The Senior Hurlers started their league campaign with a 9-point away win against Ard Eoin at Fennell Park on Wed.
We started brightly and had three points on the board in the first ten minutes with Gerard Burns opening the scoring and two (one a free) from Stephen McGivern. Enjoying possession in most areas of the pitch, we had chances to to add to the lead but hit several several wides from distance and close range. We did tag on another point from the hard working Sean Smyth before some sloppy defending saw Ardoyne back in the game with a goal, after they reacted quicker to a loose ball in around the square following the initial save from Davy Gray.
Points were then exchanged at either end, Michael Brady taking an accurate, driven point from around the ’45 and although we again missed a few more scoring chances, we finished the half strongly with a further three points; Sean Smyth (his second) and Paul McGivern both scoring from open play and another long range free from Stephen McGivern to lead 0-8 to 1-1 at the break.
We started the second half as we finished the first. Points from Sean Smyth and Martin Mooney, who collected the ball in midfield and stormed through, shifting some heavy tackles to take a well earned score, put us six in front. The team played with more composure and with closer marking they hassled and hurried Ard Eoin, putting them off their stride and restricting them to efforts from further out the field.
Stephen McGivern’s fourth score (a free) was quickly followed by a Kevin McGrattan point, his first touch shortly after coming on as a sub as we stretched our lead; a reflection of the dominance and posssession we enjoyed. With Martin Mooney and Paul McGivern controlling midfield, two further points from play through Sean Og Prenter and Stephen McGivern (taking his tally to five) put the result beyond doubt with ten minutes remaining
With Miceal O’Brien leading the line, some smart and skillful defending quickly snubbed out a couple of goal chances for the home side in the closing minutes, although they added a second point just before the whistle to leave the final score 0-14 to 1-2.
Not having played in a few weeks, our touch was at times rusty but improved as the game went on and with Gary Bergin and Miceal O’Brien in defence, Shiner Mooney in the middle and Stephen McGivern and Sean Smyth up front in fine form, they created the platform for a hard working and determined team performance with more postives than negatives to take from the game
