Pearse Óg fall short in Junior Championship
May 20, 2012In a hotly contest affair between the two rivals it was the village outfit who came out on top of the holy family parish side. It was a great advertisement for the upcoming senior championship and both sides went score for score throughout the hour with some excellent hurling throughout. Pearse Og put in a solid performance against a strong and physical Knockbrige outfit who had the services of former Poc Fada champion Paul Dunne at centre half back who proved to be a key starting point for many of their attacks.
The first half was evenly contested and finished on a score line of 1-6 to 0-9, the Knockbridge goal coming from a strong run by former county hurler David Kettle who danced inside the Pearse Óg defence before firing to the opposite top corner leaving net minder Barry Myles with no chance. The teams matched score for score in the opening 30 minutes with Sean Byrne proving a reliable man from a placed ball for the village outfit accounting for 5 of this sides first half points after indiscipline from the Pearse Óg players, with Brain McCabe proving just as successful for the home side. A nicely taken point for Knockbridge by Stephen Kettle was soon followed by a well worked effort which involved Brian Hassett playing a long diagonal ball into the corner of Pearse Óg captain Richie Scanlon who in turn found Mattie Boland in space to pop over an instant reply.
The game was won by Knockbrige in the first 5 minutes of the second half when Pearse Óg fell asleep and managed to concede 1-2 without reply. The goal coming from James Costello as the ball was fumbled by the defence and young Costello pulled swiftly to get the ball past the outrushing goalkeeper. from that point on Pearse Óg were playing catch up and finding it hard to come by scores. Two further points for Knockbridge again as a result of naive defending, left Pearse Og trailing by 7 points with 15 minutes remaining.
A well taken Aidan Callan point awoke the home side from their slumber, the score was quickly followed up with a massive effort from centre back Donnach Callan.
Pearse Óg slowly began to get on top around the middle and the half forward line winning some vital possession and frees, however they were unable to profit, spurning at least 4 opportunities from placed balls as they were cleared from the edge of the square by the Knockbridge full back line who stood strong from most of the game. In a move that saw Pearse Óg push corner back Gerry Hoey to the full forward line, instantly paid off with him scoring a goal blasted to the top corner from 20 yards through a crowd of bodies that had the umpire ducking for cover as it flew inside the post. With two minutes remaining it was game on.
Pearse Óg piled on the pressure and were awarded with two frees in injury time, but Knockbridge experienced heads of Paul Dunne, Niall Byrne and Tony Teefy managed to clear the subsequent balls that were dropped in looking to get the goal that would push the Holy Family parish side into the lead.
At the final whistle Pearse Óg were desperately disappointed to have relinquished their title in a match they really could have won.
Not for the first time this season, Pearse Óg were left to rue poor tackling and indiscipline which greatly benefited Knockbridge and particularly free taker Sean Byrne who ended the night with 7 points.
Although disappointed with the result there were plenty of positives to take from the match, most notably the battling performance of the team and individual performances of Phillip McFaul and Gerry Hoey.
Pearse Óg now look forward to the first round of the Senior Championship, and the town derby contest with Naomh Maoinne. Tweet
