This game was the first that was played behind closed doors with only 22 people from the club in attendance. This, unfortunately, is perhaps the only reason that this game will be remembered. Going into the game, we would very much have been considered underdogs against the side that has won this particular championship over the past two seasons. They also had a game under their belts with a big first round win over Rathpeacon while we have struggled to put a team together. We were short many players for this game that would have made a big difference – to the score line and even possibly the result. We had 17 players ready for action. They played with tremendous heart – particularly at the back where John ‘Connell, Padraig Murnane, Sean O’Gorman, all over 40 years of age , gave inspired performances that belied their age. Richie Sherlock, getting married in two weeks, Derek O’Connor and Marc Biggins made up the defensive unit and all played impressively to keep the previously free-scoring Michaels forwards to just five first half points and no goal chances at all during the game.

At the other end of the field we were not as effective. We did have two goal chances in the first half and were particularly unlucky to see one effort rebound off the inside of the post. We needed this to go in our favour and it did not. In the second half we had even fewer chances though the inspirational John O’Connell did manage to get our only score of that half from centre back. Having so few players available to substitute in and out did not help our cause against a well organised St Michaels outfit. The effort by all present was honest but we were not good enough on the day and after just one game, our football season is over.

Team: Michael Osborne, Sean O’Gorman, Derek O’Connor, Marc Biggins, Padraig Murnane, John O’Connell, Richie Sherlock, Seamus Quinlan, Cathal Quinlan, Cathal O’Flynn, Aidan O’Neill, Shane Twomey, Sean Twomey, Ruairi Murnane, Cormac O’Flynn. Subs David Hyde and Paul O’Donovan