Shamrocks 2-22, Ballygarvan 5-10
This vital victory ensured that Shamrocks would advance to the knockout stages of the Championship and they did it in style with an array of fine scores executed by players who were up for the game and bent on winning.
Despite being depleted with the absence of Coby O’Grady and Cathal Kidney, the mood was good and surely there was a carry over of form from the recent football championship game, where the will to win was uppermost in the minds of all our players.
Returning from injury was Sean Andrews and he was a revelation with a ‘player of the match’ performance. Andrew O’Grady left an indelible mark on this game too with a polished performance and he hit two vital goals.
After leading by one point at the break, Shamrocks started part two by running up a seven point lead. Then Ballygarvan rebounded and with fifteen minutes remaining they regained the initiative and led by three points. Shamrock’s ‘Achillies Heel’ was the concession of too many soft goals, a matter that needs urgent remedial work going forward.
As in the football game the lads in green moved up a gear and doggedly contested every ball and some beautiful points went between the Ballygarvan posts. Darragh Scriven was much to the fore, and the great grandson of the mighty Dave Dunne, Nathan Hayes was to make it a game to remember too. Shamrocks hit 24 scores to their opponents 15 scores.
Congratulations and a ‘pat on the back’ to all our players and the Mentors who got the best out of their charges. Na Seamroga Abú!
