Good to get the win!

INTERMEDIATE HURLING Kildorrery 1-12 Meelin 1-08

Usually when I sit down to write a report on a match like this it’s from the perspective of the result being the most important thing. Yes, we got the desired result. But sometimes it’s got to be about the journey. This Kildorrery hurling team are on that journey of learning and development.

I must admit I’m not keen on Friday night hurling under lights. Just putting it out there. Guys are mentally tired from a hard week at work. As dusk falls the sliothar becomes hard to track, the almost fading of the green uprights with the light meant it hard to discern on what else was a very clear crisp evening. But as a fella said to me in the usual Centra car park post-match analysis no point in making excuses here “the posts aren’t moving”!

So, what may not have been crisp it has to be said was our finishing. We opened with a Dave Kelly point who was making a mark until he had to be substituted for injury. We registered five wides in this quarter and a couple of dropped short balls which is unusual for Kildorrery but like everything else it means reader there are areas we can improve upon. And to be fair I do wonder whether the fade from dusk to dark under lights leaves a fella in somewhat of a difficult position when aiming for the posts. But then the counter of that argument is it’s the same for everybody!

Meelin goaled early after pure dogged determination and we have to say partly our own fault after we failed to deal with a ball adequately. Our opening quarter wasn’t tetchy, or erratic, in fact we looked in command relatively speaking but the scoreline didn’t reflect that with our finishing leaving us down. The first quarter finished Kildorrery 2 points Meelin a goal and a little bit of frustration from the Kildorrery contingent perhaps that we weren’t hitting the target.

Dave Kelly came off early in the second quarter as he succumbed to injury which was a pity as Kelly had been moving the ball well. James McEniry replaced him. There were four wides registered before the first point of this quarter was converted by Meelin. Points per Peter who stepped up again, from a free, Dylan and an audacious sideline ball from James Keating meant at the half-time break we were a point up. Again, the scoreline belied our hurling supremacy, but we couldn’t take that for granted as this Meelin side were dogged in their persistence at the break of every ball.

Fitz and Walsh were hurling ferociously to stem any Meelin tide and the backs in general were weathering any attacks that were being thrown at them, and I have to offer I thought the referee Pa O’Driscoll was reasonable enough with his application of the whistle throughout the encounter with both sides getting plenty of frees, he also let the game flow in parts where he deemed necessary.

At half-time Kildorrery led 5 points Meelin 1-01 with both sides registering wides. One commentator reflected after that we could have been out the gap at half-time but that wasn’t to transpire, and thankfully we were able to stay ahead.

SECOND HALF ACTION

The third quarter was lively in terms of play with both sides registering four points apiece. Keating set the path in motion with a point right from the off. You can’t help but feel that the flair of Keating backed up by the lynchpin that is the very impressive John Hunter make for what is potentially one of the best midfield pairings in the group and perhaps maybe in the county. Hunter was tenacious again and made himself accountable to every ball. Keating brings his finesse to exploit those scoring opportunities. A midfield pairing that are a joy to watch.

This was the highest scoring quarter of the match, with points from Finbarr Stapleton and James Keating. All of this post an exceptional save from the impressive Ian Butler. Stapleton ran at the defence constantly and was an exciting prospect within the forward group. It’s route one all the way and to a defender his pace and guile is daunting.

Approaching the end of the third quarter and the final water break Kildorrery led 0-09 to 1-05 after both sides added four points to their respective tallies.

The teams huddled on the pitch for the final water break. Steam rose from the Kildorrery camp as mentors Roche and McGovern gave the clear instructions. The body language wasn’t easy. Nothing to be taken for granted and one felt that maybe a little bit of divine intervention was required here. Kildorrery made a brace of substitutions Kieran Hurley for Tiernan Condon and Eamonn O’Connor for Cathal Harrington. The latter was the substitution that proved to be inspired with O’Connor pulling on a ball that was fed across the big square to the back of the net. Relief around the grounds. Daylight was starting to emerge although Meelin responded with two points but not enough in this instance and Kildorrery had secured the win on a scoreline of Kildorrery 1-12 to Meelin 1-08.

Thankfully we’re not here talking about missed chances. Players know that a little notch up in the accuracy stakes and this outcome would have a different reflection in terms of score, but life is a journey and every sixty minutes this team put on the field will enhance that journey and no doubt even that score! The skill is there. The will is there too. A tremendous effort all round from a great group.

Next up for the hurlers is an encounter with Midleton. Remember the top two from the group go through. Cloughduv lead the group on three points with a score difference of plus 5. Kildorrery are second with 3 points and a score difference of plus 4. Midleton are third with 2 points and a score difference of 0. We must make Midleton count!! Ar aghaidh linn!

Team: Ian Butler, Mike Walsh, Cormac O’Baoill, Kevin Noonan, Jamie O’Gorman, Shane Fitzgerald, William Fouhy, James Keating, John Hunter, Tiernan Condon, David Kelly, Peter O’Brien, Finbarr Stapleton, Dylan Kent and Cathal Harrington. Subs: James McEniry for David Kelly (18 mins), Kieran Hurley for Tiernan Condon (51 Mins) and Eamonn O’Connor for Cathal Harrington (53 mins).

FIXTURES

Sunday, September 26 intermediate A championship round robin game 2 v Aghabullogue 4pm Kanturk. Best of luck to all the team and management involved. Saturday, October 9 intermediate hurling Kildorrery v Midleton, 4pm in Fermoy.

BEST WISHES

Best wishes to Dave Hunter who is recovering from a broken foot.

JUVENILE AGM

The juvenile AGM will take place on October 15th. Further details to be announced.

THANK YOU

Thanks this week to Seany Dennehy, Tom Fox and Pat Kennedy who generously gave their time to look after the lights and the pitch.

LOTTO

The lotto took place on Monday, September 20. Numbers drawn: 3, 7, 12 and 14. Jackpot: €3,400, no winner. Lucky dips : Joanne O’Connor, Cullenagh €25; John Thornhill, Main St €25; Ted Enright, Main St., €25; online Carmel Monaghan, Prospect House €25; online Tom Monaghan, Cork €25; online Sharon Coughlan, Farrahy Rd €25. Please ensure all books are dropped into Monaghan’s post-box on Sunday by 6pm.

HOME BINGO

Kildorrery home bingo books are on sale now in Centra, Post Office and Community Office and Maxol. Snowball prize this week is €250. Thanks for your support. Drive in bingo Friday night at 8pm in the Creamery Yard. Many thanks for your continued support

NEXT MEETING AND COMMEMORATION

Next meeting Monday, September 27 which will be preceded by an event to commemorate the 1961 Cork minor football winning team which was represented by Tom and Ned Monaghan.

It is the 60th anniversary of the first of Cork’s 11 All-Ireland minor football titles. In 1961, a star-studded side embarked on a campaign determined to make amends for the previous year’s defeat by Galway in the final. Cork could call on seven survivors from that team and their experience would prove invaluable. Cork qualified to meet the Connacht champions again in the decider, but it was Mayo who provided the opposition on this occasion.

Under the direction of manager Mick Barrett, Cork switched several their team around from the year before. The final itself was very one-sided, Cork starting like a whirlwind and never looking trouble as they eased to a 3-7 to 0-5 victory. Kildorrery’s Tom Monaghan was their ace in the pack in attack, scoring a couple of early goals to knock Mayo back and a third from Fred Hayes late on just illustrated the gulf in class.

The team was: R Cawley (Nemo Rangers); D Nangle (Ballincollig), J McGrath (Mitchelstown), V Cronin (St Finbarrs); A Harrington (do), B Larkin (Douglas), J O’Donoghue (Macroom); F Cogan (Nemo Rangers), E Coughlan (Newcestown), captain; F Hayes (Clonakilty), D Barrett (Nemo Rangers), D Philpott (St Finbarrs); T Burke (Millstreet), M Archer (St Finbarrs), T Monaghan (Kildorrery). Subs: D Kehilly (Newcestown), P Daly (Rosscarbery), D Dineen (Bantry), E Monaghan (Kildorrery), J O’Keeffe (Kiskeam).

Others who played in the championship were: M Lyne (Castletownbere), V O’Callaghan (Bantry), J McEvoy (Lees), K O’Connor (Mitchelstown).