CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH THIS SUNDAY

Grange open their County Junior C Football championship campaign this Sunday, 7th May at 3pm when we travel to Mallow to take on Lismire. All support is welcome.

Last week we completed our league campaign away to Buttevant. This was our third game in eight days and with a small squad this was challenging on the players. The Grange defence were excellent throughout with John Magnier,

Kevin Murphy and Kieran Kelleher giving little away in the fullback line. Behind them Noel Barry deputised in goal. Our halfback line of Mark Timlin, John Carmody and Jordan Kelleher were solid and organised and clearly benefitted from playing three consecutive games as a unit as did our half forward line of Luke Burke, Colm Carmody and Niall McCarthy. At midfield Darren Roche and Mike Healy put in massive work rate, tracking runners and carrying ball throughout the hour. Up front Barry Enright, Gavin Dawson and Jason McCarthy were always an outlet when we got the ball forward. Sam Cashman and Sean O’Connor both contributed well when introduced.

The first half opened with Buttevant getting some early points but they were left frustrated on many occasions thanks to excellent defending from our backs who constantly applied pressure to the

Buttevant attack. At the other end Gavin Dawson kicked an excellent free and from a well worked attack Luke Burke found himself through on goal, while his shot rebounded of the upright Jason McCarthy was on hand to apply the finish. With only minutes left in the half we trailed 0-5 to 1-1 but then conceded a goal from a turnover to go in four points behind at the break.

In the second half Buttevant dropped very deep and were happy to play on the counter-attack. We got to grips with this defensive approach and showed good patience to work some good scoring opportunities and draw fouls in scoring positions. Gavin Dawson had his shooting boots on again kicking 5 points from frees from all distances.

With some resolute defending at the other end Buttevant never threatened to score a goal and while they picked off some nice points the game was a good contest throughout and should hopefully stand to us as we enter championship. Final score: Buttevant 1-12 v Grange 1-7. Alec Morrissey handled the game very well.

Team: Noel Barry, Kevin Murphy, John Magnier, Kieran Kelleher, Mark Timlin, John Carmody, Jordan Kelleher, Darren Roche, Mike Healy, Luke Burke (0-1f), Colm Carmody, Niall McCarthy, Barry Enright, Gavin Dawson (0-6f), Jason McCarthy (1-0). Subs: Sean O’Connor and Sam Cashman.