GAA
Churchill vs Cromane Co. League:
Churchill secured another brace of County League points on Saturday night after a hard earned win over Cromane.
In what was a very wasteful display, the home team made hard work of securing the points. Churchill made a number of changes on their team from the Firies game, some of them enforced due to exam commitments. Cromane had three points on the board before Churchill got going, with a Benny Dillon close-in free on 10 minutes.
Shane McMahon added a second on 15 minutes after good build up along the end line. The sides were level after 19 minutes when Benny Dillon scored a lovely point off his left foot, following a great length-of –the-pitch move.
Cromane edged ahead again on 22 minutes before Mark O’Connor set up Dillon for an excellent score to level the match. Churchill dominated possession in this period but kicked a number of very bad wides, whereas Cromane were very economical and seemed to be able to score with each attack.
With the half almost up, Cromane were two points ahead, but Dillon again pulled one back on the stroke of half time.
Half Time: Churchill 0-05 Cromane 0-06.
Churchill came flying out of the blocks in the second half, with a great point from play from full-back Daniel Doyle, who worked tirelessly throughout the match, after 18 seconds.
Cromane edged ahead again after 4 minutes with a good point from play from their midfielder. Then, after a goalmouth scramble and a number of blocked efforts, JJ Prior popped up to put the ball over the bar.
Churchill took the lead for the first time after 10 minutes when Dillon put over a lovely point after a great break out of defence by Doyle. Churchill then went further in front with a pointed free from Dillon and Ciaran Crowley got on the scoresheet with an excellent score from play.
Cromane brought the scores back to the minimum with a free. On 19 minutes, PJ O’Mahony, who had a great game throughout, found himself one on one with the Cromane ‘keeper, but his shot was blocked.
You feared that this was not going to be Churchill’s night. Sean O’Sullivan showed all his class to score a great point from play for Cromane and the sides were level once again.
Benny Dillon converted a free with 7 minutes left to steady the ship and he then followed it up with a point from play with a great turn and shot. With a minute of normal time left, Cromane pulled one back from a free, before Doyle again and young wing-back Donnacha McGarry got the last two points of the match.
This was far from a vintage performance and Churchill will have tougher matches this year, but when they came under a little bit of pressure, the team showed great resilience to carve out the win and stay in the Div 4 promotion race.
Full Time: Churchill 0-14 Cromane 0-10.
Team: Eoghan O’Brien, PJ O’Mahony, Daniel Doyle (0-02), Mitchell Holland, JJ Prior (0-01), Garrett Walsh, Donnacha McGarry (0-01), Mikey Brennan, Ciaran Crowley (0-01), Chris Hurley (c), Mark O’Connor, Dara O’Shea, Brian Hill, Benny Dillon (0-08, 3 frees), Shane McMahon (0-01).
The B team will play Charlie Kerins in the Spa on Friday night at 7.30pm.
Social
Fenit Lifeboat Station are to hold a social in the Tralee Sailing Club on Saturday night June 28 at 8pm.
This event is to celebrate the opening of the lifeboat station in 1994. Tickets are €15 each and can be got in McCarthys Gala Shop or by ringing 087-9614863. It is recommended you get your tickets early, as there are a limited number available.
