Pairc Sheamuis Stiophan on the Kells Road was the venue as GBC faced O’Loughlin Gaels in the JJ Kavanagh & Sons Junior A Championship Semi Final on Sunday 16th August.
This was always going to be a close match between these two even sides. The first quarter, as they are known by now, produced some fine hurling from both sides but at the water break it was GBC ahead by 1-7 to 0-7. GBC’s first score of the game coming from the evergreen James Ryall. This was followed by points from Oisín Egan, Adam O’Brien and Willie O’Connor but the difference between the two sides was Sean O’Dwyer with 1-1 from full forward. After the water break more points from Ciaran Hogan, two frees from Oisín Egan and another point from Sean O’Dwyer saw GBC lead at halftime 1-11 to 0-10
Sean O’Dwyer started the second half the same way as he finished the first half with a point from play. An Oisín Egan free, a great point from Peter Murphy and another point from Oisín saw the scoreline at the water break 1-15 to 0-15.
The final quarter didn’t see many scores but with some great defending from the GBC backs and two more scores from Oisín and Luke O’Brien saw GBC booking their place in the final 1-17 to 0-17.
The final will take place on Saturday 22nd in UPMC Nowlan Park at 6pm v Lisdowney
Team: Richie O’Niell, Dara Walton, Bob Murphy, Eoin Corcoran, Tom Dunphy, Stephen Keoghan, James Ryall, Philip Cahill, Simon O’Dwyer, Oisín Egan, Willie O’Connor, Ciaran Hogan, Peter Murphy, Sean O’Dwyer, Adam O’Brien.
Subs used: Luke O’Brien for Ciaran Hogan, James Everard for Peter Murphy, Phillip Heafey for Adam O’Brien, Finn Lanigan for Dara Walton.
Scores: Oisín Egan 0-7 (0-3 frees), Sean O’Dwyer 1-3, Willie O’Connor, Ciaran Hogan, James Ryall, Peter Murphy and Luke O’Brien 0-1 each
Report by Noel Brett (PRO)