No shortage of honest endeavour in Kilmacurra
BARNDARRIG GLENEALY 2-12 0-8
WHEN a hurling sliotar bounces over the heads of advancing players, it has dropped on to a very hard surface.
This happened a number of times in this keenly contested Junior hurling championship game played on a rock hard pitch in Kilmacurra on Wednesday last. While the standard of hurling never rose to great heights, there was no shortage of honest endeavour.
Barndarrig played with the advantage of the slope in the first half.
Corner-forward Martin Cullen put them into the lead when he pointed in the second minute.
Barry McNabb levelled for Glenealy a minute later but Nicky Sinnott and Greg Doyle added two further points to put the home side into a lead they were not to lose again.
Glenealy midfielder Joe McDonald landed his first free of the night but Andrew Kavanagh responded with a mighty long range pointed free for Barndarrig and centre forward Michael Murphy added another.
Joe McDonald converted another free for Glenealy and half back Derek O’Neill got their fourth immediately following the puck out.
However, Glenealy were not to score again in this half as Barndar- rig began to get on top.
Paddy Redmond at centre back, Andrew Kavanagh at midfield and the roving Jaques McCall in the half forward line were ensuring that the sliotar was constantly moving in the Glenealy goal direction.
In addition, Glenealy were very erratic in their shooting for scores, amassing a total of ten wides by half time.
Barndarrig, in contrast, had six points on the board before they recorded their first miss. They had only four wides in the half.
A stream of points from Michael Murphy, McCall, Andrew Kavanagh from play and 65, a Martin Cullen goal coming up to the break and a final long range point from Jaques McCall left the home side in a comfortable 1-10 to 0-4 lead at the break.
Glenealy turned over to play with the advantage of the slope. They had put four points on the scoreboard by the 11th minute. All came from the stick of Joe McDonald – one from play, two converted frees and a point from a 65.
Just like in the first half, the Glenealy scoring department shut down for the remainder of the game. They had a further seven wides bringing their wides total for the game to 17.
The next quarter of an hour went by without any score at all. Barndarrig missed some handy frees and lived in the fervent hope that Glenealy would not get a goal.
The home defence ensured that there was little chance of that but, like Glenealy, the Barndarrig forwards shot a further seven wides to add to their first half total of four.
Having gone 25 minutes scoreless, David Dickenson broke the duck for Barndarrig when he sent a free from his own half all the way to the Glenealy net to ease Barndarrig worries.
Andrew Kavanagh added another point from a free and substitute Brian Walsh had the last point of the game just before the call of time.
A comfortable win in the end for Barndarrig but they will need to do a bit more preparation. While some players had fine games, too many seemed like they have not hurled in a while.
Scorers - Barndarrig :Martin Cull 1-1, Andrew Kavanagh 0-4, David Dickenson 1-0,Jaques McCall 0-2, Michael Murphy 0-2, Nicky Sinnott, Greg Doyle, Brian Walsh 0-1 each.
Glenealy: Joe McDonald 0-6, Barry McNabb 0-1, Derek 0-1.
Tom Doyle; David Dickenson, Kevin Cullen, Bill Dickenson; Mick Fox, Paddy Redmond, Michael Byrne; Andrew P.Kavanagh, Michael Cullen; Nicky Sinnott, Michael Murphy, Jaques McCall; James Cullen, Greg Doyle, Martin Cullen; Subs: Eoin Brennan, Declan Kavanagh, Brian Walsh.
Dean O’Gorman; Shane Manley, Rob Browne, Dale Franey; John O’Halloran, Tony Conyard, Derek O’Neill; Joe McDonald, Cal Connolly; Ross Quinn, Barry McNabb, Robin Farrelly; Fionn McLoughlin, Kevin O’Halloran, Edward Doyle; Subs: Glen O’Gorman, Michael Conyard.
Eugene Doherty.