GAELIC SPORTS WORLD Issue 37 – October 31, 2015 | Page 19

tar over the bar. And when Whalen would win the ball, Gill
switched quickly into defensive mode, putting on a blocking clinic at Whalen’s expense.
While Gill proved reliable, so to did Chris Davis and last
week’s “player of the week,” Matt Baxter, who exploited
weaknesses in the Blue Notes’ defense and found points of
their own. Baxter, demonstrating a newfound confidence
in his game, struck the game’s opening goal when he found
the back of star keeper Ryan Buckley’s net. Baxter would’ve
had another, had it not been for Ryan Buckley’s better half,
Molly Buckley, who covered the goal when R. Buckley
moved out into space to clear the ball. M. Buckley saved a
piercing strike in what was likely the best play of the day.
The absence of key Blue Notes was obvious on both ends
of the pitch as the Leesiders attack seemed unstoppable and
the Notes found themselves unable to score. A late first half
goal gave the Notes some hope, but a flurry of points in the
second half would secure the win and pull the Leesiders to
within a game of the Blue Notes in the League standings.
Leesiders 2-10 (16) to Blue Notes 1-2 (5).
DOUBLE POSSIBILITIES
A second win of the day would put the Leesiders level
with the Blue Notes in the league standings, while a Ports
win would secure a spot in the championship for the navy
blue side and place the Leesiders’ fate in the hands of the
Blue Notes. The rallying cry from the Leesiders’ pre-match
huddle was illustrative of what was on the line in the day’s
sandwich match.
The Ports liked their odds as this week’s match saw a firstof-the-season appearance by the powerful and reliable
Jamie Norris. The Leesiders had a weapon of their own in
Liam Barry who, just released to play after a summer ligament injury, demonstrated his skill in the Leesiders earlier
match against the Blue Notes.

Action from Week 5 of the Autumn City Hurling League in Nashville,
Tennessee. Photo: Brendan Rauer.

The Ports struck first when Nick Chamberlain broke free
and put a solid shot over the bar. Norris, playing at corner forward, added to Chamberlain’s efforts striking over
a couple of points of his own, while Katie Sampuda did
well to win possession at midfield before delivering into
the veteran scorers. Grant Gill, coming off his spectacular
performance in the first match, remained the go-to man
for the Leesiders but found himself unable to replicate his
earlier performance. In a massive team effort, the Leesiders’ front line closed the gap before the half when Brendan
Rauer, in goal for the Ports, failed to effectively clear the
ball and opened the door for a Leesider goal. It was the
boy from Cork, Liam Barry, who pulled on the loose ball
and sent a zinger past the keeper and into the Ports’ goal.
Separated by 5 points at the half, both sides held tight to
victory hopes.

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