Réalt Dearg A 1-18 v 0-16 St Vincents
Páirc Naomh Uinsinn, 8 April 2017 Saint Vincents welcomed the Stars men to a gloriously sunny Marino on Friday evening in the next chapter of the 2017 AHL5 tale. The club with 41 Dublin Senior titles to their credit going toe to toe with the club without a championship trophy at any level (yet..). A true David v Goliath match-up if ever there was one. Having wandered for almost forty days in the desert of defeat in this league season, a victory here was paramount to avoid giving into the temptation of accepting we might not belong in this illustrious company. But this was a good Friday evening for the Stars. The transfiguration from discombobulated, disjointed, directionless individuals to a cohesive, connected collection had a profound impact on the team’s performance. Even within this spirit of community, the power of transcendence can be achieved. Jamie O’Hara, Moses-like parting of the seas in the opening stanza showing the road to enlightenment. Yours truly ascending to the heavens to pluck the sliothar from the sky performing a minor miracle (failed a repeat performance moments later, a mere mortal after all). The evening might have provided the first glimpse of our Irish summer but this was still early April. Twilight descending rapidly, the referee called out for some illumination. “Let there be light” he cajoled of the Vincents officials...the floodlights turned on...and there was light. Proceedings a little clearer but the result still in doubt - the engagement toing and froing into a epic battle. Like David found out all those years ago, Goliath is a difficult foe. Nothing was going to be achieved easily here. Half-time offering some brief respite but the score deadlocked at 10 apiece. Some divine inspiration needed to get the victory. The second half was where the Stars men wrote the new testament of their hurling year. Not yet the greatest story ever told but a glorious refrain nonetheless. Fabled performances.. like Matt Lynch appearing to walk on water having time and space in a disintegrating battlefield, Conor Maharaj ceremonially leading the crusade into the heart of Marino, Eoin O’Dwyer omnipresent under the dropping ball. O’Dwyer knew what he was doing (like Tom Humphries did the devil). JB and Hesty ushering attackers from the danger-zone with a righteous anger like the Messiah clearing the traders from the Temple, Paul Warren being flogged in midfield but undaunted, coming back for more, you’ll have to knock him more than three times. The Vincents men coming forward in waves but crashing on the seashore of the Stars defence, disciples of Brendan Walsh’s defensive coaching. In the midst of the tempest, Martin Murphy offering some Christian charity bounce-passing his penalty into the welcome arms of the goalkeeper. No matter, Murphy atoned for his sin with an almost spiritual over-the-shoulder effort. New recruit Robbie Madden led us to the promised land. A beautiful work of art controlling and striking the sliothar in one graceful movement without the need to handle the ball. An Abraham-like knife to the heart of the Vincents men. Goliath was down. David had again won the day. The Stars men victoriously heralded back into the AHL5 fold on this Palm Sunday weekend. An important post-script though is that the glory of Palm Sunday did not last long for Our Lord. No doubt, Cuala, like the Roman centurions of old are waiting for their opportunity to crucify us. The possibility of ascending to greatness is ours to grasp. Unwavering faith and belief will be key to achieving that goal. Réalt Dearg: Gary Hurney, Mossy O’Connor, Cathal Hester, Brian Gavin, Eoin O’Dwyer, John Barry, Mike O’Connor, Paul Warren, Dave Berney, Martin Murphy, Matt Lynch, Conor Maharaj, Jamie O’Hara, Colm Gahan, Robbie Madden Colm O’Gorman, Stephen O’Leary, Padraig Buckley, Ultan Dillon, Stephen Casey, Mike Richardson
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