Pearses 0-10 Kinvara 2-4: This Junior B Semi-Final, switched from Loughrea to Carnmore yesterday morning, was played in persistent rain throughout. Pearses looked to have the edge until the 42nd minute, when a second Kinvara goal gave them the lead for the first time. Pearses recovered to retake the lead, but Kinvara earned a second day out with the last puck of the game.
Two Lee Murphy pointed frees gave Pearses 0-2 to 0-0 lead after three minutes. Kinvara responded with points from Mark Kavanagh and David Huban. Some scoring chances went astray on both sides and as the rain worsened, it took another 10 minutes for the next point, Lee Murphy again. Four further points for Pearses (Morrissey, Murphy, Oandamp;rsquo;Grady, Donnellan) in a seven minute burst, opened a five point lead, 0-7 to 0-2. Then a Kinvara lifeline in the 30th minute, a goal to get them back in the game. Half-time: Pearses 0-7 Kinvara 1-2.
The rain showed no sign of easing off for the second half and as result another ten minute scoreless spell just after half time. David Huban for Kinvara and Conor Oandamp;rsquo;Grady swapped points, before Kinvara goaled again to go in front. Pearses responded well and hit the next two scores (Murphy frees) to lead 0-10 to 2-3, with six minutes left. Pearses missed some chances to extend the lead, before Kinvara earned a scoreable free on the left side in the 30th minute. The free dropped short and a Pearses looked to have cleared the danger. However, another free in was awarded, on the right, with Mark Kavanagh slotting it over to send the game to a replay. Details of the replay to be confirmed.
Pearses: P Hillary; J Jenkins, P Raftery, A Naughton; B Egan, D Wynne, P Lally; N Skehill, P Moore; L Murphy (0-6), L Morrissey (0-1), K Beckett; C Oandamp;rsquo;Grady (0-2), R Donnellan (0-1), D Kelly, Subs used: Robbie Lally, R Skehill, G Hennelly, A Burke.