Go Ahead AHL 4

Baile Buadáin Naomh Éanna 2 15  Cumann Naomh Peregrine CLG 2 09

Is é an t-imreoir is cáiliúla riamh a bhí ag Peregrines ná Eric Lowndes. Bhuaigh Eric 7 mbonn uile-Éireann sa pheil leis na Dubs ach imríonn sé iomáint chomh maith agus d’imir sé  i ndhá chluiche ceannais chraobh na hÉireann míonúr san iomáint. Tá Eric i Dubai faoi láthair agus ní raibh sé ag imirt tráthnóna Déardaoin seo caite i mBaile an Bhlácaigh i gcoinne Bhaile Buadáin Naomh Éanna . Maybe it was just as well, mar ní raibh mórán idir na foirne and Eric’s loss to Peregrines may have been telling in the end.

Mí Bealtaine atá ann ach ní Bealtaine na Gréine, as wind and rain made conditions very difficult for both sides. Agus an féar ag fás go tiubh, the field could have done with a few sheep. Connell McGlynn started on the frees with a point within a minute. Faoin am gur shéid an réiteoir Ciarán Reilly ó na Fianna an fheadóg dheireanach, Connell had clocked up a personal total of 8 points, 6 from frees and 2 from play.

Despite Boden playing with the wind, and being the better team, Peregrines hit for two handy enough goals, one from a penalty, to leave them well in control on the scoreboard for much of the first half. However, two fine points from Oisín Byrne and a great closing ten minutes before half time with points from Eoin McKenna and a brace from Eamonn O Gorman saw Boden 3 chúilín chun tosaigh ag leathama. Indeed, the long-range point from Eamonn was almost an exact replica of the famous point he scored in the winning county minor final in 2013. Check it out on Youtube.

Taobh istigh de nóiméad sa dara leath, fuair Chris Lambert cúl den chéad scoth chun 6 chúilín a chur idir na foirne. This 6-point margin was maintained to the end as Boden battled hard against a seasoned Peregrine’s team. Eamonn O Gorman, who is having his best season since the aforementioned 2013, got a nasty cut just on the final whistle that left him looking like an extra in a horror film. After getting patched up by Alan McGrath, I presume he also got to wash the jerseys.

There were lots of positives to take from this game. Ronan Sharkey in the goal pulled off one top class save and did very well under the high ball in difficult wind and rain. Des at full back was locked in an old-fashioned tussle with a meaty full forward and came out well on top.  Karl Weldon at centre back continues to impress, ably supported by Josh Corcoran and Ruairí Hestor. Let’s hope Karl brings his hurley to the states with him as he heads on his summer travels. Bhí sé go hiontach Gillo, Alan McGrath, Ben Kelly, James Enright agus Garret Crowley a fheiscint ar ais ar an bpáirc tar éis gortú. Someone said the conditions really suited James. When you get to a certain stage in your career, a narrow pitch and long grass can have its advantages.

Míle buíochas do na maor chúil, Ronán Cleary (gortaithe) agus Francis Sharkey. In fairness Francis was as impartial as any father could be with his son Ronan in the goal.

Laochra na hImeartha: Des O’Sullivan agus Connell McGlynn

Ronan Sharkey; David Gilheaney; Des O Sullivan; Ruairi Kirwan; Josh Corcoran; Karl Weldon; Ruairi Hestor; Jim Kennedy (0-1); Eoin McKenna (0-1); Garret Crowley; Connell McGlynn(0-8. 0-6F); Eamon O Gorman (0-2); Oisín Byrne (0-2); Owen Wigglesworth; Chris Lambert (1-0); Alan McGrath; Ben Kelly(0-1); Daire Sweeney; David Gannon; James Enright.