Colmcille’s and Watergrasshill played out a very entertaining hurling league game in Carraig Na Bhfear on Monday night last (31/03). Charlie Horgan, who was a powerhouse at center-forward all evening, opened the scoring with a pointed free which was quickly cancelled out by a free at the other end. Alex Sheehan got the opening goal for Colmcille’s when he cut in along the end line to bat the ball to the net. Tadgh McCarthy then got a superb goal for the ‘Hill as he soloed through the home-side’s defense before driving the ball into the roof of the net. They followed this up with three pointed frees as Watergrasshill asserted themselves into the game.
However, between the 14th and 21st minutes, this tie turned decisively in favour of Colmcille’s. The next three scores all raised green flags with Martin Cotter and Evan O’Leary (two) finishing from close range to give the unfortunate Gearoid Fitzgerald in the Hill goal no chance. Alex Sheehan and Charlie Horgan added more points from frees before half time to leave the visitors rattled and, crucially, trailing on a 4-04 to 1-05 scoreline.
Though leading by eight points at half time, the game was far from over. Watergrasshill with Tadgh McCarthy and Matthew Cooney in their forward line, were always going to pose a threat and set about slowly getting back into the game. Though McCarthy did get one goal (cancelled out by Martin Cotter’s second goal at the other end), efforts at getting another major to really create a nervous finish for the home-side were repelled by strong defensive unit where Cárthach Kelleher (in goal), Darragh O’Driscoll (full-back) and Alan Murphy provided a formidable spine.
Once Colmcille’s took the lead in that crucial second quarter, they never relinquished, or indeed relented, and they ran out deserving five point winners.
Team
1 – Cárthach Kelleher
2 – Cian Barry
3 – Darragh O Driscoll
4 – Josh Varley
5 – Ronan Aherne
6 – Alan Murphy
7 – Dillon Manley
8 – Tom O’Sullivan
9 – Alex Sheehan (1-01)
10 – Fachtna Kelleher (0-01)
11 – Charlie Horgan (0-07, 5 frees)
12 – Tom Collins
13 – Evan O Leary (2-01)
14 – Martin Cotter (2-00)
15 – Cillian Burns
SUBS USED: Tadgh Harden, Sam Dunne