Our U12 hurlers retained their remarkable unbeaten record for the year in Ballinasloe last weekend, to book a place in the Aer Lingus Hurling Festival U12 Finals. They have played five of their seven Championship matches this year, winning them all and Saturday they played four more games, also winning all of them andamp;ndash; nine wins in-a-row!
In Ballinasloe GAA Grounds on Saturday there were four groups of three, with the winner of each Group advancing to the Semi-Finals. The games were 10 minutes a side, 11-a-side with no soloing permitted or 65s allowed.
First up for Pearses was Kiltormer and the lads ran out winners on a scoreline of 1-3 to 1-0. Kiltormer then defeated Meelick-Eyrecourt in the next game of the Group. In the Final game of the Group, between Pearses and Meelick-Eyrecourt. Oisin Flannery and Cian Murphy were goalscorers as Pearses came out on top, 3-1 to 0-2.
On to the Qualifier Semi-Finals and Sylane were the opponents. This was an evenly contested, tight, game and heading into the final minutes Pearses had come from behind to draw level. The ball broke down the left wing and Cathal Kitt gained posession, before slotting over the bar to send Pearses into the lead. The Pearses backs had to withstand some late pressure, but the lads held on to qualify for the Final.
Tommie Larkins were the opposition in the Final Qualifierandamp;nbsp;and again there was little in it throughout. Cian Murphy and Kitt continued their impressive double act up front, linking up for the Pearses goal after five minutes. Larkins were matching Pearses, but were not converting their scoring chances. The teams switched sides at half-time, with Pearses 1-1 to 0-0 in front.andamp;nbsp;
The second half again was close, but Oisin Flannery tagged on two more points for Pearses and they were looking good for the win. Then Larkins hit back with the goal to leave just three in it and also missed a couple of other scoreable chances. Pearses, however, held on to advance to the Salthill Finals. Each player played their part in all the games, but special mention must go to Eoghan McCabe in defence, Oisin Flannery in midfield and Cian Murphy in attack.
The Aer Lingus Hurling Festival U12 Finals will be held in The Prairie, Salthill on Saturday 21st September (10.30am-3.30pm). There are eight Galway teams competing andamp;ndash; Oranmore-Maree, Loughrea, Pearses, Salthill-Knocknacarra, Gort, Castlegar, Athenry, Ballinasloe and the visiting underage teams: Cuala (Dublin), Crusheen (Clare), McQuillans (Antrim) and Cloyne (Cork).
Pearses U12 Panel:andamp;nbsp;Luke Mitchell,andamp;nbsp;Eoghan McCabe, Shane Hynes,andamp;nbsp;Jack Barrett,andamp;nbsp;Niall Moran, Dean Reilly,andamp;nbsp;Geordan Kenny,andamp;nbsp;Oisin Flannery,andamp;nbsp;Marc Hennelly, Cian Murphy,andamp;nbsp;Cathal Kitt, Darragh McCabe, Robert Hynes,andamp;nbsp;Ethan Lally, Eoin Lally.