Pearses 3-7 Skehana 2-2: Local derbies always have a bit of a bite to them and this wasn’t going to be any different as Skehana made the short trip to Ballymacward this morning to take on local rivals Pearses in the U12 championship. Pearses knew they had to up their performance from last years outing if they were to grind out a result today. There was a healthy rivalry between the two teams in a passionate game with some great block-downs from both teams.
Finian Murray kicked the ball to the net on 2 mins for a tonic Skehana start to put Pearses on the back foot. Paddy Kenny’s free then was batted out by the goalie which fell to Dylan Roche and his first touch was bulleted to the net to even up matters. Skehana went a point up 5 mins later from close range before Dara Scarry gave Pearses the advantage again with a great goal when Ronan Hynes found the unmarked Scarry who bulleted to the net.
Ronan Hynes then registered Pearses first score from play followed by Darragh Roche who scored a lovely effort over his shoulder. Skehana got back in the game through a goal from Liam Gormally – a difficult high lobbing ball which young Padraig Kelly, also playing U10, could do nothing about. Finian Murray restored parity for Skehana 2 mins before the break with a lovely pointed effort on the run. Half time: Pearses 2-2 Skehana 2-2.
Pearses held the edge for almost all the 2nd half assisted by a strong breeze as they scored 1-5 without reply to keep them in the driving seat. Paddy Kenny first converted a 65’ with plenty to spare and then his low hard drive was tipped over the crossbar after Ronan Hynes’ free found him out. Midway through the 2nd half Paddy Kenny put some daylight between the sides with a great goal from distance after Cormac Hillary and Ronan Hynes combined well in the build-up.
Young Padraig Kelly then made a massive point blank save for Pearses as Harry Mitchell required some ‘gas’ such was the intensity of the game. Pearses kicked on for the last few mins with 3 more points through Darragh Roche who tapped over after great hassling from Cormac Hillary, Anthony Feeney andamp;amp; Paddy Kenny in the middle of the park.
Roche, who was on fire at this stage scored another after Harry Mitchell from the sideline crossed in to open space for Roche to run on to andamp;amp; then scored his 3rd successive point from a good distance out to register his 4th point of the day. 3mins into injury time Harry Mitchell extended Pearses tally with a point from an acute angle to finish 3-7 to 2-2 winners.
Scorers: Daragh Roche 0-4; Paddy Kenny 1-2 (1 65’); Dylan Roche 1-0; Dara Scarry 1-0; Ronan Hynes 0-1. Panel: Padraig Hillary, Conor Kelly, Conor Hillary, Cormac Hillary, Jonah Donnellan, Jack Reilly, Ronan Hynes, Anthony Feeney, Paddy Kenny, Dara Scarry, Dylan Roche, Harry Mitchell, Cathal Hynes, Diarmuid Ryan, Darren Moran, Jamie Nutley, James Queeney.
Report Martina Donnellan