Barryroe GAA

Ballinascarthy, 20:00PM

Match Report Tom Lyons Southern Star 15/06/2017

Barryroe 1-06 Kilbrittain 3-03

Kilbrittain's third team prevailed against Barryroe's second string side in awful conditions in the JHBC at Ballinascarthy last Friday night. Unfortunately, this game was played in deplorable weather conditions, torrential, cold rain lashing down for the full hour. Thankfully, the pitch was in immaculate condition depsite the weather but frozen fingers and slippery hurleys made life miserable for the players, who, to a man, deserve great credit for their perserverance right through.

Having played with the driving wind and lashing rain in the first half, Kilbrittain led 2-02 to 1-00 at the break, but were down a man following Denis Ryan's 20th minute red card. It was backs to the wall for them in the second half. Eventually, the extra man told for the Barryroe men who managed to draw level with five minutes left in the game.

Extra time loomed but Kilbrittain sub Daniel McCormack became the black and amber hero two minutes from time when he finished a ground ball to the Barryroe net for the winning goal. Kilbrittain had real stalwarts in goalkeeper Llyod McSweeney, defenders David O'Sullivan, David McSweeney and, especially, Jerry Coughlan, midfielder Cal McCarthy and forwards Maurice Fielding, Declan Moloney and Declan O'Donovan.

Barryroe, last season's C champions battled gamely no the end, even though missing a few vital players. Goalkeeper Ger Keohane did extremely well under severe pressure in the first half, defenders Ronan Fleming and Clive Cahalane covered well, midfielders Jack Cahalane and Alan Kiely dominated midfield in the second half and up front the strong Conor Madden and Michael Whelton caused problems, while Gearoid Whelton was one of the few players able to better the conditions on the night.

Full marks too the referee Stephen Murphy, who managed to keep the game going in such atrocious weather conditions.

Kilbrittain played with the elements in the first half and had a great start as Declan O'Donovan goaled in the first minute. Cal McCarthy followed with a point and Barryroe hit their only score of the first half when Stephen Holland finished to the net after Gearoid Whelton's shot had been saved by Lloyd McSweeney.

John Dollard pointed for Kilbrittain and their second goal when Gary Hayes netted the rebound when Declan O'Donovan's shot was saved by Keohane. They would lead at half time but knew they to face the second half with a disparity of manpower. The story of the second half was constant pressure by the Barryroe lads with desperate defending by Kilbrittain. Gearoid Whelton and Conor Madden had points for the Blues but when Declan O'Donovan managed to point a Kilbrittain free, it was 2-03 to 1-02 at the end of the third quarter.

However, when Gearoid Whelton pointed from play and Michael Whelton converted two frees,only a point separated the teams entering the closing stages. Conor Madden's effort at an equalising point was allower after some debate, but Barryroe couldn't find a lead score. Just when we were preparing ourseleves for a draw, Kilbrittain managed to break out of their own half and produce the winning goal from Donal McCormack.

Team: G.Keohane, C.O'Regan, P.Keohane, R.Fleming, A.Fleming, C.Cahalane, E.Sheehy, J.Cahalane, A.Kiely, T.McMarthy, C.Madden 0-02, M.Whelton 0-02f, S.Holland 1-00, G.Whelton 0-02, K.Lawton. Subs used: S.Madden, M.O'Donovan, A.Fleming, J.Crowley, M.Sexton.