MINORS GIVE THEIR ALL
MINOR HURLING CO. A CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI-FINAL
Newcastle West ..........0-9
Murroe-Boher ..........0-11
Adare was the venue on Sunday at 12 noon. Windless and dry, it was a perfect hour plus for hurling with the rain obliging by holding off till 2pm or so. The game had huge intensity and a high level of skill, and watching Limerick minor manager Leo O'Connor scouting for his 2015 team, must have been impressed. Our lads played very well indeed, hurling with skill, guts and cleverness, not giving an inch in the physical stakes against opponents who in some cases towered over them (half a dozen of the Murroe-Boher team were giants, surely reaching 6ft 3ins), often on the front foot with their ability to win possession and use it effectively.
Liam McCartan was on fire from the throw-in and used his speed, skill, elusiveness and finishing ability to put the ball over the bar at 4, 6, 18, 29. The remaining 0-2 of our half time 0-6 came from Brian Hurley 14 from a 65, and Shane Stack 25, play. However while Liam, Brian and Shane get their names in the limelight for their scores, we must acknowledge the work-rate, hard work, huge effort of their team-mates who battled to win and distribute the possession that led to the scores. All in all, a big team effort that had us level 0-6 to 0-6 at half time. A.J. O'Connor (36, play) and Brian (40, free) scored the points that had us level 0-8 each at the end of the third quarter with tension mounting and the game in the melting pot. Two factors militated against us then. First William Hurley after clearing regally went over on an ankle that left him hobbling; then resolute full back Conor Barry, giving not an inch to a number 14 who was surely 6ft 4ins was sidelined with two yellows. These happened approximately 50 minutes in and though 131/2 v 15 we battled periodically and were level 0-9 to 0-9 at 58 (A.J. receiving from Brian to equalise at 58). However Murroe-Boher were in the ascendancy and finally pulled away with the winning points at 61, 62, having, from 50 to the final whistle, hit some very bad wides.
Overall then an excellent game with a wide variety of skill on display and two sporting teams giving their all. Neck and neck for 50 minutes. Murroe Boher missing a lot of chances when we were down to 131/2, our lads battled fantastically for the equaliser at 58 and Murroe Boher finally found the target to get first past the winning post, deserving of their win, but put to the pin of their collars to achieve it. Our lads can hold their heads high. Each and every one gave 100% and but for the injury to William and Conor's sending off might now be in the final. Well done to all. They won a tough West, their second in successive years and that's a major achievement. Well done also to dedicated mentors Seamus O'Connor (manager), Paul Hannon, Conor Fanning, Daniel Copse and Seán Roche, First Aid. Many of the teams are again underage next year and hopefully will go all the way in 2015. A few were playing their final minor game and hopefully will now progress to intermediate and help that team's success in the higher grade. Again well done to all players/mentors/supporters on a super effort .
Team: Conor O'Sullivan, Darren O'Doherty, Conor Barry, Killian McMahon, Seamus Hurley, William Hurley, Darragh McMahon, Shane Stack, Brian Hurley, Declan O'Connor, Caleb O'Shea, Shane Lee, Liam McCartan, Adam Harrington, Jack Fanning. Subs: Seán Murphy, A.J. O'Connor, Jack Downey, Lee Woulfe, Andy Brouder.
UNDER 21 FOOTBALL COUNTY A
CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 1
Not confirmed as we go to press, but probably at the weekend. One of the most compact competitions in the Limerick GAA calendar with games on successive weekends: Fr. Casey's, kingpins at minor level in recent years are odds on favourites for the title. If all our eligibles are available and training (no train no gain is the recipe for success) we could give any team a run for their money. Check the fixture list in theWeekly Observer for fixtures schedule.
POST PRIMARY
CORN UI MHUIRI
AND HARTY CUP
The West Limerick combinations are back in the provinces premier competitions. Corn Ui Mhuiri (football) and Harty Cup (hurling), after being excluded in 2013-2014. Players from the club are involved with both teams, with those attending SMI lining out in the Corn Ui Mhuiri and those attending Desmond College competing in the Harty. We hope to name check the club players involved and the progress of the respective teams in next week's notes. Watch this space.
CUMANN NA
MBUNSCOIL WEST
The three primary schools in the parish are taking part. An Gaelscoil, the Courtenay in the Premier Division, Killoughteen in the lowest division, the 7-a-side. We'll be up to date on their progress in the next issue. Also on the agenda is the Interdivisions Championship for the Sarsfield Cup.
BEGINNERS
The new kids brought their season to a close with an in-club hurling blitz at the all-weather on Saturdaymorning. The black clouds and the rain spilling and threatening from Rooska from first light, and still causing anxiety at 10am, thankfully and finally cleared and players, mentors, mums and dads (and a few grans and siblings) enjoyed a fantastic blitz, which commenced at 10.20am approximately and concluded with the obligatory crisps etc., at 11.45am more or less. Most of the 27 regular apprentice hurlers were in attendance. They were divided into four teams. The teams were apportioned mentors and managers of high quality and played away passionately and enthusiastically, until 11.15am on two pitches, six games in total, each game 13 minutes, each game demonstrating huge effort and plenty of skill, the managers and mentors using all their expertise to get their teams first past the post. Referees John Peter Cremin and Diarmuid Normoyle kept law and order and found no need to wave any colour of card. At the end of 45 minutes or so of 100% effort, there were shake hands all round, huge applause, welcome hydration. Each player then received a nice medal, ribboned with black and white for hanging around the neck or from the wall, the presentations made by Jamie Riri, the Henry Shefflin of New Zealand hurling and an enthusiast for the beautiful game. Presentations over, there were photographs aplenty for the albums, and finally the obligatory post match treat, at the heart of which are the crisps. All in all a brilliant finale to a super season and full marks to all involved, players, mentors, dads, mums.
Note 1: not the least exciting part of the programme was the challenge between the beginners and the dads.
It was anticipated that this would be a walkover for the dads, who had 1998 all Ireland winning intermediate medallist Pat Hogan in goal. Henry Shefflin was the 19 year old full forward on the Kilkenny team that Limerick beat in Thurles. However, the new kids had different ideas and coached by Tom Glasper and the many wags in attendance all of course with divided loyalties! They gave the performance of their young lives, winning a classic 3-0 to 2-0 and causing the shock of the year in G.A.A. circles! Declan O'Grady junior accepted the battered cup first presented in the 1960s from organiser Noel O'Connor on behalf of the beginners who were most generous in victory, shaking hands, hugging and generally consoling their shocked rivals! To their credit the dads were magnanimous in defeat and accepted that they were beaten by a better team! As usual the mums put everything in perspective, by quoting Eamon Dumphy, who said "It's only a game", Sonia O'Sullivan's father "No one died", William Shakespeare, who said "To be or not to be, that is the question" and U2, who said "I still haven't found what I'm looking for"! For the record, the teams were as follows: beginners Aran Riri, Cian O'Keeffe, Cillian Danaher, Conor Lyons, Cormac Noonan, Declan O'Grady junior, Diarmuid Cremin, Seán Fitzgerald, Riain Fitz-gerald, Jack Colbert, Jack Gallagher, Jake Riri, James Douglas Normoyle, Josh Glasper, Killian McAuliffe, Luke Scanlon, Matthew Brouder, Max Normoyle, Rory Vaughan, Tadhg Danaher, Tiernan Horgan, Tristan Kirwan, Zach O'Keeffe; and the dads were Pat Horgan, Jamie Riri, Pat Lyons, Richie Vaughan, Seamie O'Keeffe, Dermot Dan-aher, Diarmuid Normoyle, Eamonn Noonan, Declan O'Grady senior, John Peter Cremin, Don Colbert.
Note 2: three girls received special presentations for their contribution to the success of the beginner training. The three were U10 camogie players Ciara McAuliffe and Robin Lyons who attended most of the training sessions and were very cooperative, and one-year-old Seoirse Riri younger sister of Jake and Aran who was mascot all year.
Note 3: the dads and mums were absolutely fantastic all year, joining in the sessions, cooperating and obliging, willingly doing everything asked of them, goalkeeping, one-to-one coaching and so on, learning the game themselves. Well done to them all.
Coaching course
This Saturday at the field for underage coaches, core training for underage players is the theme. All our underage coaches are encouraged to come.
Lottery
The numbers drawn last Monday at Joe Lee's were 7, 21, 23 and 30. The jackpot was not won. The €100 special bonus prize was won by Paddy McCoy and the €40 lucky dips went to Julianne McAuliffe c/o Maurice McAuliffe, Clare and Deirdre Lynch c/o Ned Lynch, Paddy O'Brien c/o Ned Lynch, Jim Clancy c/o Paddy McCoy, Josephine Roche c/o Seán Roche. This week's jackpot is €20,000. The draw is in Cleary's bar on Tuesday 27th October at 10.30pm. The club thanks all the people supporting, promoting and hosting the lottery.