Shamrocks 3-10, Tracton 0-17
Shamrocks had a deserved 2 point win over Tracton on a perfect sod in Minane Bridge on Friday night last.
With the same two teams meeting in the Championship Semi Final on August 21st, it was a chance for both teams to do a little bit of experimenting and from a Shamrocks point of view, they gave a run out to as many B players as they could, after the summer lay off. It could prove vital preperation for their own Semi Final later on in the year (no date yet).
Tracton started way the stronger and were 3 points and loads of possession up after the first few minutes. Shamrocks slowly got themselves back into the game with Joe Shanahan prominent at centre forward. He scored a few points, while Brian Sweeney, David O’Neill and Brian Cusack finished off some fine moves to leave the half time score 0-8 to 0-7 in favour of Tracton.
Shamrocks turned in a battling second half display up the slight hill and into the breeze. Stephen Downey slotted home a goal to put Shamrocks ahead for the first time after a great move when he linked up with impressive substitute Tony O’Mahony and Cian Ronayne out on the right wing. The game really upped in tempo at this stage as scores came thick and fast. Joe Shanahan linked up beautfiully with centre back Senan Andrews who had powered up the middle and he struck home a great goal to move us ahead again by 3. Tracton then kicked a few wides while the full back line of Aaron Hickey, Peter Prout and Kevin O’Mahony made some telling last minute interceptions.
Shamrocks weathered the storm and worked the ball into Shanahan who planted the ball in the far corner of the Tracton next to open up a 5 point lead for Shamrocks with 5 minutes left. Tracton continued to press and kicked over 3 unanswered points but Shamrocks held on as time ran out.
So overall, a very enjoyable game for the hour and again, it was great to see so many B players making themselves available after the summer break and also on a bank holiday Friday night, with everyone getting a run out. Shamrocks scored 3-09 of the 3-10 from play which is always good going.
The A’s train next week on Monday, Wednesday (hurling) and Friday (all 7.30) and again it open to ALL players. When we get a date for the B championship, we’ll train together as a group.
Team: J. Wilson, A. Hickey, P. Prout, K. O’Mahony, D. Roche, S. Andrews, J. Sweeney, B. Sweeney, J. Brady, C. Ronayne, J. Shanahan, B. Cusack, S. Downey, S. Jordan, D. O’Neill. Subs used – T. O’Mahony, A. McCarthy, J. Raleigh, P. Andrews
