GOALS THE DIFFERENCE AT SUNNY KILMALLOCK
SENIOR FOOTBALL CO.
CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTER FINAL
Newcastle West ......................................0-11
Ballylanders .............................................2-9

Goals win matches is the well worn cliché trotted out regularly in GAA circles. Cliché or not, it's generally true as was the case on Saturday at Kilmallock, where seven in total were scored v St. Kieran's and ourselves as we exited the county championship.
The two scored by Ballylanders in the 4p.m. game which Denis Richardson refereed were of the fortuitous kind, probably, though they were well conceived by Kieran O'Callaghan, the Kieran Donaghy target man, for long outfield deliveries. It was obviously plan A or plan B or whatever, and it worked. For the first, the lesser known of the Kieran's got the touch, for the second he got in behind the defence, saw his shot stopped on the line only to ricochet off a defender and into the net. It gave Ballylanders a 0-4 lead at half time, 0-6 to 2-4 the goals coming at 6 and 23. Our six points had come from Jamie Lee (2), Seán Neville (3), Thomas Quilligan (8 and 27), Stephen Kelly 13 and 18, Stephen's 0-2 top quality, Seán Neville's was excellent also. There was little between the teams in general with Ballylanders maybe that bit more clinical and composed and methodical, somewhat Donegal like, in their measured approach. Thomas Lee was outstanding at midfield, Johnny Murphy was the general/playmaker, Kieran Callaghan their target man was a big threat inside. We played at high tempo, kicked six good points, were well in it, but unfortunately were hit for the two goals. Ballylanders continued to be composed and measured in the second half, methodical, hardworking, physically strong, able to stop us with their tackles and break the tackles themselves with Lee at midfield dominating. At 41 they were 0-5 ahead. With defeat staring them in the face our lads responded with an excellent final quarter in which they outscored Ballylanders 0-4 to 0-2 and had closed the gap to 0-3 with four minutes on the clock. They were very unlucky in those four minutes not to score the goal that would have levelled the game, and as often happens were caught on the counter attack for the point at 63 that made it a four point game and gone from us.
Overall Ballylanders were probably the better team on the day and deserved their win though there was little in it, and if their goals had not gone in and we had the rub of the green with ours... it's water under the bridge now and we are out. Our lads gave it their best shot, battled to the final whistle, tried their hearts out. One cannot do more. The year has been successful. They have competed well, won a first west in almost twenty years, were within the width of the post of making the county semis. Well done to all, to mentors Mike Quilligan (manager), Gerry O'Sullivan (coach), Joe McMahon, Brendan Stack (selector), Mary Donovan (physiotherapist), Seán Roche (first) and all involved on the sideline. All put in a huge effort and gave it their best shot.
Team: John Joe Sheehy, Michael O'Keeffe, Seán Browne, Brian O'Sullivan, Joey Healy, Seán Neville 0-1, Stephen Nix, Seán McAuliffe, Mike McMahon, Ian Corbett 0-2, Michael Quilligan 0-1, Stephen Kelly 0-3, Thomas Quilligan 0-3, Paul Hannon, Jamie Lee 0-1. Subs: Cian Sheehan, James Kelly,  Michael O'Leary, Darragh Woods, Gavin Riedy, Shane Kelly, Eoin Hurley, Conor Whelan, Andy Brouder, Ger Cremin, Jonathan Carey. 

Intermediate Hurling
Newcastle West v Glenroe
This game is on the long finger due to the senior football championship. We are into the quarter finals and training continues.

U21 Football County Championship
This game is round the corner; always an exciting, compact competition. If we can field at full strength and prepare properly we will be competitive. If neither happens we will struggle to make the knockout stages. It will throw up plenty of local derbies.

Minor Hurling West Championship A Semi-Final
Newcastle West v Tournafulla
Sunday next at 6p.m. but no venue as yet. Training is ongoing. At full strength, we will be there or thereabouts.

U16 Hurling Division 2 Co. Championship Semi Final
Newcastle West v Pallasgreen
We narrowly lost. The report hasn't arrived at the PRO's desk. Hard luck. Great effort by our lads.

U15 Football Co Final
Newcastle West v Monaleen
Claughaun is the venue on Saturday next, September 27th at 3p.m.

U13 Hurling Co. Championship
Newcastle West v Kildimo/Pallaskenry
The field is the venue on Sunday next, September 28th at 5p.m.

U8 
Training on Wednesdays at 6p.m. and on Saturdays at 10a.m. Both sessions are at the all weather.

Club Lottery
Last Monday's draw took place at the Courtenay Lodge. The numbers drawn were 4, 6, 10, 15. The jackpot of €20,000 was not won. The €100 special bonus prize was won by Seán O'Donnell, c/o Tadhg O'Connor. The 5 x €40 lucky dip winners were John Riedy, c/o the Central, Daniel and Mark Cahill, c/o Liam Cremin, Brendan O'Connor, 135 Templegreen, Jim Long, c/o Pat Condon, Helen Hartnett, c/o Kay McCoy. This week's jackpot  is €20,000. The draw takes place at Pat's Bar on Monday next, September 29th at 11p.m. The club thanks all who are supporting, promoting and hosting the lottery.
The online lottery can be accessed through the GAA Website: www.ncwgaa.com.

U10 Bob Stakelum Tournament 2014
Newcastlewest U10s seal place in history with final breakthrough
Last Saturday our  U10s were on the road again-this time to the home of hurling in Mid Tipp as Holycross-Ballycahill invited us to their Bob Stakelum memorial U10 hurling competition. We had attended this blitz last year and found the standard of hurling exceptional so we went down as well prepared as we could. There were 8 teams in 2 groups of 4,  games were 11 players a side and 10 minutes a side.
We were placed in a group with JK Brackens, Thurles and Mungret.

Newcastlewest v JK Brackens
Our first game was against JK Brackens. They were a very good team and the tempo was high from the very start, they played with a sweeper-a first as far we were concerned at this age group. Our lads held their own in the first half but for whatever reason we weakened in the second half and lost the game for a finish.
Newcastlewest v Thurles
Our second game was against the famed Thurles and this was a cracking game. We led by a point at half time and after a tremendous second half battle, we came out on top by a goal. It was a fantas-tic win against a very good team and the boys were starting to believe they were as good as anybody when they put their mind to it.

Newcastlewest v Mungret
This was our most disappoint-ing game as playing against the breeze in the first half, we fell asleep and conceded a few early goals. Even though we improved in the second half we couldn't penetrate a tight Mungret defence and we lost out. This meant we qualified for the shield semi-final against Ballycolla from Laois.
Newcastlewest v Ballycolla Shield  Semi-final
After the disappointment of the Mungret game, the boys 'backs were to the wall now and they were in the last chance saloon. Thankfully they came out with all guns blazingfand won the game comfortably in the end. This set up a place in the final and a chance of redemption as we were to meet Mungret again in the final.

Newcastlewest v Mungret  Shield Final
The final was played in glorious sunshine on the main field in Holy Cross -the atmosphere was electric in the build up to throw in. We gathered our troops together for the final time and asked them to go out and express themselves and show everyone what they were truly capable of. What they produc-ed was a sight to behold as they played easily their best hurling of the day and got some amazing scores to run out good winners in the end.
The final whistle saw an eruption of celebration from the families and supporters of our valiant team. Captain John Whelan accepted the shield on behalf of his team mates. All in all it was a most satisfying day for all involved with this team, especially the way they hurled and carried themselves in the final. It was if all the pieces of the jigsaw we were trying to put together with the past 4 years came together in a magical 20 minutes. Next Saturday, we are off to Banteer for our final blitz and we hope that the boys will continue to maintain the standard reached in last week's final.

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