McBob’s Gael Winds are mounting a late season charge with back-to-back wins coming into the first match of the day as they faced off against a Trinity Rebel squad with a nearly identical record. I don’t know if it was just excitement over the first hurling action of the day, but I was captivated by the play in the first half. Both teams were hurling their hearts out (and praying for a loss at the top) and hoping that they could somehow vault themselves into this year’s contentious battle for a playoff spot. On Trinity’s side the passing was crisp, and the swift moves downfield from Matt Kunz to Teddy Ruetz gave way to an early point for the Rebels. Spreading the love around, Trinity’s offense saw points from multiple attackers like Ronnie Hansen, Matt Hooper, and Jesse Rodriguez, who scored his first point in this action packed quarter.
McBob’s were no slouches in the passing department either, though. Better movement across the team and strong defensive clears by Tim Stoeck led to some Gael Wind momentum, and helped Steve Taylor send one over the bar. Smelling blood, McBob’s Pat Foley hopped on a bad clear to nab a second chance point and keep the Gael Winds rolling. The Trinity defense was chaotic, but not broken. Strong showings from Rebels Nick Neuman and Andrew Hanrahan were holding the Gael Winds at arms-length to prevent any goals. On the other end, Denise Lubotsky was playing as if she was twice her size as she laid a shoulder into Rebel Jesse Rodriguez and sent him down to check on the field conditions.
After a short stop for water, McBob’s was on the hunt, as they continued to move the ball up the lines swiftly and efficiently. The Gael Wind full forwards were in the zone again this week as they continued to create second chances for the McBob’s offense. With a close strike in the box, Mia Michael slammed the sliotar into the net to put the Gael Wins ahead. “That’s two weeks in a row!” McBob’s captain Jesse Rapkin proudly exclaimed. Trinity was not about to be left in the dust though, as Ronnie Hansen soon put up another point for the Rebels. Hansen would follow that up with a quick goal to remind the Gael Winds they were not to underestimate their Trinity talent.
McBob's Marches Against Rebel Rally by Jason Kirkpatrick