Intermediate Hurling Championship – Round 5
Sarsfields 0-13 St Paul’s 1-19
Going into Saturday’s game against next door neighbours Sarsfields, St Paul’s could still have qualified for the semi-finals of the Intermediate Hurling Championship, but to achieve that and overhaul Cloney Gaels the Shaw’s Road men would have needed a 26 point win over their neighbours. Technically possible, but highly unlikely, especially as they had to travel down the hill to the Bear Pit.
With the wind at their backs in the first half they gave it their best, but the Paddies were giving nothing away and at half-time there was just three points between the sides with St Paul’s leading by 0-10 to 0-07, Caolan Duffin, Caolan Crossan and Lorcan Phillips grabbing the majority of the scores, while Brendan Jackson, Caolan McKernan, Anthony McGarrigle and Fionn Jemfrey were on target for the Paddies.
At the beginning of the second half St Paul’s were still going for goals to try and bridge the yawning gap, but when it came apparent that it was not going to happen, and Sarsfields were posing a serious threat of actually winning the game, the attitude changed. Jackson began to go for points from his frees and that paid dividends as they edged a bit further ahead. There were some great scores from both side in a game where there was no place for the weak hearted, one exceptional score from Sarsfields goalkeeper Daniel McKernan who sent one over from a free on his own 45. However as the game went into the last ten minutes St Paul’s had edged six clear before Stephen Rooney sealed the deal with a great individual goal, his initial shot brilliantly saved by Dan McKernan, but Rooney followed up to sweep the rebound home and give his team a nine point win.
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