Sixmilebridge 2-16 Bodyke/O’Callaghans Mills 0-4
Sixmilebridge hosted neighbours Bodyke/O’Callaghans Mills in this U16 A BNOG Shield Round 6 match last Sunday morning in ideal conditions. The ‘Bridge having lost the toss were playing into a light breeze in the opening half. From the outset, the ‘Bridge were in control of this match and ten minutes in it was also reflected on the score board with 0-5 to 0-0 lead thanks to two Evan Murphy frees and a point each from play from Evan O’ Callaghan, Matthew Hurley, and David Kennedy. The East Clare amalgamation then started to up their game and for the next 15 minutes the exchanges were even enough with both defenses getting on top. Bodyke/O’CMills were very unlucky on 20 minutes when Michael Conway’s point blank strike on goal was expertly blocked by Evan Murphy. They were denied again 2 minutes later when another shot at goal was nicely caught by Ferdia O Lionain. It was from that clearance David Kennedy laid off a perfect pass right in front Colin Kelly and he ran at the Bodyke/O’CMills goal making no mistake for the game’s first goal. Matthew Hurley hit another fine point to leave the halftime score 1-8 to 0-0.
The ‘Bridge mentors continued their policy of rotating the bench so Dylan Dunne, Michael Carey, and Seamus O’Connell replaced David Kennedy, Morgan O’Connell, and Scott Kirkland at halftime with all three coming back on later in the second half. This half started like the first ended with the ‘Bridge well on top but Bodyke/O’CMills were battling hard and were finally rewarded 10 minutes in when Stephen Marsh finally scored their first point. The response from the ‘Bridge was immediate with Colin Kelly winning possession from the puckout and hitting a cracking shot at Liam Roskam in the Bodyke/O’CMills goal. He saved it but there was too much power in the shot so it just rolled in off his hurley. It was Kelly again a minute later with a point from a 20m free. The rest of the game was entertaining enough with both sides playing lovely hurling but the ‘Bridge were never in any danger. Bodyke/O’CMills scored 3 more points which were canceled out by 6 more from the ‘Bridge with Morgan O’Connell closing out the scoring with a skillful point out on the wing with the game heading towards fulltime.
For Sixmilebridge, the entire backline (including subs) was well on top throughout the match and this was reflected on the score line with Bodyke/O’CMills taking 40 minutes to register their first score.
For Bodyke/O’CMills, Michael Conway, Billy Scanlon, David McInerney, Jason McCarthy, Mark Crehan, and Michael McMahon were very strong and battled hard throughout.
Sixmilebridge: Cian Fawl, Conor Morey, Ferdia O Lionain, Morgan O’Connell (0-1), Adam O’Sullivan, Evan Murphy (0-2F), Scott Kirkland, Mathew Dillon (0-2), Colin Kelly 2-2(0-1F), Matthew Hurley (0-6), David Kennedy (0-2), Conor Maxwell, James Egan, Evan O’Callaghan (0-1), Luke O’Halloran, Adam Murray, Dylan Dunne, Michael Carey, Seamus O’Connell.
Bodyke/O’Callaghans Mills: Liam Roskam, Cormac Treacy, Noel McGrath, Mark Crehan, Ronan O’Dea, Stephen Marsh (0-1), Thomas Minogue, Billy Scanlon, Michael McMahon (0-1), Fionn Hickey, Jason McCarthy (0-1F), David McInerney, Michael Conway (0-1), Shane Nolan, Eoin Devanney, Cathal McKenna, Liam Boyce.
Referee: Jack Chaplin