After both recieving semi final bys, Arklow Rocks played host to Saint Columba’s of Kildare in the Cross Border Championship final in Pearse Park. Both sides were well prepared and eager to hurl and a highly entertaining game insued. It was nip and tuck for the start of the first half with both defences proving highly efficient especially the two O’Murchú brothers, Liam and Donnocha, who where solid in the full back line for “D Rocks”.
The break through came when the trojan center back, Kyle Byrne drove a long ball out and the nippy Tiernan Gahan got the ball and took off. He soloed through and put the ball in the roof of the net! He then added another point! St Colomba’s battled hard and soon got a goal of their own. Straight from the puck out “D rocks” battled hard through Adam O’Farrell and Aarron Keogh and the ball broke to Cian Redmond. He pulled to the back of the net, oldstyle stuff at its best. Half time score ARP 2.1 – Sr Columba’s 1.0.
The Kildare side started brightly and scored 1.1 without reply but it was like pressing a trigger for “D Rocks”. As they upped their levels through some fine plays led by the able hands of Patrick “Padge” Shaw. He put over a point worthy of the television before Adam O’Leary found his wings and took flight rattling the net and putting the Rocks back in front. Young Gahan then added another goal before Redmond struck again sealing a fine win for this very young Rocks team.
So the Cross Border Cup goes to the young men of D Rocks!
Rocks team: Kian Fluskey, Liam Murphy, Donnacha Murphy, Jamie Somers, Bartley Crummy, Kyle Byrne, Patrick Shaw, Niall Donovan, Tiernan Gahan, Paudraig Kelly, Cian Redmond, Adam O’Farrell, Bill Conors, Thomas Barnes, Fionn McDonald