Arklow Geraldines
27 July, 2008
The senior Ladies were knocked out of the championship in extraordinary but heartbreaking circumstances on a very hot Sunday afternoon. After a slow start to the match where the team found it hard to get into the pace of the game, they were settled by a good goal from Aisling Ni h'Annaigh and went in at half time two points up. Playing with the aid of a strong breeze in the second half, Bray proceeded to dominate the match and were 6 points up going into the last ten minutes. They should have been more ahead but for some less than clinical finishing. Then Bray incurred what this observer felt were two harsh sin bins reducing the team to thirteen players. Even with these numbers the team looked comfortable and were holding their own. Then in the last four minutes Arklow hit them with three goals, all similarly constructed by getting the ball quickly into the full forward who had given us trouble right throughout the match. The very hot day and depleted numbers meant there was no way back for Bray. It was a harsh lesson for the team who were dominant for much of the match. The team needs to now refocus and finish the league campaign strongly. Well done to Arklow who kept going right to the end to snatch an unlikely victory.
From the heartbreak of this result, this observer proceeded down to the N11 to Arklow to witness the Bray Minor Hurlers great victory in the Championship final against the hot favourites, Carnew Emmets. Such is the contrasting nature of joy and despair in sport!
