Traditional winter activities were thankfully put on hold again this weekend, as another GBC team qualified for a County Final. This time it was the turn of the Minors as they took on St. Martin’s in Clara. The boys played with a strong breeze in the first half and after eight minutes they had three points on the board from Philly Cahill (2fs) and Padraic Dunphy.
St. Martin’s opened their account with a point from play and one from a free, before Philly Cahill added another from a free in the twenty fourth minute. GBC had the upper hand in the possession stakes with Philly Cahill, Conor Flynn and Eamonn Egan standing out, but St. Martin’s physicality limited the scoring. With just five minutes to go to half-time GBC were dealt a severe setback. A high ball dropped on the edge of the square and a volleyed shot took a deflection into the GBC net. The lads reacted positively and sustained pressure yielded two frees which Eamonn Egan pointed. The half-time score was GBC 0-6, St. Martin’s 1-2.
GBC’s performance was below what they are capable of in this first half and facing into the breeze for the second thirty minutes was a considerable challenge.
Eight minutes of the second half had elapsed before Eamonn Egan pointed his third free. Four minutes later, a goal mouth scramble led to Billy Ryan kicking the ball to the net, GBC 1-7, St.Martin’s 1-2.
This momentary relief was short-lived. Directly from the puck out, St. Martin’s worked the ball into their full forward who picked his spot in the top corner, reducing the deficit to two points.
Philly Cahill and Jason Shore (St. Martin’s goal-keeper) traded points, before GBC’s breakthrough came just minutes from the end. Shore saved a good shot from Jamie Lawlor, but when the ball broke Taggy (David Maher) whipped a ground shot to the net. The lads were in full flight now with Eamonn Egan and Shane Hennessy controling mid-field and points from Eamonn and Geordan Davis finished the job.
Final score:GBC 2-10, St. Martin’s 2-4.
Slieverue will ask a big question of this team in the final, but these GBC lads have loads of ability and heart. If they can reproduce the intensity and determination that they have shown in previous games, for a full sixty minutes, then they have every chance.
GBC: B Cuddihy, T Dunphy, R Keoghan, T Ronan, C Flynn, P Cahill (0-4), E Walsh, E Egan (0-4, 3fs), S Hennessy, B Ryan (1-0), C Prendiville, G Davis (0-1), N Buttler, P Dunphy (0-1), J Lawlor.
Subs: D Maher (1-0), C Hogan, S Ryan (inj) A Harrison, J Everard, G Doheny, L O’Brien, G Murphy, D Hoyne, K Egan, J Roberts