Réalt Dearg 1-8 v 2-12 St. Sylvesters
Drimnagh Castle, 8 November 2015 Relentless, intense, fierce....all words that have been used to describe hurling matches throughout the ages. Unfortunately, these words are being used at the start of this piece to describe the weather conditions that presented themselves in Drimnagh at mid-day on Sunday. Hurling in November.... perhaps what those with sights on Croke Park for St. Patricks Day aspire to, but the cold reality of a shot at promotion to AHL5 was a sufficient enough carrot for the hardly souls from Réalt Dearg and Syls to face conditions Captain Ahab would have struggling to overcome in his pursuit of the Great White Whale. Ducks took shelter under the stones of Drimnagh Castle unwilling to take solace in the comfort of the carefully constructed protective moat. The euphemistic cats and dogs were being thrown biblically from the heavens...Twas fair feckin wet is essentially what I'm tryin to get across here. But there was hurling to be played. So with a sense of enthusiasm which belied the conditions, that could only come from not having taken to the field in the almost 8 weeks since the disappointment in O'Toole Park, the Stars men set immediately to the task at hand and notched the first score of the day with an excellent effort from new boy Jamie O'Hara making his debut for the A team. In fact, O'Hara notched the first three scores of the day is what hopefully is a portent for better days in the black and red jersey. Unfortunately, like the Great White Whale taking a chunk off Captain Ahab's leg, the Stars were dealt a significant blow early in the engagement when talismanic midfielder Paul Warren had to exit proceedings having suffered a nasty quad injury. Small in stature but a colossus in presence, we wish Paul well in his recovery. A re-organisation of the troops was required with Stephen Barry entering the fray but the battle, and the rain, continued unabated. More blows, two Syls goal, a scatter of points from a precocious corner-forward to put them well ahead on the scoreboard. Serious introspection required, the tempest raging on and off the field, pinned down in the trenches. Roy Batty's Tears in Rain speech from Blade Runner comes to mind... Time to Die??...Not a chance. The day may have brought the deluge but the men in black brought the thunder. Ferocious intensity in defence from the Stars, led by Colonel Gahan and his Lieutenant Maharaj caused the first seeds of doubt to enter Syls minds. Kev Ryan and O'Hara sniping in attack. John Tarpey, panzer-like, marshalling the Blitzkrieg. Chubba's speculative grenade made incendiary by Niall Mullane's goal-den touch. The tide turning, Syls needed respite. Their 8-point lead cut to 3. The shrill whistle halted the onslaught within sight of the target. Conditions becoming treacherous underfoot, the second barrage begun. Once more into the breach good fellows. On this Remembrance Sunday, remembering Passchendaele all those years ago, where the second battle was the more tactical, tiring effort but ultimately decisive, the Deluge of Drimnagh proved to be a similar affair. Facing into the gale, the Réalt Dearg men died with their boots on. No surrender, no backwards step taken. Scores were more difficult to come by as the weather worsened. Ultan Dillon completely negating their most destructive weapon - Medal of Honor territory. Wounded in battle - pick up the Purple Heart later...there's a job to be done. Cian Liddy continually raiding into No-Man's land bringing his embattled comrades with him to strike at the heart of the enemy. Mike Butler, the beleaguered old warrior entering the fray..generals on the front line. These are the men to have by your side when the enemy is at the gates. The result did not go our way but we can be proud of these young men. There will be other days, better days. We have come a long way. Dust ourselves down, re-group, re-assess. We will attack again in the new year... Réalt Dearg: Gary Thompson, Mike Richardson, Cathal Hester, Derek McKenna, Conor Maharaj, Colm Gahan, Brian Gavin, Eoin O'Dwyer, Paul Warren, Jamie O'Hara, Niall Mullane, Kevin Ryan, Cian Liddy, John Tarpey, Stephen Casey. Stephen Barry, Ultan Dillon, Conor O'Droma, David O'Connell, Mike Butler, Kevin Deady, Marc McLiam
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