2009 Minor Championship Kicks Off

Our minors started their 2009 championship on Sunday morning in the clubhouse against Blackhall Gaels. Unfortunately Blackhall proved too strong on the day and our lads were beaten.
Our lads started off somewhat slow in the first half and Blackhall, with the aid of a very strong (and pretty cold) wind, were playing nicely. As the first half progressed Ashbourne came into the game and worked their rear ends off. Blackhall had the advantage with the wind at their backs and they had some very nice hurlers (especially #11 and #6) who were able to make the most of that advantage. Blackhall were ahead at the break, 1-2 to 1-10.
Ashbourne had a few new faces from the team that played the 2008 championship final (last week!). One of these was Martin Quinn, who made his Minor debut that morning and played absolutely outstanding. He played in the full back line with Paul Giblin and he collected and cleared everything that came his way. Another new face was Sam Benville, who came on in the second half and despite being younger and smaller than some of the opposition he threw himself into tackles against some absolutely giant brutes on the Blackhall team.(and he came out on top alot of the time. Good man Sam!)
Another change from the team of the final was not a new face but a positional change. With Seán Kent unavailable to stand between the posts, Harry and Ken were stuck to find a replacement. Just then the dressing room door opened, a ray of light dawned through, and Seán Markham hobbled in with an injury from the final last week. The Kilkenny men couldn’t believe their luck and there’s no way they could have imagined how well he was about to play. Markham gave a performance that rivals any of Fitzhenry or Cummins, being steady as a rock on high balls that were raining down on him, and can expect a phone call from Cody or McCarthy any day now.
In the second half Ashbourne had the wind behind them and somehow they picked up their workrate yet again. Everyone on the field put everything they had into the game but unfortunately I’m including the Blackhall players in that, and they also improved in the second half. Both teams played brilliantly in the second half and both teams got some beautiful scores. The difference on the day was that Blackhall’s scores were goals and that gave them the victory. The match ended with a staggering scoreline of 3-7 to 6-12.
Team on the day: Seán Markham, Martin Quinn, Paul Giblin, Mitchell O Meara, Conor Walsh, Colm Randle(1-2), David Carey(1-4), Conor Miller(0-1), Ross Gilsenan(1-0), Michael Burnell, Martin Doherty. Subs: Sam Benville for Michael Burnell.