Pearses 4-7 Claregalway 0-9: The Club’s Junior footballers completed a unique treble last Thursday evening when they defeated Claregalway to win the Division 8 Football League in Newbridge. Having previously taken North and County Junior ‘C’ Championship titles, this win capped a great year for football in the Club. Pearses dominated the game from the start and 4 first half goals practically decided the game.
The first goal arrived when Kerrill Hardiman gathered an Enda Cunniffe delivery and was fouled in the square. Cunniffe sent the penalty to the back of the net. Hardiman himself had the ball in the net soon after to leave the score 2-1 to 0-0 after 10 minutes. Claregalway, with former Mayo players James Nallen and David Heaney in their ranks, scored 3 of the game’s next 5 points. However two more killer blows from Pearses before half-time, Kerrill Hardiman and Niall Skehill adding a third and fourth goal. 4-3 to 0-3 at the break.
Claregalway outscored Pearses, 0-6 to 0-4 in the scond half but the damage had been done. Pearses kept the scoreboard ticking mainly through Man of the Match, Tomás Flannery. Noel Treacy was on hand again to present the cup to Pearses Captain Gary Lally. Well done to all involved on a great year!
Pearses: J Flannery; L Murphy, S Hardiman, T Broderick; J Lally, D Wynne, G Lally (0-1); A Bellew, L Morrissey; E Cunniffe (1-2), R Lally, A Finn; T Flannery (0-3), K Hardiman (2-1), N Skehill (1-0). Subs: K Connell, C Hogan, R Carr.