The boys got their championship campaign off to a winning start with what was in the end a comprehensive victory over a tough Buffers Alley outfit.
Shelmaliers V Thomastown U14 Hurling, Sat. 31 March 2007.
The Shelmaliers entertained Thomastown in a practice game, our first game of the season, on a bright but very windy Saturday afternoon. The game was a very worthwhile exercise for both the players and mentors of both sides.
Because of a very strong wind, the game was very much a game of two halves. Thomastown opened brightly with the wind and set themselves up with a couple of early goals and a flurry of points. In these early stages the Shels had difficulty containing the typically nippy wing and corner-forward play of the Kilkennymen, fed by a Thomastown midfield which was completely on top.
However even in the teeth of the gale, and with a couple of positional switches, the Shels rallied. Driven on by Conor Tobin at centre-back, and Craig McCabe and Dean Corrigan in midfield, they were to score a crucial goal and a point before half-time, courtesy of Glen Murphy and Craig McCabe. Thomastown tacked on a few more scores before the break to leave the half-time score standing at 4-3 to 1-1 in favour of the visitors.
The second half was one of sustained Shelmaliers pressure. Our boys played some very fine combination hurling, and were visibly improving as the game went on. Our midfield was now dominant and some fine scores were registered – particularly memorable were well-taken points from Shane Bierney, Niall Tobin, Kevin O’ Connor, and Pádraic O’ Leary. An exciting game ended in a draw – Thomastown 4-4 ; Shelmaliers 3-7.
Shels: Seán Byrne , Mark Mythen, Pádraic O’ Leary, Eoin O’ Leary, Neil Rossiter, Conor Tobin, Eoghan Fitzgerald, Dean Corrigan, Craig McCabe, A.J. Lehane, Glen Murphy, Shane Bierney, Damien Drennan, Stephen Dwyer, Niall Tobin, Robbie Hynes, Kevin O’ Connor, James Cash, Graham Staples.
Shelmaliers V Buffers Alley, U14 Hurling Div 1 Round 1 Wed 04 April 2007.
The boys got their championship campaign off to a winning start with what was in the end a comprehensive victory over a tough Buffers Alley outfit. The Monamolin men started strongly and dominated the half-back and midfield exchanges through most of the first half. However with Dean Corrigan and Craig McCabe starting to exert control in midfield, and Stephen Dwyer working hard at centre-forward, we finished the half a point ahead, thanks to two fine goals from Neil Rossiter and a point from Shane Bierney.
The Shels boys kicked on in the second half to record a comfortable victory on a 5-5 to 1-6 scoreline. There were solid performances from all the backs from goalkeeper Seán Byrne out. Notable was the strength of Pádraic O’ Leary under the high ball, the clearances of A.J. Lehane and the drive of Conor Tobin. Well done to Jack Murphy for one particularly spectacular catch right in front of his own goal!
Craig McCabe and Dean Corrigan tied up a good Buffers Alley midfield and drove us forward while up front there were impressive performances all around. There was good combination play in the half forward line from Shane Bierney and Niall Tobin while we got a great return in the full-forward line from hat-trick hero Neil Rossiter , the skilful Simon Murphy, and the powerful Glen Murphy. Stephen Dwyer mastered a very good opponent and distributed the ball well.
Shels: Seán Byrne , Mark Mythen, Pádraic O’ Leary, Jack Murphy, A.J. Lehane, Conor Tobin, Eoghan Fitzgerald, Dean Corrigan(0-1), Craig McCabe(0-2), Niall Tobin, Stephen Dwyer, Shane Bierney(0-1), Simon Murphy(1-1), Glen Murphy(1-0), Neil Rossiter(3-0), Robbie Hynes, Damien Drennan, Kevin Byrne, Kevin O’ Connor, James Cash, Graham Staples