Club Notes 06-02-2020
The U21’s began their 2020 Championship campaign last Sunday afternoon when they took on Owen Gaels at a windswept Kilbrittain. Despite lacking numbers and fielding a very young team, the team were very hopeful of getting off to a very positive start. The loss of the pre-match coin toss, meant that we had to play against the win in the opening half and really struggled to contain a physical and very sharp Owen Gaels outfit. Although having a lot of possession, a number of handling errors and mis-laid passes, meant that Owen Gaels were able to open a commanding eight point after fifteen minutes and a wonderful save by Christy Wilson kept the score down. It was now that the character of the team was questioned and finally after a well worked move Jamie Ronan managed to toe poke the ball to the back of the net to kickstart the Kilmac’s challenge. Two points were added in quick succession by Ellis Wilson and a Damien Gore free and it looked like the team would go in with only a score between them. But four quick fire points from distance saw the Bal/Plunketts outfit retire ahead at the break, Kilmacabea 1-2 Owen Gaels 1-9.
With the wind to their backs the Kilmacs started the second period with more intent, and three points from Damien (two) and Ian Jennings had the deficit down to four points with fifteen minutes remaining. Owen Gaels defence was now starting to squeeze the Kilmac forwards and midfield and managed to get up the pitch and pointed another free to stretch the gap to five points with ten minute to go. The conditions were making playing football very difficult and scores were at a preminium, but two more points from the boot of Cork senior Gore had the gap cut to three with full time approaching. Despite, the best of efforts of the rest of the Kilmac team, they were finding it hard to deal with the direct running of the opposition forwards and three final scores, only answered by a single Gore point meant that the Kilmacs had to cede to Owen Gaels by five points at full time, Kilmacabea 1-8 Owen Gaels 1-13.
Kilmacabea team v Owen Gaels: Christy Wilson, Eoghan Burns, Dara Tobin, Myles Tobin, Peter Hayes, Eamonn Shanahan, Adrian Gore, Ian Jennings, Odhran Kerrisk, Jack Connolly, Damien Gore, Ellis Wilson, Jamie Ronan, Keith Whelton, Cian Minehane
Subs: Shane O Sullivan for Cian Minehane (HT)
Despite this result, the team can be very proud of their effort in very testing conditions. Also this championship has a back door so the team will now face off with Ahan Gaels on the weekend of the 15th/16th February to decide who reaches the Quarter Finals.
The Junior panel will be heading off to London this weekend to play their now annual challenge game v Kerry Kingdom Gaels. Best wishes and safe travelling to all those heading over.
