Recap

Match Report by: Neil O’Brien.

Last Monday night saw a double header in the men’s super league. Amid outrageous thunderstorms all 4 teams played out two tightly fought encounters.
First up was the City Blues against the Gaels. The Gaels welcomed back key men Mikael Herbellin and Tony Cunningham while the Blues were without some star players with Brian Dowling, Luke Anderson and talisman Dan Robinson all absent. The Gaels also welcomed new draftee Davy Healy to the fold. Indeed, it was the aforementioned Healy who opened the scoring with an early point. Both sides shared equal spells of possession, but it was the Gaels who were more clinical in front of goal with Cunningham, Michael Brophy and skipper Dave Glynn all tagging on scores to give the Gaels an early 4-point lead. The Blues though, as they’ve done on a few occasions this season refused to lie down and fought back with a couple of scores from the superstar Marty Baneham. However, the fight back was short lived when MVP Healy latched onto a through ball from Brophy to race clear of the Blues defense and slot home the game’s first goal. Scores were exchanged between both teams before Healy bagged a second goal after great work from ‘Bad News’ Barranco. This eft the core at half time 2-5 to 0-3 in favour of the Gaels.
With the storm clouds now passing over, a welcome coolness fell on Vanier after the sweltering heat from just an hour earlier. The Blues came out swinging in the second half and debutant Big Phil Manassa was causing all sorts of problems in the Gaels defense. 2 early points from the AFL legend reduced the deficit to six and it was game on. Eric Chemin then added another for the blues and suddenly the Gaels skipper Dave Glynn was looking nervous. But the old head in the middle of the field Cunningham, steadied the ship with a cracking point before Healy kicked his third point of the game. Galway man Cian Darcy responded for the Blues, but they seemed to be finding scores harder to come by. The Gaels were glad to welcome out for the first time this season their goalkeeper, Adrian Tena-Russell. He pulled off a couple of fine saves and I’m sure Glynn will be hoping to have him every week from here on in. The hits were flying, and the conditions made for some very sloppy ball but both teams adapted brilliantly. The Blues were given a lifeline with 5 minutes remaining when the very industrious Matty Payne rattled the ball past Russell after some great teamwork involving Richie Edwards and Brett Whyborn. But from the resulting kickout the Gaels went up the pitch and the very impressive Michael Brophy slotted home the insurance goal to seal it for the Gaels. A tough and very entertaining game with a much-needed win for the Gaels to keep their hopes alive of reaching the Finals Day.
MVP for Gaels – Davy Healy
MVP for Blues – Phil Manassa
Final score: Gaels 3-10 Blues 1-8