St Brendans2:06 Kevin Lynch’s (Dungiven) 1:01 (20TH June 2009)
This was an excellent performance in challenging scoring conditions. St Brendans were without a number of players including Rónán Ó Máirtín (two broken hands, quad), Donn Ó Faoláin (broken hand,) Niall MacEachmharcaigh (hip), Connlaoth Gould (leg) and Séamas ‘James’ Ó Duifín (sunburn in Galway). In contrast Kevin Lynch’s brought along twenty three young men to play hard and manly, and that they did (fairly). With a bare fifteen U14s and the super sub (Caolán ó Maoláin) St Brendans blocked, hooked, broke ball and challenged as if their lives depended on it.
The hosts started the stronger and the first point was registered within three minutes when storming Aindriú Mac Giolla put the sliothar into the corner for Eoin Mag Aoidh to chase and he fired over from an impossible angle (five yards from the end line and out on the sideline ‘Cargan Stand’ side). Next up it was Gáiréad Mac Eoghain’s turn to place a sliothar into the path of the man with the midas touch and from an acute angle this time on the ‘Martinstown Stand’ side he dissected the uprights. St Brendans were now passing the sliothar well, finding their men and getting to the action first. Seven minutes gone and Seán de Phíopa breaks the ball to the advancing Seán Mac Canna who left his man for dead and riffled over the bar from 45 yards out. Entering the second quarter Cathair Mac Lochlainn in his first league start of the season came on to a low raking ball, turned his marker and put the sliothar over Kevin Lynch’s bar, the forwards were on fire. Then the best move of the match a mopping up clearance from Feidhlim Ó Duifín was added to by brother Séamas, Seán Mac Giolla Ruaidh pick and flicked to Eoin Mag Aoidh (Goldfinger) who soloed forward and pick his spot in the goal at the Ballsallagh end. Shell shocked Kevin Lynch’s had hardly recovered when Cathair Mac Lochlainn nailed home after the Mac Eoghain cousins sucked in the opposition to leave Seán de Phíopa in space. He raised the sliothar and put Cathair in for a well taken goal. Nineteen minutes gone and St Brendans pressed for more scores Dónal Ó hEara fired over a 65 to end the half St Brendans 2:05 Kevin Lynch’s 0:00. The second half was a much closer affair with the breeze picking up Kevin Lynch’s used this to their advantage, raining in high balls on top of St Brendans back three. With six minutes of the second half gone it finally paid off when a goal mouth scramble saw the umpire raise the green flag, game on. Two minutes later young Niall O’Neill of Kevin Lynch’s closed the gap to seven points with an excellent point from 30 yards out. St Brendans found the going tough but a great individual point from Seán Mac Canna into what now was becoming a stiff wind settled the match as a contest. Although the forwards were in tremendous scoring form every member of the St Brendans team were awesome. Special mention must go to ever reliable netkeeper Piaras Ó Báinín, tight as fiddle strings full back-line Dónal Mac Ainmhire, Feidhlim Ó Duifín, Mícheál Ó Duinn the most dependable halfbacks Seán Mag Fhearraigh, Dónal Ó hEara, Séamas Ó Duifín, midfield tormenting engines Conor Mac Eoghain and Aindriú Mac Giolla, (replacement Caolán ó Maoláin - 25th minute) the scintillating three quarters Seán Mac Canna, Gáiréad Mac Eoghain, Seán Mac Giolla Ruaidh and the fantastic full-forward line Seán de Phíopa, Eoin Mag Aoidh and Cathair Mac Lochlainn. The tackles from Kevin Lynch’s were typical of a strong Derry team but as a team St Brendans went into every tackle full heartedly, they met force with force, they stood up and were counted, and they showed no mercy and were given no mercy. A third period was played between the two teams to allow Kevin Lynch replacements match time, this was a more even contest with St Brendans and Kevin Lynch’s both getting on the score board, Benny’s coming out slightly on top (wind assisted) 1:03 to 0:01.
Congratulations to Seán Mac Canna who broke the 100m record at Garron Tower, the record stood for some number of years.
St Brendans Team:- Pearse Bannon, Daniel McConvrey, Phelim Duffin, Michael Dunne, Jack McGarry, Donal O’Hara, Seamas Duffin, Andy McLarnon, Conor McKeown, Sean McCann, Gareth McKeown, Sean MCElroy, Jonathan Fyfe, Eoin Magee, Cahir McLaughlin, Caolan Mullan.