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Weekly Notes - 30th November 2005

Last weekend was a demanding one for supporters: 11am in Wicklow for the County Minor Hurling semi-final. The pitch in Dunbur was in perfect condition for hurling. We compliment the St. Pats committee and ground staff and thank them for the work they put into its preparation - and then 2 pm for the Intermediate League semi-final. Considering the weather that was in it, small blame to those who failed to make it to one or other or even to either. Reports indicate that you are the poorer for missing either. Mea culpa. A dark uninviting morning and a cold north easterly had one coming down on the negative side of "Will I?" "Won’t I?" mental tossing game. After encountering the enthusiasm and elation of those who had travelled to Wicklow, one regrets this victory of matter over mind – "you missed an absolute cracker", "a display of heart and commitment which epitomised what sport is all about" "an absorbing game of almost unbearable tension". In a game of highlights a few incidents stand out – a wonderful "doubled on" goal from Fintan Donnelly, two body-blocks a la Nick O’Donnell (for those of us old enough to remember) by Scott Smullen and a wonderful last-minute, match-saving, mid-swing ball-stealing intervention by Paul Gaskin.

Next Sunday sees the final episode of the Intermediate end of season trilogy. The first was the victory over Kilcoole in Newcastle. Unfortunately, through lack of space, the following was deleted from last weeks notes. This was a heartening, if not altogether flawless display – what would a game be anyway without those heart-stopping moments? The players for the most part opted for direct football and the forwards were not reluctant to have a go, this paying off with a tally of 13 points. Gavin McGowan took some lovely points with his left foot, ‘Chester’ Kelly was a determined and effective centre-back, Declan Hogan was at his best- whatever that may be! – after his long lay-off. Darren Hayden ran some beautiful back-evading lines and scored some excellent points. Eoin English did well at corner forward and Eoin O’Neill was at the end of two field-long sweeping passing movements to pick off spirit-raising points (his newly purchased boots no doubt playing a role).

Their display, this week, particularly in the 1st half, unhappily showed signs of regression to bad habits – a reluctance to take on responsibility in the forwards, too many short passing movements which often ended with opponents gaining possession, failure to implement the basic rule of geometry "shortest distance between 2 points is a straight line". A return to more direct methods in the 2nd half bore dividends, two wonderful (each worth the entrance money!) goals being the result. The first: kick out, flick-on by Cormac Ó Súilleabháin to Paul Doherty, a pinpoint pass to Darren Hayden goal-side of his man, a short jinky, target chasing run and bang. The second, and by now a James Leonard characteristic – he scored a mirror image against them in the league in Stratford – a shot to the bottom corner of the net. Craig Smullen played a significant part in both games of the day – at centre back in the hurling game and at left half back in the football. Oh! What it is to be young!

Our best wishes to the Stratford trainer and his family who were injured in an accident on the way to the game.