All-Britain Junior Hurling Championship Semi-Final
All-Britain Junior Hurling Championship Semi-Final
October 18, 2017
All-Britain Junior Hurling Championship Semi-Final
Brothers Pearse 2-18
John Mitchels 3-12
This game was played on the 14th of October in McGovern Park, Ruislip between the London Champions (Brothers Pearse) and the Warwickshire Champions (John Mitchels). Fresh from their impressive win over a Thomas McCurtains side in the WReilly Intermediate Championship Final Brothers Pearse would have been confident that they could progress further into the All-Britain series where their next opponents were a Liam Watson inspired John Mitchels side. John Mitchels themselves were impressive in their respective county final disposing of Roger Casements GAA with 19 points to spare. Both teams coming into this game with serious form and momentum and both fully expecting to win the crowd in attendance were sure to be treated to a good game. Pearses were the first to strike a major blow, as they managed to forge a goal chance from a side-line cut which they converted. Liam Watson who had missed a couple of early frees then stepped up to hit a 20-yard free straight to the roof of the net leaving Pearses stunned. Minutes later Pearses conceded another free from a similar position and intent on not making the same mistake twice packed the goal line with players. Not to be deterred Watson attempted to blast the ball to the roof of the net again only to be denied by the crossbar. Watson was now coming into the game and the next goal chance Mitchels created it was of course going to be Watson on the end of it and he duly obliged by finishing to the back of the net. Going in at half time Pearses held a slender lead which they can attribute to their ability to keep the scoreboard ticking and their spread of scorers. Throughout the second half Pearses managed to maintain their lead the only scare coming when Watson again goaled for Mitchels from 20 yards after fielding a high ball out on the 45. Pearses however were not to be denied on the day and they really dug in to never relinquish the lead they held for most of the game. This lead never stretching from more than a one score game. The whole match from start to finish was fiercely contested and even threatened to boil over midway through the second half but for the most part was played in a sportsmanlike manner. Best on the day was without doubt Liam Watson even though he ended ultimately on the losing team. In the end a strong team performance from the Brothers Pearse club saw out and sees them advance to the All-Britain Junior Championship Final against Fulham Gaels (Manchester) on Sunday 29th October. This game will take part in Páirc na hÉireann, Birmingham.