Russell Rovers G.A.A club

We faced east cork opposition for the first time in this seasons Cavanaghs of
Fermoy Avondhu/Imokilly league last Fri, 11 May, and it was to be our first round
championship opponents Dungourney. The game was played up in Dungourney and it was a fine evening for a game of hurling. The Rovers started the game in a positive mood having not lost their last 2 games in the league and this momentum had lifted the side out of their slight slump. Dungourney were first to score however from a free in the first minute, but the Rovers came back and levelled shortly after. The Rovers were showing great intensity in closing, hooking and blocking the Dungourney men. Dungourney scored their second point but this was their last point for the next 10 minutes as the Rovers were taking the game to their hosts and scored 4 unanswered points, Dan Moynihan, Ian Smiddy and Jack McGrath all contributing. The free taking from the Rovers might have extended the lead but it wasn’t to be. During the last 10 minutes of the half, Dungourney moved up a couple of gears and pegged the Rovers back and took the lead going into the break. Dungourney 7 points Rovers 6. It was a good half by the lads who showed a great level of intensity and drive.

The second half was a completely different story though, Dungourney started the half in a whirlwind mode and scored 1-4 without reply. The Rovers at this stage lost Paudie Higgins in the full back line to injury and seemed to lose their shape for a while. Another injury setback was that of Kevin O’Brien who was like a terrier in midfield in the first half. It took a while before we managed to recover but Dungourney had the damage done at this stage and with 15 minutes gone in the second half the Rovers got their first score of the half but trailed by 8 points going into the last 10 minutes. Another Dan Moynihan free cut the score to 7 but Dungourney kept finding space in their forward line and with the last puck of the ball found the net again. The saying a ‘game of two halves’ has never been so true in a game but the Rovers can take heart at their first half performance in which they hassled the Dungourney men throughout and didn’t give them room to manoeuvre. The final score line read a slightly harsh 2-15 to Rovers 8 points.

Our Junior hurlers played hosts to Ballyhooly last Sunday morning, 6th May, with good playing conditions for an hour of Hurling in the Cavanaghs of Fermoy Avondhu/Imokilly League. Rover’s lined up with a strong squad missing only a couple of players. The Rovers notched the first score of the match from a Dan Moynihan free, this was shortly followed by another point from full forward JP Ivers. However that was the last score for a while as the north Cork men replied with 5 unanswered points. With this response Rovers moved up a couple of gears and raced into a 2 point lead with a few minutes of the half remaining with scores from Dan Moynihan and Barry Hartnett, but it was to be Ballyhooly lead at the first half whistle, The Avondhu men got a goal with the last puck of the first half giving them a 1-6 0-8 lead at half time, It was a hard blow to take as the Rovers just shaded the first half, with Kevin O’Brien, JP Ivers, Kevin Hartnett and the Full Back line performing well

Rovers started the second half brightly but couldn’t make take advantage of this dominance; Ballyhooly extended their lead to a goal. This got rovers firing who raced back into the game with scores from Barry Hartnett and Eoin McGrath to leave the score line down to the minimum once again. Rovers were dominating again but again the accuracy was letting them down. Going into the last 5 minutes it was still the away side ahead by a point and it was the last puck of the ball from Kevin Hartnett to share the spoils between the sides. It was a case of what could have been as the Rovers who had a number of wides and they certainly felt this was a game that got away. A look on the bright side shows another point gained. It was also good to see Anthony Walsh and Ian Smiddy return from a their injury lay-offs and good to see them back in the team.

Team:
E.Ivers, A.Archer, P.Higgins, B.Fitzgerald, D.Crowley, K.Hartnett(0-1), P.Lane, K.O’Brien, B.Hartnett(0-2),Eoin McGrath (0-1), D.Moynihan(0-7,4F), J.McGrath, I.Smiddy, J.P Ivers(0-3),B.Whelehan,

Subs:
J.Ahern, B.Crowley, K.Ivers (all used) A.Hartnett, C.Quinlan, S.Casey, A.Walsh, J.Moynihan

The juniors bagged their first brace of points in this year’s league campaign away in Glanworth last Sunday, 22 April 2012. It was a fine day for hurling with a strong breeze blowing up the up the pitch. The rovers got the first score of the day from Seamus Kearney but Harbour Rovers responded with a point of their own. It was nip and tuck throughout the first half with one team taking the lead but then to be drawn level again. Derek Crowley pointed a score from around the midfield as Rovers looked to take a grip on proceedings but back came the hosts. Dan Moynihan was in good form slotting over frees as at half time the score line read 4 points apiece, but Rovers who had the wind at their back for the first half had a high number of wide’s in the first period and could have been out of sight on another day if they had taken some of their chances.

The second half was much like the first very nip and tuck with no team taking more than a point lead before the other would level matters. But then in the last 20 minutes of the game Rovers took charge. JP Ivers, who was moved into full forward from midfield, lead the charge. A great set of catches lead to a period of dominant rovers possession and with this possession came the only goal of the game, A great run from JP who expertly hand passed the ball over to, the free, Brian Whelehan who tapped home the ball. Rovers notched on another point to extend their advantage from another score from Dan Moynihan, who was top scorer with 7 points. The Avondhu men tried to come back at the Rovers but the rovers defence stood firm and They bagged their first win of this year’s hurling campaign. It was a great performance from the team and they showed great spirit to win. JP Ivers was a revelation in full forward with great catches and teamwork, while the other forwards worked hard in and around him. The whole defensive unit was strong and didn’t give anything away on the cheap with Derek Crowley and Kevin Hartnett mopping up any loose ball, while Anthony Archer and Paudie Higgins gave the host forwards an inch. It was a good effort from the lads and hopefully they can push on from here and carry on this level of intensity to the next match which is against Ballyhooly on the 5th May in Shanagarry.

Team: E.Ivers, J.Ahern, A.Archer, B.Fitzgerald, D.Crowley(0-1), K.Hartnett, P.Lane, J.P.Ivers, K.Walsh, P.Higgins, S.Kearney(0-1), D.Moynihan(0-7), J.McGrath, B.Hartnett(0-2), I.Smiddy.

Subs: B.Whelehan(1-0), B.Crowley, E.McGrath, K.Ivers(used) A.Hartnett, S.Casey, B.Kearney, R.Walsh, M.O’Flynn