Wrong side of Extra Time for our U21 Footballers.

Glanmire 1-9 Castlelyons 0-10.

We are after a long and bad spell of weather and pitches are in a terrible state.  We went to Duggan Park in Sallybrook today to take on the home side, Glanmire in the East Cork U21 A Grade Semi Final.  There was no neutral venue available so the first drawn out had played at home.  The day was fairly cold with some sun shine and good drying for a change.

The game was the proverbial cracker despite a huge step up for Castlelyons in Grade and with a lot of young players. Glanmire were a point up at half time on 1-3 to 0-5.  We lost Jack Barry with a dislocated finger and Brian O Donovan with a head injury and they were replaced by Andrew O Neill and Seamus Moroney both younger lads again.

Castlelyons stuck with the task in the second half and despite the loss of the two lads Mark Murphy and his management outfit made a number of good moves and the two subs, Andrew and Seamus did very well.  With the advantage of a slight breeze we were level on full time at 1-6 to 0-9.

Into extra time and again it was the physicality of the opposition that wore down our younger lads.  Glanmire as we know have a really massive pick and it showed but what a heroic effort by our young lads. It is not the size of the dog but the fight in the dog and Glanmire despite attacking a lot were only a point ahead on 0-9 to 1-7 at half time in extra time.

The second half of extra time was hectic as both teams gave it a right lash.  The game ebbed and flowed and we went down by just two points on a score 1-9 to 0-10.  I liked the spirit and attitude of this team and we could well have won this one.  I am looking forward to the U21 Hurling as I feel there are some tough men around the field who can wield the camán even better.  Well done to the Management outfit led by Mark Murphy with the wily Mark O Flynn and it is nice for Ronan Fenton and Michael Spillane to dip their toes in the water but take care maybe the whistler could bite it off.

“The greatest test of courage is to bear defeat without losing heart” and I think this outfit will be around again and come back even stronger with the camáns.  Well done all – the effort was mighty.

Full Report in the notes later in the week.