Last May on this Website, Jack McCarron told me that, despite results not going our way, The St Brendan’s Hurlers, sponsored by Bodibro, were quite keen to keep plugging away and hope to get a good result for 2 in The Go Ahead Junior C Championship. 

On a hot Sunday Morning in Tom Russell Park in Castleknock, The Hurlers took to the field for the opening Championship fixture against St Brigid’s and whilst The Relegator himself was unavoidably absent, 15 players turned up, with a 16th arriving during the first half. 

The home side opening the scoring with a point from play, Mark ‘The Edge’ Kinsella caught a crucial slioter with lead to the equalizing score for the Dark Force, Eoin ‘Concrete’ Corcoran supplied the final pass to Eoin Ryan. 

The Wexican Oisin Carley gave his side the lead when winning Michael Harte’s puck out and instantly shooting over the bar, but that lead was short lived when St Brigid’s pointed to make the score Desmond. 0-2 0-2! 

Both sides traded points and it was 4 points each after 10 minutes, Carley from a short range free with point 3 and Sean ‘Crème’ Butler from play with point 4. St Brendan’s retook the lead with a point from Pa Carey after a pass from corner forward Damien Daly, then took a foothold on the contest after Alan Walsh won the Brigid’s puck out and passed to Carey who went one on one with the goal keeper and there was only one outcome, a goal to make it 1-5 to 0-4. 

The lead increased thanks to a 45 meter free from Rob ‘ Shane Lowry’ O’Hanrahan, moved up an extra 10 meters to boot, and another Carey point from play from 55 meters. 

After being told to ‘Wake the F*** up’ by O’Hanrahan, following a sideline cut, Eoin Ryan still won possession and pucked the slioter into the net after passes from both Daly and Butler. 2-8 to 0-5. That lead became 10 points with a rather lopsided puc from Carley but still went over the bar. But that 10 point lead didn’t last as St Brigid’s beat Harte for goal in the last play of the first half. 

Half Time Score St Brendan’s 2-9 St Brigid’s 1-5. 

In the second half, Dave Lowry came in in place of Damien Daly, who was caked in sun cream in such a boiling hot day. The home side got the first two points of the second half, but St Brendan’s came back with two points of our own. Eoin ‘Quinn Roux’ Fallon with Route One Hurling with a shot over the bar after collecting Eoin Ryans puck out who was now playing in goal with Harte outfield. Then Carley had the 7 point half time lead with a close range free in. 2-11 to 1-8, 24 minutes to go. 

The deficit was halved a minute later with a Brigid’s goal, and with 20 minutes to go, the home side hit a brace of points to put one between the sides. Butler won a crucial free in for St Brendan’s which Michael Harte converted and started celebrating while the slioter was making its way between the uprights. 

Harte put three between the sides with a closer range free in after Fallon drew the foul, no celebration this time, due to the close range nature of the free in. Another Brigid’s point followed, then there was a disputed side-line ball, which went in favour of the home side, and despite the dispute, St Brigid’s fluffed the side-line cut and straight into Joe ‘Godley’ O’Connor, who whacked the ball clear and into Fallon and a 60 meter shot over the bar for a crucial point to put three between the sides two minutes into injury time. 

Carey had a chance to seal the win but the slioter slipped through his fingers after collecting a Lowry pass, the Brigid’s hit a point for a two point deficit. 

Four minutes into injury time and O’Connor won vital possession and pucked long into Pa Carey who was the only St Brendan’s player on the St Brigid’s half, still shouting for support to come when running for goal, Carey took his shot and rattled the back of the St Brigid’s net for the third time to seal the Hurlers first win of 2025 in tremendous style. Massive relief all round to start the Junior C Championship on a winning note and there’s no doubt the Hurlers came pick up again next Sunday and a home fixture against Commercials. Yes, News of the Hurlers demise has been greatly exaggerated in what was a brilliant team performance. 

Final Score from Tom Russell Park, St Brigid’s 2-12 St Brendan’s 3-14.