Courcey Rovers 2-6, Shamrocks 0-8
Courcey Rovers took the league points on offer in Shanbally on Saturday evening in the football league. Both sides can claim they deserved to win as many chances went abegging on both sides, in Shamrocks case the inability to convert lots of possession into meaningful scoring chances. They met with stiff Courcey Rovers resistance and a swarming defence that got back in droves to support their sweeper. Shamrocks just couldnt work the ball into dangerous positions enough to get even a draw.
Shamrocks were on top early on and led by 0-2 to 0-0 after 10 minutes. Courcey Rovers then broke for a goal with their first attack. Shamrocks were on the back foot for the next while and were lucky that Courcey Rovers hadnt brought with them a place kicker as they missed numerous easy frees and some 45s. Meanwhile Shamrocks capitalised on this and slotted over some beauties on the run up to HT including three straight from play courtesy of Andrew O’Grady and a lovely point from Mark Hitchmough off his left foot while being fouled. Shamrocks led by 0-5 to 1-0 at HT.
Courcies replied with two quick points after HT and it was level again. The teams traded points before Cian O’Flahery scored a lovely point from play to edge Shamrocks ahead with 15 minutes to play. There followed a scoreless 8 or 9 minutes before Courcey Rovers, after absorbing all the Shamrocks attacking play, broke up the field and scored 1-2 in the space of 2 minutes to win the game with 5 minutes left. Mark Hitchmough scored a Shamrocks point from play to bring it to a goal but they didnt create anything resembling a chance and that was it.
This was the lads first game in a long time and they know that they are not far off it with plenty of time to get things right.
Team below –
JAFL V Courcey Rovers 27/4/24:
Back row, l to r: S. Andrews (inj), M. Hitchmough, S. Collins, S. Kelleher, C. Collins, C. Kidney, C. O’Grady, F. Herlihy, D. Barry, T. Murphy, D. Scriven, Kingston, C., Caffrey (inj). Front, l to r: K. May, C. O’Flaherty, A. O’Grady, N. Hayes, G. Ronayne, S. Hurley, C. Kidney, S. Foy
Fionn Herlihy in acxtion V Courcey Rovers, 27/4/24
Cian O’Flarty on the move V Courcey Rovers, 27/4/24
