U12 Co. League 2012
The Rockies reign supreme! Our last round matches in the County League took place in a summery Connolly Park last Sunday evening against Listowel Emmets. Both teams played thrillers in Listowel in Phase 1 and both teams were equal on points going into this game. Listowel had raced into an early lead before Dean Scanlon opened our account with a well taken free. It was tit-for-tat for the first 15 minutes with Gearóid Sheehan getting 2 points and Michael O’Gara getting another after Emmets had broken upfield and had rattled the net to put them in front. Gearóid Sheehan cut in from the end line to point from an impossible angle and that was followed by a beauty from Gearóid Fitzgerald. Michael Slattery then entered the fray and with his first touch of the ball drove an unstoppable shot past the Emment Club ‘keeper. The skilful Conor Myers pointed from distance before Slatz and Mike O’Gara split the posts. At the other end our defence of Donagh McMahon, Cian Hill, Dylan Casey and Seán Quilter were getting to grips with their men and they held a very strong and skilful Listowel team scoreless for the rest of the half. We had a few points to spare at half time after another fine Gearóid Sheehan point, a Gearóid Fitz pointed free agus dhá cheann eile ó bhróga Slatz agus Conor Myers. Donagh had to retire injured and, so, Conor Higgins fell back and played out of his skin…first to the ball every time! In the second half Dylan Ó Cathasaigh did his best Tomás Ó Sé impression…bursting upfield to score a beauty, while Mike O’G and Gearóid Fitz won kick out after kick out to keep the pressure on the Listowel defence. When the Fealesiders did break out they found Cian Hill and Seán Quilter in no mood for charity! A special word for an unsung hero…cúl báire Pádraig McCannon who’s concentration never waned throughout, who made a top class save in the second half and whose kickouts put us on the attack time after time. Dean pointed after a lovely pass from the hardworking David Couchman and the same 2 had a part to play in the second goal with Dave brilliantly flicking a Deano pass into the path of Slatz (he has been watching the Euros, no doubt!) who volleyed into the net…wow! Conor Higgins got in on the act with a lovely point and Slatz, Dylan, Dean and Mike O’Gara finished the scoring. This was probably the best performance of the year with some of the points and passing being of the highest quality. Such was the workrate that it was felt that everyone on the field could have been chosen as Man-of-the-Match but a special mention must be made of Slatz, a fuair dhá chúl iontacha, Mike O’Gara, a bhí i ngach áit, agus Gearóid Ó Síocháin, a bhí go maith ábalta an chaid a scaipeadh timpeall ar a chomhimreoirí. (ii) Black’n’Ambers to the fore!: Legs, legs, legs! Once again the ol’ fitness came against this team in the final quarter, despite being ahead in the first quarter and being ‘well in the match’ at the short whistle. The double Joes, Looby and Bastible, led the attack playing fantastic football and were ably assisted by the hardworking Seán Ó Drisceoil and Garry Clifford. In the middle third Jack McGrath and Dara Barry-Walsh covered acres of ground…getting better with every game. Tom O’Farrell, looking tanned and relaxed after a break, as well as Liam Nolan and David Burke, those teak tough half backs, held the North Kerry boys at bay for long periods. Jordan Ó Sé, Josh Hayes and Pádraic Linnane played intelligent passes into the half forwards. Our ‘keeper David Oba would put some of those boys in Poland to shame with some of the saves he made! The Hurley twins were delayed but credit to them for putting in a hard second half performance. (iii) As there is good football in this group each player should endeavour to improve his skills and, so, training, training and training again on Thursday from 6pm to 7.30pm. (iv) ‘Well done’ to the youngest of the Fitzmaurice clan, Niall, who played a blinder against the Crokes B team last Sunday week. He was asked to jump from the Cs to the Bs just before throw-in and was one of the best players on the field. Agus tá sé fós faoi 10…briseann an dúchas trí shúile an chait!
Hurling & Football Club