Shamrocks Deserved win over Ballymartle in JAFC
Shamrocks 2-15 , Ballymartle 0-11
Well done to a Shamrock Junior Football side that recorded their second victory in the 2023 JAFC. This game was scheduled for Friday evening but due to the prevailing storm and gales it was deferred for 24 hours.
Shamrocks were favoured with a strong breeze in the opening half and found the going tough, with their opponents fighting every ball with courage and tenacity. Dylan O’Flaherty, playing at full forward got the first goal with the brilliant conversion of a penalty shot. It was a vital score as it kept his side ahead at the break 1-7 to 0-7.
The second half would surely be an acid test for the character of this team facing into an increasingly strong wind. The lads in the Green and white Sash answered their critics and had their opponents on the backfoot not allowing them any score from play.
Brilliantly led by a gifted Centre Back in Mark Hitchmough they took the game to Ballymartle and the scores mounted up to put them in the driving seat and on the road to victory. Hitchmough excelled in the white heat of battle and kicked 10 points from play and frees. The O”Flaherty Brothers in the full forward line were keen and eager and they combined very well for the second goal with Cian raising the green flag.
Cathal Kidney, playing behind Hitchmough, was back to his very best with David Barry safe and secure alongside him. The youthful Fion Herlihy left his mark too and they say old wine is the best – full forward Senan Collins kicked two mighty points. There is great potential in this team and their input in training prior to the game surely reaped deserved rewards.
Team; Stephen Hurley, Gary Ronayne, Cathal Kidney, David Barry, Coby O’Grady, Mark Hitchmough, Natan Hayes, Mark Jordan, Fionn Herlihy, Darragh Scriven, Andrew O’Grady, Killian Hayes, Cian O’Flaherty, Dylan Flaherty , Senan Collins.
Subs used; Alan McCarthy, Derry Howard, Roy Twomey and Jason Browne.
