Heavyweights Take Win of Attrition over Griffins by Ivan Baker
The Silver Springhouse Heavyweights and the Shamrock Club Griffins met Sunday in what was the prelude to the quarter final playoff game scheduled for this upcoming Sunday before the much anticipated Party at the Pitch. Both teams were embattled in a ruthless game to test each other’s might, no surprises here.
The Heavyweights came out sticking to the fundamentals and putting the sliotar over the bar twice in the first quarter. Shamrock Club took some time to adjust to their unorthodox lineout with Griffin captain Vinny Maloney in goal (and with his son’s 26 inch hurley, at that) and while fellow captain A.J. Varelas took to the field instead of his usual spot in the box.
During the second quarter, the Shamrock Club made some good plays weaving through the diehard Heavyweight defense and found the back of the net along with a pair of points. With the father/son duo, Nolan and Mike Hoffmann, Silver Springhouse had a matched goal and kept firing many from afield, but managed only two between the uprights, sustaining their two point lead.
Shamrock Club took control of the third quarter with some great aggressive play, taking the ball deep into the Heavyweight backfield to score two goals. But the Griffins could not make the points that they are accustomed having and Silver Springhouse halted the Shamrock rally by the third quarter whistle.
Great ball movement by rookie Kevin MacDonald helped the Heavyweights get back their original momentum. Several attempts at points had the Griffins heels, and eventually, six more points were found by the Silver Springhouse to the close the game with a Heavyweight win over the Griffins, 1-11 (14) over 3-2 (11). The second seed Silver Springhouse will meet the third see Shamrock Club this coming Sunday before the Party at the Pitch. It will no doubt be a tooth-and-nail hurling match with the victor taking their spot in the championship game.
photo credit: Kerry Leonard