Saturday the 11th of May saw the Giants return to their scenic home of NUI Maynooth, to play against an in-form Galway team.
Desperate to recover from their away defeat in Round 2, the Giants arrived with healthy numbers, but the Magpies also travelled well with a good interchange available.

The first quarter saw the Magpies playing with the wind, but with both teams struggling with the changeable conditions, the Pies advantage was minimal come the call of time.

The second period bought a slightly re-jigged North Leinster team to the pitch, the Giants upping the pace, using the wind and the interchange wisely, resulting in many attempts on goal and the Magpies lucky to be down this quarter by ‘only’ 18 points.

After the half-time break. the Pies emerged with a renewed strength, matching the Giants, with the temperature and passions rising, the quarter became a slug-fest, mainly in the Giants 50. Still, the superb backs and midfield played well, allowing only a 2 point deficit this time.

The fourth started with a flurry with some fast action along the flanks. Dozer put in a massive tackle on the Pies’ Tadgh, resulting in a broken collar-bone. Time was bought to a halt as Shaybo assessed the reluctant patient. After the injury break, the game restarted at a much slower pace, and the Giants took the advantage in the midfield allowing accurate balls to the forwards, winning the quarter by 15, and the game by 29 points.

Giants 9.14 (68) – Magpies 5.9 (39)

1.2 (8) – 1.4 (10)
3.7 (25) – 1.1 (7)
3.0 (18) – 3.2 (20)
2.5 (17) – 0.2 (2)

Goal scorers: Colm (3) Shaybo (2) Terrier (1) Danny (2) Pat (1)

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The host club’s margin of victory in this game was probably not an entirely fair reflection of what was a very competitive game. The Lions got out of the blocks early with Vince Manning doing a lot of damage meaning that the Cork boys had gotten more than half their total in the first quarter. For the next three quarters it was largely the Giants, severely undermanned who dominated play through stellar efforts from all afield. The midfield of Chris Bull, Elliot, Terrier and Steve worked tirelessly and at the back Fitzy, Derek, Stringy and Disco fought for every ball. Our three goals came from Shane Bohan, who had his best game so far nailing two and the returning Colm Faughnane. Phil, Rob and particularly Shane Bawn worked very hard for possession in the full forward line, but unfortunately in accuracy in front of the post meant ten points, rather than an additional 50, which at least would have significantly reduced the margin. It was not a day for complaints though, this was a point gained given the number of players unavailable, avoiding a forfeit and having new players learn will see us in much better stead as the season continues.

The Giants entertained the Belfast Redbacks at Islandbridge in Dublin on Saturday 13^th  April

A cold, damp and blustery afternoon greeted the teams for round one of the Jeep ARFLI Premiership. With a lot of new faces (and several old…), the Giants took to the field against last years premiers, the Belfast Redbacks, at Islandbridge in Dublin.

Winning the toss, Captain Goose chose to play with the wind. This choice was soon regretted as the wind changed, allowing the Redbacks to launch some big rockets towards our line, but thankfully only making one a major. The Giants forward line was fairly quiet, racking up only two points.

At quarter time, it looked like the match would go on previous form, but the Giants had other ideas.
The second saw the Redbacks peppering the Giants 50 with long balls, but the backs fought hard and held strong, resulting in just 1 goal 3 getting through. Meanwhile, the forwards got their kicking boots on, with Derek and Shaybo scoring a goal a piece, accompanying 2 behinds. The Giants won this quarter, but were still down by 5 points.

After the half-time break, the Redbacks came out fighting, but again the Giants resisted, the backs doing a fantastic job, with midfielder Aidan Hickey finding form and playing well off Goose and Paul Comey adding to the pot. Again, the Giants won this quarter (by 4 points), but were still one off the lead.

The fourth quarter started with a flurry, with the Redbacks scoring from the off. Showing no sign of defeat, the Giants regrouped, with big man Stephen continuing to dominate the ruck, and Derek scoring a sensational goal from just inside 30 metres, bending it around his opponents. The game was very physical, with lots of hard tackling and crumbing around the midfield. New boy Davey broke free from the pack, slotting the Sherrin between the posts, scoring his first points in AFL, and giving the Giants the slightest of leads.

Hearts were in mouths come the final minutes, as a misjudged tackle gave the Redbacks a free within scoring distance….. The kick was taken after the final whistle however the silent field erupted when the cherry sailed past the goal post for a minor, giving the North Leinster Giants the victory.

Goal scorers:

Derek Gilbert (2), Shane Bohan (1), Paul Comey (1), Aidan Hickey (1), David Lynam (1)

Giants of the game:

Derek, Goose and Duster, but this victory was a real team effort, with everyone giving their best.

 Hard As award goes to Goose, for playing on after a boot to the head.

Special thanks to Gail for scoring and refreshments, and Pat for goal umpire duties.

After a very good season it’s party time Giants, this saturday, the 27th of October the inaugural League Best & Fairest Awards will be held in the VIP Room of the Harcourt Hotel from 7.30, it promises to be a great night. It will be interesting to see who polls highest of the Giants for the Jim Stynes Medal. The following saturday a number of giants will be in London for an end of season footy trip, if you’re in the UK or if you’re thinking of going tickets can be obtained at http://www.kiaoval.com and all our members will be seated in section 19. It will be a great day for the club with our own James Flavin playing in the curtain raiser between a European Islands team and a Continental Europe team.

Goal Kickers: 1. J.Spiris
Best Players: M.Fitzpatrick, Pat Leavy, Aidan Hickey, Colm Faughnan

The first quarter started with two rushed behinds from the Demons before Damo registered the Demons first major from a mark 35 metres from goal. The score provided the catalyst for the Demons to dominate territory for the remainder of the quarter before Joe Cunnane added their second goal. The Giants regrouped following the loss of Pat Leavy to a knee injury and their efforts to keep the Dees at bay were rewarded by a Fergal Condron soccer style goal late in the quarter to leave the Giants trailing 1.1.7 to 2.3.15 at quarter time.

The Demons started the second quarter in a similar fashion to the way they played the first with constant pressure on our midfield and defence but fortunately for the Giants the Dees were guilty of registering another 6 behinds in this quarter when on another day a goal would have been their reward. The Dees were not helped by the retirement of their influential centre Damo as a result of a dislocated figure. The Giants began to assert themselves a little more in this quarter with the big man Stephen Lynam helping himself to a fine goal while also curtailing the effect Joe Cunnane in the middle of the park, and Aiden Hickey demonstrating great awareness in the centre to provide a platform for our attack. Sean Fallon got off the mark with a long range effort shortly before the break to leave the score 3.3.21 to 4.9.33 in favour of the Demons at half time.

The third quarter is known as the championship quarter and so it turned out to be in this game with Tom Cleary setting the early momentum with a well taken goal. The movement of Aiden Hickey from the centre to the forwards proved a master stroke where he kicked a goal from 40 following a good team move and from where he provided an option for the long clearances of backs Martin Fitzpatrick and Brian Duffy. The big men of Ross Dack and Jonas Spiris alternated at full forward while Ciaran Fagan crumbed off them and worked tirelessly for the afternoon and is growing in confidence with every passing game. Sean Fallon scored his second of the day before Joe Cunnane scored the goal of the quarter to leave the Giants just trailing by two points 6.4.40 to 5.12.42.

With all to play for both teams gave it their all in the last quarter and with the benefit of a larger reserves bench the Giants fresher legs began to tell with Tony Watene and the impressive Martin Fitz and Duster shoring up defence and Tom Cleary’s experience in the centre came to the fore as he set up Sean Fallon for the lead score before Fergal Condron kicked the final major of the day for the Giants following quick thinking from Ciaran Fagan.

The tiring Demons fought hard to get back into the game but could not find the scores required to get a result. The final score in favour of the home team, Giants 8.6.54 to Demons 5.14.44.

This result leaves the Premiership table wide open in what is proving to be the most competitive year yet for ARFLI.

Goal Kickers: 3 S.Fallon, 2 F. Condron, 1 T.Cleary, 1 A.Hickey, 1 S.Lynam
Best Players: S.Lynam, T.Cleary, B.Duffy, M.Fitzpatrick, A. Hickey.