St. Canice’s Senior Hurling Championship Quarter Final

On a typical October day in Freshford, St. Martin’s and Dicksboro squared up to each other in the Quarter Final of the Senior Hurling Championship.  It was a second half performance that sealed the deal for St. Martin’s despite a late goal for the Boro. Playing against the wind in the first half, Eoin McGrath got proceedings under way with a well taken point.  More than a minute later, Ollie Walsh got Dicksboro off the mark with a point of his own.  John Maher put Martin’s three ahead when he finished the ball to the net before converting a free to put four between sides after seven minutes.  That was Martin’s last score until the 19th Minute.  In the meantime, Cillian Buckley and Shane Maher cut into the deficit before Evan Cody got the equaliser for them.  Eddie O’Donoghue leathered the ball into the back of St. Martin’s net to take the lead for Dicksboro.  Suddenly, Martin’s found themselves four points down.  John Maher pointed two free’s while John Mulhall and Eoin McGrath all added points before half time while their counterparts, Shane Maher, Cillian Buckley, Ollie Walsh and Andrew Gaffney all pointed for Dicksboro to leave the half time score St. Martin’s 1-6, Dicksboro 1-9.  The second half saw St. Martin’s come out and take advantage of the strong breeze with a Brian Mulhall point.  Shortly after, Eoin McGrath pointed to put one between the sides.  Andrew Gaffney pointed two free’s for Dicksboro to increase their lead to three once again.  Within the next ten minutes Dicksboro were held while James Dowling and John Maher chipped away to decrease their deficit to a single point.  Colin McGrath ensured that Martin’s took the lead scoring 1-1 within in a two minute spell.  Andrew Gaffney pointed yet another free to put two between the sides.  Canice Maher got the three point lead back once before John Maher scored a further three unanswered points.  Martin Gaffney scored a late consolation goal for Dicksboro at the end of normal time. John Maher and Andrew Gaffney had the final say of the game, exchanging scores but it was St. Martin’s who ran out deserving winners on a scoreline of 2-16 to 2-13.

Team: Colin McGrath (1-1), James Maher, Ollie Walsh, Shane Cadigan, Bryan Byrne, Paddy Nolan, Mick Morrissey, James Dowling (0-1), Canice Maher (0-1), Thomas Breen, Eoin McGrath (0-3), Brian Mulhall (0-1), Paul Maher, John Maher (1-8), John Mulhall (0-1).

Subs: Joe Maher (used), Jason Shore, Shane Kinsella, Paddy Dowling, Robert Shore, Luke Maher, Noel D’Arcy, Aidan Murphy, Paddy Brennan, Brian Cadigan, Thomas Walsh, Donal Shore, Adrian Farrell, Eugene Maher, Jack Dowling, Shane Egan, Kevin Tynan. Team Management: Charlie Carter, Aidan Lawlor, Ronan Ruane, Richard O’Shea

Referee: Peter Bourke

19th October 2014.