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SENIOR HURLING LEAGUE PAGE Detailed reports of all events from The "Clash of the Ash", in London. All info is updated by Colin Anderson. |
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PEARSE MISS THEIR CHANCE Ballygalget (Down) 1-9
Brothers Pearse (London) 0-4 Brothers Pearse formed in the dark days of 1920 fluffed their first chance of achieving glory in the AIB All-Ireland club hurling championship at Ruislip on Sunday. The champions of Britain reserved their worst performance for the greatest day in the club's distinguished history. Their insipired display will haunt them further when they analyse the capabilities of their conquerors. Ballygalget from the wee Ards peninsula were always the more impressive of two very mediocre teams but a goal for the Pearses at any stage in the second half would have swung the game in favour of the London side such was the closeness of the scoring. However, Brothers Pearse never looked capable of scoring a goal. In fact they were lucky to notch four points. Playing down field the Down men were first to attack. A fine delivery from Liam Coulter set up Barry Smith who was fouled. Johnny McGrattan pointed the 30 yards free. In the sixth minute the alert Ray Walsh denied McGrattan a goal with a fine save. McGrattan was back in the tenth minute for the winners second point. Enda Monaghan had Pearses first point in the 18th. minute - he had missed at least two good chances before then. Ray Walsh denied Barry Coulter with another great save in the 19th. minute but the winners pressure was soon rewarded with points by McGrattan from a free and from play and a minor from play by Barry Smith. Three minutes from the interval Brian Keane had a fine point for Pearses to leave them trailing by 0-5 to 0-2 at the interval The respite, however, brought no improvement for the Londoners despite a number of positional switches. They did have chances though but they were sent wide or dropped into the secure hand of Graham Clarke in the winners goal. Ballygalget fared little better having to wait eleven minutes for a point by Barry Coulter. At this juncture both sides had what appeared legitimate points waived wide. Enda Monaghan managed a Pearses point in the 14th. minute but a McGrattan point from a free restored the winners four point advantage. A bad miss by Barry Smith with the goal at his mercy allowed the Pearses a 'stay of execution'. They looked set to avail of the let off when Enda Monaghan with a point from play reduced the deficit to a goal. Their supporters prayed for a goal at this stage but it never looked on. Alas! it was to be their last score though they had opportunities and a goal and a point by Martin Counter, junior, and a point by Kevin Coulter clinched the win for the Ulster champions. Conditions may not have been suitable for hurling but Ballygalget are unlikely to progress any further in the competition. Brothers Pearse will hopefully have learned from the experience and be back next year. On this occasion they can thank goalkeeper Ray Walsh for keeping them in touch for so long. Nobody shone outfield though Tom Ryan, Ollie Lee, Joe Egan, P.J. Horgan; Brendan Ryan, Damien Browne, Brian Keane, Aidan Heaney and Enda Monaghan tried hard but they sorely missed the services of Tom Feehan and Caoimeen Browne Many experience hurlers were mystified why the Pearses mentors allowed Monaghan to take all their frees when he was so clearly off form on the day. had they scored from all their placed balls it could have been a different story at the finish. Ballygalget: G. Clarke; L. Clarke; K. Coulter (0-1); E. Dorrian; M. Coulter (snr.); L. Coulter; M. Pucci; B. McGrattan; B. Gallagher; P. Savage; B. Coulter (0-1); B. Smith (0-1); M. Coulter (jnr.)(1-1); J. McGrattan (0-5); Philbin Savage. Brothers Pearse: R. Walsh; T. Ryan; O. Lee; J. Egan; P. J. Horgan; B. Ryan; K. Moroney; P. Sheehan; D. Browne; B. Keane (0-1); A. Heaney; E. Monaghan (0-3); S. Ivors; P. Dempsey; M. Malone. Subs: J. Aldridge for S. Ivors.This Sunday London Champions Bros Pearse take on Ulster and Down champions Ballygalget in the quarter final of the AIB sponsored All Ireland club senior Hurling Championship at the Emerald Grounds, Ruislip (throw in 12.30pm). The visitors Ballygalget hail from the Ards peninsula area of County Down and were formed in 1939 and since their formation have been successful in lifting 12 senior championship titles. They won the Ulster Club Championship in Ulster this year when they defeated the hot favourites Ballycastle in the replayed final at Casement Park by 1-14 to 1-12. In the semi-final they comprehensively defeated Derry's Dungiven by 3-9 to 1-2 but they had to struggle all the way against Portaferry in the Down Senior Championship before eventually coming out on top 2-10 to 1-8. When one mentions Down hurling the names Coulter, McGratten and Savage immediately spring to mind and between them they compose 95% of the visiting team and fourteen of their players have already played at Ruislip over the past two years with the Down County team so they are no strangers to the venue. They have resolute defenders in Kevin Coulter at full back who is renowned for his tight marking and lengthy clearances making him the central figure in a usually mean defence. Captain Paul Coulter plays at centre half back and he is flanked by his youngest brother Liam and they are renowned for their sheer grit and determination. Paddy Moran man of the match in this years County Final will be missing as he suffered a fractured ankle in the Provincial Final replay and Brendan Gallagher will probably take his place at midfield in partnership with Barry McGrattan. Brothers Philbin and Paddy Savage are the older more mature members of the forward line and have been excelling themselves all year. Complimenting their striking force will be Barry Coulter at centre forward and his cousin Martin who grabbed the two extra points to beat Ballycastle in the replay. Johnny McGrattan who scored 7 points in the Ulster final will play the pivotal role at full forward. Brother Pearses on the other hand will relish their first encounter in the All Ireland Club Championship but have had no meaningful game since their County final on the 18th October and are also troubled with injuries to keeper Ray Walsh and full back Ollie Lee sustained in football matches but club Chairman Billy Reilly is hopeful that his duo will pass late fitness tests. In the County Semi Final they put paid to St Gabriels dream of the four in a row and came out worthy winners 2-13 to 1-13. In the County Final they had the better of Sean Treacey's throughout and came out easy winners 1-15 to 2-5 amid ecstatic scenes of jubilation. Pearses are a very balanced outfit throughout and have resolute defenders in Ollie Lee (if fit), Brendan Ryan and captain P.J Horgan who leads by example and is an inspiration to his side. Pat Sheehan and Damien Browne can hold their own with any opposition and their duels with Brendan Gallagher and Barry McGrattan are expected to have a direct bearing on the result. Up front they will be relying on Enda Monaghan, Tom Feehan and Aidan Heaney to get the vital scores and get them through. Pearses who are known for their never say die attitude will contest this encounter to the final whistle and carry the best wishes of all London Gaels this weekend and are hoping for a big turnout of support. |
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PEARSES SHC CHALLENGE rs; P. Dempsey; M. Malone. Subs: J. Aldridge for S. Ivors.This Sunday London Champions Bros Pearse take on Ulster and Down champions Ballygalget in the quarter final of the AIB sponsored All Ireland club senior Hurling Championship at the Emerald Grounds, Ruislip (throw in 12.30pm).
The visitors Ballygalget hail from the Ards peninsula area of County Down and were formed in 1939 and since their formation have been successful in lifting 12 senior championship titles. They won the Ulster Club Championship in Ulster this year when they defeated the hot favourites Ballycastle in the replayed final at Casement Park by 1-14 to 1-12. In the semi-final they comprehensively defeated Derry's Dungiven by 3-9 to 1-2 but they had to struggle all the way against Portaferry in the Down Senior Championship before eventually coming out on top 2-10 to 1-8. When one mentions Down hurling the names Coulter, McGratten and Savage immediately spring to mind and between them they compose 95% of the visiting team and fourteen of their players have already played at Ruislip over the past two years with the Down County team so they are no strangers to the venue. They have resolute defenders in Kevin Coulter at full back who is renowned for his tight marking and lengthy clearances making him the central figure in a usually mean defence. Captain Paul Coulter plays at centre half back and he is flanked by his youngest brother Liam and they are renowned for their sheer grit and determination. Paddy Moran man of the match in this years County Final will be missing as he suffered a fractured ankle in the Provincial Final replay and Brendan Gallagher will probably take his place at midfield in partnership with Barry McGrattan. Brothers Philbin and Paddy Savage are the older more mature members of the forward line and have been excelling themselves all year. Complimenting their striking force will be Barry Coulter at centre forward and his cousin Martin who grabbed the two extra points to beat Ballycastle in the replay. Johnny McGrattan who scored 7 points in the Ulster final will play the pivotal role at full forward. Brother Pearses on the other hand will relish their first encounter in the All Ireland Club Championship but have had no meaningful game since their County final on the 18th October and are also troubled with injuries to keeper Ray Walsh and full back Ollie Lee sustained in football matches but club Chairman Billy Reilly is hopeful that his duo will pass late fitness tests. In the County Semi Final they put paid to St Gabriels dream of the four in a row and came out worthy winners 2-13 to 1-13. In the County Final they had the better of Sean Treacey's throughout and came out easy winners 1-15 to 2-5 amid ecstatic scenes of jubilation. Pearses are a very balanced outfit throughout and have resolute defenders in Ollie Lee (if fit), Brendan Ryan and captain P.J Horgan who leads by example and is an inspiration to his side. Pat Sheehan and Damien Browne can hold their own with any opposition and their duels with Brendan Gallagher and Barry McGrattan are expected to have a direct bearing on the result. Up front they will be relying on Enda Monaghan, Tom Feehan and Aidan Heaney to get the vital scores and get them through. Pearses who are known for their never say die attitude will contest this encounter to the final whistle and carry the best wishes of all London Gaels this weekend and are hoping for a big turnout of support. |
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