SO NEAR AND YET SO FAR AS INTER HURLERS SEASON ENDS IN BRUFF
INTERMEDIATE HURLING COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTER FINAL

Newcastlewest............................................................................................0-11
Hospital/Herbertstown...............................................................................0-13

Bruff was the venue on Saturday evening last with Patrickswell's Derek Mackessy refereeing. Conditions were excellent and the hurling was of the unspectacular, unfreeflowing kind with little fluency and a lot of fouls and frees. The teams were evenly matched to the final whistle.
Mike McMahon (0-4) and Donie Reale were the chief marksmen (mostly from frees) in the first half, at the end of which we were behind 0-6 to 0-8. James Kelly and Tony O'Connor, both big threats in the forward line, scored our 5th and 6th points and we should have had more on the board but had a number of bad wides. James Kelly, despite carrying an injury, was our star forward in this half having a hand in the 0-5 of the 0-6 scored.
The second half was similar to the first with the play fractured by fouls and injuries and most of the scores coming from frees, 0-4 from Mike McMahon (all from frees) and 0-1 from Seán Neville (play) had us level at 50 but indiscipline and some missed frees cost us and Hospital Herbertstown held out for a win that could have been ours. Nothing in it therefore, all our lads gave 100% on the day and battled mightily when hit by a share of injuries. It's a young team in the main, intermediate status has been retained, hopefully lessons have been learned and experience gained. All will be back again in 2011 for another bash at West Senior and inter championship titles and the elusive county inter championship title. Well done to all the players and mentors Vincent Sheehan, Pa O'Connor, Mike Mulcahy, Ger Sheehy, John Peter Cremin. First Aid man Seán Roche put in a huge effort.
Team: Ollie McCoy, Michael Dowling, Seán Browne, Niall Enright, Mark Kelly, Martin Hennessy, Stephen Nix, Timmy Nix, Stephen Kelly, Mike Mahon (0-8), Tony O'Connor (0-1), Andrew Curtin, Thomas Quilligan, James Kelly (0-1), Michael Quilligan. Subs: Seán Neville (0-1), Tony Doyle, Michael Martin, Darren McCarthy, Pa Keane, Aaron McCarthy, Brian Doherty, Maurice Murphy, Karl Fullam, Michael O'Grady, Seamus Kelly, Paul Hannon, Mike Mulcahy, Conor Fanning.
JUNIOR B HURLING WEST CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTER FINAL
Newcastlewest........................................................................................................................0-8
Feohanagh............................................................................................................................0-11
In a game of two halves, refereed by Croagh/Kilfinny's Donie Neville at Feenagh on Sunday evening last, Feohanagh were the better team in the first half and led 0-4 to 0-9 at half time. We were down four players (regulars); missing their mobility, skill and fitness we were off the pace generally in the opening half.
In the second half we reversed matters in terms of possession. However, our failure to take chances (the Feohanagh goalie was excellent) cost us and all we had to show for a 60% possession rate was 0-4, not enough to get us first past the post against fluent capable opponents. It was a tremendous and committed effort by our lads with each and every one of them giving 100%.
Team: David Hurley, Brian Doherty, Pa Keane, Conor Fanning, James Hennessy, Pa O'Connor, Paul Hannon, Seán Barrett, Michael O'Grady (0-7), Michael O'Keeffe, Karl Linehan, Aaron McCarthy (0-1), Jonathan Carey, Willie Hurley, Seánie Gleeson. Subs: Jason Dowling, Kenneth Mortell, Duane Blenkeinsop, Tommy Kelleher.
Well done also to mentors Pat McCarthy, Donal Lynch and Seán Roche who put in a huge effort to get the team out and made the knockout stages in both league and championship.
CONCLUSION
Our adult hurling season is now at an end with inter, junior B and U21 campaigns concluded. There was huge effort all round with good training done and over 50 hurlers involved. The inters can be deemed unlucky not to have captured west senior and inter honours and not to have advanced in the county championship. The junior Bs lost in the league semi to superior opposition (Killeedy) but could have advanced in the championship. The U21s did the club proud in winning the West, but we were well beaten by a good Dromin/Athlacca team in the county final. Many of the players in action are young, if all stay in the game and progress and there is commitment, we'll be there or thereabouts again in 2011.
SENIOR FOOTBALL COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Round 4
Newcastlewest v Adare
Saturday next at 7p.m. in Feenagh are the arrangements. Adare are on full points from three wins, we are on one point from a draw and two defeats and likely to be involved in a relegation battle (Claughaun and St. Patrick's are the teams from the other groups in danger of the drop also). However, "where there's life, there's hope" and full points from the game v Adare and the final round v Fr. Casey's cannot be ruled out. Fingers crossed!
JUNIOR B FOOTBALL WEST CHAMPIONSHIP
Round 4
Newcastlewest v Mountcollins
We're on full points (6) from three games, two wins (v Feenagh/Kilmeedy and Granagh/Ballingarry and a w/o v Glin). We'll get nothing soft from Davy Dillane's team in Abbeyfeale on Sunday evening next at 7p.m.
U21 FOOTBALL
The U21 football is likely to begin in September, with most of the 2009 team (champions and county finalists) available; we should be there or thereabouts.
MINOR FOOTBALL PREMIER COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Newcastlewest v Fr. Casey's
We rescued our season with the hard earned win over Mulcair Gaels. A win over Fr. Casey's is likely to gain us a semi final place. All to play for then at the Inch in the first week in September. Training continues.
U16 HURLING DIVISION 2 COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Newcastlewest........................................................................................................................1-3
Murroe Boher......................................................................................................................6-10
Generally uninterested in Peil, Murroe Boher concentrate on camán and sliothar and consequently maximise their resources. Our U16s, in contrast, are more Peil oriented. Thus the division two championship meeting at Murroe on Wednesday last followed the expected route with our lads giving it their best, but had to give way to the talented East Limerick team. Despite the defeat, our lads have improved considerably over the campaign and we can recognise in a number of them our adult hurlers of the future ready to take the place of such stars of the present as Martin Hennessy, Tony O'Connor, Michael O'Grady, Ollie McCoy, Stephen Kelly when these icons decide to call it a day.
Team: Andy Brouder, Conor Relihan, Gavin Riedy, Brian Sheehy, Seán Darcy, Jack McCarthy, A.J. O'Connor, Ryan Clancy, Eoin Hurley, Cian Sheehan, Andrew Ruddle, Joey Healy, Daniel Copse, Eoin Murphy, Martin Madden. Sub: Eoin Normoyle. The season is not over yet but will be if we fail to overcome Naomh Bríd in the semi final.
U16 COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION 2 SEMI FINAL
Newcastlewest v Ahane
This Wednesday at 7p.m. are the arrangements but venue is not known as we go to print. Our U16s have been doing well at Peil, clocking up big scores. They are physically strong, are skilful and have plenty of pace. Wednesday's game will tell how good they really are.
TRAINING
U12s: training continues as usual.
U10s: Wednesday at 6pm.
U8s: Saturdays at An Pairc Amuigh from 10 to 11.30a.m.
GOLF CLASSIC
The golf classic fundraiser at the Newcastlewest Golf Club on Saturday last was a huge success. Fifty seven teams took part and the winners were as follows: 1st J.P. Ryan, Noel Wilmott, Martin Lynch. 2nd Mike Sullivan, Eoin Hayes, Sonny Crowley. 3rd John McGrath, Mike Molyneaux, Gerry Molyneaux. 4th Eddie Brouder, Stephen Brouder, Mike Leahy. 5th Dave Wrenne, Kevin Browne, Maurice Browne. Hole in one: Denis Carroll.
The club thanks all the players, all those who sponsored teams and tee boxes and prizes and the Newcastlewest Golf Club which hosted the event. Special thanks to the committee from our own club which did huge work in organising the event.

LOTTERY
Last Monday's draw took place at the Old Mill bar. There was no winner of the  €7000 jackpot. The 5 x  €40 lucky dip winners were Joe Coan, The Silver Dollar, Brian Fitzgerald c/o Brian Fitzgerald, Mike Murphy, Broadford c/o Martin Sheehan, Robert Ferguson c/o Jim Fanning, Michael Hartnett, Ballintemple Inn. This week's jackpot is €7,200 and the draw will be held in the Courtenay Lodge on Monday next, August 23rd at 11p.m. The club thanks all who are supporting, promoting and hosting the lottery draw.

U14 FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Mungret.............................................................................3-4
Newcastlewest...................................................................1-4
This was an entertaining and evenly contested game which took place in Mungret's village field on Monday evening. Despite conceding an early well worked goal to the city boys, Newcastlewest settled well and played some excellent football.  A fisted goal by Brian Hurley helped the magpies to a 2 point lead at half time.
Early 2nd half points including one super effort from Shane Stack stretched the lead to 4 points. Mungret got more into the game after this and got 2 points back. The game turned then when Newcastlewest missed a penalty and Mungret broke away to score a soft goal. Another followed soon after and despite a huge effort by all the Newcastlewst players, they could not get the scores to get back into the game.
Overall this was a very positive performance with the team's work rate and attitude being first class.
Panel: Andy Brouder, Ryan Sheehan, Jack Fanning, Eoin Sheridan, Seán Ivess, Seán Murphy, Darragh McMahon, Shane Stack, Cormac Long, Caleb O'Shea, A.J. O'Connor, Declan O'Connor, Tom d'Arcy, Brian Hurley, Liam McCartan, Adam Corbett, Conor O'Sullivan.
Fixtures
Next Monday August 23rd we play All Ireland Féile champions, Monaleen at the field at 7.15p.m.
On Wednesday September 1st we will play in the county quarter final.
U13 HURLING
This team play Deel Rangers at the field on this evening Wednesday at 7p.m. in a challenge game.

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