Reserve Hurlers Narrowly Beaten
Carryduff 1-21
Cumann Pheadaír Naofa 1-14
The reserves travelled to a sun kissed Páirc Aodha Dhuibh on Tuesday evening to take on Carryduff, with both sides having won their opening fixtures last week, this was going to be a very close game to call. Carryduff could call on county standby goalkeeper and former county panelists Conor McLornan & Gareth Lynch to strengthen their ranks, the blues had a good mixture of youth & experience in their side.
The opening few minutes saw the sides trade blows with James O’Hare & Daryl Freer swap points with Carryduff’s Lynch. With seven & a half minutes gone, Lynch found himself in space, he charged to the blues net and unlike last week, against East Belfast when Declan Doyle brilliantly saved a penalty, he was given no chance as Lynch slammed the sliotar low & hard to the right corner and give Carryduff a four point lead. At this point the blues showed tremendous spirit & fight as Tiernan Murphy pointed from a free & Daryl Freer scored again with a spectacular point over his left shoulder from just outside the fifty-metre line. The blues no.12, Shane Rooney, who had been so influential in last week’s win, pitched in with a point and with twenty-three minutes gone he beat McLornan with a low strike to the Carryduff net. Two minutes later Gareth Lynch squared thing up as the sides were locked in battle, 1-5 apiece and just minutes away from the end of a very entertaining first half. the half ended all square 1-7 each as the flaw frees of Murphy and the pure grit and drive of Rooney pushed the blues momentarily out in front only to see Carryduff draw level once more.
Tiernan Murphy (from a free), Kevin McCullagh, Shane Rooney & Niall McParland all impressed in the opening ten mins of the second half as the blues half back line began to play low deliveries into the nippy corner men who gladly knocked the sliotar over the bar. Unfortunately for the blues Lynch’s pace over short ground was drawing Carryduff back into contention as he knocked over frees and slowly but surely Carryduff were beginning to get the breathing space on the scoreboard that they desperately wanted. Between the eighth & eighteenth minute of the second half Carryduff scored six points whilst Freer responded with one for the blues, but by the time the teams resumed after the second water break Carryduff had gotten a firm grip on the outcome. Cumann Pheadaír Naofa kept battling and points from Murphy just wasn’t enough to catch the home side.
Sean Mallon & Liam Boyle although disappointed with the defeat were very impressed with Tiernan Murphy’s free taking, having missed only one the entire game and once more Shane Rooney was one of the most stand out players for the second week in a row, along with the steady and dependable Jason Gray at wing back there were equally good performances from Cathal McGivern, Tomas Magee & James McParland in the blues rear-guard, whilst the nippy Emmet McCourt, James O’Hare & Daryl Freer were always threatening combination inside the Carryduff forty.
Team: D Doyle, C Kelly, C McGivern, O Kelly, T Magee, J McParland, J Gray, T Magill, K McCullagh, N McParland (0-1), J O’Hare (0-1), S Rooney (1-3), T Murphy (0-6), D Freer (0-3), E McCourt.
Subs: T Tinnelly, M McDonald, J Young, D Williams
Hurlers Lose Out To Slick Ardsmen
Cumann Pheadaír Naofa 1-14
Ballycran 6-14
Three second half goals from Ballycran’s Liam McCarthy, Gregory McCullough & Malachy Gilmore effectively killed off any chance of a comeback for the blues. Ballycran were very slick with how they moved the ball out of trouble and having the experience of having several former county minors in their ranks stood to the ‘Ards men. Cumann Pheadaír Naofa had outstanding performances from Tiernan Murphy, who’s free taking was a sublime, missing only one over the whole hour. Equally impressive was the ceaseless work rate of Oisín Kelly at wing back & Shane Rooney in the half forward line. When Daryl Freer pulled on a ground ball eight minutes before half time, Warrenpoint had drawn level with their visitors and a minute later led when Tiernan Murphy land a free from close to sixty metres out, sadly though Ballycran struck for goal a minute later when Brendan Hughes slammed the sliotar passed Declan Doyle to give the ‘Crans a two point lead, a lead which they held until the end.
Although beaten in the end the score line was not reflective of the tempo of the game, Warrenpoint stayed with their visitors for most of the first half, but for a period of 18 minutes in the second half when the blues ran out of steam and only registered two points and for some soft goals conceded with could have been a closer contest.
U7 Hurlers Back In Post Lock Down Action
The Cumann Pheadaír Naofa U7s got back to training on Friday evening. After almost 6 months since they were last out on the field, it was great to see so many happy faces as they all enjoyed getting back out playing and meeting up with fellow team mates.
A great session was had under Milltown’s sunny skies and everyone was glad to be back.
Training continues every Friday 6-7pm. For training & further details contact Damien on 07789 912 099
