JHC 2: Well earned victory for Drumree
September 01, 2015
Drumree's Steven Doyle.
Drumree 2-11 Clann na nGael 2-06
Drumree Junior hurlers concluded the group stages of the Junior Hurling Championship with a well-earned victory over Clann na nGael to book their place in the Junior 2 Semi Final.
Going into this match Clann na nGael were still in with a chance of qualifying for the knock out stages as a win would have seen them force a playoff, however with Drumree sitting 2 points ahead of them on the table victory for them would ensure 3rd place in the group & a place in the Junior 2 Semi Final.
The Drumree side that started showed wholesale changes from their last championship match against Boardsmill last week, Brian Kenny & Rob Lyons were ruled out through injuries, David Reilly & Duncan Geraghty played for the Intermediate team the previous day & midfielder Niall Murphy was also unavailable.
5 starters might seem a lot of players to lose however credit the Drumree lads they were excellent throughout. Brendan Walsh & GT Troy reverted to Full Back & Centre Back from their previous positions in the forwards & both were rock solid throughout. Troy scored two booming frees from the far 65 yard line that cousin Shane would have been proud of!!
Where David Reilly dominated on the score sheet last week it was Liam Shanley & Steven Doyle who were to the fore & contributed 1-8 between them.
Cillian Dennehy at midfield covered every blade of grass in Boardsmill & worked tirelessly throughout, he was willing to put his head where others wouldn't put their hurl!
At the back youngsters Jack Leonard & Curtis Rattigan were immense throughout & were first to the breaking ball time after time.
Upfront Liam Shanley was flawless from frees all day, scoring 4 frees & 1 65 from placed balls. In the inside fullforwad line Steven Doyle tormented his marker throughout the 1st half & scored the 1st goal of the game after 20mins, driving the ball low into the corner of the net.
Joe O'Brien at full forward was having a battle with the towering Clann na nGael full back but kept plugging away, he had a 1st half penalty saved by the Clan nan Gael keeper after Shanley was felled in the square but was finally rewarded for his efforts in the second half when he got in for Drumree's 2nd goal of the match.
There was a nervy final 5 minutes for Drumree as Clan nan Gael got in for 2 late goals to bring the deficit back to 5 points however the Drumree held firm & withstood the Athboy onslaught.
Those to impress for Drumree were; Jack Leonard, Curtis Rattigan, Liam Shanley & Steven Doyle, but man of the match goes to midfielder Cillian Dennehy who ran himself into the ground for the cause.
Drumree Team: Seamus Smith, Jack Leonard, Brendan Walsh, Paul Kiernan, Johnny Gilsenan, GT Troy (0-02), Curtis Rattigan, Darren Lawless, Cillian Dennehy, Darragh Walsh, Neil Mangan, Liam Shanley (0-06), Steven Doyle (1-02), Joe O'Brien (1-01), James Walsh.
Petey Rattigan for Joe O'Brien, Jerry Power for Neil Mangan.
