Friday 13 Sep 2013Intermediate Hurling - Championship
Páirc Úi Rinn, 19:30PM
I suppose it's ironic in these days of super-fit athletes, that the match should be won by probably the least fit player on the pitch. This is not in any way to take from Seanie O'Farrell, it's just that is hard to imaging him doing shuttle runs etc, at this stage of his life, but he's a wily operater; very strong, can use his hip and he still has lots of hurling.
Catherine's had a dream start running up three points before, a Kieran Hurley point put us on the board. A long range point from John O'Donovan was cancelled out by the East Cork side. The Barryroe goal then had a lucky escape, before a John O'Donovan free left us trailing by just the one point 0-3 to 0-4.
In truth at this stage Catherine's were on top, although Timmy Carroll, Ger Coleman and John O'Donovan were doing well. Mike O'Brien replied to a Catherine's free before the game turned on twenty two minutes. Over elaboration in midfield saw us turn over the ball, which was moved quickly to Seanie O'Farrell and he gave Billy O'Donovan no chance from close in.
We were now 1-6 to 0-5 down, but Adrian Fleming and a long range Tadgh Harrington free, meant we turn over just two points behind.
Catherine's had the first point of the second half, John O'Donovan pointed a 65, before O'Farrell struck again and now we were 2-8 to 0-8 behind. We stuck at it however and points from Kieran Griffin, two John O'Donovan frees and Griffin again saw the lead cut to two points. The East Cork side then rattled off three points in quick succession to take the score to 2-11 to 0-12 with just under 10 minutes on the clock. O'Donovan swapped points with St. Catherine's before, with three minutes on the clock, John O'Donovan lobbed a free in to the St. Catherine's goal. Timber flew and I'm not sure if anyone got a touch, but the ball ended up in the back of the net.
A break-away point from Catherine's saw a goal between the sides, before a last ditch run by Mike O'Brien saw him pulled down and a penalty awarded, with a goal needed to draw the game. Unluckily however, Tadgh Harrington's shot was too high and the referee blew on the puck out.
It's fair to say we were not at our best tonight and the rustiness in the players returning after injuries really showed. We fought to the end and almost pulled off a draw, but it was not to be.
Lán Chúl