Senior Hurling Championship, 5 May 2010

Naomh Olaf 4 - 10      Erin’s Isle 3 - 14

The visitors opened the scoring with a well-taken point in this exciting second round match on Wednesday at Wedgewood. Michael O’Connor responded for Naomh Olaf with a goal. The sides then traded points before Declan O’Dwyer added first a point and then a goal in quick succession, answered by two points from play and a pointed free from Isles. Naomh Olaf lost James Carroll to injury midway through the first half, replaced by Niall McCaffrey. The game was being played at pace with end-to-end action with Isles adding three points to Olaf’s one, before closing the half with a goal to leave the home side trailing by a point at the break, 1-8 to 2-4.

            Dónal MacMathúna scored first in the second half, sending over his third free of the match. From the puck out, Isles put the ball in the back of the Naomh Olaf net to lead by three. A run of three points in a row from MacMathuna, O’Dwyer and Colin Kyne Delaney brought the home side level. The two sides traded scores, with points from Johnny McGrath and another from O’Dwyer answered each time by Isles. With the scores level and tension mounting, Michael O’Connor caught an excellent pass from O’Dwyer and finished to the net, taking Naomh Olaf three points clear. The response from the visitors was once again immediate, with two points followed by a well worked goal to take a two point lead. Naomh Olaf continued to carve out goal chances, with O’Dwyer pulled down in the square to win a penalty. Despite being well struck, MacMathuna’s effort was denied and the follow up sent wide. In the closing minutes, O’Dwyer ran at the opposing defence once more, causing panic before passing inside to O’Connor. Despite being forced wide, O’Connor finished superbly for his third goal of the night and a one-point lead. Once more the visitors’ response was immediate, bringing the sides level yet again. With the game deep into injury time the large attendance was spellbound by this fine game, but the home supporters were to be left disappointed as the last puck of the game saw Isles edge out Naomh Olaf by the narrowest of margins.

Naomh Olaf: S. O'Connor, D. Egan, P. Roe, J. Carroll,

H. Ruane, F. Martin, E. Kinsella,

M. Devlin, R. Quinn,

 C. Kyne-Delaney (0-1), D. MacMathuna (0-4f), D. O'Dwyer (1-3),

S. Kinsella, M. O'Connor (3-1), J. McGrath (0-1).

Subs: N. McCaffrey for J. Carroll (inj.) 20mins; S. Hickey for S. Kinsella 53 mins.