A Golden October Bank Holiday Weekend for the Dark Forces
News Item added:27-10-2009
On Saturday The Hurlers concluded their AHL7 campaign at The Fortress on a wet and windy Saturday Afternoon against St. Jude’s.
Shane Foley opened the scoring for St. Brendan’s from a tight angle, Indeed he got the second before the Tymon North side opened their account. Ed Duignan was next on the score sheet although could have got a goal.
Indeed The Hurlers raced into a five point lead with points from Eddie Hearne from play and Seamus Harrington from a free and Foley again who judged the wind perfectly with his point.
Two Jude’s points followed and the lead was back to four with Ray Kelly raining the white flag after a well timed pass by Trevor Purtill. Hearne got his second after picking himself off his knees with the slioter and still popped over. Duignan had a goal chance go wide with a rasping shot. A Jude’s 65 closed the First half 0-8 to 0-4.
St. Brendan’s went on a purple patch in the first 15 minutes in the second half racing into a nine point lead. With two Duignan points, in turn taking advantage of the wind, Hearne again following a puck out by Shane Gilbert. Sham again with Purtill and Ronan Coone assisting, a Foley 65 and Purtill following a Duignan Pass. While Johnny Walsh and Benny Carey left the away side frustrated.
However with the wind dying down a bit, the home side hit three successive wides, one of which was by Graham Barrett who worked his socks off at left corner back, but should have got a point.
Another Foley free followed, St. Judes ensured that St. Brendan’s fought to the bitter end with beating Shane Gilbert for the game’s only goal to leave four points in it, but with Eddie Hearne in form there was no need to panic and he raised the white flag.
Will McCarthy and Paul McDonough also performed well up front, with McCarthy assisting Sham for the closing score of the game.
Victory number 10 was assured and Ronan Coone left the field with a big smile on his face. Final Score St. Brendan’s 0-17 St Judes 1-9.
1. Shane Gilbert, 2. Graham Barrett, 3. Tom Burke, 4. Ronan Coone, 5. Benny Carey, 6. Sean Roban, 7. Johnny Walsh, 8. Trevor Purtill, 9. Shane Foley, 10. Seamus Harrington, 11. Ray Kelly, 12. Eddie Hearne, 13. Will McCarthy, 14. Ed Duignan, 15. Paul McDonough.
No Subs used.
25 hours later (this was the weekend in which the clocks went back), The Footballers warmed up for their big County Championship Final by taking on Thomas Davis in the Semi-Final of the Sheridan Cup at Kiltipper Road main pitch. Even The referee turned up at 1.30pm GMT, thinking it was still 2.30pm BST.
A typical show start yet again saw Thomas Davis race into a four point lead by taking advantage of imposition and beat Colin Garvin in goal and a point, but Robbie Caulfield was on hand to palm the ball into the Davis net after a good David Henry cross. But Davis struck back with another goal despite Garvin getting a hand in the ball.
Willie McLoughlin kept The Dark Force in the game with a point, as did Peter Burke and David Henry, whilst Brendan Sharkey and Derek Henry in the backs ensured the home sides score was kept low. Half Time 2-4 to 1-4.
Both teams traded three scores each in the opening second half minutes with late arrival John Moore dominating. Moore replaced Paul McDonough so that he can save his energies for the following days Dublin city marathon. Brendan’s tried to snatch a goal with Foleys close range effort being saved for a 45. Moore took the 45 and dropped it perfectly to fellow Kilmeena man John Ryan and coolly scored a goal. 2-7 to 2-7, Game On!
Willie McLoughlin, accused by his marker of being a banger, eventually got him silent with a darting run and shot past the goalkeeper to put the Gormanites up by three, a lead they would not surrender. While on the other end, Garvin produced more acrobatics to ensure no Davis goal number three. While Johnny Walsh spent the second half making daring clearances and solo runs.
Peter Burke continued to encourage his troops, believing that Davis have lost interest and this was further justified by further points by McLoughlin and Robbie Caulfield, indeed Caulfield could have got more but for the cross field breeze disturbing the flight of the ball.
However, near the end of the game, one Davis player vented his frustrations by starting a schmozzle on late sub Maoliosa McHugh, while there were other fisticuffs on the other end of the field at the same time, leaving the referee’s resources stretched. McHugh was unfairly booked, while a home side player was red carded.
But despite that, a Golden weekend was complete and St. Brendan’s were in the Sheridan Cup final where they will face, Wild Geese, Again!
Final Score form Kiltipper Road, St. Brendan’s 3-9 Thomas Davis 2-7.
1. Colin Garvin, 2. Rob Stack, 3. Derek Henry, 4. Johnny Walsh, 5. Peter Burke, 6. Brendan Sharkey, 7. Trevor Purtill, 8. Shane Foley, 9. John Ryan, 10. Robbie Caulfield, 11. Willie McLoughlin, 12. David Henry, 13. Justin McCormack, 14. Ken Foxe, 15. Paul McDonough.
Subs: John Moore for McDonough, Will McCarthy for McCormack, Maoilíosa McHugh for Foxe & Damian Daly for David Henry, Damien Mullen for Foley.
