Exams, injuries and Dublin duty denied the home team of half of the players that lined out in the championship match against Lucan so a tight match was expected against our neighbours that were promoted from Division 2 for this year. The visitors were first to score with a point in the first minute. Ross McGarry cancelled this out with a pointed free a few minutes later. Templeogue responded with a point from play almost immediately. For the next ten minutes scores were hard to come by as both defences were tight and giving little room to the forwards. Templeogue went two points up with 15 minutes gone. However, Declan O’Mahony and Johnny Murphy brought the sides level. Templeogue went two points up again (one free) before Tom Hanafin, raiding from corner back, and Ross McGarry from a free brought the sides level as the half time whistle blew.
Templeogue were first off the mark with a point after two minutes of the second half. However, the home side then took over and dominated the rest of the game. Collie Basquel (who came on as a sub at the start of the second half) and Mark McNamee (from a 45), put the home side back in the lead before Warren Egan flicked to the net from a long free into the square from Collie Basquel. Ross McGarry and Darragh Nelson added points from play before Templeogue got one back from a free. Alan Flood, Collie Basquel (free), Tom Hanafin (2) and Ross McGarry (2) added more points with Templeogiue getting another pointed free. Tom Hayes finishing to the net in added time to emphasise the home side’s dominance.
TEAM: Mark McNamee; Cian Murray; Shane Clayton; Tom Hanafin; Johnny Murphy; Cathal Flaherty; Darragh Nelson; Declan O’Mahony; Donagh McCabe; Darren O’Reilly; Tom Hayes; Sean Gibbons; Ross McGarry; Warren Egan; Alan Flood. SUB USED: Collie Basquel