Shamrocks 1-8, Ballygarvan 3-2
This was a fantastic match played in very wet and rainy conditions in Shanbally. The ground was rock hard after the recent dry spell and with the heavy rain, the ball was like a bar of soap so conditions were tricky. The Shamrocks lads raised their game to play their best game of the season against a Ballygarvan team who have been unbeaten all season.
Ballygarvan started with a goal but Shamrocks responded with Cian Lynch points at the other end and his free went all the way to the Ballygarvan net to give Shamrocks a cushion of a 1-5 to 1-0 lead coming up to HT. However, Ballygarvan gave themselves a boost just on HT with a goal to leave 2 points between the teams.
The second half was a hard slog and Shamrocks worked tirelessly to keep their lead – the backs in particular were playing out of their skin as the Ballygarvan team came strong for scores as time ticked on. It looked like a win for the greens into injury time but Shamrocks conceded a soft goal which was quickly followed by the equaliser for Ballygarvan before Michael Harrington blew up for full time.
Shamrocks can be proud of a mighty effort as they rebounded well to the heavy defeat against Courcey Rovers in the previous round.
Panel pictured below – N. Morris, N. Kearney O’Sullivan, L. Jordan, J. Bartlett, C. Coleman, E. Browne, D. Herlihy, S. Foy, B. O’Mahony, C. O’Donovan, E. Twomey. Front: C. Gregson, D. Herlihy, R. Doolin, H. O”Leary, O. O’BRien, S. O’Flynn, A. Coleman, C. Lynch, J. Kearney O’Sullivan
