Edenderry Junior Hurlers bowed out of the Leinster Special Junior Hurling Competition in the semi-final at
The game was played in brilliant sunshine however the rain earlier this week left conditions underfoot very difficult.
Home side Fingallians opened the scoring with a goal in the opening minute when a free was dropped short and when it was not dealt with by Edenderry it ended in the net.
Edenderry opened their account in the 2nd minute when John Greene pointed a long range free before Fingallians regained their 3 point advantage with a long free of their own.
Shane Kelly and Ger Hanlon then scored points to reduce the arrears to one point. Fingallians scored another long range free before John Greene scored his 2nd point with a 65.
After 12 minutes Shane Connell received a yellow card for a late tackle on a Fingallians forward. Fingallians increased their lead yet again with another point before Shane Kelly scored from play to keep Edenderry in the game.
In the 20 minute John Green took a 65 which was dropped short and deflected by the Fingallians goalkeeper and Shane Kelly pounced to score a goal for Edenderry.
Two minuted later Fingallians went for goal from a 21 metre free which was saved by Tom Fay at the expense of a 65. Fingallians scored a point from the 65.
With the clock winding down to half-time John Green dropped another long free short and Shane Kelly collected the ball to pop over another point for the Reds to take the lead for the first time.
A further point from Paul Glennon ended Edenderry’s scoring in the first half however Fingallians scored another to leave the half-time score
Edenderry 1-07 Fingallians 1-06
Six minutes into the second half Fingallians levelled matters with pointed free from their own half. Two minutes later Edenderry regained their lead with a pointed 65 from Ger Hanlon.
8 minutes in, Edenderry had the ball in the back of the net however the referee ruled an Edenderry player had been in the square ahead of the ball and awarded a free out to Fingallians. This decision seemed to unsettle Edenderry and soon after Fingallians popped over 2 pointed frees.
A Ger Hanlon free from 21 metres rattled the crossbar however the danger was cleared by Fingallians who cleared it upfield and scored a point of their own to take control of the game.
Both sides traded wides before Fingallians scored two more points to lead by four points with 15 minutes left. Shane Kelly kept Edenderry in touch with a point from play before Fingallians replied with a pointed free.
Eoin Kelly reduced the arrears again but yet again Fingallians replied with a point of their own. Deep in injury time and trailing by four points Edenderry scored their second goal through John Greene however soon after the referee signalled full time ending Edenderry’s dream of a second Leinster Final appearance in 12 months.
Full Time Score
Edenderry 2-10
Fingallians 1-14
Best for Edenderry were John Greene, Shane Connell, Martin Keogh and Shane Kelly.
