In the run up to and the aftermath of Robert's death I've been hugely distracted and remiss in writing my blog and in other areas of activity.I have much to address in the foreseeable future if God spares me and a few articles are cooking and a few matches remain to be reported on including the football match against Kilmainham where Davy Mac had his jaw broken by a sleeven punch and is out of work since as a consequence.
But yesterday evening we played Ballonlough in the A League in Dunderry.They are at the top of the division and we linger near the bottom.We can do without being demoted as that most definitely would not be progress.
Over the years we have developed a fierce football rivalry with Bllinlough.We are both rural parishes fighting as best we can the twin plights of emigration and unemployment.We both have GAA Clubs to the fore in these fights and in developing facilities for the benefit of members.We both are punching above our weight in football terms are are minnows trying to earn the right to compete with the mostly townie sharks of senior football and hurling (Kilskyre in the case f Ballinlough Parish ).We both have fanatical supporters.And despite the fierce games rivalry we respect each other and value all that is best in the tradition of the Gaels.
It came as no a shock therefor that my Club Dunderry and Robert's Club Ballinlough ,should have held a minutes silence before the throw in to honour Robert's passing.This respectful gesture was planned without any input from me and is a mark of the type of great Gaels that still flourish in both Parishes.I am very grateful and somewhat gobsmacked by the gesture.Thanks all round.
We lined out as follows.
Jennings
A.Newman S.Harte Stefan Clarke
C.Dempsey E.Stephens M.Garry
Bomber Farrell O.Shea
A.Watters Luke Martyn M.Kane
Bob Doherty P.Kenneally D.Clarke(Swiss )
From the start the game was played at a fast pace with both teams employing a short running game involving a lot of short fisted passes with the very occasional long delivery into the full forwarsd line.Swiss operated as a third midfielder bringing the number 2 from Ballinlough with him out the field and leaving Bob and Paddy in the full forward line.We had the advantage of a strong wind behind us and knocked off seven points to their 1-4 in an entertaining first half .Their goal was a direct result of a bad pass from one of our players and we were lucky to get away with only the one goal against as a few intended passes went astray.Our scorer in chief ,as he has been these last few matches was Paddy Kenneally who is deadly both from play and frees at the moment.It is noticeable that some of our forwards lack the belief in themselves to have a go for points when well positioned to do so as they pass the responsibility on to someone else when more favourably positioned.We could possibly have gone in three up and this would have better reflected the half hours play.
Swiss and O'Shea were withdrawn through injury and concussion respectively during the interval and Teddie and Liam Dempsey introduced.
I was kind of expecting an onslaught from the now wind backed Ballinlough team in the second half but for the first 20 minutes we held our own and more ,taking the game to them and actually leading for the first fifteen.Paddy remained our main scoring threat and continued to deliver ,but Ballinlough kept in touch all the time and it became glaringly obvious that we have some weaknesses at present that are not sustainable if we are to make progress.Thea selectors are astute judges and I am full certain that they have well noted them and are hatching plans to rectify them.And will succeed.
Howecer goals win matches and they inevitably did goal and immediate tacked on a few points to effectively put the match out of reach with about five minutes left.
In fairness's to our guys they kept ploughing away and had a number of goal chances but we just could not pull the trigger to the desired effect.Both teams were awarded scored penalties which took the mean look out of our score,which was 1-11 tBallinlough's 3-9,a defeat by 5 points,a point short of the two goals from play scored by Balinlough.
We miss Coogan,we miss Davy Mac,e miss Simon.
Some lads are bursting themselves but others need to tighten up and play with more urgency.
I was in Churchtown for the Blessing of the graves beforehand and didn't have time to gather up the tools of this trade and record the scorers in more detail l.
Mea Culpa.
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