In last year’s Gazette, this team was earmarked as ‘the one to watch’. Since their season threw in back in January, they have set about justifying the tag, taking Joeys back into the business end of GAA competition.
They progressed through the round-robin group winning all three matches, and amassing an extra-ordinary score difference that secured a bye straight through to the semi-final. (Make sure to see the upcoming Gazette in the next fortnight for details of these games!)
This earned them a date with another Joeys school for the spot in the silverware match: St. Joseph’s of Drogheda. In the open expanse of the stunning Termonfeckin GAA grounds, the two schools in blue faced off in a fantastic hour of hurling. With the game still in the balance at the half, the hope was tangible that there may be something there for the Fairview boys. First years such as Reece Lowry, Matthew Boland and Lee Cadwell were impressing and will certainly be worthy of a jersey again in their future. Older players such as Daniel McCabe and Adam Duff were doing their best to keep the ship afloat in the backs, while tireless midfielder Alan Fitzpatrick ensured that there would be no advancing menace from deep.
Unfortunately, the ticket to the final was not to be. Impressive strength from the Drogheda contingent began to swing the balance their way, and two goals midway through the second settled the contest.
It is no mean feat on their part to reach the final considering the standard our boys had set in the group, and we wish them the very best of luck in the final. When the Drogheda manager came into our changing rooms after the match, he made sure to single out the man who was surely player of the match: Cian O’Brien. A fantastic display at full back made sure that our boys held on as long as possible. Congratulations to our lads on what will certainly be considered a successful year.