Commiserations to our U14 and U16 panels who lost out recently in their respective championship matches but both panels showed great heart, determination, and no little skill.
Rower Inistioge v James Stephens Duggan Steel U14 Roinn A County Semi-Final
Our U14's lost out to James Stephens in the U14 Roinn A County Semi-Final after extra time. James Stephens raced out of the traps and had 1-2 on the board without reply after 4 minutes. They added a second goal after 9 minutes and it looked like it might be a difficult evening, 0-1 to 2-2. To their credit our young team battled back and had the lead down to 3 after 21 minutes, 0-6 to 2-3. They were struck with another sucker punch 2 minutes later when James Stephens netted for the third time, 0-6 to 3-3. When the half time whistle sounded the lead was stretched to 7 but it felt like a harsh scoreline on our boys, 0-7 to 3-5.
Needing a quick start we struck for our first goal in the 34th minute, 1-7 to 3-6 but James Stephens hit back one minute later with their 4th goal, 1-7 to 4-7. With all the momentum, James Stephens kicked on and added 1-2 in 4 minutes, 1-7 to 5-9 after 39 minutes to lead by 14 points. Showing incredible resilience we wrestled back momentum and in a ten minute spell between the 39th and 49th minutes, we scored 3-6 without reply to lead by 1, 4-13 to 5-9. With time almost up we still held a one point lead and but for a perplexing decision may have held out to win. When the final whistle was blown the match was level, 4-14 to 5-11 and we were heading for extra time.
Given the effort expended to reel in a 14 point deficit and the nature of the late equaliser, there was always a risk that our boys energy levels may be a factor with a further 20 minutes to play. At half time in extra time we trailed by 2, 4-15 to 5-14. Despite our best efforts, James Stephens physical size was becoming a factor and they ran out 6 point winners, 4-15 to 5-18.
Rower Inistioge v Graigue Ballycallan Duggan Steel U16 Roinn B Championship 1st Round
A slow start to our U16 Roinn B championship 1st round was ultimately the decisive factor in this game. With the aid of a strong breeze Graigue Ballycallan had registered 1-4 in the opening 7 minutes to lead by 5, 0-2 to 1-4. Whilst still not hurling fluently, through will and hard work the lead was back to 2 after 18 minutes, 0-6 to 1-5. Unfortunately, Ballycallan struck for their second goal minutes later 0-6 to 2-5. In the final 10 minutes of the first half, we were outscored 4 points to 1 leaving ourselves a mountain to climb in the second half trailing by 8, 0-7 to 2-9.
For anyone who had seen our U16's play this year, it wasn't a surprise that they came out with all guns blazing in the second half. Remarkably, after 27 minutes of the second half we had outscored Graigue Ballycallan 1-7 to 0-2 to level the game with 3 minutes of normal time remaining, 1-14 to 2-11. Unfortunately, when victory looked to be within reach Ballycallan struck for a goal against the run of play and it proved to be the final score of the game to nudge them over the line by 3, 1-14 to 3-11.
Rower Inistioge v James Stephens Duggan Steel U14 Roinn A County Semi-Final
Our U14's lost out to James Stephens in the U14 Roinn A County Semi-Final after extra time. James Stephens raced out of the traps and had 1-2 on the board without reply after 4 minutes. They added a second goal after 9 minutes and it looked like it might be a difficult evening, 0-1 to 2-2. To their credit our young team battled back and had the lead down to 3 after 21 minutes, 0-6 to 2-3. They were struck with another sucker punch 2 minutes later when James Stephens netted for the third time, 0-6 to 3-3. When the half time whistle sounded the lead was stretched to 7 but it felt like a harsh scoreline on our boys, 0-7 to 3-5.
Needing a quick start we struck for our first goal in the 34th minute, 1-7 to 3-6 but James Stephens hit back one minute later with their 4th goal, 1-7 to 4-7. With all the momentum, James Stephens kicked on and added 1-2 in 4 minutes, 1-7 to 5-9 after 39 minutes to lead by 14 points. Showing incredible resilience we wrestled back momentum and in a ten minute spell between the 39th and 49th minutes, we scored 3-6 without reply to lead by 1, 4-13 to 5-9. With time almost up we still held a one point lead and but for a perplexing decision may have held out to win. When the final whistle was blown the match was level, 4-14 to 5-11 and we were heading for extra time.
Given the effort expended to reel in a 14 point deficit and the nature of the late equaliser, there was always a risk that our boys energy levels may be a factor with a further 20 minutes to play. At half time in extra time we trailed by 2, 4-15 to 5-14. Despite our best efforts, James Stephens physical size was becoming a factor and they ran out 6 point winners, 4-15 to 5-18.
Rower Inistioge v Graigue Ballycallan Duggan Steel U16 Roinn B Championship 1st Round
A slow start to our U16 Roinn B championship 1st round was ultimately the decisive factor in this game. With the aid of a strong breeze Graigue Ballycallan had registered 1-4 in the opening 7 minutes to lead by 5, 0-2 to 1-4. Whilst still not hurling fluently, through will and hard work the lead was back to 2 after 18 minutes, 0-6 to 1-5. Unfortunately, Ballycallan struck for their second goal minutes later 0-6 to 2-5. In the final 10 minutes of the first half, we were outscored 4 points to 1 leaving ourselves a mountain to climb in the second half trailing by 8, 0-7 to 2-9.
For anyone who had seen our U16's play this year, it wasn't a surprise that they came out with all guns blazing in the second half. Remarkably, after 27 minutes of the second half we had outscored Graigue Ballycallan 1-7 to 0-2 to level the game with 3 minutes of normal time remaining, 1-14 to 2-11. Unfortunately, when victory looked to be within reach Ballycallan struck for a goal against the run of play and it proved to be the final score of the game to nudge them over the line by 3, 1-14 to 3-11.
