June 11 - Senior Football: Shannon Blues v Christopher's

Shannon Blues 3-11 Christopher’s 1-9

One look at the Shannon Blues team sheet and it was clear that Christopher’s would be up against it.  The Blues team featured many top tier players who would be very familiar with the requirements of the 13-a side game, and have experienced the hot conditions of a Boston summer.  It proved to be the case as the Blues tagged 3 goals in the opening half to put a large gap between them and their opponents.  In the heat of Canton it was never going to be easy to mount a comeback, and the Blues cruised to an 8 point win.

Shannon Blues Wayne Guthrie wins the ball in a crowd.

The teams took the half time break with the Blues in an 11 point lead.  The Blues team featured many familiar faces, with Wayne Guthrie and James Horan back in the fold, as well as Denis McElligott and Trevor Wallace manning the back line.  The Blues kicked 5 points before Christopher’s got off the Mark.  A Darren Wallace strike, and 3 frees from Kieran Hurley, as well as a curler from Horan, had the Blues looking good early.  Christopher’s had some chances that went awry before Eddie Goggin tallied two points from frees.

The second quarter of the game saw the Blues stamp their authority on the game with 3 goals.  The first came from Darren Wallace steaming down the middle, the second after a shot was gathered by Dara O’Shea in the Blues goal the ball made its way to Kieran Hurley who finished low from 14 yards, and the third just before the break from a Hurley penalty after the Kerryman was pulled down in the box.  Christopher’s relied on the free taking of Goggin for their scoring outlet.  At the break it was a 3-7 to 0-5 Blues advantage.

Paudie Kenneally shoots for Christopher's.

The second half saw the sides trade scores as the heat took its toll and the pace slowed down.  McElligott, Hurley and Wallace pointed for the Blues, while it was Goggin continuing to keep it ticking over for Christopher’s.  It was going to be a difficult task for Christopher’s to lift their efforts.  The large deficit and the excessive made the prospect of any kind of comeback very unlikely.

Christopher’s kept plugging away, however as the clock ticked on the substitutes made an entry for both sides.  A penalty late in the half was converted by Conor Horgan and put some respectability on the scoreboard as the Blues set the bar with their opening game, and Christopher’s will be looking find the winning formula.

Christopher’s:  Pat Delaney, Jake Byrne, Sam Ryan, Paudie Kenneally, James Horgan, Shane Dooey, Dan Grehan, Sean O’Leary, Greg Henry, Coleman Kennedy, Niall Crossan, Conor Horgan, Eddie Goggin.

Blues:  Dara O’Shea, Luke Nicholson, Fionn O’Herlihy, Trevor Wallace, Denis McElligott, Cormac Coffee, Barry Hartnett, Wayne Guthrie, Greg Horan, Darran Wallace, Brian O’Seannachaiu, Kieran Hurley, Lee O’Donoghue.

By Rory O'Donnell