St Marys 5-7, Shamrocks 1-4
Shamrocks made the long trip Ballineen on Sunday afternoon last and came away after being well beaten by the home side. Shamrocks, after starting well in this tournament, have gradually let the bar slip over the last two weekends.
The discipline was much better here and the application by the players was way better than the game against Glanmire last week. St Marys were deserving winners, no doubt about that; but Shamrocks for their own part can be disappointed by the amount of clear cut chances that went abegging over the course of the hour. The obvious difference was the ability of the home side to get goals at crucial stages.
The game was played as 13 a side as Shamrocks were a little short on the day. The best Shamrocks players on view were young Sean O’Brien who was simply outstanding at corner back. Cathal Kidney at centre back and captain Cannice Caffrey, who must have covered every blade of grass on the entire pitch were the other outstanding performers.
Overall the mentors in charge for this tournament (Pat McCarthy and John Twomey (Shanbally)) are happy enough with events so far. At the end of the day the purpose of the tournament is to give the 4 participants sufficient preperation for next years U21 Football Championship, which starts in February (in Carrigdhoun anyway).
These games can only bring on the lads and the fact that Shamrocks didnt even have an U21 team for the last few years can only be a good thing. Shamrocks will play the Plate Final sometime in January, which will be perfect preperation for February.
