St. Canices Credit Union Senior Hurling League O'Loughlin Gaels 2-20 to 1-8 St. Martins GAA Venue: Canon's Kearns Park, Erins Own GAA - April 23rd at 1.30pm Referee: Peter Burke It was great start to the 2017 campaign for sure at Canon Kearns Park this afternoon as the reigning Champions swept aside St. Martins in this first round fixture. We'll leave all the notes on tactics and star performers to the professionals but all we need to know from the club's perspective is that this senior panel played with an air of confidence possibly buoyed by last years success, but certainly supported by strong team bond. There's no science to a good performance - just play honestly, work hard and support each other and the scores will come. The scores certainly did come and from early on the writing was on the wall even though at ten minutes the scores stood at a point each. But O'loughlins had hit three wides by then and were causing St.Martins real problems in thier defensive zone. In the 13th minute David Burke found the net from a rebounded save from a Robbie Buckley strike, all coming about from a sublime clearance by Jay Leahy back in the Gaels half back line, the half back line of Leahy, Kearns and Deegan working well together. It was just rewards for the early exchanges and the Gaels were ahead 1-2 to 0-1. St. Martins got one back soon after though as Tom Breen pounced on a loose ball in the O'Loughlin's square and whipped it to the net. The St.Martin's crowd feeling ok now. The sides exchanged points through Paddy Deegan and John Maher (Free) before Mark Kelly found O'Loughlin Gaels second goal on the 22nd minute putting a little distance between the sides and laying the platform for the city team to build a decent lead by half time at 2-9 to 1-3. The second half opened up for O'Loughlin Gaels. With St. Martin's having to chase the game they were the ones under pressure and O'Loughlin's played with the knowledge that they had a cushion of a comfortable lead. Midfielder Shane Mahoney was substituted early in the half after a bad blow to the head. Jack Nolan entered the action and looked industrious earning himself a fine point before the game had ended. Infact much to the satisfaction of the St. Johns support three of the five subs that played managed to find their scoring radars, Sean Bolger, Jack Nolan and Danny Lenihan. Gary Bryan being the teams fourth had slotted into corner back for Anthony Forristal who had worked tirelessly and taken some big hits in the first half. It was a satisfcatory afternoon for the Gaels and a promising start to this years league/championship. There were five new starters from last years County Final outing and all fitted in well. It's early days yet of course and there's a lot of work to do. But they'll look forward to it...and so do we! Lovely Hurling. Team: S. Murphy, A Forristal, A Kearns, E Kearns, P Deegan, B. Hogan, J Leahy, S. Mahony, H. Lawlor, S. Johnston, M. Kelly, R. Buckley, M. Bergin, D. Burke, G. Kelly. Substitutions: S. Bolger for D. Burke (30"), J. Nolan for S. Mahony (38"), G. Bryan for A Forristal (41"), J. Doyle for S. Johnston (43"), D. Lenihan for G. Kelly (50") B. Maher, P. Butler, R. Butler, P. Byrne, P. Cantwell. Scorers: M. Kelly 1-3, M Bergin 0-5, (3F), P. Deegan 0-5, D. Burke 1-0, S. Bolger 0-3, R. Buckley (0-2), J. Nolan, D. Lenihan - 0-1 each. |
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