The senior hurlers were outgunned by the Dreen men in round 2 of the Junior Hurling Championship at Páirc Mhic Dháibhéid last Friday evening and despite a late push in the final 10 minutes, we had left ourselves with too much to claw back a 10 point differential.
We looked to have carved open an early goal chance but the referee spotted an infringement (three times in the hand) and correctly awarded a Ros Earcain free. From the resultant free the sliotar was delivered up field and when it arrived at Quigg, he cracked to the net to give Ros Earcain the perfect start. Chris Gallagher got us off the mark with a well executed point from a 65 and we followed up with a goal from Marcas Toner as he drove a 20 metre free high into the roof of the net. Ros Earcain added three points in a row from McKeever, McFerran and Quinn to restore their advantage but a blistering run and strike by Deaglan Mooney reduced the deficit to one.
We created many scoring opportunities at this stage but we failed to take advantage of a strong wind and chances went begging both from open play and frees. However, Ros Earcain were more economical with their shooting, tagging on further points from Quigg and McFerran. Goalkeeper, Gearoid Cosgrove then made a fine save from McKeever but the rebound was met by McKillop, who had the simple task of tapping to the net to leave us further in arrears. We responded with a fine point from Colm McKee, after great work from the defense and added two points from frees from Marcas Toner. As half time approached both teams traded further points with Ros Earcains McKeever adding to his tally and Stephen Thompson opening his account for the day. At the break we trailed by a goal 1-6 to 2-6.
Ros Earcain came out on the front foot on the restart, hitting 4 of the opening 6 points of the half with Hasson (0-2), McFerran and McKeever on target with a Marcas Toner point of his left and another from a free after Ros Earcain had been reduced to 14 men. This seemed to have little impact on Ros Earcain as they reeled off five points in a row from McKeever (0-4) and Quigg to double their lead to 10 with the clock ticking down.
We then burst into life and began to play more open and flowing hurling with Stephen McGivern pointing a long range free. Ros Earcain pointed from out on the right sideline. A long ball was played into Anthony Rowntree who controlled the sliotar, swivelled and struck to the net to give us a glimmer of hope. McKeever pointed from inside his own half while Chris Gallagher replied. O’Boyle landed another Ros Earcain point but our final throw of the dice saw Colm McKee strike to the net to reduce the deficit to 4. We continued to press in the closing stages but Ros Earcain stood firm, and it was they who finished the half with two points from McKeever to take the win by six.
We now await the outcome of the Ros Earcain v Ard Eoin last group game to see how the placings stack up and this will ultimately determine who plays who in the next stages of the competition.
Up next is the division 3/4 playoff against Na Magha at Dunsilly on Sunday 18 August with a 2pm throw in.
Scorers: M Toner 1-4, C McKee 1-1 A Rowntree 1-0, C Gallagher 0-2, Stephen McGivern 0-2, D Mooeny 0-1 and S Thompson 0-1
Click here for photos of the game.
