Shamrocks 3-15, Lee Gaels 1-18
Shamrocks are into the semi finals of the C championship after a hard fought win over a gallant Lee Gaels on Tuesday evening in Shanbally. The high scoring contest was in doubt right up to the final whistle.
Shamrocks played against the strong breeze in the first half and did well to be only a point down at HT, Lee Gaels 1-11, Shamrocks 2-7. Lee Gaels were proving more than a match for Shamrocks and in their inside full forward, they had a potential match winner. They isolated him inside and nearly every ball that went into him resulted in a score for Gaels. Shamrocks werent able to mark him or cut off his supply. Gaels were 0-6 to 0-2 ahead midway through the first half but Shamrocks came right back into it 0-7 to 0-7 after they knuckled down. However, the ever dangerous Gaels full forward waltzed through for a goal and their cushion was restored. Shamrocks replied through a great goal of their own to tie it up approaching HT but Lee Gaels struck over further points to go three points ahead again. Shamrocks struck for goal number two approcahing Ht but Gaels scored their eleventh point of the half to lead by a point at HT.
Shamrocks turned to play with the wind in the second half but took a long time to wear down the Lee Gaels challenge. In fact, with 15 minutes left, it looked like Gaels might hang on as they went 3 points ahead and Shamrocks were struggling for scores up top. However, one or two positional switches worded and after the teams traded points, Shamrocks got that all important goal to level it up and soon followed up with another couple of pointed frees to lead for the first time since the first few minutes. They hung on until the end and the final whistle was greeted with relief all around. They play Kinsale in the semi final on August 24th.
Team: C. Scriven, C. Murphy, D. Barry, D. O’Mahony, J. O’Keeffe, C. Hayes, A. O’Grady, S. Flavin, D. Andrews, S. Downey, C. Hayes, D. O’Sullivan.
