Tracton Thrive in Championship Opener

Tracton 2-17

Crosshaven 1-20

For many GAA supporters, the start of Championship season marks the true end of summer and that sentiment rang especially true last night, as heavy rain poured for the South-East Junior B Hurling Championship clash between Tracton and Crosshaven.

Playing in winter-like conditions, Tracton set the early pace, scoring two points clear inside the first ten minutes. Crosshaven struggled to break down a well-organised home defence, though Redvers McGrath came closest, driving through in search of a goal before his effort was cleared. Moments later, Senan Buckley opened Crosshaven's account with their first point of the night.

Tracton soon struck the game's first goal through Josh Lehane, and further points from Lehane, Ronan Walsh, Gerald Kingston and Martin Cooney underlined the home side's growing dominance.

Having gone almost a month without a game, Crosshaven took time to find their rhythm, but a strong finish to the first half suggested better was to come. Points from Fionn Mansfield, Fionn O'Rourke and Buckley cut into the deficit, leaving the visitors trailing 1-07 to 0-07 at the interval.

Tracton picked up where they left off after the break, with Lehane, Walsh and Kingston all on target to stretch the lead further. Crosshaven continued to chase a goal that would swing momentum their way, but the breakthrough never came. Instead, it was Tracton who found another gear; regaining possession and surging forward, where back-to-back points from Walsh drew loud cheers from the home support as victory edged closer to certainty.

The killer blow arrived soon after, as Edzer O'Callaghan found the net for Tracton's second goal of the night. Lehane, in outstanding form throughout, added another point to cap a superb individual display, before Crosshaven's Padraic O'Malley grabbed their only goal of the game.

Crosshaven pushed hard for a late rally and kept the pressure on right up to the final whistle, but Tracton's intensity and control throughout proved too much to overcome, sealing a comfortable win on a the night.

Tracton: Alex Kiely; Arlo McCarthy; Eoin Kingston; Donnchadh McDonald; Adam Middleton; Cian Breathnach; Martin Cooney; Cian Walsh; John Quinn; Gearoid Kingston; Ronan Walsh; Andrew Taylor; David Griffin; Edzer O'Callaghan; Josh Lehane, Steven Nuane

Crosshaven: Anthony Burke; Leo McCarthy;Peter Fitzgerald, David Fleming; Colin Tuhoy;Ruairc Sisk, Liam Walsh, Darragh Cogan, Senan Buckley, Fionn Mansfield, Fionn O'Rourke, Daniel Bransfield; Padraig O'Malley; Ray Keohane; Redvers McGrath; Jack Cox; Jamie Fitzgerald; Conor McCarthy; Eoin Murphy; Joseph Glossop