This was a dress rehearsal for the forthcoming Junior Hurling Championship tie at Casement Park in August and at the final whistle the teams could not be separated. This augers well for an entertaining encounter in a couple of weeks time. Both teams will be pleased with certain aspects of their game but not others and no doubt the championship tie will bring out the best in both teams.
We controlled the early part of the first half opening up a 0-6 to 0-2 advantage but a St Agnes goal reduced the deficit to a point before we finished strongly to lead 0-9 to 1-4. Our scorers in the first half were Stephen McGivern 0-5, Sean Smith 0-1, Paul McGivern 0-1, Jim Davis 0-1 and Gary Dunlop 0-1.
St Agnes had a dream start to the second half with a brace of goals followed by a point which put them in front for the first time in the match, however we battled hard to tie the game midway through the half 0-15 to 3-6. A blasted 21 yard St Agnes free hit the net and was followed by a point leaving us four points in arrears with time ticking away. Stephen McGivern then stepped up to drive a fierce free to the back of the net and from the ensuing puck out he added another point to tie up the game. Second half scores came from Stephen McGivern 1-4, Jim Davis 0-2 and Sean Smith 0-1.
Special mention to Jim Davis who assumed a forwards role on the day and he duly responded with 0-3. Other performances of note came from Stephen McGivern, Paul McGivern, Rory McEvoy, Liam McHugh and Sean Smith.
