Result: 1-07 to 2-16
Ballymun GAA all-weather pitch was the venue for the under 21 Championship Semi-Final on Saturday 17th November. After 4 weeks of solid preparation and a couple of encouraging performances in challenge games the group made the journey in a positive frame of mind. However, the game and end result turned out to be a sobering experience for all involved. In a blistering opening 15 minutes the powerful and very athletic home side raced into a 10 points to 1 lead which made an already difficult task pretty much impossible. To their credit the lads fought really hard to claw their way back into the game. Some resolute defending and hardworking forward play saw us gradually narrow the deficit to only two points, which left the score at the break 1-6 to 0-11.
On the resumption, after an even opening period, Ballymun got the first score and then got in for a well taken goal. This made it a 6 point game and in truth too much of a gap to try and close given the exertions required to do this once already in the game. For the remainder of the match, the hot favourites for this competition never dropped their pace and continued to create and take further opportunities to end up overwhelmingly convincing winners on a scoreline of 2-16 to 1-7.
Reflecting on the game, it was easy to see how this Ballymun team had swept all before them as they progressed through the age categories claiming every title on offer along the way. Our lads could not be faulted for their effort and certainly to a man did their very best on the day. We had expected to compete and give ourselves an opportunity but we were well beaten by a very good side. Such is the nature of sport, we try to learn from it and we move on.
Team and subs (all used):
Mark McNamee,Tommy Burke, Neil Hestor, Keith Sweeney, Kieran Kennedy, Cian Murray, Cathal O’Dea, Luke O’Donoghue, James Holland, Dylan Walsh, John Murphy (0-1), Liam Flaherty (0-1), Ross McGarry (0-2), Barra McGarry (0-2f), Mikey Dunne (1-1f) , Karl Reddy, David Leach, Oisin Carolan, Eoghan Monaghan, Ross McCormack