Shamrock Gaels defeat Geevagh

SHAMROCK GAELS GEEVAGH 1-13 0-10

SHAMROCK Gaels are guaranteed a place in the Intermediate Championship quarter final following a six point win over Geevagh last Saturday at Connolly Park.

Kevin Henry opened the scoring for Geevagh with a pointed free and as the rain came down heavily, both teams struggled to adapt to the conditions with a lot of mistakes in the opening period.

Darragh Hailstones opened the Gaels scoring on five minutes with a point from a free while Dominic Kearns restored Geevagh’s lead with a point after a great run from Pat Cawley.

The Gaels now started to get a grip on the game and with scores from Karl McKenna and two great long range points from David Quinn went into a three point lead while Henry again pointed two more frees to keep Geevagh in touch. Andrew Flynn pointed immediately after the restart for the Gaels as the rain continued to fall. The following fifteen minutes was a dour spectacle as it looked like no team was going to take the initiative and try and win the game. The Gaels did however convert two more points to extend their lead to three points and were marginally the better side with faster slicker movement.

Geevagh on the other hand did not have a shot on goal until mid way through the second half. They could have had a goal on fifteen minutes when Kenneth Sweeney’s shot was smothered by the Gaels defence. Geevagh continued to pile on the pressure and two more points from Kevin Henry and one from Pat Cawley drew them level on twenty minutes as the Gaels appeared to be under extreme pressure, especially from kick outs.

Darragh Hailstones pointed from a free on twenty minutes and his brother, substitute Seamus Hailstones got the score of the game with a point after a run from midfield with nobody even getting close enough to stop him to put the Gaels two ahead. At the other end keeper, Daniel Lyons pulled off a point blank save from Tomas O’Reilly while Jodie O’Reilly pointed a free with three minutes left to close the gap to one point. With Geevagh committing everyone to attack searching for the equaliser, Gaels opened them up with three impressive scores in the closing stages. The first came from Darragh Hailstones with Seamus getting the second after a sweeping move involving several players and it was Seamus Hailstones who had the final say with an excellent individual goal after splitting open the Geevagh defence with a long run deep into injury time.

Shamrock Gaels: Daniel Lyons, Ben Tuohy, Evan Lyons, Keith McMorrow, Karl McKenna (0-1), Paul Higgins, Gavin McMorrow, Michael Kilkenny, Joe Henry, Andrew Flynn (0-1), Brian Boyd (0-1f), Ciaran O’Connor, James Carroll, David Quinn (0-3), Darragh Hailstones (0-5, 4f). Subs: Frank Quinn for C O’Connor, Shane Deignan for J Carroll, Seamus Hailstones (1-2) for B Boyd.

Geevagh: Darren Kearins, George Wall, Enda McManus, Vincent Corcoran, Daithai O’Reilly, Dominic Kearins (0-1), Pat Cawley (0-1), Kevin Henry (0-7, 6f), Gary McManamon, Jodie O’Reilly, Tomas O’Reilly, Donal Conlon, Daniel Conlon, Conor Lavin, Kenneth Sweeney. Subs: Eddie Farrell for G McManamon (BC)

Referee: Barry Judge.