SENIOR HURLING: Austin Stacks 0-11; Kenmare 1-11.
After a good first half, after which we led by a point (0-8 to 1-4), we seemed to lose our shape and intensity somewhat in the second half and eventually lost by three points in the semi of the Co. League (Div 3) played in Caherslee on this Saturday afternoon (29th Nov).
And that goal difference resulted from the very first score of the game in the 5th minute – a dropping shot from distance which deceived everyone and landed under the crossbar. We recovered well from that setback and two quick points from corner forwards Ronan Gilsenan and Peter Doyle got us back in the game.
A converted 65 after eight minutes for the visitors was followed by three on the trot for us – one each from Paul Daly (free), Peter Doyle and Shane Fitzgerald to put us in the lead for the first time after 14m. Both sides scored three each in the second quarter with all our three coming from play by Shane Fitzgerald (putting his football skills to use with a kicked effort), Paul Daly and Michael O’Leary. By the 10th minute of the second half Kenmare had restored their early lead when they put over four (1-8 to 0-8). Our only point from play in the second period came from Pádraig Lynch with our remaining two coming from frees with Paul Daly and Peter Doyle on target. With three more points for Kenmare that was still the difference as the game went into added time and try as we did in those closing minutes we could not penetrate a very solid opposition defence with the only goal of the game the difference in the end. Team: Danny Maguire, Andrew Morrissey, Seán King, Kevin O’Leary, Paudie Bradley, Peter O’Regan, Eddie Barry, Jim McCarthy, Joe Brennan, Michael O’Leary (0-1), Paul Daly (0-3 – 2 frees), Shane Fitzgerald (0-2), Peter Doyle (0-3 – 1 free), Pádraig Lynch (0-1), Ronan Gilsenan (0-1). Sub used: Breandán Caball (46m). Later we will do a summary of the season as a whole. But in the meantime thanks to the whole squad for their dedication to training and playing during an unnatural year which no young men should have had to experience. A special thanks to Mark Power and Ger Scollard, a super management team, for their dedication also.