Tough and uncompromising, but a win against Dromina
September 03, 2023
Every player has their dream, the catalyst for their interest and involvement, the motivating force to persevere during dark nights of the hard spring training. To play in games that matter. To be influential in games that matter. Killavullen versus Dromina, in the final game of Group 1, Junior A Hurling Championship 2023, mattered last Saturday night, in Shanballymore. The tight pitch, claustrophobic pitch, added to a spicy atmosphere when the crowd, the very large crowd in attendance is right in around you, on both sides, hemmed in by the stonewall backing onto the Doneraile Road, on one side and the strong Leylandii hedge on the other side. The winner advanced to the Q-Final stage in the championship, the losers, well nothing to do, but regroup again for 2024.
Dromina opened the scoring from a free, scored from well inside his own half, by their goalkeeper and we responded with a free of our own, scored by Jamie Magner in the 3rd minute Dromina were next to score though, when their full back popped over a point, in a game where starting positions meant very little. Jamie, who went on to have a stellar game responded with another point, from a dead ball situation, and we took the lead, that we never relented, in the 12th minute, again from a free, again from Jamie. The tackling was ferocious at times, and Liam Fox, was pivotal in preventing some scores for Dromina. His strong, physical play was forcing Dromina onto the back foot, and our forwards, earned frees that Jamie was in a mean mood, with his conversion ratio impressive. We converted another free in the 14th minute, and again in the 15th before the very exciting Patrick O Grady got a point from open play, in the 17th minute to leave us in the ascendancy, 0-06 to 0-02.
Eddie Cotter scored a neat point, with our next attack and then Jamie scored another free after Patrick was fouled. Liam Cronin and Eoin Birchill were pivotal to our forward momentum, with good intelligent play from midfield, spraying the ball about. Jamie scored another free, before Davy Jones, their main outfield free taker scored two points, from frees in quick succession to bring the lead back to 0-09 to 0-04. Ronan Barry was strong in our very youthful full back line, and we engineered two further points, one from open play, the other from a free, from Jamie from a huge distance out, between our 65 and 40 Metre line, from the far side of the pitch. We got a reprieve when Billy Norris, in our goals, somehow kept our goals intact, with a great save, when he advanced quickly from his line, and saved bravely from an inrushing Dromina forward, and the resultant 65 metre shot was missed. Paul O Sullivan then scored a nice point, on the run before Liam Cronin curled a delightful point over the bar to being our tally to 0-13 points. Brian Buckley, the strong influential centre back from Dromina was next to score, and just before the interval, Dromina got another free that they converted to being their tally to 0-06 for that period.
Barry Murphy was sprung from the bench, as Charlie Lillis was unable to shake off an ankle injury. Patrick O Grady scored the opening score of the game, and then, Barry Murphy caught a long ball, and his man fouled him, to allow Jamie score another free in the 2nd minute of the half. Dromina got a point back from a free, before Jamie again scored another free. Billy did wonders in our goals again, to make another strong save, and to push a ball behind for a 65 metre shot that was converted. At the other end, Patrick shot on goals was saved, at the expense of a 65-metre shot, which Jamie, unerring all night, converted also. We then entered into a period, where Dromina came to the fore in their half back line, and our forwards struggled to get on the ball. In trying to wrestle possession, we conceded frees, which alleviated the danger for Dromina, but crucially Davey Jones has a hell of a smack of a ball, and he landed 3 monster frees from distance, interspersed with a 65 metre shot to being their tally to 0-12. We were on the ropes somewhat, but Jamie scored a relieving 65 metre shot after a shot from Mickey O Connor was partially blocked down. Dromina scored another free and a point from open play in the 17th minute to leave only four points between the teams. Jamie pushed out our lead again with another free, but Dromina replied to that score with a conversion of their own. Jamie again scored a free in the 21st minute after some ferocious hits in the middle of the field had both sets of supporters clamouring for decisive action to wrestle the game for their home team. Dromina got another free, and then Jamie, showing real leadership, for one so young, scored a point from a crowded situation. Again Dromina replied with another free to leave only 4 points between the teams. We lost a golden opportunity to settle the frayed nerves, but Mickey’s near post shot ratcheted off the post, and out wide. Dromina lost a player to a red card but got the next score, again from a free, to leave only a goal between the teams. Dromina tried hard to fashion that goal, and dropped several bombs into the square but the Killavullen rear guard held firm, and held on for the win.
Final Score Killavullen 0-20 – Dromina 0-17
The team was;
- Billy Norris
- Kian Lane
- Ronan Barry
- Rory O Regan
- Fionn Magner
- Brian Cotter
- Liam Fox
- Liam Cronin (0-01)
- Eoin Birchill
- Paul O Sullivan (0-01)
- Jamie Magner (0-15, 0-10F, 0-02 x 65’s)
- Charlie Lillis
- Patrick O Grady (0-02)
- Mikey O Connor
- Eddie Cotter (0-01)
Substitutes.
- Barry Murphy for Charlie Lillis (injured)