Under 16 hurling championship Round three  in Ballymacward on Monday July 16th
Kilnadeema/Leitrim 1.13   Padraig Pearses  0.08

Two of the strongest sides in this years Under 16 championship Kilnadeema/Leitrim and Padraig Pearses clashed in a vital group game in Ballymacward on Monday July 16th. In what had a very poor summer weather wise, it was inevitable that it would be raining for the game and raining it certainly was with Thunder and Lightening to add to the occasion. Both of these team had some very close matches at Under 14 level two years ago with Kilnadeema/Leitrim coming out on top, but only just. Padraig Pearses opened the scoring with a point from Colm O'Grady from play after 2 minutes, They doubled their lead a minute later with a Colm Rafferty free and it got even better three minutes later when Andrew bellow scored from a lineball to put the home team three points clear. They were dominating all over the field in the early stages before Kilnadeema/Leitrim soon settled down and Michael Donoghue who was playing at Corner Forward for the first time shot over their opening point after 6 mins. Michael was involved again a minute later when after making a great run through the defence he was fouled and Dara Herlihy duely dispatched the Sliotar over the bar. The sides were level a minute later when Full Forward Gary Curley scored a point after Corner Forward Nathan Moran won a great ball in near the goals and passed to Gary to score. At this stage the rain was coming down in Buckets and lasted the rest of the half. Niall Gilson put the home side ahead again with a point from play on 9 mins. Kilnadeema/Leitrim were then awarded a Penalty which Dara Herlihy put over for a point and repeated it again two minutes later with another free to put his side in front for the first time 0.05 to 0.04. Colm Rafferty started to drag Padraig Pearses back into the game leading the way from Centre Forward. He equalised with a free on 15 mins before he scored again this time from play 2 mins later. Conor O'Grady then scored a wonderful point from near the side line Rafferty put over another free on 30 minutes to give the home team a three point lead at the break 0.08 to 0.05. It is hard to believe that Padraig Pearses did not score again for the rest of the game. Michael Donoghue like he had done at the start of the first half opened the scoring in the second half with a point from play to reduce down the lead. We had to wait until 10 minutes for the next score when Gary Curley scored a brilliant point from play. Dara Herlihy had the game all tied up soon after with his first point from play. Six minutes later Dara finally put Kilnadeema/Leitrim ahead again with a 35 yard free. Paul Howard had a lucky escape in goals a minutes later when a misjudged a dropping ball and it nearly was a goal chance for Padraig Pearses. A Goal did come though soon after but not for the home team as Corner Forward Nathan Moran reacted first to a breaking ball to score a goal after Gary Curley's shot was blocked to put Kilnadeema/Leitrim ahead 1.09 to 0.08. Gary Curley who was now playing almost as well as the previous week scored again on 23 mins. when Cathal King did all the hard work to set him up. Michael Donoghue who also had a brilliant game soon added his third point from play. We then had a controversial point when Gary Curley was credited with the scour even though it was clearly wide before Michael Donoghue rounded off a great personal performance with another point which was to to be the final score to leave the scoreboard reading 1.13 to 0.08 at the finish. his was a very good display from Kilnadeema/Leitrim especially in the second half and put down a marker for the rest of the championship.

Scorers: Dara Herlihy 0.05, Gary Curley 0.04, Michael Donoghue 0.04, Nathan Moran 1.00.

Team Lineout: Paul Howard, James Conway, Martin Costello, Gary Cunningham, , Damien Donoghue, Padraig Stapleton, Padraig Forde, Mark Kelly, Alvin Mitchell, Cathal King, Dara herlihy, Daithi Donoghue Michael Donoghue, Gary Curley, Nathan Moran.
Subs used: Conor Moran.