Cumann Pheadaír Naofa 5-15 Craobh Rua 4-14
Losing by six points at half time, 2-8 to 4-8, to a physically fit Craobh Rua side no one could have foreseen that Cumann Pheadaír Naofa would turn this game around to finish four point victors.
Craobh Rua race into a three point lead in the first five minutes before Cathal Fegan registered the blues first score, but thanks to Matthew Teague & a John O’Kane free the sides were level five minutes later. Craobh Rua were moving the sloitar around the park very smartly and were causing the blues defensive unit some headaches as they appeared to be chasing shadows the south Armagh men were soon starting to pull away from their hosts when they struck for the opening goal with twelve minutes on the clock. Warrenpoint were missing the commanding figure of Tom Daly at centre half back and it showed as the Armagh side were starting to draw the blues half back line out of position leaving space for their big full forward line to manipulate scores.
By the second quarter of the half Craobh Rua had struck goal twice more with their county star Fiachra Bradley being instrumental in both scores. Thankfully Cumann Pheadaír Naofa were still getting scores up front with both Oggie & Blain Murphy along with John O’Kane keeping the score board ticking over. With ten minutes remaining Tomas Magill struck for the blues first goal to leave the blues trailing by seven points. Craobh Rua were definitely the better side in the first thirty minutes and it showed when they pounced for their fourth goal with four minutes left. Jason Gray was the blues most outstanding player of the half and it was thanks to one of his clearance down the wing that saw Niall McParland pass the sloitar into the in rushing O’Kane for the blues second goal on the stroke of half time to leave six points between the sides.
When the second half resumed it was a breath taking save from Marty Patterson that seemed to inspire his team mates to lift their game. Up front James O’Hare was now playing the style of hurling that saw him finish with a tally of 1-2, his goal coming six minutes into the half after Niall McParland and Matthew Teague (two points) had cut the Craobh Rua lead in half.
With the sides now level it was the home side that were now throwing the sloitar around with confidence and Mark Rafferty was now controlling the middle third of the park along with Oggie Murphy, Matthew Teague & Jason Gray. Craobh Rua struck back through Bradley but when Cathal Fegan found the net two minutes after coming on and O’Hare once more pointing for the blues there was a notable swagger in the style of play from the blues. Jason Gray capped off a man of the match performance with a well taken point on eighteen minutes, two minutes after O’Kane had goaled from a 21m free. With time running out it was Cumann Pheadaír Naofa who were now leading and points from O’Hare and O’Kane gave Gerry O’Neills side some breathing space to close out the game and ensure the team out scored Craobh Rua by ten points in the second half. The team now go into Monday’s Ulster league fixture with confidence and hope of a good run before the start of the championship.
Team scorers: John O’Kane 2-4, James O’Hare 1-2, Cathal Fagan 1-1, Matthew Teague 0-3, Tomas Magill 1-0, Niall McParland 0-1, Oggie Murphy 0-1, Blaine Murphy 0-1, James McParland 0-1, Jason Gray 0-1
