13th October 2010
St. Canices 3-14 Thomastown 4-1

           
Today, we travelled to Thomastown for our last league game of the Roinn A. This was a vital game, as a loss would have ended our season. We also had the distinction today of playing the first competitive match on the new grounds adjacent to the new school in Thomastown.
Having lost to C.B.S. earlier in the league, today’s task was huge-C.B.S. themselves had been beaten by Thomastown in round 1. It was evident from early in this match that our intentions were serious- we were on top in most positions and were playing neat football- good catches and passing, and some good tackling in defence. We opened with a point from Kevin Power, followed with another from the powerful Harry Duggan, and another from Peter Collins, who today put in his top display of the year.
When Peter added a good goal shortly afterwards, it looked like we were on our way to an easy victory, but the Thomastown lads were not going to go down without a fight. On one of their first real attacks they finished neatly to the net, and when they repeated the act shortly afterwards, we knew a tough battle was in store. Thanks to two goals from Kevin Power and Mark Nolan, we held a narrow half time lead 3-3 to 3-1.
We now played to the church goal in the second half, and proceeded to get on top again. We scored a total of 11 points in the second half (we had 9 different scorers today) but it would be untrue to think that this was easy. When Thomastown scored their fourth goal midway through the half, there was only 3 points between the sides! But we were playing well, in practically all positions on the field, and scored some beautiful points when they were really needed. The most memorable ones were: two in succession from Adam Cummins, one from distance with his right foot and the other with his left, a superb point from the impressive wing back Liam Brennan, a beauty from the tireless Joe Sheehan, and Shane McGeary’s score to top off his marvellous performance.
Today’s best performers are too many to mention….but what a game from Johnny Manogue! And Peter Henebry. And Sean Boyd. And……..
However, like all games, there were parts that didn’t go to plan. We must make it lots more difficult for our opposition to score goals- we conceded 4 today which is 4 too many! Also our insistence to go for goals too often could easily cost us on another day. Thankfully we have an opportunity to sort out these weaknesses in the field before our semi final.
Today’s team and scorers:

Cian Lyng
Eoghan Moylan Peter Henebry David Ryan
Johnny Manogue Sean Boyd Liam Brennan(0-1)
Harry Duggan (0-3)Shane McGeary(0-1)
Conor Heary Joe Sheehan (0-1)Adam Cummins(0-4)
Peter Collins(1-2) Mark Nolan(1-0) Kevin Power(1-1)

Mr. Hoyne managed to get on all our subs today and Mark Power contributed with a point, and Cillian Timmons was very unlucky not to score a goal right at the end.
L Brennan M Power L McEnroe G Byrne L Stynes C Timmons
C McAuliffe  R Duggan B Smith J Collins E Clarke