Éire Óg faced League champions St. Josephs in the first Herts league game played at Glen Rovers wonderful new pitch and facilities at Radlett Road Watford.
Éire Óg started well, controlling the middle sector where Kevin Morrissey and Conor Dillon had a good stronghold in the game, despite playing against a swirling breeze. Early points from Thomas Gaughan and Piers McGlynn settled the team, followed by a nice goal from Odran McShane. Éire Óg led after 15 mins on 1-03 to no score. However St. Joe’s stormed back into the game creating some great chances and scoring three nice points. The Oxford side settled the first half with a fine score after some great pressing from dual player John O’ Driscoll. Piers McGlynn popped up to score a nice goal just before the break. Half time score was Éire Óg 2-04 to St Josephs 0-03.
Éire Óg continued where they left off after the break, some early chances were spurned but another goal from Piers McGlynn (a nice lobbed effort) and points from Peter “The Point” O’ Donovan, Thomas Gaughan and Odran McShane (after some fine support play from John O’ Driscoll) helped establish the lead. The Éire Óg defence was on top throughout (Including Eoin Monaghan, the Oxford student had done the Town and Gown earlier in the day and was never found wanting), the team defended superbly as a unit. The icing on the cake was when Captain Fantastic Noel Burke burst up the field to score the last (and best?) point of the game. Today’s man of the match was tigerish cornerback/dual star Eoin Toomey.
Final score Éire Óg 3-08 to St Josephs 0-03.
Team: T Griffin, A Stone, N Burke (0-01) , E Toomey, E Monaghan, C Forde, R Jones, C Dillon, K Morrissey, P O’ Donovan (0-02), C Finnegan, P McGlynn (2-01), J O’ Driscoll (0-01), O McShane (1-01), T Gaughan (0-02).
Management: J Gaughan, E Devlin, F Dillon
Referree: K Killeen (St Dympna’s)