O'LOUGHLIN GAELS 0-13 TO 2-6 ERIN'S OWN
U21s DIG OUT FIRST ROUND WIN
After several hours of heavy rain and strong winds the pitch conditions at Freshford were not ideal for classic hurling. However in fairness to both sets of players they endeavoured to provide a spectacle in front of the large crowd in attendance. Slippery underfoot conditions and a strong breeze conspired to prevent a free flowing game but couldn’t dampen the players determination. The first half saw Erins’ Own benefit from two long range frees. With the wind in their backs the speculative shots both found the O’Loughlins net. The first came on seventeen minutes when the ball was dropping short and ricocheted off a score of raised hurls grappling for procession. The sudden change in direction was always going to beat a goalie already dealing with a crowded area. The second came seven minutes later when a high dropping ball looked like it was safely in hand except the sliotar didn’t cooperate with the hapless defender and bounced over his shoulder to the net. Two needless goals gave a false impression of an Erin’s Own dominance as they left the field at half time 2-5 to 0-3 to the good. The first half period saw the O’Loughlin Gael players suffer most from the slippery surface and missed a few of their own opportunities as a result. Robbie Buckley showed signs of a better half to come from him with a decent first half performance that yielded him a point. But for the slippery conditions Cian Loy would surely would have had a better return than a single point for his first half efforts. And Sean Bolger pointed a free from a placed ball at the end of the half giving us an indication of what we could expect from him in the final 30mins.
With the wind in their backs in the second half the O’Loughlin’s lads set about reducing the deficit from the start. Paddy Deegan, Robbie Buckley and Daniel O’Conner each pointed from play in the first five minutes and the St. Johns support began to relax a little. Robbie Buckley was causing untold damage around the middle of the park and there was a lot more urgency in the O’Loughlin attack now. Shane Mahony, Huw Lawlor and Paddy Deegan took charge of the half back line pressing up into midfield with every opportunity. Jack Lawlor was immense in defence and was involved in every clearance from the O’Loughlins 21 yard line. Sean Bolger brought his form from last week’s minor performance and added the next three O’Loughlins points ( a 65, 1 from play and a pointed free). During the same period Erins Own returned with their only score of the second half, a pointed free on the 50th minute. Erins Own were still ahead but it was clear they were hanging on for dear life. Robbie Buckley was brilliant and his energy allowed him to push forward and steal a further point from play to equalise the match on 28mins. Paddy Deegan pointed his second a few moments earlier and O’Loughlins were chomping at the bit in search of the winning score. It looked like man of the match Robbie Buckley was going to be the provider but he was unceremoniously hauled down after he turned his defender and the opportunity was presented to free taker Sean Bolger. Sean didn’t miss a free all afternoon and even with the tight angle and the precarious breeze he didn’t miss this. O’Loughlins stayed ahead and managed to defend that lead to the final whistle for a well deserved win and an advance to the next round.
It was a good performance all round and one the management can use going forward. There’s plenty to improve on and with a combined determination this team has the ability to work their way through this competition. Well done to all concerned.
Team. Shane Maher, Thomas Gleeson, Huw Lawlor, Jack Lawlor, Shane Parsons, Paddy Deegan (2 pts), Gary Bryan, Robbie Buckley (3pts), Shane Mahony, Sean Bolger (6pts – 1 65, 4 f) , David Burke, Ross Butler, Ben Leydon, Daniel O’Connor (1pt), Cian Loy (1 pt), Vinny Wallace, Pat Byrne, Jay Leahy.
After several hours of heavy rain and strong winds the pitch conditions at Freshford were not ideal for classic hurling. However in fairness to both sets of players they endeavoured to provide a spectacle in front of the large crowd in attendance. Slippery underfoot conditions and a strong breeze conspired to prevent a free flowing game but couldn’t dampen the players determination. The first half saw Erins’ Own benefit from two long range frees. With the wind in their backs the speculative shots both found the O’Loughlins net. The first came on seventeen minutes when the ball was dropping short and ricocheted off a score of raised hurls grappling for procession. The sudden change in direction was always going to beat a goalie already dealing with a crowded area. The second came seven minutes later when a high dropping ball looked like it was safely in hand except the sliotar didn’t cooperate with the hapless defender and bounced over his shoulder to the net. Two needless goals gave a false impression of an Erin’s Own dominance as they left the field at half time 2-5 to 0-3 to the good. The first half period saw the O’Loughlin Gael players suffer most from the slippery surface and missed a few of their own opportunities as a result. Robbie Buckley showed signs of a better half to come from him with a decent first half performance that yielded him a point. But for the slippery conditions Cian Loy would surely would have had a better return than a single point for his first half efforts. And Sean Bolger pointed a free from a placed ball at the end of the half giving us an indication of what we could expect from him in the final 30mins.
With the wind in their backs in the second half the O’Loughlin’s lads set about reducing the deficit from the start. Paddy Deegan, Robbie Buckley and Daniel O’Conner each pointed from play in the first five minutes and the St. Johns support began to relax a little. Robbie Buckley was causing untold damage around the middle of the park and there was a lot more urgency in the O’Loughlin attack now. Shane Mahony, Huw Lawlor and Paddy Deegan took charge of the half back line pressing up into midfield with every opportunity. Jack Lawlor was immense in defence and was involved in every clearance from the O’Loughlins 21 yard line. Sean Bolger brought his form from last week’s minor performance and added the next three O’Loughlins points ( a 65, 1 from play and a pointed free). During the same period Erins Own returned with their only score of the second half, a pointed free on the 50th minute. Erins Own were still ahead but it was clear they were hanging on for dear life. Robbie Buckley was brilliant and his energy allowed him to push forward and steal a further point from play to equalise the match on 28mins. Paddy Deegan pointed his second a few moments earlier and O’Loughlins were chomping at the bit in search of the winning score. It looked like man of the match Robbie Buckley was going to be the provider but he was unceremoniously hauled down after he turned his defender and the opportunity was presented to free taker Sean Bolger. Sean didn’t miss a free all afternoon and even with the tight angle and the precarious breeze he didn’t miss this. O’Loughlins stayed ahead and managed to defend that lead to the final whistle for a well deserved win and an advance to the next round.
It was a good performance all round and one the management can use going forward. There’s plenty to improve on and with a combined determination this team has the ability to work their way through this competition. Well done to all concerned.
Team. Shane Maher, Thomas Gleeson, Huw Lawlor, Jack Lawlor, Shane Parsons, Paddy Deegan (2 pts), Gary Bryan, Robbie Buckley (3pts), Shane Mahony, Sean Bolger (6pts – 1 65, 4 f) , David Burke, Ross Butler, Ben Leydon, Daniel O’Connor (1pt), Cian Loy (1 pt), Vinny Wallace, Pat Byrne, Jay Leahy.