On Wednesday June 24th, The St Brendan’s Hurlers, sponsored by Bodibro, travelled to The Bogies in Cabra in a bid to stave off relegation from PTSB AHL 7 and recorded the second win of the League with an emphatic 1-21 to 1-9 victory over the bottom placed Naomh Fionnbarra. 

Unfortunately, 4 days later, only 12 Hurlers were available for the final PTSB AHL 7 fixture of the year against Naomh Mearnóg, Liam Nagle from the Footballers chipped in to ensure that fixture went ahead in Longmeadows as a 13 a side match. 

Playing with the wind blowing into the Garda Boat Club end of Longmeadows, The Portmarnock based outfit racked up a score of 2-9 in the second half. In return, The 13 men Dark Force only managed three points, the first from Daniel ‘Ginger’ McCarthy at 9:45. Two minutes later, Jack ‘The Relegator’ McCarron got point number 2 after a clearance from The Wexican Oisin Carley.  

After Mearnóg hit their 9th point, another shot was correctly predicted by the Mearnóg player would hit the upright 3 seconds before it eventually did and cleared by Fergus ‘Fulham’ O’Regan and in the end, Eoin ‘Quinn Roux’ Fallon notched up the third point to make it 2-9 to 0-3 at half time. 

Now, you might think that St Brendan’s would accept their relegation fate and finish the contest on a whimper. 

Again, you’re wrong! 

In Fact, St Brendan’s were only getting going, with Junior C Championship right around the corner. 

But first, Naomh Mearnóg got their third goal to end the game as a contest, 3-12 to 0-3. 

Then St Brendan’s got going when McCarthy caught O’Regan’s long puck out, turned and puc over the bar for point number 4. A minute later, the same trick was played, this time it was Liam Kennedy with the point after collecting O’Regans puck out. Tom Kiely made it 0-6 after collecting Broderick’s side line cut and puck over the bar. Broderick himself scored from play to make it 0-7 and then converted a 65 to make it 0-8 after a Fallon shot was saved for 65. 

Broderick made it a hat trick of points with another point from play after a pass from McCarthy. 

The trick of Route One Hurling was made for a third time with Kennedy collected O’Regans puc out and this time went on a solo run and hit the back of the Naomh Mearnóg not to make it 1-9. 

And I thought this game was over as a contest! 

And it looked that the contest was back on with Kennedy pucing another point after The Dream Maker Sean Dardis won a turnover from corner back, 3-15 to 1-10 with 19 minutes to go. That became 1-11 with McCarron on the scoresheet with a shot from 40 meters. 

After a brace of points from the away side. Michael ‘Bruno Fernandes’ Harte played a good ball aimed towards McCarthy, but the slioter bounces over his head, then bounced over the Mearnóg goalkeepers head for the most unlikely of goals. We’ll take them nonetheless, 3-17 to 2-11 with 8 minutes to go. 

But as soon as St Brendan’s got themselves back in the contest, Naomh Mearnóg promptly ended all hope of a win with a fourth goal. Liam Nagle then made his presence felt with a point of his own to make it 2-12. 

Eoin Fallon had a shot that went wide, but then won the puck out himself and redeemed himself with a long distance point. Broderick made the most of the strong breeze by guiding his shot over the bar from 75 meters. 

Despite the defeat, it was a truly entertaining second half that will give the Hurlers much belief that they will give this year’s Junior C Championship a damn good rattle, starting in three week’s time with a home fixture against Fingallians. 

Final score from Longmeadows: St Brendan’s 2-14 Naomh Mearnóg 4-21.