Well i went to the game, a very good game at that and was happy enough despite coming out on the losing side. Forwrd were very poor in the first half apart from Darren Stamp and Stephen Nolan, Nolan finished up with 1-12, 1-7 coming fro play, himself and Stamp were kinda switching between centre forward and full forward. Michael Jacob was wing back, and believe it or not lads, he hurled very well on Mike O Brien, even caught 3 or 4 very good balls. John O Connor was full back on Niall Moran, hurled well but a fair bit scored off him as Moran was just to strong for him. Roche and Mal Travers either side of John O hurled very well, Roche holding Shaughnessy scoreless from play and was subsituted as a result of geting roasted. Fitzy in behind these fella’s was looking his best again, pulling off 3 wonder saves. Doc was centre back and hurled ok, in the first half wasnt great but got going a bit in the 2nd half, belive he’s getting married this week so perhaps that was on his mind. Ciaran Kenny had a very good game, cleaning up alot of ball and bursting out rather than stepping back in trouble. Colm Farrell and Tommy Dwyer didn’t get going at all, Farrell was the better of the 2, scored a nice point and tried hard, but not alot came off, Dwyer, well just got pushed off a bit too easily, it’s a pity about his size, he’s a fine huler but just too small, having said that, i think he’d be the right man for 'Cha Fitzpatrick if we come across Kilkenny, same type of hurler and would be very interesting battle. On to the forwards, PJ Nolan, disastorous, hit one ball all day ad just rolled wide, maybe caught up in exams or something i dont know but not showing his ability at all. Stamo was good, work rate was excellent and spread the ball around very well, set up Stephan Doyle’s goal with a lovely ball, Doyle himself tried hard but wasn’t getting the right ball until the 2nd half when he scored 1-1 and again work rate was excellent. Eoin Quigley was non-existent for long stages, scored a good goal infairness and got involved as the game went on. Stephen Nolan was brilliant, his best display in a Purple&Gold jersey, 1-12 is a great return, 1-7 from play as i already stated, most of his hurling was done at centre forward, scored 5 points from play off Mark Foley when he went on. Then Rory Jacob, he was vey poor, touch was all over the place and just wasn’t himself, moving well alright but just couldn’t get anything out of the very tight markng Damian Reale.
Team in full was:
- Damian Fitzhenry
- Malachy Travers
- John O’ Connor
- Paul Roche
- Michael Jacob
- David ‘DOC’ O Connor
- Ciaran Kenny
- Tommy Dwyer
- Colm Farrell
- PJ Nolan
- Darren Stamp
- Stephen Doyle
- Eoin Quigley
- Stephen Nolan
- Rory Jacob
Just on the subs thatcame in, Mick Doyle came on for Rory and was very good, caught ball and was laying it off at speed everytime, ver impressive. Stephen Banville came on for Stepen Doyle ( went off with an injury, didn’t look to serious thankfully ) and was good too, broke alot of ball and caught ball too, only problem was that there ws no one coming in for the breaks. MJ Furlong came on for Dwyer and wasn’t great, was letting his man bully him around. Benny’O Leary came on for Farrell and tried his best. John Roche came on for brother Paul ( also injured, was just a smack on the shin i think ) cleared the one ball that went his way.