13.12.2008 J2 XV v Terenure (A)
| 13/12/2008 | 2:30pm | League | Terenure | 0 – 0 | St. Marys J2 XV | Away |
Terenure J2 V St Mary’s College J2
00 00
This was the top of the table clash and the one we were all waiting for and training towards. Unfortunately the bad weather absolutely destroyed the pitch in terenure and to be honest it was probably unplayable, even the referee asked both teams before kick off if we wanted to go ahead, both agreed and so the game began. As a team we have become very adept at playing in poor conditions and it showed in the first half as we controlled possession and territory through an excellent forward performance with stand in under 20 number 8 Daragh Maher particulary impressive. Only last ditch tackles and good goaline defence from terenure saw us remain scoreless. Also any penalty kicks at goal no matter how close to the posts were practically impossible as the planting foot had no grip at all, hence we missed a couple in the first half.
The second half began well after a storming run from Maher which lifted the whole team again and we never let up for the rest of the half, again we came close to scoring on a couple of occasions the closest being a charge down kick on the half way from joey Connolly, who led the chase all the way to the line and popped it up to the support practically under the posts unfortunately the ball was knocked and terenure escaped. It must also be said that Gary Roche at full back also had a seriously good game, terenure’s halfbacks are excellent kickers and put up numerous bombs all day but Gary dealt with everything they gave him and returned with interest and on a day like that we really needed that assurance. The soccer scoreline might suggest it was a poor game but it must be said that the lads played with guts and heart to outplay very strong opposition and the league champions on their own turf, and really deserved to win the game. In any case this result and performance has set us in a very good position to win the league and hard work and effort in the new year will surely bring a reward.