8/05/17. Challenge. 20.00 Iveagh Grounds. 

LS 1-9 (1-6) v (0-4) 0-16 St James's Gaels. 

MRobinson. GFay. ANorton. CHickey(0-1). AKirwan(0-1). AMcCormack. PSloan. DHerlihy. MMoran. TBradley(0-1). PCarroll(0-2). NMcKiernan. CTorsney(1-3). JDoyle. GCarabini. GHealy. DBellew. SCollins. SSpeight. DCannon. MKelly. CDownes(0-1). RMcNulty. AO'Neill. SCasey. DDavis. 

Managing 26 fellas all looking for a piece of the action proved too much, & the long winning streak had a bit of a wobble. There's an often quoted belief that challenge games are for losing, that you learn more from defeat. So we can all review that on Sunday evening after our 2 Championship matches. 

Lucan started strongly. An early Cian goal, taken very calmly, after a strong run along the end line, and a couple of points seemed to indicate that Lucan were in control. SJG were not inclined to roll over. Their policy of "shoot on sight" meant the wide tally was mounting rapidly, but they were also raising a few flags. Up front Lucan were often guilty of over complicating things. That last pass just would not stick & a lot of chances went abegging. 

Wholesale changes disrupted the continuity & suddenly Lucan could not get beyond the half way line. The Lucan defence, for the most part kept the SJG forces at bay, but those distance kicks were sailing over the bar now, & the scores mounted. Mikey got down low to his right to stop a penalty, on the rare occasion that they got behind the full back line. 

Management had made it clear beforehand that this was a chance for everyone to make a case for selection on Sunday, for both teams.  With all that knowledge gleaned from last night let's see can we chalk up 2 victories, & keep up the winning streak, in Cup, League & Championship!!

Paul McGann