Naomh Fionnbarra 1-14 1-13 Borris-in-Ossory (Laois)
AIB Leinster Club Junior Hurling Championship Semi-Final
Sunday, 15th. November, 2009
Reports from training suggest no injury worries and all the lads are fighting hard to get their place for the game. Nice relaxing weekend last week with a lot of the team attending the wedding of our centerfield man, Thomas Lynch. By all reports everyone had a ball but, with Nicky keeping a watchful eye on his players, no one went overboard on the drink. (They would suffer on Tuesday night in training if they did!) Supporters too are in training; it can be hard work getting the right seat on the supporter’s bus. Get close to Father Jack (Johnny Smithers). After all, he’s the one with the bags of sweets!!
The wedding brought problems of a different sort. Ian McDonald, Thomas’s best man, is going to Las Vegas with the happy couple, so two of our stars will be missing from this semi-final against Borris-in-Ossory. We wondered who would take their places but the selectors are keeping us guessing. There will be no whispers from the dressing room, no leaks from anyone. Nicky makes sure of that.
The opposition are checked out on the net. They are playing well; they won their last match comfortably (so did we); they won their Intermediate Championship to qualify for this competition (so did we); they get a lot of their scores from a very reliable marksman (so do we). We could be in for a cracker!
Throw-in is fixed for 2.30pm. The buses and cars start leaving clubhouse from about 1.15pm. Flags flying from the windows we head off in convoy to Parnell Park, where only a few weeks ago, we has a fantastic win over Round Towers to capture the Dublin Intermediate Championship in hurling for the first time since 1983. But this is a new experience, the AIB Leinster Club Junior Hurling Championship Semi-Final; another first for the club. Every other week now we seem to be making new Club history and the feel-good factor is growing all the time. “Recession? What recession?”, someone asks, as we stock up with crisps and lemonade from the tuck shop in Parnell Park. Even Carl Holmes arrives with sweets to share – another first for the club!
Niall Paget starts, back from injury. We have a new centre-field pairing of Gary McAuley and Derek O’Brien. Stephen Costello starts at full-forward; hope his free taking skills don’t desert him today. Apart from that it looks like the team that beat Newcastle in the last round. Watching the opposition warming up they seem to have a few players with a handy first touch and like ourselves a good mixture of youth and experience, although our forwards looks a bit faster. But only time will tell.
Game starts and within 10 seconds Borris go 1 up. We can’t afford to let them to build up an early lead so the next ball is vital. We win the puck out, then a free and Stephen puts it over. Well done lads, a quick reply was vital. For the next 15 minutes both teams trade score for score, tackle for tackle, no holding back. Stephen, Trollier, Carl and Dillon all scoring well but Borris hitting back, with the teams swapping the lead on a number of occasions. Then the sliotar breaks up the line on the stand side. Stephen comes to collect and in a lovely turn breaks away from his man. Running in at a tight angle and with the corner back bearing down on him, he strikes the ball beautifully and rattles the far corner of the net. What a GOAL, brilliantly taken! That puts us 2 points up, the best lead we have enjoyed since the start. The crowd goes wild!
The Borris crowd find their voice now too. A large number have travelled up from Borris-in-Ossory, a beautiful town on the border of Tipp and Laois. They need a quick reply. It looks like they might get it too! In a great move they break past our back line and the corner forward is going for goal with only our keeper, Lar, to beat. But it’s not that easy to beat our Lar, and quick as a flash, he closes down the forward and saves brilliantly from point blank range. “Go on, ye boy ye”, shouts one of our supporters and the ball is cleared.
Then from another long puck out, the ball is landing well into their half, when Gary McAuley goes to double on it in the air but mistimes it and strikes an opponent on the head. Straight Red from the ref and we’re down to 14 men! Gary can’t believe it and looks despondent as he leaves the field. The teams trade another couple of scores and we go in at half time 2 up. What a first half!
The talk in the crowd is whether we can cope with only 14 men. Will Nicky make changes; will Big Gossie be brought on; will our 4 minors playing be able to cope with the physical side of the game? And will Carl Homes go and buy a few more sweets?! Well maybe that is a bridge to far!!
The lads are back on the field; young Dingle is on and it looks like he’s in a new centerfield partnership with Ger Dodrill. Our crowd whispers, “What’s Nicky up to playing two Minors in centerfield?” Normally these two are our fast attacking forwards. “Will they be able for their defensive duties?”, we wonder.
The second half is going like the first with both teams trading score for score in the first 12 minutes. But one or two of our lads look like they are tiring as they give everything to cover for the extra man. Nicky makes another change. Big Gossie is coming on, 45 years old, 6’5’’, 18 stone gentle giant. He wins his first ball, gets a sideline ball with his second and lets the Borris back line know he’s there! Nothing gentle about him now and he’s got a yellow card for his troubles. But this only seems to lift the lads.
We were worried about the youngsters in centre field but they are having the game of their lives with Dingle playing out of his skin. Young Gossie (Growler) once again, as in the Dublin final against Round Towers, seems to be playing better now that Da is on the pitch. Craig Gallagher hasn’t put a foot wrong since he came on and Lar Sweetman makes at least 5 top class saves.
Coming up to the last couple of minutes grit, determination and passion from all the lads have helped us to increase our lead to 4 points. Then Borris get a free at the side line about 30m out. No choice now but to drop the ball in and go for goal. Here it comes, blocked down by our defenders. Their forwards crowd the goal, looks like Lar has made another great save, then on the rebound… Bang! Back of the net! Goal for Borris! Their supporters go wild with delight. We groan, “For F**K sake ref, how long is left?” We’re in the 3rd minute of injury time. “Come on lads, hold on!”, the crowd shouts. Our forwards get half a chance but the attack is blocked out. Borris clear it up field. We have to win this ball. Our backs get it and drive it back down the field. Borris try to clear but the ref Blows for full time.
Final Score Naomh Fionnbarra 1-14 Borris In Ossary 1-13.
We’ve done it! We’re in the Leinster Final!
Yes, Nicky did make changes, master strokes he would say!! Yes, big Gossie did come on. Yes, the minors were well able for the physical side of the game. Yes the centerfield were more than able for their de
Naomh Fionnbarra 1-14 1-13 Borris-in-Ossory (Laois)
AIB Leinster Club Junior Hurling Championship Semi-Final
Sunday, 15th. November, 2009
Reports from training suggest no injury worries and all the lads are fighting hard to get their place for the game. Nice relaxing weekend last week with a lot of the team attending the wedding of our centerfield man, Thomas Lynch.
By all reports everyone had a ball but, with Nicky keeping a watchful eye on his players, no one went overboard on the drink. (They would suffer on Tuesday night in training if they did!) Supporters too are in training; it can be hard work getting the right seat on the supporter’s bus. Get close to Father Jack (Johnny Smithers). After all, he’s the one with the bags of sweets!! (more…)
