They say you learn more in defeat than in victory and that’s what can be taken from Tuesdays league match against Gort Na Mona. There were several absentees due to the holidays and suspension with Michael Cummings and Eddie Gilgea getting a chance to stake a claim for a regular starting booth. Before the match there was a minutes silence in honour of founding member John Cahill kept and respected by both sides and supporters. The match began with the visitors in charge and with quality possession around the sidelines on the home 22. More than twice shots were taken from terrible angles – the frustration from the crowd coming not from the wides themselves but from the poor decision making. The home side took an early lead with a disputed goal. A high ball into the full back line was broken by full back Fin McKernan who got little help from defensive teammates as the loose ball was slotted home. The home team went further ahead from a free after winning break ball around the middle of the park. Jake O’Kane won good possession and ran directly at the opponents’ goal. Soon after Mike Cummings pressureised his opponent in the danger zone winning a free for overcarrying. Mark Boylan dispatched both frees maintaining his record of accuracy from any reasonable position. O’Kane won similar possession shortly after, this time setting up Boylan to score from play. The home side kept ahead with another free after Marko Cernick was unlucky in tackling the very impressive Brendan Corr. The Gaels pegged one back from a great catch and shot from Conor O’Doherty before Boylan levelled the scores shortly before halftime.
Half time 1-3 to 0-6
Kevin Mc Govern was brought on for the second half and showed that he has the class – although not yet the fitness – to make an improvement to the forward line. The second half began very well for the visitors with an excellent hand passing move from McGovern and Alex Lavery left Shane Moran through on goal. The midfielder powered through the defence and confidently found the net. He scored a point soon after in similar circumstances. Slack defending allowed the Gort side to score twice quickly under little pressure and not too far out. The visitors will have to improve their movement of the balls from defense with several short kick passes easily intercepted when a handpass seemed to the obvious option. Another highball was fielded well in the full forward line and the home side took the lead with keeper mc Menamin left with no chance with the shot. The fielding of Tommy Mc Gowarn won Gort a lot of possession and they threatened to score three points on a couple of other occasions as well. Failure to make sure of passing from defense lead to three more scores from the big home side either side, with two of two free kicks to the Geals keeping the score tight. The first was from Boylan and the second was from Moran from distance. The game changing score came the impressive Corr who got free of his marker and beat the keeper at the near post after a mazy run. The visitors worked frantically to reduce the deficit in the closing stages. Mc Govern and Lavery linked up to allow Boylan to score from close range. Two more Boylan frees brought the game to within a single point but there was not enough time. Again the decision making of the forwards in the closing stages was exemplary for the second week in a row – one of the lessons to be learn is that its just as important in the opening minutes.
Final Score
3-9 to 1-14
