B FOOTBALL: Gneeveguilla 4-10 (22); Austin Stacks 3-12 (21).
We were coasting to victory in this Co. Shield game in Gneeveguilla on this Sunday afternoon (11th June) as the closing five minutes approached with a commanding lead of eight points. But a combination of some complacency on our part and a never-say-die effort by the home side saw them score three unanswered goals in those five minutes to leave them with a one point win at the end.
Up to then we had played some very good football both individually and as a team. When Pa McCarthy opened the scoring with a point after 40 seconds we were never behind after that. We led by 1-4 to 0-2 at the end of the first quarter – our goal coming from Damien Hogan. At half time we led by 2-8 to 0-5 – our second goal coming from Donnacha Sayers in the 23rd minute. At the end of the third quarter we were still those two goals in the lead (2-11 to 1-8) and had increased that lead by eight points during the next ten minutes (our third goal scored by Joe Looby). And then came those disastrous five closing minutes.
Team: Brian Horgan (0-1 – forty five), Ruairí O’Connell, John Murphy (Capt), Seán Moynihan, Pa McCarthy (0-1), Luke Chester (0-1), Evan Foley, Joe Reidy, Ciarán O’Connell, Noah Townsend (0-2), Gearóid Sheehan, David Courtney (0-1), Donnacha Sayers (1-3 – one free), Calvin Foley (0-1), Damien Hogan (1-2 – one free),
Sub used: Joe Looby 49m) (1-0).
With four rounds played in this Div 5 Phase 2 Shield we have two wins (against Ballylongford and Rathmore) and two games lost (against Duagh and Gneeveguilla) which has us third on the Table. We are now due to play our 5th and final round game at home to Glenflesk on the week-end after next (w/e 25th June).