Shrone NS vs Knocknaclarig NS.

Shrone leave no stone unturned but still come up short. 

They say in boxing that a good big boxer will beat a good small boxer, that saying proved true today at a sunny Castleisland Desmonds gaa pitch

A youthful Shrone girls team did not feature anyone from 6th class as of course there are no girls in 6th class this year, the bulk of of team, Eabhla Murphy, Jessica Doherty,  Roisin McAuliffe,  Danielle Buckley,  Isabella O Brien and Beatrice Leonard are all in 5th class, Grace O Sullivan and Laura Cronin represented 3rd class while Aoibhin Creedon from 2nd was the most junior on the team. Our girls faced stiff  competition from a rugged Knocknaclarig team comprising mostly of 6th class. Not only had they the advantage of an extra years growing on their side but also had the experience of winning the mixed two teacher competition earlier in the year; serious competition indeed.  

Shrone however brought every ounce of strength skill and energy they could muster to the game and Knocknaclarig soon realised that this would be no walkover. Tenacious defending from Danielle, Eabhla and Laura saw Knocknaclarig forced away from goals and kicka lot of wides while Jessica Doherty commanded the area in front of her goal, smothering opportunities and clearing her lines. This was a very competitive and entertaining match and neither side could force a score until the 5th minute when Knocknaclarig took the lead with a superb goal. They added a point from a dubious free  Danielle Buckley judged by the ref to have  picked the ball from the ground while on her knees, if RTE were present we would clearly see on a replay that wasn't the case. Shrone responded and the teams top scorer Grace O Sullivan opened the shrone account with a sensational goal. As bodies tired in the intense heat Roisin and Bella were introduced and firm defending from both prevented any other attempt on goal by Knocknaclarig.  The score at halftime 1- 3 knock, 1 goal to Shrone.

Determined not to go out without a fight Shrone went for broke in the second half throwing caution to the wind and giving everything to the attack. Unfortunately it was as this point that the height and physicality became a factor, the Shrone girls simply could not penetrate the solid Knocknaclarig defence and it was at that point  Knocknaclarig turned on the style, scoring two more goals and 3 points. Grace o Sullivan added a point  from from free and also a late goal which was in this reporters opinion the score of the day, cooly slotting the ball past two defenders and the  goalkeeper. Fresh legs in the shape Beatrice and Aoibhinn  were introduced and while they put pressure on the Knocknaclarig defence they were unable to get the scores Shrone needed.