15 November, 2008
After last week's fantastic game under lights
in Roundwood, where we qualified for the final by beating
Blessington in a high-scoring encounter, the scene was set for a
season-ending finale against up-and-coming club Arklow. They are
coached by Darren McGee, a formidable Dublin player whom they have
appointed full-time within the club. With a full panel available,
the match was played on a perfect pitch on a lovely mild day, last
Saturday, the 15th November 2008, in St. Patrick's of Wicklow. We
were well aware of our weakness - slow out of the blocks - and it
proved to be the same old story, despite best laid plans, and we
went 3 goals down within 5 minutes. However, the team responded to
the challenge magnificently, and by half-time were were up by 12
points to 3 goals. In the second half, we continued to pepper the
uprights with well-contrived points and the proverbial
writing-on-the-wall was now on the scoreboard. Arklow continued to
battle until the bitter end, and while the scoreboard doesn't
reflect valiant effort, they did their jersey proud, playing
against a slightly more experienced Bray team. At the end of an
extremely sporting match, Pat Mitchell and Eddie Leonard
complimented both teams, and Pat presented the "laoch-na-himeartha"
award to Bray's Jordan McGrath. Bray captain, Peter Conroy, thanked
the referee, Con O'Ceadaigh, St. Pat's club, and most importantly,
Arklow, for a great sporting occasion. Having lost the U12 hurling
final on the same pitch just weeks before, it was nice to finish
the competitive season on a high. Well done. Pictures are available
atwww.brayemmets.com, as
usual, and training continues for football and hurling every
Tuesday and Thursday in Old Conna. Panel on the day : Sean
O'Connor, Sean Maloney, Conor Davenport, Patrick Cunningham,
Donnacha O'Midheach, Evin McKay, Finn O'Duill, Fionn Kilcoyne,
Shane Lohan, Ishmael Mnensa, Liam Morgan, Cathal MacAodha, Peter
Conroy, Michael Curran, Eoin McCormack, Ivan Walsh, Ciaran Barnes,
Jordan McGrath, Padraig Doyle, Fionn
Sherlock.
