Éire Óg go to town on the ’Bridge

Éire Óg 3-20 Sixmilebridge 2-14
There’s always a certain level of respect between clubs but sometimes there’s also a level of contempt that is evident for all to see. On Sunday evening this Division 2 final was practically over by the end of the opening quarter. The townies who would have genuine Canon Hamilton ambitions were going through the motions and without much exertion had eased to an eight point lead. Fast forward to the final minutes and after battling throughout the Bridge’s second team who will compete in the Intermediate Championship to their credit only trailed by nine. Gerry O’Connor’s charges are in complete and utter control with several tap over point opportunities but rather than take them they continually try to engineer another green flag to inflict more pain on their opponents. I suppose a series of high profile clashes between the clubs in recent years will have that effect and they did eventually get their third major in additional time when Luca Cleary dispatched to the net but the gap remained at nine because Cleary’s major came moments after patrons were treated to a truly sensational and outrageous Luke O’Halloran strike that was in itself beauty personified. O’Halloran who had an outstanding evening accounting for 2-7 gathered the sliotar thirty yards from goal. Breaking the initial tackle the Bridge man dropped the shoulder to sell a dummy before firing off the hurley on the run into the top corner from twenty yards at breathtaking pace. A strike worthy of any occasion, of any final, at any level but unfortunately for the Pat Keane managed outfit that was their highlight moment as in truth they were simply no match for an Éire Óg side who have all the ingredients to mount another serious Canon Hamilton offensive with power pace and youth in almost every line.
The game was only minutes old when we had the first green flag with Luca Cleary forcing Colm Fitzgerald into an outstanding point blank save only to see the rebound fall kindly for Eoin O’Regan who first time pulled to the net. Seven of the next eight points were townie scores as led by the hugely impressive Oran Cahill the men in red eased through the gears. Danny Russell was his usual reliable self from placed balls and from a long way out there was only ever going to be one winner. Sixmilebridge never stopped trying though and a series of frees plus a Jack Corry peach ensured they only trailed by six at the interval on a 1-11 to 0-8 scoreline.
The second half began similarly to the first with the townies raising another quick green flag with Russell the finisher of a sweeping team move that highlights their attacking potential. A Philly Walsh quickly taken puck out was moved through the hands at a blistering pace with several players handpassing the sliotar to runners off the shoulder before the ball arrived into Russell’s hand after six swift passes and the Townie sharpshooter coolly slotted home into the top corner. A deflected Luke O’Halloran twenty one yard free moments later cancelled out Russell’s strike but the gap never looked like closing although it did get down to five in the fiftieth minute but four unanswered points in three minutes quashed any comeback hopes and indeed just cemented the gulf in class between the teams.

Éire Óg: Philly Walsh, Robert Loftus, Aaron Fitzgerald, Niall McMahon, Oran Cahill, Ciaran Russell, Jarlath Collins, Liam Corry, Michael Henehgan, Eoin O’Regan, Danny Russell, Eoin Guilfoyle, Marco Cleary, Luca Cleary, James O’Dwyer Subs: Luke Malice for E Guilfoyle (42)

Scorers: Danny Russell 1-7 (5f, 1 65), Oran Cahill 0-5, Luca Cleary, Eoin O’Regan 1-0 each, Niall McMahon, Aaron Fitzgerald, Jarlath Collins, Robert Loftus, James O’Dwyer, Eoin Guilfoyle, Ciaran Russell, Marco Cleary 0-1 each

Sixmilebridge: Colm Fitzgerald, Oisin Breen, Seamus O’Connell, Cillian Custy, Ronan Tuohy, Luke Keogh, Adam Breen, Dylan Downes, Luke O’Halloran, Lee Mulready, Adam Murray, Matthew O’Halloran, Jack Corry, Sean Lynch, Alan Mulready Subs: Evan Murphy for Sean Lynch (HT), Daniel Chaplin for L Mulready (45), Callum Phelan for A Murray (46),  Michael Carey for O Breen (55) Dara Casey for L Keogh (55)

Scorers: Luke O’Halloran 2-7 (4f), Sean Lynch 0-5 (5f), Jack Corry, Callum Phelan 0-1 each

Referee: Eoghan O’Leary (Whitegate)