U16 Watergrasshill vs Tracton

Watergrasshill advance in East region Under 16 hurling championship

Watergrasshill  and Tracton met in their first round championship fixture on Sunday July 20 in Ballygarvan.  As the teams were also scheduled to meet in the league, points were also on offer with this fixture. Playing with a slight breeze the Hill had a measure of good fortune after 2 minutes when a free struck from midway by Aaron Collins which appeared to be going for a point, dipped just under the  crossbar to give the Hill an early advantage. The Hill continued to have the better of the early exchanges with Thomas Dinan in control at midfield, Luke McCarty prominent at centre forward and James Gowen and Dylan McCarthy stretching the Tracton defence in the corner forward positions. Well taken points from Thomas Dinan and Jason Power had the Hill ahead 1 – 2 to 0 – 0 after 10 minutes. Three pointed frees in succession followed by two from play in the 14 minute by Tracton  had the game evenly poised at this stage. The exchanges throughout the field showed the teams to be evenly matched. The Hill continued to keep the scoreboard ticking over with three further placed ball scores from Aaron Collins in the 16,18 and 22 minutes. With the end of normal time approaching Tracton had a further point from a free but the Hill produced a fine response when Jason Power fielded a great ball in the wing forward position and finished a strong run by driving low to the keeper’s left hand side for the Hills second goal. First half injury time saw further drama with firstly the Hill awarded a 20 metre free. Aaron Collins goal bound effort was blocked and cleared up the field only for Tracton to be awarded a similar effort. A well struck effort was blocked and cleared by Shane O Regan serving to keep the Hills advantage on the scoreboard in place. At half time the score read 2 – 5 to 0 – 6 in Watergrasshill’s favour. After a pointed free by Tracton after 6 second half minutes the Hill had a purple patch with Aaron Collins firstly pointing a free, followed by a sublime goal by Dylan McCarthy who showed great control and composure to lift and strike a moving ball without handling and saw his 25 metre effort hit the roof of the Tracton net. A point from the puck out by midfielder Pearse Maloney gave the Hill a nine point advantage. In a bid to regain the initiative Tracton committed more to attack at this stage and benefitted with a string of scores. Two points were followed by a goal on 19 minutes which really threw the game  open. Three further points, two from frees and one from play had the margin down to two points with five minutes of normal time remaining. Cometh the hour cometh the man and Dylan McCarthy again proved to be the right player in the right position as he managed to get ball in hand in a packed Tracton defence and his drive through a forest of bodies left the keeper with no chance. Two further points by Aaron Collins from play and a free were the Hill’s final scoring contribution  while Tracton had a final point before the last whistle.  This victory will see the Hill play the winners of the Ballygarvan / Whitechurch encounter in the East region semi final in the coming weeks. The league points garnered see the Hill join Lisgoold and Ballygarvan at the top of the table. The next fixture is a home league game Vs Ballincollig on July 28.

Panel : Cathal Maloney, Sean O Driscoll, Neil Meehan, Luke McCarthy, Mark O Riordan, Greg O Sullivan Magner, Jason Power, James Gowen, ThomasDinan, Colin Cronin, Christy Graham, Kenneth Spriggs, Seamus Curtin, Dylan McCarthy, Pearse Maloney,  Aaron Collins, John Noonan, Padraig O Leary, Shane O Regan.