Pearses 5-5 Four Roads 1-3: Pearses U12’s made it 2 wins out of 2 with a very hard-earned win over Four Roads, Roscommon in the latest group game played in Gurteen this morning. It was a tough encounter in breezy conditions and although Pearses were 2 points down at half time, they rocketed out of the traps in the 2nd half to win 5-5 to 1-3.
Pearses were never in cruise control until the last quarter as Four Roads played a tight game leaving Pearses with little space to fire the ball around. Their big No.13 was a constant threat in the opening half. It took 7mins for the first score; a goal from Conor Kelly which he blasted to the net after Ronan Hynes found him out with a free.
6 mins later and Four Roads levelled matters as their scorer burst through the middle and scored a great goal leaving Cathal Hynes between the posts with little chance. The visitors tacked on 2 more points from play before half time as they appeared to be on top in the form of possession throughout the field. Half time: Pearses 1-0 Four Roads 1-2.
In the 2nd half, Pearses produced a performance of real graft and character to swing the game in their favour. Dylan Roche reduced the deficit 2mins after the restart with a point from play after a good pass from Paddy Kenny. Kenny himself scored a tonic goal when he gathered a loose ball which broke from a goalmouth shemozzle and rattled the net. Ronan Hynes then took a free from midfield which found the net while it took a deflection on its way. Such was his joy that he punched the air with delight as they moved 5 points clear.
This ignited Pearses as they dominated the remainder of the game. Conor Kelly made it 4-01 to 1-02 as the ball ricocheted off the ground and into the net; Dara Scarry scored a great point as the keeper got his hurl to it to tip it over the crossbar andamp;amp; Conor Kelly scored from play after good foraging. Four Roads scored their only point of the 2nd half before Ronan Hynes converted a free after he himself was fouled.
Then as Harry Mitchell’s clearance found the height of Jimmy Kelly’s field, one of the mentors had to take the scenic route down by the clubhouse in case he’d burst his trousers with the wire! But Niall’s caution paid off and the trousers was fully intact! The last few minutes belonged to livewire Darragh Roche as he tacked on 1-01; his goal made by Dara Scarry and immediately tacked on a point taken on the run from a tight enough angle.
Scorers: Conor Kelly 2-1; Ronan Hynes 1-1; Darragh Roche 1-1; Paddy Kenny 1-0; Dara Scarry 0-1; Dylan Roche 0-1.
Panel: Cathal Hynes, Harry Mitchell, Conor Hillary, Cormac Hillary, Paddy Kenny, Jonah Donnellan, Ronan Hynes, Anthony Feeney, Darragh Roche, David Walsh, Dylan Roche, Conor Kelly, Dara Scarry, Ross Lally, Brian Thompson, Jamie Nutley, Conor Walsh.
By Martina Donnellan