A Farewell to the Hill (and hogweed)
News Item added:19-07-2010
THE Darkest Force put the first team to shame with a fine performance on the bottom pitch that yielded another two points in what has been a solid first league campaign. So far this year, the form of the two teams has been inextricably linked with results always yielding either two losses or two wins on the same day. However, this time the second team went one better with a comfortable win over St Peregrine's.
This game was the second of three meetings between the two clubs: the first a friendly playing against the Pergs 11S team on July 9th, to mark the 1st anniversary of the second team's reformation. Contrary to popular belief, the club did field two teams in both codes for over 40 years until the late 1980s.
Shane Dunnion and Eamon 'Crusher' Cusack were the main scoring threats each rattling off five points. The King of the Four Masters also got a goal after hitting a low shot that went under the goalkeeper's body and into the net.
Maolíosa 'Nordie Brute' McHugh got just the one point and credit went to Paul McDonough, who used sheer athleticism to keep the ball in, before passing to Aidan McGovern who laid off to McHugh. Half time score was 1-6 to 0-4.
Dunnion and Cusack continued in the second half where they left off in the first half, pressurising the Pergs backs. McDonough also had a goal shot that was trickling over the line only for the ball to be cleared, but got a good cheer nonetheless. The match was played with tremendous spirit despite the strong cross field breeze.
The Darkest Force are now 5 and 7 with three League games to go, the third Pergs meeting is this Friday the 23rd, in the 2nd installment of the Gorman Cup.
The Team that played St. Peregrines 18/7/2010.
1. Mick McGinty, 2. Barry Halpin, 3. Johnny Walsh, 4. Eoin Smith, 5. Paul Conlon, 6. Dave Sullivan, 7. Hugh Smith, 8. Shane Dunnion, 9. Maolíosa McHugh, 10. Paul Farrelly, 11. Eamon Cusack, 12. Aidan McGovern, 13. Eugene Cunningham, 14. Will McCarthy, 15. Paul McDonough. Subs: Damien Mullen for Cunningham, Darren Kelly for McDonough, John Donlon for McCarthy.
On what may well be the last time the footballers ever line out on the top pitch, the Gormanites bid a losing farewell to their beloved hill and hogweed. The opposition were Parnells, the referee was the same Louthman who had been in charge for the controversial Champ'ship encounter between the two sides, and sparks seemed to set to fly.
Instead, it was – by and large – a clean game and one that was thoroughly influenced by the wind that blasted up the pitch. At half time, Parnells had already notched up nine points and St Brendan's could boast just a single score from the boot of John Moore.
Despite the eight-point deficit, the game was still winnable at the break such was the breeze, but a sucker punch of a goal in the first few minutes of the second half turned an uphill struggle into an Everest-type climb.
St Brendan's began to dominate possession with the long kickouts of Colin Garvin frequently bypassing midfield altogether. Their shooting boots let them down however, and five points were all they had to show for their second half efforts. John Moore and Dave Ryan were on the scoresheet and Dave Henry and Ken Foxe used the wind to send over long-range frees.
A potential turning point came when the keeper fumbled and Timmy Ryan soccered the ball into the net leaving the deficit at just three points. Once again however, it was Parnells that kicked on and they added a further two points to leave the final score at 1-11 to 1-6.
The Team:
1/ Colin Garvin, 2/ Ken Foxe, 3/ Peter Fallon, 4/ Rob Stack, 5/ Peter Burke, 6/ Brendan Sharkey, 7/ Shane O'Dwyer, 8/ Derek Henry, 9/ John Ryan, 10/ Robbie Caulfield, 11/ Dave Ryan, 12/ Trevor Purtill, 13/ John Moore, 14/ Timmy Ryan, 15/ David Henry
