KILDORRERY 1-18 EIRE OG 1-12
Last Saturday afternoon, our Intermediate hurlers, by virtue of a hard-earned six point victory over Eire Og, qualified to meet Glen Rovers in the championship semi-final, next week-end. This six-point winning margin was a repeat of their victory over the same opposition at Mallow in 2015 when they won on the score 1-11 to 1-5. Kildorrrery started this game in very determined mood, setting up attacks from the off, forcing their opponents’ defence into the concession of two early frees which Peter O’Brien duly converted and by the end of the first quarter led 0-4 to 0-3. However, this juncture was marked by the dismissal with a straight red, of an Eire Og mid-fielder for a striking offence on Finbarr Stapleton who was forced to leave the field of play for treatment. For some reason the Kildorrery ‘ extra man’ seemed to work against them and for the next ten minutes or so it was all Eire Og and with just five minutes of normal time left in the half they had edged in front – 0-6 to 0-5. In the 26 th minute a great run up the field by James O’Sullivan, heralded a Kildorrery revival when he sent over a point to level matters. Peter O’Brien (3), David Kelly and Jamie O’Gorman pushed Kildorrery into a five point lead before a great goal-bound shot from Shane O’Neill was saved by the keeper, only to see Eamonn O’Connor on hand to bang the rebound to the net, in injury time. At the break they led 1-11 to 0-6.
After the resumption of play, the expected dominance of Kildorrery failed to materialise and it was Eire Og who took control and after twelve minutes had reduced their deficit to just two points, having scored a goal from a penalty in the 41 st minute. At this point, the by now recovered Finbarr Stapleton, returned to the fray and with his first touch sent over an inspirational point and like scores from Peter(2) and David Kelly from an excellent side-line cut, had our boys back in front by four, 1-16 to 1-12 , with less than four minutes of normal time remaining. In injury time, Peter added two more points from placed balls to put the issue beyond doubt. From the 50 th minute to the end Eire Og had failed to score.
This was a tough physical battle, with no quarter asked or given by two superbly fit teams. Full marks to all our players, for their resilience and battle-hardened attitude when most needed . We look forward to an even better performance in the semi-final against Glen Rovers on this coming Saturday at Castletownroche 3 p.m.. We wish them and their management team all the best.
Team and scorers: James McEniry, Sean Kelly, Shane Fitzgerald, Cormac O’Baoill, Tom Monaghan, Michael Walsh, John Howard, James O’Sullivan 0-1, Finbarr Stapleton 0-1, Wm Fouhy 0-1, Peter O’Brien 0-10(0- 7fs) Andrew O’Brien 0-1, Eamonn O’Connor 1-1, David Kelly 0-2, Shane O’Neill. Subs. Jamie O’Gorman 0-1, for F. Stapleton inj., Jerry McCarthy for J.Howard inj., F. Stapleton for A.O’Brien, Dylan Kent for T.Monaghan, Darren McNamara for E.O’Connor.
KILDORRERY 0-5 ST. NICK’S 1-10
Last Sunday morning, at the home venue, our intermediate football management team were hard pressed to muster fifteen players to fulfil this league fixture. Not for the first time, in recent weeks some retired players sportingly came out of retirement and donned the jersey to make up the fifteen. Not surprisingly, the players involved in the previous days hurling game were not available. The fifteen who took the field showed great Club loyalty and are to be commended for it. As the score-line suggests they could hardly be expected to match the full-strength St. Nick’s side.
Team. Kevin Gallagher, Ciaran O’Connor, Dave Roche, Anthony Palmer, Jason Walsh. Liam Kelly, P.J.Keating, Shane Walsh, Willie Coffey, James Magnier, Sean O’Sullivan, David Harrington, Kevin O’Farrell, Sean Walsh, Mike Monaghan.
LOTTO
The next draw in the Club lotto takes place this Saturday night at Sheahan’s Hilltop Lounge, when the jackpot will be €6,800.
MEETING ADJOURNED
After the reading and adoption of the minutes, last Monday’s Club meeting was adjourned as a mark of respect to Kerene O’Sullivan, Juvenile Club Runai, on the death of her brother. Votes of sympathy were passed to her and to the following: the son, nieces and relatives of the late Peg McDonald, Rockmills; the wife, son, daughter and relatives of the late Seanie O’Brien, Mitchelstown and the sons, daughter and relatives of the late Ellen O’Neill, Castletownroche on their recent bereavements. Ar dheis De go raibh anamacha na marbh.
The Avondhu, 29th September 2016