U16 hurlers win the B Shield
On Saturday last 18th October Syls U 16 hurlers beat Fingallians in Broomfield to win this years shield competition . Both of these teams would have been considered as leading contenders for the championship but both fell to first round defeats .
The game , played in a swirling wind , got off to a robust start with both sets of players exchanging hard tackles in order to gain primary possession.
Fingallians opened the scoring with a pointed free within 5 minutes . Daniel Murphy then converted 3 frees in quick succession ( into a very strong and swirling wind ) to put Syls ahead.
The game ebbed and flowed then and Fingallians got back level from where Bryn Redmond put Syls ahead again with a fine point from the middle of the field.
Then just before half time Sean Drumm superbly finished off a fine Syls move with a very deft flick to the back of the Fingallians net .
At halftime Syls went in 3 points clear .
After the restart Fingallians hit 1 goal and 2 points without reply within 4 minutes to take a 2 point lead and it didnt look good for Syls at that point in time .
But amazingly , the Syls boys did not allow Fingallians another score for the remainder of the game .
Two more points from Daniel Murphy and points from Eamonn McLoughney ( Hand injury and all ) Daniel Deneher and Conor O Byrne ( who also rattled the crossbar ) and the winning goal from Cathal Manning saw Syls win out by a scoreline of Syls 2 goals and 9 points to Fingallians 1 goal and 6 points.
It would be nigh on impossible to name the man of the match as this was a performance that had to be dug out by all of the boys . It was a really terrific team performance .
All of our forwards tackled very strongly and never let Fingallians out with the ball as did our mid field line . The defence also stood very firm all day and tackled ferociously throughout. And Jamie Kennedy was terrific as our stand in keeper ( might be a new career ?? ).
Well done boys and now onto Minor .
Thank you for a great years hurling !
