JUNIOR HURLERS BOUNCE BACK TO WINNING WAYS
DIVISION ONE HURLING LEAGUE Harbour Rovers 1-19 Charleville 0-20
Last week our Junior hurlers bounced back from two successive defeats to get back to winning ways after a great battle with Charleville.
We were on the scoresheet right away with a great point by Michael Blackburn. Podge Hannon put us two clear with a well struck shot. Charleville responded with three on the trot but on seven minutes we were level for the first time when Podge struck again. David Pyne who worked his socks off all night put us ahead with a super point.
They levelled but we were back ahead when Brian Gallagher found the target. We went two up when Podge pointed a free but it was back to one from their next attack. We then went three ahead for the first time when Davy Pyne got two excellent points. Charleville got two points in a row and then a pivotal moment arrived when they were reduced to 14 men after twenty minutes. Podge slotted a free, Jerome Fitzgibbon got a brilliant point and Scotty Sheehan coolly slotted over to put us four clear with 24 minutes gone.
Things were looking very good at this point. Charleville responded with two points in a minute and then the game took another turn with the most important score of the evening. Jerome Fitzgibbon hit a beauty of a pass to Brian Gallagher who passed to Scotty Sheehan who showed brilliant awareness to spot Michael Blackburn free across the square and when he found him Michael hit the roof of the net a wallop! Charleville responded once again with two more points before Scotty made it four again with a point from a tight angle.
A GOOD START TO SECOND HALF
Charleville finished the scoring for the half with a point to leave it at half time 1-12 to 0-12. It was a very open and lively half. We knew we had a lot of hard work if we were going to get the points and we made a good start to the half with a point from Scotty in the first minute of the half. But by the 42nd minute the sides were level as they got four on the bounce as we got a bit ragged in this period. We were back ahead when Podge hit a lovely point and they responded with a free.
Our most experienced player started to come to the fore as Brian Gallagher hit two points in a row to put us ahead with ten minutes to go. It was tit-for-tat at this stage and it continued with them scoring a free and Podge responding in kind. They got two in a row to level it with four minutes to go. It was anyone’s game at this stage and when Davy Pyne charged down the sideline he was fouled and we went one up going into injury time when Podge pointed the free.
Charleville launched one or two attacks but we repelled them. Then Davy Campion was fouled when charging at the goals and Podge pointed again. They had one last attack but it petered out and we had the win. Well done to all involved.
Team: David O’Sullivan, Harvey McGrath, Jack Coughlan, Colm Whelton, Jesse Welsh, Jerome Fitzgibbon, Francis John O’Flynn, Davy Pyne, Thomas Condon, Michael Blackburn, Podge Hannon, Jack Coughlan, Thomas McGrath, Brian Gallagher and Scotty Sheehan. Subs: Emmett Sheehan, Pa Roche and Davy Campion.
DIVISION ONE HURLING LEAGUE Harbour Rovers 1-19 Killavullen 3-15
The old adage that goals wins games proved true as we were edged out by Killavullen last Saturday evening in Glanworth. We were looking for our second win on the bounce to boost our chances of making the league final but with this defeat it is out of our hands.
We started really well and had a three point lead after six minutes with two from Emmett Sheehan and one from Stevie. Killavullen replied with a point.
We then suffered two blows in quick succession with the loss of Sean Finn to injury and then almost immediately they struck for their first goal. They tagged on three more points in a row before we replied with a lovely point from Jack Blackburn. The sides were level by the 18th minute when Stevie got three points in four minutes. Killavullen took the lead with a point from play to which we responded with a free from Stevie.
They got two in a row, we replied with a score from Stevie but the gap was two in the 27th minute when they got another point. We would finish the must stronger side and went in ahead after getting three points on the bounce from Stevie, Scotty and then Stevie again. That would leave it 0-12 to 1-8 at half-time. I felt we were in a good position being ahead and I felt much more to come from us. The first twenty minutes of the second half we were the better side but it is a 60 minute game not 50.
SCORE FOR SCORE
We just did not do enough to close it out and we will have to learn this lesson going forward. When you have a lead and are on top against good sides you need to put them away or else they will come back. We got the first point of the half from Stevie but the sides were level on 34 minutes as they got two in a row. We would have one of our best patches of the match when we got four in a row through Scotty Sheehan, Pa Roche, Stevie Condon and David Pyne.
The next period of the match we went score for score. They got a point and we replied from Jerome Fitzgibbon. They got a point and we replied through Stevie. Then came what seemed like it would be a turning point of the match when Stevie found the back of the net from a tight angle. It put us six points ahead with fourteen minutes to go of normal time.
The next score was going to crucial and it turned out to be a big one as they got their second goal. It changed the complexion of the game as they came at us after that. The gap was down to one with five to go and then we they got their third and final goal with two minutes to go. We landed a few balls into the danger zone but to no avail.
It was a wonderful effort from the lads and they will take a lot from this. Onwards and upwards.
Team: David O’Sullivan, Niall Fogarty, Jack Coughlan, Colm Whelton, Jesse Welsh, Thomas Condon, Sean Finn, Jerome Fitzgibbon, David Pyne, Emmett Sheehan, Jack Blackburn, Michael Blackburn, Tom McGrath, Stephen Condon and Scott Sheehan. Subs: Harvey McGrath, Pa Roche, Francis John O’Flynn and Davy Campion.