At mid day today in a pristine Trim pitch,on a day that would skin a polar Bear's toe nail (gotcha ),Dunderry ran out deserving victors ,just about ,against a gallant Drumree team,who were unlucky to lose.
Jubilant captain Brendan Wright committed to parade the cup in warmer times in the Taj Mahal to a fatherly feed of rashers bedded in batch loaf bread ,dripping with butter,washed down with strong sweet tay,which is what you would need today to keep the cold at bay.
Having said that the excellent hurling on display from both sides did much to keep the cockles of the heart well warmed.
Six goals were scored and more missed .Not bad defending but good attacking.Both teams have skill aplenty and are no slouches in the physical department either.The referee ,Stephen Masterson was the man for the job,knows it well ,played the game and you would know it.He is destined for bigger things.Not too many better in the county or Provence I would say.
Both teams played better against the strong wind.They missed scorable frees more than we did and we were lucky to register at the right time .
We had two casualties before the throw in,Keenan and Kenneally,through injury.Big losses both,but the show goes on and it did ,
James Mitchell.
Luke Martin Alan Garry
Paul Mulligan Brendan Wright Conor Dempsey
Conor O Shea Simon Carty
John Moran Stefan Clarke Darren Clabby
Stephen Coogan Alan Casey
started .
Reserves were Shane Murphy,Cathal Ryan,Killian Leonard and I think a great great grand nephew of Barney Mc Cabe of 19895 fame ,young Robert.
We are adequate all over the field and always one or other rises above the norm.In the first half that person would have to be Conor O Shea,who held things together above and beyond the call.Mulligan is developing nicely and has much to live up to if he is to emulate his sisters,two present,who were experts with the caman in their day.I particularly liked his disregard for personal safety when he ,sans hurley,Hand blocked an attempted Drumree clearance.But then this Tullaghanstown thing (Wright a neighbour and Dempsey a product of the Lion's Den ,a good imitation) means that the cause is never lost till the fat lady sings and she was nowhere near singing till the whistle was five minutes blown as far our lads were concerned.A great all round performance the first half.We went in two points down at half time ,with the wind.
Keenan and Minogue ,on the line ,rang the changes at the break.O Shea to full back,Garry to the wing,Wright to the middle .Coogan who was heavily patrolled at all stages.reduced the margin to one from a free.Drumree kicked on .Another free from Coogan ended in the net.Drumree kicked on.Goaled.Are we fecked?.Are we what ?Clarke in Mafia terms earned his bones today.He has turned inside out and with admirable persistence and against the odds scored a goal which must have sickened a gallant Drumree. Wright played a captain's part,O Shea's Lazarus arousal from the dead,not once,not twice but thrice proved inspirational,Moran's persistence,Carty,s speed ,both of thought and action,Clabby's physical presence,determination and persistence,Mitchell's accurate deliveries .Garry's commitment,and an overall overspill of guts from all involved enabled a two point victory in a nail biting finish.
Vincie Rattigan,my sideline companion for the match was the first to invade the pitch.Then the young man of Mel's fame and young Jack and Billy the kid and Phil from Lavey,and Benny from Cortown and Jim and John ( I hear that a request for Jim from the lads from Carnaross was on local Radio) and Stan the man and the Lion Judge and Seamin and the ladies and the parents too,and the young wans.Kevin beams as he brings Brendan home. Happy days .
Roll on Kildalkey next Saturday.
And Minoge ,bring home my warm coat.I think its in your car.
No comments:
Post a Comment