unior B Championship: Drimnagh Castle, 22 April 2018
Réalt Dearg 2-22 v 0-7 O’Tooles The official record will show that this was Réalt Dearg’s first foray into the Dublin Junior B championship. A particularly robust challenge from (redacted by club counsel) ensured that a premature end was put to proceedings in Cloghran on the previous Tuesday evening. The club would like to extend its well wishes to Whitehall for the speedy recovery of their stricken full-forward and look forward to acquaintances being renewed when the game is refixed. No doubt though that the Men in Black were about to embark on a perfectly-timed comeback to gain a maiden victory when the tardy responsiveness of the North Dublin ambulance service was put to the test in the fading spring light. Any questions or queries as to the nature of the events which are alleged to have occurred or indeed not to have occured that evening can be directed to the appropriate legal representatives. So with no more to be said about all that, attention turned to Drimnagh on Sunday morning where the Stars men were scheduled to entertain O’Tooles...and what brilliant entertainment it proved to be in the end. But it so very nearly was another false dawn. A gloriously bright early spring morning awaited all who attended Drimnagh Castle for the 11 am start. That said, it looked like patrons would be disappointed as only ten O’Tooles men had arrived by the scheduled throw-in time. Pre-match entertainment had to be confined to the home dressing room. Ciaran Gough’s utter perplexion at being informed he had contacted management to say he wasn’t able to attend drew considerable mirth - even requiring a consult of his own phone to confirm his own recollection of events. Mossy O’Mahoney’s homage to John McEnroe sporting a fetching white headband was also noteworthy. His ability to take part being questioned drew the inevitable “you cannot be serious” response. 5 stitches a mere flesh wound to the lion-hearted Wexfordman. Frantic phone calls and consultation of Dublin championship bye-laws took place to consider contingencies. They just about had their desired effect as at precisely 11:27, with three minutes to spare, fifteen bodies were rustled up to take on the RD challenge. The Stars men did not take too kindly to the delayed start. Pent up energy from an extended pre-match stay in the dressing room, and an equally extended warm-up which ensured limber bodies and sharp minds meant the Stars were in the mood to quickly vanquish the motley crew assembled to take them on. Playing into the strong and freshening breeze, Réalt Dearg started in whirlwind fashion. The late-arriving Northsiders were not allowed settle into their surroundings with any degree of comfort. The return of the fleet-footed Conor Maharaj to the starting lineup added much needed thrust and guile to the stars attack. On the opposite wing, Podge Buckley’s direct running caused endless problems for the O’Tooles’ rearguard. Buckley would end the day with three points to his credit, all of which could have been three-pointers with a little luck and a slight recalibration of trajectory, the efforts combining for a net total of approximately seven inches over the crossbar. Indeed, Buckley’s route one running directly resulted in the big score of the first half with a well timed lay-off creating a gilt-edged chance for Jamie O’Hara which was..ahem..”clinically” executed. The Stars 1-7 to 0-3 lead at half-time was largely the result of exceptional workrate all through the team, with the half back line proving to be virtually impervious to any pressure from the O’Tooles men. A particular highlight was David O’Connell’s flagrant pilfering of the sliothar off an opponent while mid solo, just one example of a typically combative display from DOC. Paudie O’Regan at midfield getting his first competitive outing in Drimnagh Castle put in a equally robust showing linking defence and attack, while also getting on the scoresheet in an all-action display. Any hopes the O’Tooles men had of a comeback were swiftly snuffed out within seconds of the restart. Tom Kehoe, laser-like in his free-taking all day, most certainly picked his spot from all of 50 yards out to raise RD’s second green flag of the day. A barrage of points from Maharaj, Jamie O’Hara and Robbie Madden quickly followed such that the white flag of surrender was beginning to be raised by the opposition. Indeed such was the ferocity of the Stars attack, the back four were merely spectators for much of the second half. Colm Gahan, making his debut in goal was not required to touch the ball from play throughout the game, maybe just as well for the O'Toole's men. So a first Junior B victory in the bag for the Stars men, maintaining an undefeated start to the season in competitive action. That said, sterner tests await. No added incentive is required for the next day out as we head to Shanganagh Park to take on last year’s county final opponent’s Cuala. Réalt Dearg A: Colm Gahan, Mike Richardson, Cathal Hester, Brian Gavin, David O’Connell, Niall Mullane, Tomas O’Mahoney, Brendan Walsh, Paudie O’Regan, Conor Maharaj, Ciarán Gough, Podge Buckley, Jamie O’Hara, Tom Kehoe, Robbie Madden Ronan Keane
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Junior F Championship at Silverpark 22 April 2018
Kilmacud Crokes 4-12 v Realt Dearg 2-7 1986 was a wonderful year for hurling lovers. Tipperary crashed out of the championship at the first hurdle, Cyril Farrell bamboozled Kilkenny with his 2 man full forward line and laid the foundation for Galway's 2-in-a-row, and Jimmy Barry Murphy put a fitting cap on his career with a 6th All-Ireland medal. 86's greatest contribution to our ancient game, however, may have remained hidden for some 32 years. For while Joe Cooney was romancing the ball to the Kilkenny net and Kevin Hennessy was leading Cork to the promised land, that hurling hotbed of San Diego was welcoming it's newest resident, a baby by the name of Eric Lee. Having taken his time to find his true calling, the Californian was given his bow by manager Kevin McEvoy just 3 weeks after showing up in Drimnagh Castle, and wasted no time in making his mark on the scoreboard. No doubt directed by Kev to keep it Cali and Snoop around the small square, Eric's finish was as cool as Ice Cube when the Kilmacud keeper dropped it like it was hot after a hopefully early ball in. Buoyed by Eric's Hollywood introduction (sorry Ronan), RD made use of the wind with Ruairi Henchy and the evergreen Caoimhin Concannon leading the charge down the middle of the attack. The Clareman found his range after an early wide to finish with 0-3 from play, while the Kilmacudians struggled throughout to cope with his driving runs from the 40. Caoimhin added a nice score from a tight angle, one of 5 players ensuring the California of Europe was well represented throughout the team, with a Galway man in every line as the county emerges from it's Liam MacCarthy induced beer coma. Abbeyknockmoy man Finbarr Conroy coped excellently when thrown in at the deep end, a welcome addition to the club's no.3 depth chart in the face of a certain Kilkenny man's inevitable suspension. Fellow Westerner Cillian Thorton continues to grow into the captaincy, combining Gearoid McInerney's catches and rampaging runs with Gearoid McInerney's struggles in actually getting a strike away. Flanked by Gavin Deacon and James Brooks and aided by battling wing backs Kev McEvoy and Dave Lynch, Kilmacud were kept at bay aside from an excellent catch and turn by a nippy corner forward which gave the ever vocal Bernard no chance in goal. The remainder of the half was back and forth, Henchy keeping the scoreboard ticking over from placed balls, and even your humble scribe managing to get on the scoresheet when intercepting a horrendous short puck-out. Alas it was to be this reporter's last meaningful contribution as a questionable challenge left Realt Dearg with a one armed midfielder shunted into the corner and this match report to be typed one handed. The trio of debutants was completed by the more mobile of the midfield partnership, Ballygunner man Declan O'Beirne mopping up endless ball and keeping the Kilmacud half back line honest by driving forward and finding his forwards with quality ball throughout. Coach McEvoy returned to the juke box at half time, the San Diego Song continuing with Eric's move to the half forward line, as he proved they can catch more than waves in his part of the world with his impressive aerial skills. And McEvoy's men were given real hope when a brilliant catch and turn by Caoimhin opened up Kilmacud once more and he blasted to the net. As the wind picked up however, Kilmacud managed to get on top again, despite the RD half back line bravely putting their hands up repeatedly to take short puck outs and ease the pressure as Bernard faced into the teeth of the gale. Their best efforts were undone, however, in the space of 3 second half minutes, as two momentary lapses were punished with goals to leave a real mountain to climb. But this game was not another to be thrown onto the pile of second half collapses for this team, the scoreline very harsh in the end with Kilmacud's goal leading a charmed life in the dying minutes, excellent pressure from the full back line ultimately smothering efforts from Leon and Caoimhin in a frantic last 10. All in all an encouraging performance for the Cs, who with a little luck would have been right in the game at the death. Although overshadowed by the club's first check-in at the Hotel California, Finbarr and Declan proved priceless additions in problem positions, while the additional games in Junior F this year leave more wiggle room than last year's 4 team group. Next up is Na Gaeil Oga on Thursday week, stayed tuned as I try Tupac even more California references into a match report. Réalt Dearg: Bernard Herlihy, Gavin Deacon, Finbarr Conroy, James Brooks, Kev McEvoy, Cillian Thorton (c), Dave Lynch, Gary Walsh (0-1), Declan O'Beirne, Leon Flanagan, Ruairi Henchy (0-5, 2 frees), Brian Finn, Eric Lee (1-0), Caoimhin Concannon (1-1), Niall Heavey. |
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December 2018
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