The senior hurlers picked up their first points of the league campaign with a hard fought and and well deserved win away to Naomh Bríd at Musgrave Park with three first half goals paving the foundation for the win.
We picked of the opening 3 scores with points from Stephen McGivern and 2 converted 65s from Chris Gallagher. However, Naomh Bríd clawed their way back into the game as they reeled off 5 consecutive points including a nice point, when the sliotar broke in front of the large square as was thrashed over the bar. Both teams traded points from frees (Sean Smyth) and when the sliotar was fed into the square, Anthony Rowntree flicked to the net for the opening goal to put us in front by the minimum. Another Sean Smyth point from 45 metres extended the lead and we pushed further ahead with a goal and a point from Stephen McGivern and a long range point from Chris Gallagher. Naomh Bríd responded with a pointed free before the industrious Sean Smyth flicked the sliotar past his man, jab lifted before sending it over the bar. Good work from Deaglan Mooney and Anthony Rowntree then gave Stephen McGivern the chance for his second goal and he obliged. The half ended with with both sides trading points and we went in with a handy advantage.
Both teams cancelled each other out in the second half. Sean Smyth opened the scoring with a well taken point and from there both teams matched each other on a point for point basis. Sean Smyth added a further 0-4 to his personal tally, the pick of these after great battling from Deaglan Mooney to win possession and deliver a pass to Chris Gallagher who picked out Sean with pinpoint accuracy and he did the needful, with Cormac Maguire and Stephen McGivern also contributing. At the final whistle the difference between the teams came down to the goals and we had secured our first win of the season.
Scorers: Stephen McGivern 2-3, Chris Gallagher 0-3, Sean Smyth 0-9, Anthony Rowntree 1-0, and Cormac Maguire 0-1
Click on the album below for additional photos of the game.
