Report by Philomena Brennan
On Monday 5th May 2014 Graigue-Ballycallan u-14s contested the Feile semi-final in Palmerstown. Their opponents were Emeralds of Urlingford whom they had battled with the previous week-end in the qualifying rounds, grinding out a well earned draw on that particular occasion.
From the throw in GBC took the game to Emeralds and the full-back line were well marshalled by Adam O’Brien, with great assistance from Alex McCluskey and Luke Cullen holding firm to deny the Emeralds forwards any easy scores. Aaron Brennan, at centre-back caught some great balls and with some fine clearances, launched the GBC attack and they opened their account with a fine point from Oisin Egan. Emeralds continued to pressure the GBC defence but Eoin Delahunty and Stephen Keoghan dealt very well with anything their opponents threw at them. Killian Egan and Eamon Corcoran were tasked with marking Emeralds best player and carried out their task admirably, limiting him to just one point in the first half. Aaron Brennan added two fine points, from frees and the sides went in level at half time 0-3 each.
The hurling continued at the same frantic pace in the second half, and with half-forwards Alan Wall and Simon O’Dwyer delivering balls to the full-forward line of Finn Lanigan, Lee Ronan and Daniel Lawlor, GBC were unlucky not to have scored at least one goal. One more pointed free from Aaron Brennan brought their tally to 0-4. Emeralds, finally broke through the defence and took a three point lead going into the last few minutes. With their final assault on the Emeralds goal, GBC were awarded a penalty and with a goal required to bring the game to extra time, Aaron Brennan’s effort struck the cross bar and went over for a point. The game ended with GBC 0-5 Emeralds 0-7.
GBC played some of their best hurling to date in this exciting match and after two battles with the Urlingford boys, little divides them. No doubt they will encounter each other again during the year.
Panel: Jason O’Brien, Alex McCluskey, Adam O’Brien, Luke Cullen, Eoin Delahunty, Aaron Brennan(0-3 frees, 0-1 Pen), Stephen Keoghan, Killian Egan, Eamonn Corcoran, Simon O’Dwyer, Oisin Egan (0-1), Alan Wall, Finn Lanigan, Lee Ronan, Daniel Lawlor, Scott Lawlor, Paddy Brennan, JJ Ryan, Kevin Ging, Mark Brennan, Stephen Robinson, Fionn O’Halloran.
GBC went on to play the losers of the other semi-final, Kilmacow in a play-off to determine third and fourth places. Both teams had titanic battles in their respective semi-finals and this showed in their encounter as both sides looked tired in the first half. However, in the second-half they upped their pace and nothing divided them at full time and extra time had to be played. Again, this did not result in a winner and the final score was GBC 3-5 Kilmacow 3-5.
Scores: Killian Egan 2-1, JJ Ryan 1-0, Aaron Brennan 0-3( frees), Oisin Egan 0-1.