SEVEN BRILLIANT MINUTES KEEP HOPES ALIVE
Senior County Football Championship Group 1 round 5
Newcastle West ...........0-15
Ballysteen .....................1-12

The Bog Garden was again the venue on Saturday; Galbally's John Scully refereed and conditions were excellent. So was the game: high tempo, one hundred per cent by both teams, no holds barred, unrelenting for the full hour plus, exit from competition, a quarter-final or semi-final place were the possibilities both teams knew and the pace, intensity and effort - the G&D, as it's called these days - reflected it.
We were not at the pace of  the game for the first ten minutes but hung in there as Bally owned the ball, kicking 0-2. Stephen Kelly's excellent point on 10 minutes signalled our recovery and Ian Corbett on 11 minutes and Jamie Lee from a free on 16 minutes had the teams level. From 20-27 we were flying, players and ball moving at pace. In this seven minute purple passage period we kicked eight excellent points to leave us 0-11 to 0-3 ahead at 27 minutes and seemingly on the way to a comprehensive win. Ian, James Kelly, Thomas Quilligan, Stephen Kelly, Thomas, Mike McMahon, Jamie and Michael Quilligan were the marksmen in that order and it was 15-man football at its best, backs and midfield and the ball transferred at pace to forward who had the beating of their opponents.
Some of us, concluding that the game was over and beginning to feel the cold that was coming with the setting of the sun, were thinking of going home when Bally stiffened up and began to resist the massacre. In two minutes they kicked 0-3 to make it a five point game at half time, 0-11 to 0-6. Sensing that the game might not be over, we forgot about the chill and hung around. The second half started well for us with a Jamie Lee point from a free on 32 minutes, and we were still comfortably in the lead 0-13 to 0-8 when James Kelly kicked a brilliant point, his second, on 42 minutes. From there on Ballysteen, driven on by the excellent Padraig Ranahan, had the upper hand, running at us Donegal-style, strong and determined and troubling our defence. We were in big trouble and the teams were level 0-13 to 1-10 on 47 minutes. But for the excellent John Joe Sheehy in goal we would have been resting in peace. in the concluding 13 minutes we were seriously on the back foot and on 61 minutes defeat stared us in the face with Bally leading by a point 0-14 to 1-12; indeed, but for some terrible wides from good positions Bally would have been out of sight. To their credit the lads, under the cosh and with time almost up (and with defeat staring them in the face) they constructed the full field movement that ended when we saw Ian Corbett kick the leveller much to Bally's and Anthony Moran's dejection. A Ballysteen follower, disappointed, commented afterwards, "Ye got out of jail," and he was probably right considering the team's litany of terrible wides when they were in the ascendancy. A Jekyll-and-Hyde display by us, then: brilliant, particularly in the second quarter, and vulnerable, particularly in the final quarter. Nevertheless we are where we want to be, in the quarter-final, and if we can again reach the level we reached in the second quarter and maintain it we will be a handful for Stephen Walsh, Johnny Murphy and the tough lads from Ballylanders.
Team: John Joe Sheehy, Seán Browne, Brian O'Sullivan, Michael O'Keeffe, Seán McAuliffe, Stephen Nix, Seán Neville, Mike McMahon 0-1, Ian Corbett 0-3, Joey Healy, Stephen Kelly 0-2, Michael Quilligan 0-2, Thomas Quilligan 0-2, James Kelly 0-2, Jamie Lee 0-3. Subs: Donnacha Woods, Michael O'Leary, Paul Hannon, Gavin Riedy, Darragh Woods, Conor Whelan, Ger Cremin, Michael Dowling, Eoin Hurley, Shane Kelly, Andy Brouder, Jonathan Carey.
The quarter-finals take place in a fortnight's time and training continues.

Intermediate hurling
The county championship round 1 between Newcastle West and Glenroe is not fixed as we go to press. We will have do better than we did against Caherline in the last round.

U21 Premier County Football Championship
In the dock are Joey Healy, Gavin Riedy, Cian Sheehan, Peter Shanahan, Eoin Murphy, Eoin Hurley, Andy Brouder and Shane Stack and they should be able to hold their own with the best in the county. There will be plenty of quality opposition in the West with St Kieran's, Seán Finns, St. Mary's and Dromcollogher-Broadford. An exciting end of year competition with Neville Park more often than not the venue.

West Minor Hurling Championship
Newcastle West play Dáithí Broudairs this evening Wednesday 10th September at 6.30pm at the field. We are on a bit of a roll and there are a lot of good hurlers in the team, though multiple sporting demands, from Gaelic. Association and rugby football, inhibit the development of the skills that would enable them to operate at premier level. That's life. Their Gaelic Football, association football and rugby managers are probably saying the same thing.

Minor football - Premier County
We are into the knockouts in the County minors Andy Brouder, Shane Brouder, Seán Murphy, Seán Ivess, Brian Hurley, A. J. O'Connor, Liam McCartan and William Hurley are the main men in a quality team that has the potential to win its second successive premier. Training continues.

U16 hurling County Championship Division 2 semi-final
Newcastle West play Pallasgreen on Sunday at 6pm, venue to be confirmed but probably in Bruff. The team has been strengthened by the arrival of Killeedy's Cian Magner Flynn and Michael Begley, both quality hurlers. Pallasgreen are exceptionally committed to hurling, maximise their resources more than most and will battle to the last ounce. Cian Magner Flynn is a scoring machine and if he can cut loose we are in with a good chance. If he is held we will be in trouble. We wish a speedy recovery to Dwayne McCoy

U13 Hurling County
Championship
Newcastle West play St Kieran's on Monday at 6pm at Coolcappa. Plenty of excitement.

U12 FOOTBALL GO
GAMES
Newcastle West v St. Kieran's
Both we and St. Kieran's have talented U12s so a visit to the field yesterday Tuesday should have been a rewarding experience. No pure football at this level, but pure off the cuff football, few frees, 100% effort, seldom a black or yellow card.

U10
Training is on Wednesdays at 7pm and on Saturdays at 10am. An Páirc Amuigh is the venue on Wednesdays and the field on Saturdays.

U8
The U8s are at Páirc Amuigh on Wednesdays at 7pm and on Saturdays at 10am.

Beginers Training Hurling Challenge
Beginners v U7 Camogie
The beginners are aged six mainly with a few 7s and a few 5s also. They train on Wednesdays at 7.15pmand on Saturdays at 10am. On Saturday next there's a hurling challenge v the U7 camogie team. We hope everyone enjoys it and no one who loses the ball in a tackle or misses an open goal or concedes an own, or whatever,  takes it to heart. The players hurling and football skills have improved considerably since the twice weekly sessions began, thanks in no small measure to the many parents, male and female who are giving a hand.

Intercounty All Ireland
Minor Championship Final
Limerick........................0-19
Kilkenny........................2-17
Goals win matches (most of the time) and so it was at Croker on Sunday last when the Cats scored two and Limerick none (though they could have got 5) and the Cats got the cream. Overall Kilkenny were the better team displaying superior craft, composure, stick work, movement and general hurling. Limerick gave 100% but struggled a bit with touch and catching the basics, nevertheless there was little enough in it. The team and all involved with them will be disappointed but they have achieved hugely over 2014 winning two Munster Championships, playing brilliant hurling and in general giving Limerick hurling supporters huge pleasure. We congratulate them and hope to see all of them back in 2015, back boning Co U21 and minor teams and down the line TJ Ryan's seniors. Well done Limerick minors. Many from the club travelled to support the team on Sunday.

Intercounty All Ireland
Senior Championship Final
Kilkenny .......................3-22
Tipperary .....................1-28
One of the best All-Irelands ever. Some critics said it was the best ever. Supporters were on their toes from beginning to end with hawkeye called into action at the very finish. Those with dodgy hearts were lucky to get home alive. If the replay is half as good it will be great.

CAMOGIE ALL
IRELAND
INTERMEDIATE FINAL
Limerick v Kilkenny
The Cats again 2p.m. on Sunday in Croke Park, also on RTE . Rebecca Delee, Newcastle West camogie starts at wing forward, Karen O'Leary and Leanne Browne are on the bench. Rebecca is a sister of former player Robert, Karen O'Leary is Michael's sister, while Leanne is a first cousin of inter hurling goalie/senior football wing back Seán Neville. As well as B players on the panel, two from Newcastle West Ger Sheehy and Ann Herbert are part of Joe Quaid's backroom team. Best of luck to Limerick on Sunday.

PEIL NA MBAN CO
SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
Monagea........................2-7
Athea.............................2-4
Local history was made on Saturday evening last when Monagea LGFC's senior team captured the Co. Senior Championship title for the first time. The team is trained by Joe Lee and includes a number of players from Newcastle West parish namely Grace and Yvonne Lee, Karen O'Leary, Shauna Tobin, Laura Walsh, Claire O'Riordan. All six were on the Newcastle West senior camogie team that recently won the county senior A league, a first ever co senior A title for the club. No wonder there was no cow milked in Monagea on Saturday and celebrations went on well into Sunday morning. It isn't every year you win a first county senior A title. Well done to all.

CLUB LOTTERY
Last Monday's draw took place at the Silver Dollar. The numbers drawn were 2, 4, 6 and 15. The jackpot of €20,000 was not won. The €100 special bonus prize was won by Georgia Williamson, c/o Declan O'Connor. The 5 x €40 lucky dip winners were Finn Pinchen, c/o Declan O'Connor, Noel O'Grady, c/o Seán Roche, Pat Kenny, c/o Peter Culhane, John Young, c/o Johnny Fitzgerald, Mary Kenny, c/o Peter Culhane. The week's jackpot is €20,000. The draw takes place at the Old Mill Bar on Monday nextSeptember 15th at 11pm. The club wish to thank all who are supporting, promoting and hosting the lottery.

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