A defrosting Trim pitch,perfectly playable,hosted the much anticipated encounter of these biblical rivals as the might of the four Parishes (Dunsaughlin,Drumree,Batterstown and Kilcloon) pitted their considerable resources against the Davidian defenders of the Fort of the Oaks.
Both teams were well pumped up for this contest and a high octane game resulted with fortunes swinging from side to side before a decent crowd in this support act to the following higher Grade Final between Trim and Kiltale.
Hurling spectators are usually decent and sporting.Vociferous maybe but always fair.Which is why I assume that what must have been a late returning Leinster Rugby supporter inadvertently strayed into the Pitch from yesterday's game against Claremont and orally heckled our free taker as he lined up to take a free.From his safe perch five yards from the action..As it turned out our boy missed.The four Parishes owe their result in part to this supporter .No doubt he is proud of himself but the true hurlers from that locality might advise him,whoever he is,that while such behaviour may be acceptable in Landsdown Road,where the Leinster fans showed their true class by heckling the opposing free taker at every opportunity ,it has no place in the Game of the Gaels.
Aside from a competent and fair referee in Anthony Healy,who hurled himself and you would know it,there were enough specialist referees present running the lines to adjudicate at several finals.Like the 39A bus tears ago ,no bus for ages but then several one after another.
I am not going to give a blow by blow account of the game but rather a general account of the contest served up by two teams bursting with testosterone and mad anxious to win.
Defenders of the Oak Fort.
C.Harrington
D.Keenan C.O.Shea
S.Coogan B.Wright A.Garry
L.Dempsey C.Farrell
J.Moran K.Minogue J.Martyn
S.Carty D.Scannell.
Playing against a strongish wind and a stronger sun we had our fair share of possession in the opening forays but a Wright stumble while in possession spilled the ball to Blackhall who took a good point from play.From a speculative long ball in to our square Harrow catches the ball no problem but clears it in an overhead stroke straight to the opposition who bury it in the back of the net.A brutal start.Made worse by another minor from play by the Four Parishes.And another..We stick manfully to our task and force a wide from play from the opposition.Harrow does well.Confidence back.
Out of nothing we conjure a goal.Not the greatest scramble but it will do.Game on.Bomber is besting their trump card Morris in the middle.So far.Minogue points a free he himself earned.They respond in kind after a Garry infringement.Coogan is fouled far from goal and Sheflin Minogue points.Minogue hesitates and we concede a minor.And another.1-6 to 1-3 against.Octo converts another free.Blackhall do likewise.And convert a seventy.5 points down.Getting anxious.Minogue is fouled and proves he is human too by missing a handy one.We switch Moran and Scannell.Repays immediate dividends as Moran finishes a Wright free ,earned by Dempsey to the net.Minogue misses another minor and they tag one on.
Both teams show great defiance and an unwillingness to concede and the half time whistle sounds.
Am quietly confident.With wind and sun we are in with a chance.
We resume with Scannell at wing back and Coogan at wing forward.Moran stays in the full line.Within a minute we are four down due to a point against from a free.Not the start we wanted.Garry is wounded but survives.From a free on Dempsey Minogue hauls a point back.Garry shows defiance and Coogan scores a point from play.Carty goes into turbo drive and parts to Cougar who bulges the onion bag.What a goal.Puts us one up.Harrow is forced to concede a close in free,which is converted.Coogan conjures a magical point from play.Minogue misses one.A minor hurrock develops and one from each side sees yellow.Handbag stuff..Blackgall counter with a point from play.And another.Morris is imposing his will more and more.Still Bomber plays well.
Minogue converts from a free on Coogan.,who is imposing.Moran points from play.A point ahead now,Wright is fouled and hits the free wide.Blackhall score a point.Level again.And then forge ahead by one.Stefan Clarke replaces Moran.
Carty levels it.Another hurrock.Full time.Draw game.
Extra time.
We take lead via Minogue free.Four Parishes garner a goal.Then a point.WE get a free about forty out on the wing.As Minogue steadies to take it the assumed Landsdown refugee covers himself and the four parishes in glory.What a shit.He misses.Half time.Us 3-10.Them 2-17.
I figure we need a point a minute to have a chance.A Combination man goes down for four minutes and then makes a miraculous recovery.Repeat of a IHC game ? Hope not.Then we attack and two go down.They hop up in due course.We pull a point back from a free.Time is just up.We get a free and Minogue floats it in.Someone buries it .Can' see who .Draw match.
Its re fixed for Sunday 23rd December.Bi ann.
Like the Cat Stanley said when seen turning hay in November"I#m m\aking hay and making history".
Earlier this year our under 16 hurlers ran a combination picked from Kilcock to Ardcath to a replay but lost.
This 21 Combination are a very very good team.They must be very firm favourites.
Santa might give us a present of a watch that's running instead of a stocking full of pony manure from a pony that has ran.
We will die trying.
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