Broadford played Crusheen in Sixmilebridge last Wednesday in the third-round of the Junior A Championship.
Crusheen got off to a strong start with four points in the first ten minutes of play. Jack O’Brien opened Broadford’s account with a fine puck over the bar from play just out from the Broadford dug out. A goal from Michael Hogan in the 16th minute brought Broadford level (1-01 to 0-04). Two further points from play from Dara Corcoran and Seanie Casey had Broadford ahead just two minutes later.
Halfway through the first-half Boadford had the Crusheen back line under pressure to the right of the Crusheen square. Niall Moloney won the ball and made a short pass back to Michael Hogan. With Crusheen launching towards Michael from all angles and little to no room to manoeuvre, the ball was sent to the back of the net from the corner of the square with devastating effect from Michael’s boot (2-03 to 0-04) Broadford went on to score another four points, that would have been five but for a disputed point from Declan Teefy, with just two in response from Crusheen; to leave the field a healthy seven points ahead by the half-time whistle (2-07 to 0-06).
Broadford looked to continue where they had left off in the first-half but the first scoring opportunity over the bar went wide as did a free from between the 65-metre lines for Crusheen. Crusheen were back in the 65-metre territory some minutes later, with another free that was dropped just outside the Broadford square with Crusheen clearly going for goals but the ball slipped through the fingers of the Crusheen forward who tried to catch the ball only for it to be retrieved by Broadford’s Jack Dillon who took it on a run and pucked it back up the field. However with Crusheen not looking to give Broadford and easy ride, a Crusheen puck-out found its way to their number 14 in the midfield who sent it on to number 12 where from just outside the Broadford square and he sent it to the back of the net to score a crucial goal and narrow Broadford’s lead (2-07 to 1-06).
A point from a Teefy free after Jack O’Brien was taken down in a foul during a ducking-and-diving solo run was the first of three scores in a row for Broadford as Crusheen were putting the Broadford backs through their paces during which a catch for goalie Willie Hayes during dangerously close play in the square helped to prevent a second goal for Crusheen but this was not the last near-goal experience.
With the score at 2-10 to 1-06 and 15 minutes down, Crusheen drew from something deep and went on the rampage sending four balls over the bar with the fourth from a free at 20-minutes down and putting just one goal between the two teams 2-10 to 1-10. With Crusheen wining another puck-out the ball was back in the Broadford square just when Broadford needed it to be somewhere else. Willie Hayes was drawn out of the goal in order to keep the ball out of the net and Aidan O’Brien rushed in to take his place.With Aidan keeping sentry in the net as if it was meant to be, Crusheen broke the ball free and went for goal still inside the square. Aidan reached his hurley high to make a fantastic save, caught the ball and pucked it back out. A moment of play that sounded a collective Broadford sigh of relief but the game was not over!
Crusheen took another point from a free and another from play by 25 minutes. Both teams continued to throw everything they had and with just a point between them either could have broken away to deny the other the win by a few points and mote but despite the ferocity of play there were no further points and Broadford narrowly held on to their lead for an eventual win by one point. Final score 2-10 to 1-12.
What a match!
Crusheen got off to a strong start with four points in the first ten minutes of play. Jack O’Brien opened Broadford’s account with a fine puck over the bar from play just out from the Broadford dug out. A goal from Michael Hogan in the 16th minute brought Broadford level (1-01 to 0-04). Two further points from play from Dara Corcoran and Seanie Casey had Broadford ahead just two minutes later.
Halfway through the first-half Boadford had the Crusheen back line under pressure to the right of the Crusheen square. Niall Moloney won the ball and made a short pass back to Michael Hogan. With Crusheen launching towards Michael from all angles and little to no room to manoeuvre, the ball was sent to the back of the net from the corner of the square with devastating effect from Michael’s boot (2-03 to 0-04) Broadford went on to score another four points, that would have been five but for a disputed point from Declan Teefy, with just two in response from Crusheen; to leave the field a healthy seven points ahead by the half-time whistle (2-07 to 0-06).
Broadford looked to continue where they had left off in the first-half but the first scoring opportunity over the bar went wide as did a free from between the 65-metre lines for Crusheen. Crusheen were back in the 65-metre territory some minutes later, with another free that was dropped just outside the Broadford square with Crusheen clearly going for goals but the ball slipped through the fingers of the Crusheen forward who tried to catch the ball only for it to be retrieved by Broadford’s Jack Dillon who took it on a run and pucked it back up the field. However with Crusheen not looking to give Broadford and easy ride, a Crusheen puck-out found its way to their number 14 in the midfield who sent it on to number 12 where from just outside the Broadford square and he sent it to the back of the net to score a crucial goal and narrow Broadford’s lead (2-07 to 1-06).
A point from a Teefy free after Jack O’Brien was taken down in a foul during a ducking-and-diving solo run was the first of three scores in a row for Broadford as Crusheen were putting the Broadford backs through their paces during which a catch for goalie Willie Hayes during dangerously close play in the square helped to prevent a second goal for Crusheen but this was not the last near-goal experience.
With the score at 2-10 to 1-06 and 15 minutes down, Crusheen drew from something deep and went on the rampage sending four balls over the bar with the fourth from a free at 20-minutes down and putting just one goal between the two teams 2-10 to 1-10. With Crusheen wining another puck-out the ball was back in the Broadford square just when Broadford needed it to be somewhere else. Willie Hayes was drawn out of the goal in order to keep the ball out of the net and Aidan O’Brien rushed in to take his place.With Aidan keeping sentry in the net as if it was meant to be, Crusheen broke the ball free and went for goal still inside the square. Aidan reached his hurley high to make a fantastic save, caught the ball and pucked it back out. A moment of play that sounded a collective Broadford sigh of relief but the game was not over!
Crusheen took another point from a free and another from play by 25 minutes. Both teams continued to throw everything they had and with just a point between them either could have broken away to deny the other the win by a few points and mote but despite the ferocity of play there were no further points and Broadford narrowly held on to their lead for an eventual win by one point. Final score 2-10 to 1-12.
What a match!