South Offaly Championships at Birr
Mountheaton, 15 points (5 goals) ....... Eglish 7 points (2 goals, 1 point)
The last match, South Offaly junior hurling final, proved to be the finest match of the day. From the beginnining, the hurling was fast and lively. The first half was evenly contested, but in the second half Mount Heaton slowly gained the upper hand.
Although Eglish made a splendid effort in the last five minutes, yet there can be no doubt that Mountheaton deserved their victory. Eglish did not show the form they had shown in previous matches, and some of their players looked tired and exhausted before half time.
For the losers, W. Cunningham played a great game, while Molloy, Burke and Kinsella were conspicuous in their efforts to stem the tide of the defeat. All of the winning team played excellently, and seemed to be much quicker than their opponents.
Play opened at a brisk pace and a quick rush by Eglish brought the game into the Mountheaton goal mouth, but Mountheaton cleared and attacked. Carroll cleared well and Cunningham mollowing, neatly put a fine shot down the field. A hard shot at the Mountheaton goal was well cleared. At this stage the play was excitingly fast. Fierece shots were hit by both sides and lively exchanges were the order of the day.
A 70 to Mountheaton put the ball in to the Eglish goal, and after a desperate resistance on the part of the defence, Mountheaton scored a major. After some quick mid-field play, a free to Eglish brought the ball back to the Mountheaton end, but it went wide. The puck-out was badly missed, and the Eglish forwards had hard luck in not scoring from a fine rush.
For the next five minutes, Mountehaton attacked strongly, and the Eglish goalie brought off many fine saves. Horan at last relieved, wtih a long shot down the field and Guinan, with a fine puck, sent it the rest of the way. There followed some great hitting up and down the field; then Guinan put a puck-in into the Mountheaton goal mouth, and amidst great excitement, Eglish drew the scores level.
Mountheaton now retaliated with a powerful attack, but the defence held. a few minutes later, two shosts by Cuningham and Molloy put the ball down the field, and a great shot was only just saved. Immediately after Molloy had hard luck with a good shot. Mountheaton got up the field again, but Kinsella cleared. However, Mountheaton were soon up again and from a puck-in landed a major.
Eglish now made a determined endeavour to level matters again. Horan hit a powerful shot at goal, but the Mountheaton goalie saved well. For the rest of the first half play was fast and even, both sides attacking hard in turn.
At half time, the score was Mountheaton 6 points (2 goals); Eglish 3 points (1 goal).
Second Half
Mountheaton opened the second half with a strong attack, and Bergin very nearly scored with a strong shot. Eglish then went upfield, but Mountheaton were soon back again. Some quick play followed and then Guinan hit a fine shot to the Mountheaton end, where Hernon fielded and landed a minor.
With only two points between the scores, the Eglish men worked hard to level up matters. They attacked hard, but the Mountheaton defence held, and then frees to both sides in succession kept play going up and down the field. A free to Mountheaton was very well hit, and after a short tussle the forwards registered a major. The Mountheaton men were not playing much better than their opponents. They were sticking the hard pace much better, and were much more accurate in their shots.
Eglish made another short, but fierce, attack, and after that Mountheaton settled own to a fierce, but determined, assault. A 70 to Mountheaton was put in the Eglish goal-mouth, and the score could not be prevented. From the puck-out Mountheaton came back, and reckless swiping by the defence gave Mountheaton another goal.
After this severe attack, Eglish made a partial recovery, and worked up the field. The Mountheaton men, however, were now playing very well and Eglish found it impossible to effect anything.
After a lot of mid-field play, Eglish got up again, but Lawlor cleared with a great shot. with only a few minutes left, Eglish fought in splendid fashion to reduce the lead. They missed a great chance to score a goal, owing to one of the forwards fuzzling and easy shot. Mountheaton relieved temporarily, but Eglish came back, and after a determined struggle, registered a major.
In the short time left, Eglish had no chance to save the position and at full time, Mountheaton were the victors of a really enjoyable match. The final score was - Mountheaton, 15 points (5 goals); Eglish 7 points (2 goals, 1 point).
The Teams
The teams were -
Mountheaton - T. Hannon, J. Shanahan, M. Franks, W. Franks, P. Maher, J. Maher, J. Auliffe, M. Cantwell, P. McLoughlin, H. McCoy, P. Magee, D. Bergin, D. Delaney, T. Lalor, J. Cooney.
Subs - J. Shanahan, T. Treacy, J. Lawlor
Eglish - J. Molloy, J. Carroll, C. Hernon, J. Molloy, K. Hernon, J. Horan, N. Horan, K. Dooley, W. Cunningham, J. Guinan, J. Burke, M. Dea, J. Dermody, P. Downey, W. Kinsella.
Home | Archives | Photo Gallery | Contact Us