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Hitting The Net

Pick It Out. Here’s 20 of the best hurling goals from 2012

Raise the green flag to salute some of the best scores from the country’s top hurlers over the past year.

1. February 26th: Allianz Hurling League Division 1B – Eoin Quigley (Wexford) v Antrim

A bad day at the office for Wexford as they lose out by nine points in Casement Park. Consolation is provided from a fine strike by Quigley, who won a Cork SHC medal with Sarsfields later in the year, after neat team interplay.

YouTube: hockeyhurlingshinty1

2. April 21st: Allianz Hurling League – Joe Canning (Galway) v Dublin

The footage may not be the best but this gem of a goal from Canning can still be detected in this relegation playoff in Portlaoise. Damien Hayes cross field ball is finished emphatically to the net by Canning.

YouTube: hockeyhurlingshinty4

3. May 27th: Munster SHC quarter-final – Graeme Mulcahy (Limerick) v Tipperary

If at first you don’t succeed, try again. Graeme Mulcahy is denied by Brendan Cummins but the chance stays alive and he converts at the second time of asking. Watch out for the junk that takes him past Padraic Maher.

YouTube: MarcasOCallanain

4. June 2nd: Leinster SHC quarter-final – Liam Rushe (Dublin v Laois)

Rushe demonstrates his capacity to act as a target man and finishes off with a terrific bullet to the top corner.

YouTube: officialgaa

5. June 2nd: Leinster SHC quarter-final – Shane Dooley (Offaly) v Wexford

Dooley illustrates why he is Offaly’s main attacker out fielding the Wexford defence and then showing the composure to finish to the roof of the net.

YouTube: MarcasOCallanain

6. June 17th: Leinster SHC semi-final – Derek Molloy (Offaly) v Galway

Did he mean it? Derek Molloy’s measured shot from distance loops into the top corner of the net in Portlaoise.

YouTube: MarcasOCallanain

7. June 17th: Munster SHC semi-final – John Conlon (Clare) v Waterford

The importance of work-rate is shown by the Clare attack here. They produce a turnover, Podge Collins arrows the ball across and John Conlon’s finish is emphatic.

YouTube: MarcasOCallanain

8. June 23rd: Leinster SHC semi-final – TJ Reid (Kilkenny) v Dublin

Most teams would be satisfied with an attempting a point from halfway. Kilkenny are different. TJ Reid and Richie Power produce some mesmerizing running both on and off the ball. They prise open the defence for a glorious goal that is finished by Reid.

YouTube: MarcasOCallanain

9. June 24th: Munster SHC semi-final – Noel McGrath (Tipperary) v Cork

A great team goal. Patrick ‘Bonner’ Maher and Lar Corbett, returning for his first game after ending his retirement, are integral to the creation while John O’Brien’s reverse hand pass is beautiful. Noel McGrath strikes smoothly to the net to cap it off.

YouTube: MarcasOCallanain

10. July 8th: Leinster SHC final – David Burke (Galway) v Kilkenny

In the most complete first-half hurling performance of the year, Burke’s goal stood out. Sublime finish across the bows of Kilkenny’s David Herity for a goal that propelled Galway into a 13-point lead.

YouTube: hockeyhurlingshinty4

11. July 14th: All-Ireland SHC phase 3 – Luke O’Farrell (Cork) v Wexford

Cork utilize the pace of Luke O’Farrell in style. William Egan arrows a pass down the wing, the Midleton player collects and sprints clear before finishing tidily to the net.

YouTube: MarcasOCallanain

12. July 14th: All-Ireland SHC phase 3 – Wayne McNamara (Limerick) v Clare

Wayne McNamara shows his attacking teammates the way. The Adare man scoops the ball up in a scrum of players and races clear before hitting a belter of a shot to the net.

YouTube: MarcasOCallanain

13. July 15th: Munster SHC final – John O’Brien (Tipperary) v Waterford

The importance of Patrick ‘Bonner’ Maher to this Tipperary team is captured in one move. He dispossesses the Waterford defence and surges into the space before offloading John O’Brien who fires confidently to the net.

YouTube: MarcasOCallanain

14. August 8th: Bord Gáis Energy Munster U21HC final – Niall Arthur (Clare) v Tipperary

The best goals can be as much for their timing as anything. The clock read 60:41 when Clare hit the net in their Munster U21 decider against Tipperary to secure a 1-16 to 1-14 win. The trio of Peter Duggan, Cathal McInerney and Niall Arthur – all on as substitutes combined with Duggan arrowing in a sideline cut, McInerney gathering before laying off and Arthur rattling the net for the most dramatic match-winning goal of the year.

YouTube: tallowmanirish

15. August 19th: All-Ireland MHC semi-final – Mark McCarthy (Tipperary) v Galway

Marvellous skill from Toomevara youngster Mark McCarthy. He is released by John McGrath and dummies his hand pass before rocketing a shot to the roof of the net.

YouTube: tallowmanirish

16. August 19th: All-Ireland SHC semi-final – TJ Reid (Kilkenny) v Tipperary

The scoring skills of Henry Shefflin are much-vaunted but here he displays the creative side to his game. His surging run splits the Tipperary defence and he perfectly times his offload to TJ Reid who finished impressively past Brendan Cummins.

YouTube: officialgaa

17. September 9th: All-Ireland SHC final – Joe Canning (Galway) v Kilkenny

The opportunity is engineered by James Regan but the goal is all about Joe Canning. He announces himself in style in his first All-Ireland senior final by changing the direction of his run to wrong foot the Kilkenny defence and strike with power past David Herity.

YouTube: VicMackeyO

18. September 30th: All-Ireland SHC final replay – Jonathan Glynn (Galway) v Kilkenny

It’s a difficult afternoon for Galway hurling. But one of their promising youngsters Jonathan Glynn, a minor last year, ensures they finish with a flourish as he shows strength, control and poise to hit a rasper to the top corner of the net.

YouTube: MarcasOCallanain

19. November 11th: Munster club SHC semi-final – Lar Corbett (Thurles Sarsfields) v Sarsfields

A tough and eventful year ended on a positive note for Lar Corbett. He won a Munster club hurling title with Thurles Sarsfields and in their semi-final tie grabbed a magnificent goal when his blistering speed took him clear of defenders.

YouTube: Conor Ryan

20. November 18th: Galway SHC final – Richie Murray (St Thomas) v Loughrea

In the depths of winter, St Thomas fashion a brilliantly-constructed team goal that helps them win their first ever county senior hurling title. David Burke and Bernard Burke do well to keep the ball traveling up the pitch before Anthony Kelly pops a hand pass to Richie Murray who slams home his third goal of the match.

YouTube: tallowmanirish

2012 Reflections: Gaelic Football Part 1

Corbett pens story of life and hurling after a turbulent year

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