Minor Co. League Division 1 Round 4:
Kerins O’Rahillys 3-8; Austin Stacks 2-10.
We suffered our first defeat of the season (in game 7) by the narrowest of margins in round 4 of the Co. League played in Strand Rd. on this Friday evening (5th April). After a brilliant start with a Greg Horan point from the throw-in and a goal in the second minute by James O’Connor following a perfect pass from Sean Ryan, we didn’t drive on from there and by the 10th minute Rahillys had drawn level with four consecutive points.
We responded well with two more points, the first when Greg Horan’s pile-driver was tipped over the cross bar, and the second by Sean Ryan and a beautiful pass from Greg. Then in the 16th minute another brilliant run by Greg found Sean Ryan whose shot across goal was met by James O’Connor who volleyed to the net for his second of the evening.
However, inside two minutes the home side responded with their first goal of the game followed by a point in the 22nd minute and a second goal a minute later. Sean Dukes was then unlucky to see his shot for goal well saved, but we were back on level terms with points by Kyle Fitzgibbon and one from Conor Jordan who fielded from the kick-out and drove up field to put over. Another point by O’Rahillys coming up to half time left them ahead by one at the break (2-6 to 2-5).
When the Strand Rd. boys went five up within five minutes of the restart with a goal and point (3-7 to 2-5) another side would have caved in at that stage but our lads held them to just one more point for the rest of the game and with attack after attack whittled away at that lead with four pointed frees by Kyle Fitzgibbon after continuous fouls on Conor Jordan, Michael O’Donnell, Greg Horan and Sean Ryan.
The game’s final score came five minutes from time when Breandán Caball put over the point of the game.
But try as we did we just couldn’t get that equalizer. However, we still top the Division on six points with four other teams on four – Dingle, Crokes (both with a game on hand), O’Rahillys and An Ghaeltacht.
Team: Brian Horgan, Dylan Hartnett, Eoghan McKivergan, Aidan McQuinn, Colin Griffin, Conor Jordan (0-1), Shane Greensmyth, Greg Horan (Capt) (0-2), Barry Walsh, Breandán Caball (0-1), Seán Ryan (0-1), James Galvin, Kyle Fitzgibbon (0-5 – 4 frees), James O’Connor (2-0), Sean Dukes.
Sub: Michael O’Donnell (ht).
In the final round of the League we have a home game against Dingle on next Friday (12th April) at 7pm.