What a cracking first round tie. Goals, fantastic saves and more goals were the order of the day. Graigue raced into a 9 point lead through a hat trick of goals from Ben McEvoy at full forward. Shane Hogan saved 2 certain goals with saves that Eoin Murphy would be proud of. Piltown fought back well after the water break and scored three goals of their own. Some great defending in the last few minutes of the half from the full back line trio of Cian Ronan, Oran Hoyne and Sean O’Halloran and a goal from Michael Tynan for GBC left the score at 4-2 to 3-6 at half time.
It was the same again for both teams in the second half with goals a-plenty and a terrific penalty save from Shane Hogan. Our half forward line of Sean East, Michael Tynan and the excellent Aidan Ging were a constant danger.
Ben McEvoy finished his tally with another 3 Goals and 2 points. Michael Tynan and Martin Brennan chipped in with crucial goals .
After the water break, Cormac Neary, David Walton and Keelan Lynch started to get to grips with the threat of the excellent centre forward from Piltown. With that threat nullified and some great blocking and hooks from Joshua Malone, Sean O’Dea and the tenacious Reggie Carthy, along with some fresh legs from Darragh Burke, Dara Barut, Martin Wall and Donnacha Kenny, GBC won out convincing winners in the last ten minutes to win on a final scoreline of 9-8 to 6-8
GRAIGUE BALLYCALLAN TEAM: Shane Hogan, Cian Ronan, Keelan Lynch, Sean O’Halloran, Sean O’Dea, Oran Hoyne, Reggie Carthy, Cormac Neary 0-2, David Walton, Aidan Ging 0-2, Michael Tynan 2-2, Sean East, Joshua Malone, Ben McEvoy 6-2, Martin Brennan 1-0,
Subs: Dara Barut, Donnacha Kenny, Darragh Burke, Martin Wall,
Report by Shane Lynch GBC