Réalt Dearg C: 5- 12 St. Pelegrines: 5 -16 (possibly)
AHL 9 Drimnagh Castle, 9th April 2017 – Division 9 All grannies safe and accounted for as Stars lack killer instinct. ‘Bobby Collins..used to say: “would he kill his granny?” and Bobby Collins would kill his granny and his grandfather to win, to win a match’ John Giles A stunning first half display by the C-men wasn’t enough kill off a spirited St. Pelegrines fightback. The home team started brightly as Pelegrines’ accuracy escaped them for the opening skirmishes of the first half. Pelegrines’ flurry of wides was not reciprocated by the mean R.D. forward line who capitalised to great effect in the opening half and seemed to score from every chance. The home team’s forward line were in especially effervescent form and had racked up a potential match winning score by the break. Gary Walsh dubiously enough laid claim to a calf deflection while Ray Cahill and David Lynch also chipped in with some impressive scores. However; the scoring was led from an unusual source; a tough as nails, grizzled stopper playing with a notional nosebleed streaming down to his boots. Said enforcer, let’s call him ‘Bobby Collins’, was revelling in his newly found offensive role and was hunting the target with extreme prejudice. At half time, the Stars were leading by 8 points, thanks to two net-busters from Bobby and the ghost of Rathcoole had been banished. The Pelegrine brief for the second half was to up the tempo and bring greater physicality to the occasion. Unfortunately. the scores dried up for the home team and they let their jackboots off the necks of their opponents for long enough to let them rise from the dead, nailing a succession of scores to rare second half replies from Dearg. ‘Chunky’ Sheehan narrowed the deficit late on with a howitzer that nearly Paddy-Ryan’d the keeper, such was its ferocity. This was too little, too late. There was an inherent ‘niceness’ about this callow Realt Dearg squad full of rookies and long-term returnees. Such was the improvement from last week that it was too much to ask to add the bit o’ dog to their development. This cordiality was not shared by our offensive enforcer who was savvy enough to throw a half full bottle of water into the long grass rather than share it with an opponent on a hot day; the type of badness that this team needs to develop to mix in the street-brawl that is Division 9. Pelegrines wheeled on their big-boss of sorts in the closing stages. The grizzled veteran; in his dotage, didn’t disappoint and one of his bullets almost made it a full 20 yards; not bad for an octogenarian. Fresh-faced Leon looked on and could only admire his elder. In the end, a four point deficit was probably an unfair reflection on the effort that the Cs put in. Serious positives must be taken from this fixture. The lads racked up an impressive score and although the rate of scoring dropped off into the second period, the team showed enough improvement to show real promise for future challenges; both league and championship. Further hurling debuts have been made again this week and this team is growing in confidence and ability with every minute of additional hurling under their belts. Best of all, our spiritual leader; Paddy Ryan is recovering from his decapitation and should be fit enough to line out once his head is fully sewn back on. Dhá lámh! Réalt Dearg team: Gary Thompson, Kevin McEvoy, Ross Kelly, Gavin Deacon, Domhnaill Carberry (c), Eoin Ryan, Mick Butler, Cillian Thornton, Ruairi Henchy, Paddy Ryan II, Ray Cahill, David Lynch, Gary Walsh, Dave Sheehan Subs: James Brooks, Michael Gavin, Leon Flanagan, Peter McElhone
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