WITH the cold snap returning at the weekend St Maurs returned with some good results from the Gormanston indoor hurling tournament on Saturday.

There was great excitement for the top of the table clash between Maurs and Ratoath and the teams delivered a top class game of hurling for the large attendance. The game was played at a frantic pace for the first five minutes until the teams settled down and then the skill level of both sets of players came to the fore with some really crisp striking.

It was 11 minutes before the first score and it was worth waiting for. St Maurs foiled a Ratoath attack and a quick clearance from Shane Kennedy was added to by Calum Herbert and after a scramble in the Rathoath goal mouth Matthew Rock flicked the ball out to Saidbh Mackey who fired St. Maurs in front.

Both sides had chances before Rathoath put together a good move and found the St. Maurs net with a well taken goal. With 10 minutes to go Evan Carthy won possession and his quick pass set up Aoife Bissett to put Maurs back in front. With Shane Kennedy, Tomás Hegarty and Grace Finnegan winning the midfield St. Maurs created a few more chances and with three minutes to go sealed the points when good work from Evan Carthy set up Aoife Bissett for her second goal. This game could have gone either way but on the day St. Maurs deserved their win.

In the second match St. Maurs faced Kiltale and despite no scores this was probably the most exciting game of the day. Both defences were under pressure and both goalkeepers had to be on their toes. In Matthew Rock St. Maurs had a star performer, while Tomás Hegarty was also outstanding.

In the U-12 section St. Maurs played out two draws with Fingallians and O'Dwyers. In the first match against Fingallians St. Maurs were happy to settle for a draw. But it could have been so different. Having gone 2-0 up through Rory O'Connor and Philip Leonard, Maurs took the foot of the pedal and some casual defending was punished with Finns taking the lead with 5 minutes left to play. However a quick puck out from Maurs found its way to Ian Stirritt who broke the ball to Rory O'Connor to level the game with 2 minutes remaining.

In the next match it was the same story for Maurs who this time went 1-0 up after 5 minutes but found themselves 2-1 behind before Niall McGoldrick and Tadhg Hegarty combined for McGoldrick to level the match.

Maurs then went in front when Man of the Match Derek Halpin broke up an O'Dwyers attack and laid the ball to Colin Farrell whose shot was saved. The clearance was blocked by Cillian Bissett who hooked the O'Dwyers full back and Tadhg Hegarty set up O'Connor who sent a blistering shot to the O'Dwyers net. O'Dwyers were not to be denied and struck for a deserving equaliser with 2 minutes to go.

U-13 Hurling

St Maur's ran out 9-3 winners over Curraha in a clash that was tighter than scorline suggests.

After 16 minutes it was three each, but then St. Maurs took the lead. From the start the Maurs midfield of Eoghan Conroy and Harford were on top and both got early scores for Maurs before the Meath men fought their way back to go 3-2 in front. Tomas Holohan then made it 3-3.

Both sides then had chances and St. Maurs can thank the great defensive work of Sean Daly, Luke Hosford and Stephen Casey.

In the 18th minute Seamus Harford picked up a ball from Conroy and Harford's shot found the net to put Maurs back in front. The pair then combined for Conroy to put Maurs 2 goals clear. Maurs then piled on the pressure in the last 8 minutes where Dublin development squad members Conroy and Harford showed their class with some great striking.

U-12 Camogie

St. Maurs and Whitehall served up a thrilling encounter on Sunday afternoon with an all action match. Both sides are fighting for honours and neither could afford to lose.

After a close opening Maurs went in front when Aisling Harford found the Whitehall net after good work from Erin Williams and Dara Bogan.

Whitehall were level after 11 minutes after capitalizing on a Maurs defensive error. Maurs then had to be fully alert and thanks to Caoimhe Mackey and Nicola Thorne, Whitehall were kept at bay.

After 20 minutes the deadlock was finally broken when Eimear Conway found Megan Ni Mhathúna who put Maurs back in front.

Two minutes later Ann Casey sealed the points with a well taken goal after good work from Sinead Moran.

With just two minutes to go Whitehall narrowed the gap with a well taken goal and the hooter to signal full time was greeted with relief by the Rush girls.