Carrigaline 2-8, Shamrocks 0-10
This was a most disappointing result for Shamrocks in Round 1 of the championship last Suturday night in Camden. Its difficult to put the finger on where this flat performance came from – the training had gone well the last few months, the challenge and league games had gone well, the spirit was good, confidence was high and players seemed to be coming into form at the right time. And to go out and not perform on the championship stage is hard to take.
Shamrocks were very slow to settle – the Shamrocks full back line was under constant pressure from the word go due to Carrigalines dominance around the middle third of the pitch. When Carrigaline didnt score, they were fouled and they made most of the frees. Joe Shanahan had earlier replied to Carrigalines two early points but Carrigaline turned the screw a bit thereafter and before Shamrocks knew it, Carrigaline were 1-5 to 0-2 ahead. Shamrocks sorted out their difficulties with numerous switches and only trailed by 1-6 to 0-5 at halftime; I say only because they were outplayed for long spells of that half.
The second half promised a comeback from Shamrocks as they got more into the game and started feeding the inside forwards much needed possession. They reduced the gap to 2 points midway through the second half, through Simon McGarry who tried hard throughout. However, a defensive slip let in Carriglaine and they utilised the overlap to finish to the net. This was effectively game over as they led 2-7 to 0-7 and the Shamrocks heads dropped a little. The rest of the game was basically Shamrocks trying desperately to try and get at least 1 goal but Carrigaline threw loads of players inside the 21 yard line to protect the goal. And it worked as they held on comfortably for the 4 point win. Mickey Prout drove over a free with the last kick of the game but it was way too late at that stage.
Shamrocks reward is a back door game against Kinsales second team next Saturday night, at a venue yet to be decided. They must first pick themselves up and make the long journey West to Aughaville to play Tadhg MacCárthaighs on this Tuesday night at 8pm.
Team: Fergus O’Neill, Jonathan Tuohy, Stephen Hurley, Senan Andrews, Michael Prout, Cathal Kidney, Gary Ronayne, Alan McCarthy, Barry Mulqueen, Simon McGarry, Joseph Shanahan, Paul Lordan, Darragh O’Sullivan, Seanán Collins, Cannice Cafferey. Subs used – Cian Ronayne, Jamie Sweeney.
