Doneraile 4-9, Shamrocks 2-7
Doneraile proved just about too strong for a gallant Shamrocks team in the County C football Championship played at a wet Watergrasshill. Doneraile had the better footballers, especially their bigger players and they played to their strengths, keeping these players in the game all the time. Their handling was better on the greasy surface while Shamrocks spilled a pile of ball and couldn’t win anything in the air. It was a testament to them that they hung in there right to the end and never gave up.
Doneraile started way stronger and their centre forward, an excellent footballer and the best you’ll see at this level anyway, was causing all sorts of problem for the Shamrocks defence early on. They raced into a 1-3 to 0-0 lead after 10 minutes with the aid of the breeze and driving rain. Shamrocks slowly got back into it and registered some points from Dylan O’Flaherty (via the crossbar), Seán Andrews and Andrew Egan. 1-5 to 0-3. Shamrocks dominated the final 15 minutes of the half but only had a single point to show for all their possession. Lots of ball was wasted in this time. The half time score was 1-6 to 0-3 for Doneraile.
The second half was tight for the first 10 minutes until the battling Shamrocks team scored a great Dylan O’Flaherty goal to make it a two point game. Their tails were up and they sensed a comeback. It was now 1-7 to 1-5 with 15 minutes remaining. However, Doneraile scored 2 goals inside a minute from two high sideline balls into the square and this was followed by another Doneraile goal two minutes later and at 4-7 to 1-5, that was it. Shamrocks never gave up and Harry Andrews was rewarded with a goal 2 minutes from time.
Thanks to the players and mentors of Jed and Tim for a long and productive season. They didn’t win any silverware but if they stay together as a team, it wont be long before it happens.
Panel: C. O’Flaherty, M. Sisk, E. Seymour, J. Sisk, S. Browne, D. Gregson, A. Twomey, D. O’Flaherty, B. Hughes, S. Andrews, A. Egan, L. O’Driscoll, H. Andrews, A. Maye, R. Van Pelt.
Jody Sisk in action V Doneraile
