Match Report – Saturday 11th April – Under 12 Hurlers v Liatroim @Carryduff
Photos from the match can be found here
Following on from the “Battle in the Bog” season opener, and a week spent indulging in the finest delights the confectioners bunny could bring, Carryduff’s under 12 Hurlers welcomed their Liatroim peers.
Both teams had to contend with the cut of a wind chill that had a sharpness more akin to one delivered from the Semple Stadium sideline which was incessantly blowing down the pitch.
It was the men from the mountains that adapted first playing into the wind with targeted low balls and neat short passing, which allowed them to make some early scores. Liatroim’s cobwebs had been blown away and their sharpness at the puc out and diligence in marking contained Carryduff in their own half. The icy breeze had rendered our lads numb as steaks in a freezer awaiting a thaw. Thankfully their resurrection didn’t take 3 days with Carryduff coming to terms with the conditions and utilising the elements to their advantage by delivering high balls to the midfield and half forwards. This allowed a sustained period of pressure yet early season rustiness was evident as opportunities to score and options to pass were missed.
The blueprint had been set for how the match would be played with both teams battling the environment as well as each other.
The second period seen Liatroim play with the wind and despite some good use of the wings found a Carryduff defence resolute to a man that no quarter would be given. In fact if Custer had have had troops this committed to their task then Little Bighorn would not have been his last stand. That said forays upfield were limited and the forward line was isolated and rarely seen any action, I believe one even called the sliotar “Wilson” when it finally came their way.
The third period seen more rapid exchanges by both teams with robust challenges and full blooded tackles meaning the temperature on the pitch was a lot higher than that endured by the spectators. Fatigue was evident in both sets of players with wayward passes and functional frustrations, but their commitment to the cause was never in doubt.
In summary many of the factors around fitness and sharpness are to be expected at this stage of the season but the teamwork, pride and passion instilled in this group means the future for them is as bright as an Armagh jersey.
