Our first “home” game, played on an excellent surface at the Dub, brought another defeat, but was closer than the final score reflected.
With such a big squad and with a few injuries, we rotated the starting 15 from the trip to Newry. The visitors took the lead after 7 minutes and were soon three points ahead before we took our first score after a number of earlier wides. We restricted the young Emmets’ chances from further outfield and they did hit another point from distance whilst we knocked a few wide again. As half time approached, Davy Gray at full stretch, deflected a goalbound effort away to the wing and safety. Our second point of the game left us trailing at the break; 0-2 to 0-5
We took the next point of the game early in the second half and were enjoying an equal share of possession as we set about clawing back the deficit. Again, as with the previous game another soft goal, quickly followed by two points left us feeling frustrated and sorry for ourselves. We lost our focus and confidence and with Davy Gray forced into a great stop, we shook off our lethargy and matched the visitors in many positions across the park.
Some clever short game hurling earned us a couple of points and got us to within 5. We let a possible goal chance go begging when we couldn’t make use of a loose ball in the Emmets’ ’14 which they cleared before disaster struck. We were left exposed at the back from a cross field pass and conceded a second goal from out on the left which put the game beyond us.
A few more scores were registered at both ends before referee Mark O’Neill blew for full time.
