28th September 2019 Claughaun
Our Junior A hurlers took on Caherline this afternoon in Claughaun GAA grounds in the County Junior A quarter final. On an overcast afternoon where the rain made conditions slippery and the sliothar difficult to control both teams served up a very exciting and close game. Caherline started well and were on the score board inside the first minute with a point from play.
We got on the score board on 2 minutes with a point from play from the hard working Jack Lenihan. We added two points in the next few minutes with well struck frees from Tom McMahon. Caherline were batteling hard and got the next two scores from play and the teams were level at 3 points each after 10 minutes.
We hit a purple patch for the next few minutes during which a great effort by Jack Lenihan for a goal was saved by the Caherline keeper and Tom McMahon put the 65 over and he also added to that with another 2 frees. A great solo run from Jack Lenihan ended in Jack tapping over from close range which left us 6 points to 3 points up after 14 minutes.
Between the 15th and the 25th minutes Caherline got on top and added 6 points, we managed one point in reply from Brian Hannon and Caherline were ahead 0-09 to 0-07. We finished out the last 5 minutes of the 1st half with points from play from Jack Lenihan and Declan Mullane and a point from a free from Tom MacMahon leaving the score at half time Croagh/Kilfinny ahead 0-10 Caherline 0-09.
The 2nd half started pretty much the same as the 1st with Caherline having 2 points within the first minute and adding a third 4 minutes in which put them ahead 12 point to 10 points. We responded well with a point from play from Jack Lenihan and 3 pointed frees from the very accurate Tom McMahon and with 10 minutes gone in the 2nd half we were up 14 points to 12 points.
At this point Mike White was introduced for Mike O'Connell and both teams exchanged scores throughout the next 10 minutes.
With time almost up Croagh/Kilfinny were ahead 16 points to 14 points, the last few minutes were tense as the referee added on 3 minutes of injury time which allowed Caherline time to push forward in search of a goal that might win the game for them. Our backs held strong and some good balls out set up a few attacking plays which yielded 3 frees and Tom McMahon duly converted and we were home and dry!.
This was a great team effort and showed the battling qualities of this team, we march on to the County semi final now which contains the 4 West semi-finalists, Castletown/Ballyagran, Kilmallock, Kileedy and ourselves.
Well done lads.
Final Score: Croagh/Kilfinny 0-19 Caherline 0-15
Team: David Lynch, Barry Lenihan, Denis Lenihan, Ryan McCarthy, James Lanigan, Brian McHugh, Mark Storan, Kevin Shanahan, Tom McMahon (0-12f), John Wall, Jack Lenihan (0-05), Mike O'Connell, James O'Brien, Declan Mullane (0-01), Brian Hannon (0-01).
Subs: Mike White for Mike O'Connell (10 mins 2nd half)
