First Round win in Aylward Cup

In the first round of the Aylward Cup, St. Martin’s travelled to Thomastown on a fine evening for hurling.  Thomastown were the first to settle and got into a rhythm notching up 0-6 but points from Canice Maher, Robert Shore and Bryan Byrne kept us in touch.  Our luck changed when Colin McGrath gave a great puck out that was gathered in by Brian Mulhall who laid off a good pass to Robert Shore who found the back of the net to raise our first green flag.  With our lads getting a welcoming boost from this, Thomastown chanced a short puck out but it didn’t quite work out for the them.  Canice Maher won the puck out and drilled home another goal into the top corner of the net.  St. Martin’s extended their lead another 4 points to leave the half time score 2-6 to 07.  The second half opened with the losers fighting hard to draw back the deficit tagging on 2 points while the winners went through a bad shooting spell.  However, John Mulhall worked hard to win ball and shot 4 unanswered points before Thomastown came back into fighting mode with 2 points from frees.  In the closing minutes, each side added a point a piece.  St. Martin’s were unlucky not to get another goal when Brian Mulhall raced towards goal from 20 metres out but was tackled and the ball hit the side netting.  However, with each player giving their all, St. Martin’s ran out winners on a scoreline of 2-12 to 0-12.

Team: Colin McGrath, Brendan Maher, Ollie Walsh, Shane Cadigan, Niall Moran, Bryan Byrne (0-2), James Maher, James Dowling, Mick Morrissey, Luke Maher, Canice Maher (1-1), Brian Mulhall, Robert Shore (1-2), John Maher (0-3), Paddy Dowling.

Subs: John Mulhall (0-4), Jason Shore, Aidan Murphy, Brian Cadigan, Noel D’arcy, David Breen, Thomas Walsh

Team Management: Charlie Carter (Manager), Selectors: Richie McCarthy and Aidan Lawlor.

Referee: Maurice Flynn

18th June 2013