Junior D team just come up short....
23 August, 2013
Whatever it is about meeting Mathunas in any Grade of Championship, it certainly raises the blood pressure levels in Players and mentors alike and this Junior D Football Championship Match played in Barryroe on Mon night was no exception. With all of 23 players already used in the Junior A Football Championship earlier in the year, we travelled with the boots in the car in anticipation of getting our first start in this decade...but alas we were bitterly disappointed... we had 21 players in the warm-up and one glance around told its own story... the real big guns were back and looking as fit as fiddles. As the team went through a vigorous warm-up, we had to check the temperature on a few of the younger lads as the humid evening made the Vaseline for the eyebrows an essential ingredient. A very alert looking Captain Matthew Sexton won first blood, winning the toss and it was straight into action against a strong Mathunas 15 that had the classy Micheal Fehiley at midfield. First blood to Mathunas with a well taken goal only to be followed by one of the best goals seen on the Barryroe pitch in many a year. A strong run from the tanned midfielder Richard Murphy and a deft one/two with the Lifeboat Inn Publican, Shane O Donovan, found the evergreen Kevin McCarthy on the 65 yard line... seeing the Goalie slightly off his line...Kevin chipped him from 50 yards to the amazement of the Mahunas defence and of his own Barryroe forwards. It thoroughly deserved the cartwheel that Kevin performed in the run back out. The best goal he ever saw, declared selector Denis Cahalane. It was a tense first half with the Barryroe Goalie Kevin O Donovan making a welcome return and showing the rewards of a very busy season rowing with the Ring Ladies. His high fielding was soundness personified. Halftime saw Barryroe down by 4 points but they upped the intensity for the second half with the backline driven on strongly by Sean O Donovan, Jerome O Brien and Brendan Coleman and up front saw another Ring rower Mark O Donovan creating plenty scoring opportunities. Scores were scarce as we had some wild wides but the strength of Adrian Fleming was reaping rewards and we got closer and closer. The young guns like minors Brian Scannell, Patrick Maloney, Jack Murphy and John Dullea were getting better as time ticked away even though it was their third match in five days.. Suddenly a hard fought penalty....up stood Adrian to blast it goalwards...but alas he bent it too severely and it missed the post by many yards. Nevertheless, Barryroe drove forward again with passion and a Great Billy O Donovan goal brought the sides to within two points. It was an exciting last ten minutes but alas our shooting boots were left at home and Mahunas held out for victory on the scoreline of 2-6 to 2-4. So near but yet so far for the footballers again. Footballs tucked away again until early February 2014.