SHC Gort 4-19 Pearses 0-12: County Champions Gort showed their potential to reclaim the title this year in this game played in Loughrea yesterday. Pearses were hanging on at half-time, six down, but a powerful second half for Gort left the result in no doubt.
Pearses without Tom Flannery and Jimmy Gelston (as well as long term injured Cormac Ward and Shane Raftery) seen their task made all the more difficult when Richie Cummins goaled for Gort inside the first minute. Pearses fought back, with scores from Ronan Bellew, to go in front after 16 minutes. However, Cummins struck for his second goal on the 22nd minute. Aidan Helebert was a stand out player for Gort in the first half, with some good points from play. Gort lead 2-8 to 0-8 at the break.
A Pearses goal chance came in the opening minute of the second half, Seán Hardiman’s shot for goal was excellently blocked. Bellew and Damien Wynne points followed, but Gort pushed on, opening a nine point margin by the 50th minute. Gort third goal came from Jason Grealish to open a twelve point lead. The Champions outscored Pearses 1-6 to 0-2 (the goal from Michael Mullins) in the final quarter to finish well ahead.
Pearses remain very much in the hunt for a Quarter-Final place, in third place in the Group. Clarinbridge are in second, above Pearses on scoring difference only (top two qualify). Pearses’ remaining group games are against Kiltormer and Clarinbridge and when back to full strength the lads will look to return to the form they showed in Clarinbridge and Ardrahan games.
Pearses: F Flannery; T McDonagh, T Kenny, R Lally; A Bellew, D Wynne (0-1), K Hardiman; C Donnellan, C Raftery; R Bellew (0-11, 7f), S Hardiman, R O’Neill; G Lally, E Ward, A Kilkenny, Subs used: N Skehill, E Cunniffe, L Murphy.