MINOR FOOTBALL: Templenoe/Tuosist 3-14; Austin Stacks 1-9.
After putting in a storming first half performance at the end of which we lead by 1-8 to 1-4 we never turned up for the second half being outscored by 2-10 to 0-1.
After the opposition opened the scoring with a point inside the first minute, goalkeeper Paddy Fitzgibbon was called on to make a brilliant save a minute later.
Then in the 4th minute Darragh O’Brien sent in a long high free and Scott Monaghan rose highest to fist the net. Two points from play followed by Danny Carroll and Darragh O’Brien by the tenth minute.
Then in the 12th minute Paddy Fitzgibbon got his hand to a rasper but couldn’t prevent it from ending up in the net. By the end of the first quarter Templenoe had equalised with a point from play.
The second quarter was really the Darragh O’Brien show – all our six points in that period came from Darragh, five from frees and one from play.
It is hard to explain how we didn’t perform in that second half – our only score coming from a Danny Carroll point from play, four minutes after the resumption.
Team: Patrick Fitzgibbon, Paul Galvin, Alan Crean, Barry Walsh, Conor Jordan, David O’Sullivan, Thomas McLoughlin, Ciaran O’Connell, Shane Crowley, Darragh O’Brien (0-7 – 5 frees), Michael Godley, Kyle Fitzgibbon, Danny Carroll (0-2), Scott Monaghan (1-0), Greg Horan.
Subs: Shane Walsh (46m), Alan Duggan (55m), Breandán Caball (55m).
In Round 4 of the League we play Kerins O’Rahillys and this is scheduled to go ahead in Strand Road on next Saturday evening (19th March) with 4.30 throw in.KEVIN REPORTS: (i) Saturday 12th saw our Minors ag imirt sa 3ú babhta de Shraith Peile an Chontae…v a good experienced Templenoe team. Considering the rain that fell Friday night and Saturday morning, the ever vigilant groundwork of Denny O’Connor, Noel O’Connell and Co. was plain to be seen as our pitch at Connolly Park was in great shape for the match nuair a caitheadh isteach an chaid ag 3pm. The sideline job was well done by Johnny Hanafin, who dealt very pleasantly with the pressures and banter from some from the travelling fans. Eoghan Mac Iomhargáin took care of the umpire’s job…buíochas leo beirt…these jobs are not for the faint-hearted and are tasks that need to be done. The sun was shining when the game began and Templenoe settled quickly, scoring a point from play in the 1st minute. In the 5th minute, Dara O’Brien’s 45′, in aghaidh na gaoithe, just dropped short an The Rockies’ 1st score. Nice free-flowing football was being played at this stage and the ref was very much allowing “advantage” where most refs would be giving frees. Templenoe’s goal from play, (9th minute) was quickly answered (10th) with a well taken point from play by Danny Carroll. A minute later saw the 1st of 7 points being scored from the foot of Dara Ó Briain. Our opponents’ corner forward (13) knocked over 3 points from play in the 16th, 24th and 25th minutes. Meanwhile, Dara wasn’t missing a kick…putting 6 balls over the bar…4 frees and 2 from play. Half-time saw The Rock with a 4 point advantage…1-8 to 1-4. Templenoe opened the scoring with a point in the 33rd minute while Danny Carroll quickly replied in the 34th with a well struck point. Stacks dominated the first 10 minutes of the half but wasted many good chances when they could have tagged on more crucial scores. Templenoe added 2 points from play (42nd and 43rd minutes) and followed with a superbly taken goal in the 45th minute. As sin go deireadh bhí rith an ráis ag An Teampall Nua. They tagged on another 1-7 without reply roimh shéideadh na feadóige móire! Final score: Stacks~ 1-09; Templenoe~3-14. Team: P.Fitzgibbon (goals); P.Galvin, A.Crean, B.Walsh; T McLaughlin, D.O’Sullivan, Conor Jordon (only back from Barcelona); C.O’Connell, S.Crowley,(replaced by S.Walsh ~47th minute); K.Fitzgibbon (A.Duggan ~51st minute), M.Godley, D.O’Brien (7 points,5 frees); G.Horan, S.Monaghan (1 goal), D.Carroll (2 points) replaced by B.Caball in the 51st minute. Other subs: B.Ivanov, S.Begley and E. McAllen. There were some good performances on the day with David O’Sullivan at centre back having an excellent game and Alan Crean solid as ever at full-back. Ach níorbh é ár lá é! It was nice to see a bit of support for The Rockies in Connolly Park but we could do with a lot more support for our match with Strand Road…on Saturday the 19th in Strand Road. Well done to Templenoe and I’m sure we’ll meet them again. (ii) Training continues Tuesday and Thursday at 5pm in Connolly Park.