U13 ‘A’ Hurling Championship – Round 1

Sixmilebridge                                3-09
St.Josephs Doora Barefield         2-12

22/08/2015 @ 12:00pm                  Referee: Finbar Carrig

In what was their first game of championship proper for most of these players, albeit 13 aside and a shortened pitch, both teams went home with a share of the spoils in this very skilful and entertaining first round U13A game in O’Garney Park Sixmilebridge on Saturday afternoon.

Sean McNamara from Sixmilebridge got the scoring underway for the home side with a point from play inside the first 2 minutes with Sam Cotter quickly following up to level proceedings, the resulting puck-out being returned immediately back over the bar by Tony Butler. This score seemed to unsettle the Bridge team for a while until Evan Murphy settled things down again with a well taken free. Adam Fitzpatrick was now starting to command the centre of the field for Sixmilebridge with his gazelle-like runs, one from which he offloaded nicely to David Kennedy on the stand side of the field whose drilled shot was superbly deflected over the bar by Patrick Kennedy in the St Josephs goal. Kennedy got through again for another point in the the 20th minute which was well needed after 3 points in as many minutes by Sam Cotter and Darragh O’Callaghan. Kennedy followed up with a goal in the 22nd minute, the result of an intelligent cross filed pass from Darren Quinn. The visitors tagged on another 1-02 to their tally before half time, a goal from Seanie Keane despite the heroic efforts of Ferdia O’Lionan in the Bridge defence and two further frees off the stick of Joey Keane. Half time score 1-04 to 1-08 to the visitors.

The Bridge side came out in the second half with all guns blazing outscoring their opponents 2-04 to a solitary point in the 3rd quarter. The scoring prowess up front all coming from significant team effort all over the pitch, in particular from Conor Morey who was commanding the Bridges rear line. St Joesph’s responded with the stylish Shane O’Halloran orchestrating the comeback from the middle of the field. Tony Butler had a long range shot deflected to the Bridge net which was quickly followed by a well worked point from Conal O’Regan. Evan O’Callaghan’s quick reactions to lift and strike helped to take the Bridge one clear with the ever present Butler to again level matters. The last five minutes of the game enthralled spectators with the ball being tirelessly worked up and down the field by both sets of teams with Finbar Carrig’s final whistle ending the tie with the fairest result of all – a draw … Sixmilebridge 3-09 St Josephs 2-12  

Sixmilebridge: Conor Murphy, Conor Morey, Ferdia O’Lionan; Adam O’Sullivan, Dylan Downes, Adam Murray; Adam Fitzpatrick (1-00), Leon Kelly; David Kennedy (2-05 2f), Sean McNamara (0-01), Evan Murphy (0-01 1f); Evan O’Callaghan (0-01), Luke Keogh, Darren Quinn(0-01), Colm Flynn, Noel Flynn, Colin Kelly.

Doora Barefield: Patrick Kennedy, David McNichlos, Eoin Burke, Fionn Keleher, Tony Butler (1-04 2f), Shane O’Halloran, Joey Keane (0-02 2f), Sam Cotter (0-03), Seanie Keane (1-01), Darragh O’Callaghan, Conal O’Regan (0-01), Darragh Whelan, Mathew Power, Cillian O’Riordan, Donal O’Driscoll, Adrian Baker, Mathew Whelan, Diarmuid O’Halloran