Sixmilebridge 1-12 v 2-06 Ruan

Division 5B Round 1 @ Ruan

The Junior B team travelled to Ruan on bank holiday Monday to take on the home side in the opening round of the division 5 league. It turned out to be a fruitful journey for the Mikey Corbett managed side as they came out on top in what was a well contested game played in glorious sunshine.

Sixmilebridge, who were captained on the day by James O'Neill, had points in the opening half from Mikey O'Halloran, Errol Tuohy, Martin Conlon, Caimin Barrett and Mark McInerney as they went into the break 0-8 to 0-2 up with Eric Lynch getting through some great work. Errol Tuohy brought off a great save from the Ruan goalie during this half after he cut through through from the wing.

In the second half the visitors added further points from Tuohy, Barrett and Conlon before Ruan started to gather some momentum. The home side were rewarded with a couple of points and follwed this up with a goal that came about after a long ball in was flicked to the net. The 'Bridge were dealt a double blow entering the final quarter with Eric Lynch and goalie Richard Drake both going off injured.

Despite this double blow the visitors got through for a goal after Michael O'Halloran showed good vision to pass to Jamie Lyons who pulled to the net to increase the lead to six. Ruan pilled on the pressure in the last quarter with the defence holding firm with Pa Punch and Eamonn O'Donoghue making crucial interventions. Replacement goalie Jake Dineen was called into action near the end with the home side awarded a penalty which the youngster saved brilliantly after the referee ordered a retake, for good measure the first effort was also saved by Dineen. Credit to Ruan who never gave up and eventually breached the resistent defence for a second goal but there was no denying the visitors who deservingly claimed the win.

All in all it was a good days work for the Mikey Corbett managed team with Jim Spaight, Tom Keogh, Pat Noonan, Ed Skehan, Ronan Keane and James Liddane also on the sideline.

Sixmilebridge: Richard Drake; Billy Maxwell, Brian O'Loughlin, Pa Punch; Alan McAuley, Mark McInerney (0-1f), Eamonn O'Donoghue; Mikey O'Halloran (0-3), Eric Lynch; Errol Tuohy (0-3), Eanna Chaplin, Martin Conlon (0-2fs); Kevin Phelan, James O'Neill (Capt), Caimin Barrett (0-3).

Subs: Jamie Lyons (1-0) for Chaplin, Niall Cahill for McAuley, Ian Chaplin for Lynch (inj), Jake Dineen for Drake (inj), Tadgh Devanney for Barrett. Dean McKenna, Jordan Ryan.