Mungret St. Pauls 2-18 Bruree 3-15

This was a game played in a strong summer wind, Mungret St. Pauls were against the wind in the first half and started poorly, they made use of the breeze in the second half to pull themselves back into a draw on Tuesday 14 May in Bruree.

Bruree started off with a great head start, Mungret St. Pauls broke their streak after 5 points when they scored their first point. The ball went over each cross bar again and then Bruree struck again to add on another 2 points and a goal. Mungret St. Pauls upped their game and went 5 scores on the trot bringing them back to 4 points behind and then Bruree struck again with another goal. A free for Mungret St. Pauls had them back on the right road again only for bruree to get their third goal in the game. This last goal saw Bruree nicely ahead with 9 points but Mungret St. Pauls scored their ninth point just before the half time.

The half time whistle was perfect timed begin 8 points down Mungret St. Pauls needed to restructure themselves and plan their attack with the aid of the breeze. This they did as they held back Bruree from scoring position and struck at the uprights every chance they had.

Bruree opened the score with a placed ball with Mungret St. Pauls response a much needed and asked for goal, partnered with a point, Mungret St. Pauls were back in the game. There were a few wides for Mungret St.Pauls with Bruree scoring their close range free, they played a shot to the Mungret St. Pauls goal but it was quickly shot down and up the field where Mungret St. Pauls brought the score difference to 5 points. This puck out was returned back over the crossbar for Bruree. Mungret St. Pauls held on and secured another 2 points from play and then came the shot of the game as the ball was struck from the 65 yard line straight toward the Bruree defense to skim off a few waiting hurleys and into the back of the Bruree net, Mungret St. Pauls were back in it with one point separating the sides. Both sides started to exchange points and with 10 minutes left in the game Mungret St. Pauls scored the equalising point, another exchange of points and Mungret St. Pauls were level again with 4 minutes left on the clock. Another free each with Mungret St. Pauls scoring the last one, the puck out came out and into the hands of a Mungret St. Pauls player, straight back home over the cross bar, yes, Mungret St. Pauls had their first lead in the game, something was thought may not happen when we were 9 points down and flat looking on our feet. With time up and not much injury time to be played the ball was sent to the Mungret St. Pauls defense, Bruree were looking for their forth goal but a free into the square, all supporters stopped breathing as the ball could not be seen but a foul to a Bruree player and a penalty was called. After all the work Mungret St. Pauls might see it all disappear in one strike of the ball in the final minute, as luck would have it the ball was struck too high and hit the cross bar and over it to draw the game, a result Mungret St. Pauls was grateful with.

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