heavily involved in the opening exchanges, a real focal point for his sides attack. However, the game opened with an Andy O’Brien free which came back off the post before being cleared, and the county star struck a further two wides before opening his account with a mid-range free.

While the imposing full-forward saw a lot of possession in the opening stages of the game, one would have been forgiven for wondering whether the late overturning of his suspension had affected his preparations for this clash.

These doubts would be laid to rest before the end of the half in emphatic fashion. The opening score of the game came on the back of a spurned opportunity from Kiltegan, and this would prove to be a regular theme in the first half.

With a shot dropping short for Kiltegan, St. Pat’s broke quickly and Christy Moorehouse found space on the left flank to open the scoring.

The sides exchanged scores before the first goal opportunity presented itself. The industrious Kevin Byrne chased down and won a loose ball on the right wing before making a beeline for goal under heavy pressure from his marker.

Just as Byrne had looked to create enough space for himself to pull the trigger play was called back for the fouls he had endured. From the close range free, Seanie Germaine wasn’t content to settle for a point but saw his attempt to raise a green flag saved for a 65 which the corner-forward duly converted.

Kevin Byrne’s rugged playing style reaped its rewards shortly afterwards when some good work off the ball resulted in him dispossessing Pat’s goalkeeper Eoghan O’Mahony who was left with little option but to haul Byrne down in order to stop a sure goal.