U10 Hurlers Defeat Clara

Edenderry……5-03
Clara……………3-01

Following the disappointing result and performance against Ballinamere/Durrow in the previous round of the U10 Hurling Competition, Edenderry got back to winning ways last Thursday evening in Ballyfore when they overcame a good Clara team by a winning margin of eight points.

From the throw in the home team got on top with Shane Cummins and Conor McCarthy dominating midfield and with the roaming Donie Groome picking up most of the loose ball in the Edenderry forward line, it wasn’t long until the reds had two goals on the scoreboard with Cian Farrell and Donie Groome finding the net. However a number of other chances were missed as the Edenderry lads failed to take full advantage of their dominance in the early part of the match. Clara, who had some nice skilful hurlers slowly came into the game and grabbed a goal back midway through the first half. Edenderry responded well and added another goal and a point from the outstanding Shane Cummins before Clara grabbed a second goal to leave the game a lot closer than it should have been. Clara had the home goal under a lot of pressure before the end of the first half but great work from goalkeeper Oisin O’Grady, Ryan O’Neill, Andrew Murray and Eoin Dunne in defence they kept the visitors out.

Halftime, Edenderry 3-01 Clara 2-00.

The second half started evenly with Clara coming more and more into the game. The Edenderry defence remained very strong though with Gary Gorman dominating at full back and Ciaran Nolan sweeping up a lot of ball on the half back line. Once the initial storm from Clara was held off, the home team took control again with the half forward line of Martin Keogh, Alex Cummins and Ciaran Breen on top. Good early ball into the full forward line of Cian Farrell and Briain Nolan began to pay off and Cian grabbed two great individual goals to give Edenderry a 10-point lead. Clara pulled a point back from a free before the reds grabbed the score of the game – it started in the full back line with Conor Dempsey who played it down the line to Shane Cummins who in turn delivered it quickly to the excellent Donie Groome inside the Clara half, Donie delivered immediately into the full forward line and Cian Farrell plucked it from the air before driving it over the bar for a fantastic score. The speed and skill shown in this move was a great demonstration of all the hard work this team has been putting in during training. Shane Cummins then added a point from long distance for the last Edenderry score before Clara finished strongly with a goal to leave eight points between the teams at the final whistle.

All substitutes got a run out in the second half and with the success of the U8 hurlers in the matches they have played this summer (wins against Kinnitty, Ferbane, Na Fianna and Ballinamere/Durrow), the panel is in great shape. This performance was another step forward from this young team and it showed that the disappointment of the previous round has been put behind them and the confidence is high as ever.

Team: Oisin O’Grady; Conor Dempsey, Gary Gorman, Andrew Murray; Ryan O’Neill, Eoin Dunne, Ciaran Nolan; Conor McCarthy, Shane Cummins (1-2); Martin Keogh, Alex Cummins, Ciaran Breen; Donie Groome (1-0), Cian Farrell (3-1), Briain Nolan

Subs (all used): Daniel Lowry, Liam Cox, David Ryan, Adam McCraith, Craig Farrell, Eoin Brereton, Tadgh Dulohery, Alan Harte, Jack Costello, Peter Butler, Shay Evans, Eric Corcoran.

Referee: John McDonnell.