The JBs went into this game knowing that we had to beat Clontarf by ten points and hope other results would go our way. A big ask but we would throw the kitchen sink at it, we definitely were not going to go quietly into the night.
The game ebbed and flowed, we matched score for score and kept on the front foot. In going for broke we were leaving ourselves open at the back at times but we had to push on. In the first half we scored 1-3 to Clontarfs 0-10. Their keeper kept them in it with some excellent point blank saves. Any other day the ball would have rattled the back of the net. We needed goals badly and were creating openings all over the place but it was just that final ball.
The tempo of the second half was even higher. We tagged on the first two scores but Clontarf got flukiest of goals after a quick counter attack. But the lads never gave up. Goals from Adam and Carl made it a very intense affair in the final ten minutes. We were quite literally peppering their goal at one stage but it just wasn’t happening for us. I can’t fault the lads, they were out on their feet. Alan Keane pulled of some amazing saves. Carl helped himself to three more points to take his tally to 1-5 on the day. The full compliment of substitutions were used in the hunt for that elusive win. The scoreline does not tell the full story. The JBs gave everything for the win. We played some brilliant attacking football but it just was not to be. A lot of our passing was top drawer, our attacking play was causing all sorts of problems for Clontarf. We went for broke and came up short. No shame in that, none at all.
Our total focus now is that all important league game v Plunketts. Winner secures third spot and guaranteed a playoff spot. Promotion is the prize, all we have to do is hold our nerve. As a group, I know the lads will give their all. They have raised the bar, no longer turning up and going through the motions. They are a team of winners, a team of talented players. JBs Abu.
Report by Martin O Donnell.