Junior Hurlers win in extra time

 Having lost to Raheny twice already this season, the team were fully aware of the challenge that lay ahead. From the start it was clear there was a determination in the team and we led by three points to one after fifteen minutes. Raheny finished the half stronger and led 0-5 to 0-4 at half time. In a half where both sides were guilty of errant shooting, Kevin O'Flynn was outstanding with a fine display of fielding. Ciaran Murray led a very solid back division and David Kennedy grew in confidence as the half wore on.

Disaster seemed to have struck immediately after half time when Raheny goaled with a well taken aerial double after a long range free dropped short . Then on 11 minutes we scored a very good goal courtesy of Colm O Connor to level and it was a fiercely contested game for the remainder of normal time. First we got a fortuitious goal when a long range free dropped in over the keeper but on 29 minutes, Raheny pounced on a failed clearance to go one point up with seconds remaining. Our lads refused to panic however and following good work in the middle of the field, Reuben Kirrane was fouled on the 60 yard line. The resultant pressure free was levelled sending the Syls crowd into raptures as the referee blew for full time.

Extra time was a tense affair, dominated by scores from frees and we led by two points to one at the end of the first ten minutes. As in normal time Raheny opened with a goal in the first minute of the second half and when they followed it up with a point things looked bleak. Kevin Mc Loughney was fouled immediately after that and things looked even worse when the resultant penalty was saved. However the heads didn’t drop and when another long range Niall O Connor free dropped into the net (maybe with a touch from a forward but as yet unclaimed) we were back in business. A further pressure free split the posts with about 5 minutes to go and yes, the team hung on for a well deserved win. During the extra time Graham Morris and William Gilson were key figures as was the drive of Gareth Mc Grath. The Kirrane brothers were still going strong at the end and Paul Christie impressed with some of his trade-mark clearances on the run. 

The final is against St Ol Plunketts (probably on Sunday Oct 9th). Scorers Niall O Connor 2-8 (65 and 9 frees), Colm O Connor (1-2) Fergus Rooney and Jody Hickey (0-1 each). This was a very good team performance and the commitment and drive of the younger players combined with the experience of the older players was the key to success.

The team : David Kennedy, Paul Christie, Ciaran Murray, Killian Kirrane; Graham Morris, Stephen Keogh, William Gilson; Fergus Rooney, Rueben KIrrane; Kevin O Flynn, Jody Hickey, Paddy Wright; Claude Scully, Colm O Connor, Niall O Connor. Subs:  Johnny Mc Namara, Derek Morris, Gareth Mc Grath, Kevin Mc Loughney, Willie Reynolds, Eamon Sullivan and Kevin Clarke.