Carrickshock schools team sadly came up just short in the Championship Co. Final against Graig last Thursday night in Nowlan Park. The Shocks started with the breeze and Eoin Crowley put over the 1st of his 3 excellent points to set them on their way. Then Ryan Grace, with his back to the goal, did some quick thinking to the tap the ball through his legs to the net after a superb run and pass from Eoghan O’Neill. The sides swapped 2 points each, 1 from a Denis Walsh free and another Eoin Crowley point to leave it 1-3 to 0-2 after 15 mins. Carrickshock kept up the pressure for the rest of the half but couldn’t find the target and Graig put over a 65 after an heroic save by Darragh Dwyer to leave it 1-3 to 0-3 at half-time.

3 points each in the 1st 15 minutes of the 2nd half, 2 Eoghan O’Neill frees and an Eoin Crowley point, left it 1-6 to 0-6. The defence was under a lot of pressure during this spell, but Jack McGuirk, Padraig Lennon and Denis Walsh didn’t let much through. Ryan Grace (now in goal) pulled off a couple of outstanding saves, including one from a bullet that was headed straight for the top corner. From the resulting 65, Graig got that little bit luck needed to win tight games. The mishit shot was deflected to the root of the net. The sides were level with 10 minutes left. Over the next 7 or 8 minutes, Eoghan O’Neill converted 2 frees that he won while bearing down on goal. But Graig were buzzing and they scored  3 over the same period to leave them a point up. In the last minute of normal time Padraig Lennon broke out of defence and levelled it from out near the sideline. But in the next attack, Graig’s excellent Pierce Blanchfield put them back in front. Then in added time Graig sealed it with a scrappy goal. At the final whistle there were scenes of unbridled joy at one end, heartbreak at the other. Still, Carrickshock have another bite at the cherry in the Country Cup final this Friday 5th, again in Nowlan Park.

The full panel: Stephen Neville, Josh Dineen, Larry O’Shea, Oisin Doyle, Jack McGuirk, Eoghan O’Neill, Eoin Crowley, Mason Byrnes, Shane Fennelly, James O’Shea, Patrick Hickey, Adam Long, Tomás Barron, Pádraig Lennon, Conor Brennan, Edward Dwyer, Michael O’Shea, Andrew Fitzpatrick, Tom Lodge, Daire Dwyer, Joseph O’Connell, Ryan Grace, Denis Walsh

 

Underage Training

Training continues as follows, coaches will confirm times and venues::

Under-6: Saturdays Hugginstonwn

Under-8 & 10: Tuesdays & Saturdays

Under-12: Saturdays

Under-14: Saturdays & Wednesdays

Under-16s & Minor: Wednesdays & Sundays