Shamrocks 1-8, Courcey Rovers 0-11
A draw was probably a fair result of this one, played in Shanbally on Friday evening.
The first half was even all through with Shamrocks finding it hard to get going against a tough physical opponent.
The second half continued in that vein and with 15 to go, it was still up for grabs. Then Courcey Rovers looked to be headed for victory with 12 minutes to go with a close advantage in a low scoring game; however, Shamrocks once again worked themselves back into the game and went ahead with some great free taking from Calum O’Neill and a brilliant first time pull from Sam Jordan for a top corner of the net goal to put Shamrocks a goal ahead with 5 minutes to go.
Courcey Rovers didnt lie down as usual and through their own excellent free taker, he punished all Shamrocks mistakes and they moved ahead into injury time by one point.
They went looking for an insurance point and could even have had a goal but some great goalkeeping from Calum Fitzgerald out on his own 21 when he dispossessed the Courcey Rovers forward; the ball was fed to Seamus O’Mahony, it eventually found its way to Calum O’Neill way out the far wing on a loop and with plenty to do, he stroked over the equaliser off his weak side on the run for a truly wonderful score.
Draw game and such was the excitement, the referee had to call out the score for the players who had no idea who was winning ; they were so engrossed in the play. A brilliant ending.
Calum O’Neill strikes watched by ref Ian Thomas 13/5/23
