Minors Secure Points Over Sliabh Rua

Tuesday evening the minors travelled to Riverstick to play Sliabh Rua the play out their second last game of the league. One win from the next two fixtures would more then likely put Fermoy into the semi-final stages of the league competition so a win today would mean the pressure would be off heading into the last fixture. The pitch in Riverstick was high up but luckily enough there wasn’t that much of a wind against us in the opening half. Fermoy started with an excellent first 10 minutes by noticing up 1-3 from play while the mid cork side pointed only once. The goal coming from good work in the middle of the field and a breaking ball fell to David Lardner, who buried the ball past the keeper. The middle 8 players were playing very strongly and through hard work in hooking and blocking it acted as a springboard for most of the attacks. The fullback line were under pressure but Ryan Sargent stood strong and was helped out well by Sean Holland and Jeff Ennis at either side of Sarg. Fermoy were slightly wasteful in some attacks with the balls going out over the endline but eventually got it together and began using low balls to the wings. Dale Dawson and Ronan Adam going well and delivering in good ball to the inside line. David O’Callaghan found the net with a brilliant finish putting the score to 2-6 to 0-4 inside 20 minutes. With all the hard work taking toll Fermoy took the foot off the gas and Sliabh Rua began to find their range pointing 3. This left the game at 2-6 to 0-7 at half time. Fermoy made a change at half time bring Dale Dawson off to rest as Duncan Ekechukwu came in to the full forward line. With the slightest of winds at our backs we could now puck the ball long and David Lardner began winning the aerial ball. Sliabh Rua came out of the blocks strong too and beat Josh Shanahan after he had pulled off a number of great saves and his best one yet to come. Colm Hurley had a tough first half but came out in the second half doing what he does best, making it hard for the centre back and picking up the breaking ball. To be fair to the lads, they pulled up there socks and points from James Molloy, David Lardner and O’Callaghan we pushed the lead out again to 2-11 to 1-7. Josh Shanahan was called into action again and pulled off a point blank save for an angle, pushing it out for a 65. JJ Hickey, Michael O’Brien and Eddie Joyce were brought in for Sean Holland, Daniel O’Regan and Adam Ronan, who had all put in a good shift. Sliabh Rua found the net then to bring it to 2-12 2-8. Cian Condon and David Mulcahy came in for David O’Callaghan and Jeff Ennis. Coming into the final 5 minutes the game got closer with Sliabh Rua winning questionable frees and piling on the pressure. The opposition managed to brake the lines and found the net making it a one point game at 2-12 to 3-8. Up until this point Ryan Sargent at full back had been steady but the ref blew for a 21 yard free on the 60th minutes for a high tackle on the full forward. Shanahan saved the day   again with a save and the defence were in to clear the house and managed to go up the pitch and point once more through Lardner ending the game 2-13 to 3-8. Another excellent work out for the lads and a lot of lads getting the minutes in heading into championship Sunday against Carrigtwohill in Riverstown at 7pm. All injuries mending and rest taken, the lads will train hard in preparation for Sunday, where they can secure their place in a Semi-Final of the competition. The team lined out as following; J Shanahan, J Ennis, R Sargent, S Holland, J Molloy, J Scannell, L Aherne, G Lardner, N Collins, D Dawson, C Hurley, A Ronan, D O’Callaghan, D Lardner and D O’Regan. Subs used; JJ Hickey for S Holland, Duncan Ekechukwu for D Dawson, Eddie Joyce for Daniel O’Regan, David Mulcahy for J Ennis, Micheal O’Brien for D O’Callaghan and C Condon for A Ronan.