Fresh from their 2-17 to 1-11 victory over Castleknock on April 19th, The St Brendan’s Hurlers, sponsored by Bodibro, travelled to Páirc Mearnog in Portmarnock to a bid to round off a Magic April and a 3rd AHL7 victory of the month. Cian Walsh not around, Rob Hanrahan and Brian Larkin were on the sidelines as the 15 men did battle against Naomh Mearnog played on a sunny, but cold and breezy Tuesday evening.
In the opening 15 seconds, the home side took the lead with the opening score, The Dark Force got the ball rolling and after 3 minutes, JJ ‘72’ Lennon had a hat trick of points, the first two from free in’s and the third judged the wind perfectly with a strike from, rather aptly, 72 meters!
10 minutes gone and Lennon made it a personal and team tally of 1-4, his fourth point was a free and after a Mearnog shot went wide, Eoin Ryan hit an over 100-meter puck out to Jack ‘The Prop’ McGrath before passing to Lennon for the first green flag raised of the evening.
After a second Mearnog free in pointed, Another Ger Cunningham style puck out from Ryan this time found Gavin ‘The Goal Getter’ Muldoon, who was fouled as he went for goal, Lennon pointed. Pa Carey became the second Dark Force player to get his name on the scoresheet after an ostentatious point from the sideline sailed between the uprights 1-6 to 0-2.
Ciaran Ludden then become the third Brendan’s player on the sheet when another long Ryan puck out found Cathal ‘The Jester’ Kelly then onto the Sylane Star for the point.
Lennon was back on the scoresheet with another long range shot from open play. After another Mearnog point, Eoin Ryan made a Brendan Cummins style puck out (pucking out the slioter even before the opposition shot went between the uprights) where Liam Kennedy won possession and pass to Ludden for his second and Brendan’s 9th point 1-9 to 0-4.
24 minutes gone and it 1-10 to 0-4 with Kennedy scoring after Jack ‘The Relegator’ McCarron won a Mearnog puck out. Another Lennon point, this time from close range, produced controversy when the referee consulted with the umpire, who overruled him and awarded the point. Another Mearnog free followed, before that they missed a free from a similar position as the adrenalin got to the free taker.
Eoin Ryans long puck out bounced off the palm of the Mearnog player and straight to Lennon who said thank you very much with the point over the bar. Yet another Mearnog free was converted to make the half time score St Brendan’s 1-12 Naomh Mearnog 0-6.
The away side got off to a dream start with a goal 10 seconds after the throw in. Lennon also dropped in another free into the square where the referee spotted an infringement and awarded a penalty. Lennon took the penalty and was saved for a 65. He went on to take the 65 which went wide and then Mearnog got a point from play from the subsequent puck out. However, Ciaran Ludden steadied the ship with a close range free in to make it 1-13 to 1-7.
The home side whipped in a free in towards the square but great vision from Ryan to bat the slioter clear, but still managed to hit a brace to put four between the sides 1-13 to 1-9
After Lennon was tripped collecting Ryans puckout, Oisin Carley put the free in towards the square but the Mearnog full back intended catch bounced off his palm and into the net for a seven point lead, make that an eight point lead after Ciaran Ludden converted the free in after Liam Kennedy was dragged back, Ludden’s free in was made easier when the referee moved the free straight in front of goal from 30 meters, 2-14 to 1-9.
Eanna Larkin stopped a Mearnog attack with his stomach and cleared by Mark Kinsella, a free out ensued and lead to another point from JJ ‘72’ Lennon from a tight angle against the wind, 2-15 to 1-10 with 8 minutes to go.
Six minutes to go Michael Harte won a free in and took it himself and passes to The Sylane Star Ciaran Ludden who went one on one with the goalkeeper and his shot bounced under the goalkeeper and into the net and a 10-point lead. 3-15 to 1-11.
The home side put on two sets of fresh legs, and these contributed to the home side scoring four points on the spin to make it 3-15 to 1-15 going into injury time.
Two minutes into injury time and Naomh Mearnog had already built up a head of steam when a free in was blocked by Eoin Ryan but his subsequent clearance was hooked and a second Mearnog goal was scored, But the St Brendan’s backs fought like warriors late on to ensure no more scores were conceded and left Portmarnock with the win, the 4th of the season to go 2nd in the AHL7 table just behind 5 from 5 Trinity Gaels.
Final Score from Páirc Mearnog, St Brendan’s 3-15, Naomh Mearnog 2-15.
