Pearses 1-10 Craughwell 1-3: Report by Martina Donnellan. The sun shone like never before yesterday evening, and it proved the perfect backdrop for an extremely successful Monday evening of hurling. The players loved it, the mentors loved it, the parents loved it … and to crown it all a 7 point victory over Craughwell in Round 2 of the U13B Championship in Ballymacward yesterday evening started the week off well. Pearses were made work for their victory and emerged 1-10 to 1-3 victors in a tough, hard fought game.
Jason Rabbitte had Pearses off the mark with 3 points in quick succession. His first after David Walsh’s good clearance down the sideline found Orin Burke who fed Rabbitte and although his marker got the first touch, he stole the ball as good as any robber, throttled forward and through over with relative ease. Rabbitte added another point after Ronan Hynes and Burke were involved in the move and his 3rd came after Dara Scarry in the corner crossed to him and his smashing effort looked to be tailing wide but with not the slightest breeze in the world to help it, it curled inside the right upright for a splendid score.
Craughwell pointed a free to get them off the mark. The ref called a water break midway through the half given the intense heat which gave a slight reprieve to the players. Orin Burke was just wide with a free after Ronan Hynes was fouled but made amends shortly afterwards as he duly tapped over after he himself was fouled. Craughwell responded with a point from play after a good run through the middle of the field.
Cillian Fahy had Pearses firmly in the driving seat as he raised a green flag towards the end of the opening half when he whipped on a high ball sent into the danger area by Rabbitte. Rabbitte had the final say before the interval as Jonah Donnellan’s line ball found Rabbitte who took his score splendidly from a long distance out to leave the half time score: Pearses 1-5; Craughwell 0-2.
Jason Rabbitte continued his scoring form as Donnellan and Fahy linked up to set up Rabbitte for his 5th point from play. Craughwell dragged themselves back into the game as the Pearses defence were a little hesitant in clearing the ball and as it bobbled around in front of goal, it was whipped to the net and took Pearses off cruise control, but only momentarily. Cillian Fahy put Pearses back in gear as he added a point which involved a litany of players, Dara Scarry, Rabbitte and Anthony Feeney and finished by Fahy.
Anthony Feeney’s courageous block-down led to a foul on Jason Rabbitte and he made no mistake in tapping over the free himself. It was 1-8 to 1-2 with Pearses in charge when the ref called another much needed water break. One would be forgiven for thinking this game was in the Canaries such was the intense heat.
Following the resumption, Cillian Fahy added a brace of points; his first came from a line ball from Donnellan to Fahy who played David Walsh in the corner. As Walsh drew 3 players on him, it freed up Fahy who received the return pass from Walsh and he made no mistake right in front of the posts. Fahy caught the resultant puck out to put it straight over to keep the Craughwell custodian busy. Craughwell got their 3rd point, their 2nd from play in a good effort from close range. The last few minutes saw trojan pressure from Craughwell as they sought hard to reduce the deficit.
Cormac Hillary deflected a bullet of an effort out wide, Conor Hillary who had replaced Ronan Hynes at half time due to a knee injury, averted another goal attempt while Paddy Kenny got his hurl to a 21’ free in the closing stages to also deflect it out wide. However Pearses defence stood firm as the game petered out to finish with an emphatic Pearses win on a scoreline: Pearses 1-10; Craughwell 1-3. So 2 wins out of 2 as Pearses U13’s were the hungrier side all through and put some flowing moves together. Next up is Sylane next week who beat Skehana/Mountbellew/Moylough also by 7 points yesterday eve.
Scorers: Jason Rabbitte 0-6 (0-1F); Orin Burke 0-1 (F); Cillian Fahy 1-3.
Panel: Harry Mitchell, Oliver Laheen, Conor Kelly, David Walsh, Jack Reilly, Paddy Kenny, Cormac Hillary, Jonah Donnellan, Orin Burke, Jason Rabbitte, Anthony Feeney, Ronan Hynes, Cillian Fahy, Darragh Roche, Dara Scarry, Conor Hillary, Padraig Kelly, Cathal Hynes, Dillon Roche, Diarmuid Ryan, Jamie Nutley, Ross Lally and James Queeney.