FL2: Barrs fight hard for victory

May 23, 2016

Naomh Fionnbarra's Bernard Osbourne

Played in breezy, sunny conditions Naomh Fionnbarra played Hunterstown Rovers in the seventh round of the Division 2 League at John Markey Park, Ballygassan on Saturday evening.  Hunterstown with the breeze at their backs made the brighter start with a point after a period of dominance where they missed a few opportunities.  The Barrs were struggling to gain a decent foothold in the game until a vital interception from Máirtín Murphy led to a breakway move that was decisively finished to the net by Murphy himself, his 3rd in as many games.  This gave the Finbarrs some momentum as they scored via the boot of Óisín McGee.  Hunterstown fought back and scored a 4 points of their own to regain the lead.  The Barrs were often over elaborating in attack and sometimes took too much out of the ball as these advances fizzled out.  This was epitimoised in the middle of the half where some of the forwards tried to work a goal which didn't come off and Rovers broke down the field to score a good point from long range.  The Togher men did keep in touch with another point from play from McGee and a Bernard Osborne free.  Hunterstown responded with a couple of points of their own to leave the half time score:  Naomh Fionnbarra 1-3(6) Hunterstown Rovers 0-8(8).

The second half began in similar fashion to the first with the sides trading scores, the Finbarrs points coming from the Osborne brothers Stuart, with an excellent long range point and Bernard, from a free.  The Togher backs were coming to grips with the Huntertsown attack as men were putting their bodies on the line.  This was evident where the very reliable keeper Shane O'Brien was beaten for once but who else only Bryan Sharkey deflected the shot over the bar with his head!  Another Osborne, this time Hugh scored a good point from play from the right wing to reduce the lead to 1.  Hunterstown replied with a free and once again Osborne nailed a long range free to leave it still, a one point game.  The Finbarrs took the game by the scruff at this stage as they began to dominate the middle third.  This was reflected on the scoreboard with another excellent Stuart Osborne long range point to level the game.  The Barrs were fighting hard and a Hunterstown attack was broken up by Pádraig Butterly who started a move down the left wing which involved some neat interplay between Conor Lenihan and Pádraig Murphy resulting in a fisted point by Lenihan to give the Barrs the lead at a vital stage.  The game was put beyond doubt by Bernard Osborne was a brilliant free from the sideline on the left wing to leave the final score:  Naomh Fionnbarra 1-10(13) Hunterstown Rovers 0-11(11)

Naomh Fionnbarra scorers:  Bernard Osborne 0-4, Máirtín Murphy 1-0, Stuart Osborne 0-2, Óisín McGee0-2, Hugh Osborne 0-1 & Conor Lenihan 0-1.

Naomh Fionnbarra Team: Shane O'Brien, Hugh McGrane, Conor Lenihan, Patrick McGrane, Conor Osborne, Hugh Osborne, Pádraig Butterly, Kieran Lenihan, John Doyle, Máirtín Murphy, Óisín McGee, Bernard Osborne, Jack Butterly, Andy McCann, Bryan Sharkey.  Subs:  Stuart Osborn for Andy McCann(BC), Nicholas Butterly for Patrick McGrane (BC) Colin McGrane for Kieran Lenihan and Pádraig Murphy for Jack Butterly.


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