Last Wednesday May 13th, The St Brendan’s Hurlers, sponsored by Bodibro, put there on field problems behind them for just one evening when facing St Judes, in Go Ahead AHL7.
Up to that point, the Dark Force had lost all 4 matches so far in the year. But, for just one evening in Longmeadows, the team finally put a win on the board by defeating St Judes by six points, 2-18 to 1-15.
Brian Dolan had a great game, scoring 1-6, Tom Kiely was on fire with his free in’s scoring 7 free’s out of 7. Pa Carey and Rob O’Hanrahan both scored 3 points, even half backs Pa Dowd and Aaron Gaul got on the scoresheet with 2 and 1 points respectively.
The Wexican Oisin Carley was outstanding at full back and Fergus O’Regan produced a brilliant save that was as good, if not spectacular, as the save Clare’s Mark Sheedy produced in the penalty shoot out in the Munster Under 20 Hurling final that same evening, even that save appeared on ESPN!
With a win finally on the board, the Hurlers travelled to Farnham Drive in Finglas for a Round 6 fixture against Erins Isle. However, only 15 players were available.
The heavens opened in abundance during the warm up, however, the match itself was played in sunshine, but a slippery slioter and underfoot conditions, made things difficult for both sides.
After the home side took the lead after 90 seconds, Tom Kiely scored a free in after a foul on Michael ‘Bruno Fernandes’ Harte. Another Erins Isle point followed, but Brian Dolan made it a Desmond with a long range shot over the bar.
St Brendan’s took the lead 3 points to 2 thanks to a Joseph O’Connor point from play after good work from Jack ‘The Relegator’ McCarron. That became 5 points to 2 after Kiely continued his free in scoring form with a brace of free in’s.
16:04 gone and Aaron Gaul got on the scoresheet for the second consecutive match with a point from play after a turnover from Matthew McGlynn. The lead became 4 points when McCarron pounced on a loose slioter and passed to Kiely, who was on his knees to pass to Brian Dolan to make it 0-7 to 0-3.
Erins Isle hit three points on the spin and Liam Kennedy had a chance for a goal but his shot was saved for a 65, which O’Hanrahan converted to make it 0-8 to 0-6. But then Erins Isle suddenly woke up and realised they were in a contest, and hit a rasping shot that Fergus O’Regan had no chance to save and into the net.
Dolan was in for goal, but three Erins Isle backs got back to deny him a chance to shoot for goal and got penalised for overcarrying, the resultant free out was worked in and a second Erins Isle goal to lead at half time 2-8 to 0-8.
Whatever was put into Erins Isle’s half time water/Red Bull/Lucazade Sport had the desired effect as they hit 1-2 in the opening two minutes to effectively put the contest to bed.
St Brendan’s heads were down and despite a glimmer of hope with Eoin ‘Quinn Roux’ Fallon hitting a goal after 40 minutes, Matthew McGlynn limped off injured and the team played with 14 men for the rest of the contest.
Erins Isle ran rampant and had 4-20 on the board going into injury time and hit, what they thought was, their fifth goal. The exuberating nature of the celebrations for that goal was short lived when the referee spotted a foul in the build up and disallowed the goal, but still won on a final score of 4-20 to 1-8.
As disappointing a defeat it was for St Brendan’s, who now have a May 27th fixture against high flying table toppers Kilcoole to contend with next time.
Hang on, Kilcoole? From Wicklow? What are they doing in a Dublin Hurling League? Don’t ask me!
