What a week for football in the club following the U/14 superb victory in the county final both Ahane NS and Lisnagry NS both schools captured East Limerick Bunscoil titles last Wednesday in UL. Ahane captured the 11 aside title for the first time ever and Lisnagry winning the 13 aside title. Ahane defeated  Killinure and Lisnagry defeated arch rivals Doon after a huge battle there was nothing between the sides. It was a brillant game of football

AHANE NATIONAL SCHOOL
Ahane NS made our first appearance in an East Boys Football final for 5 years last Wednesday in UL. The first half was a tight affair with Cliodhna Twomey scoring a fine goal after great build play by Conor Moloughney.  In the second half, we went behind after Killinure scored an early point. It was then our players really had to dig deep. Jack O'Carroll's marauding runs in the middle of the field yielded a goal and 2 points. Our backs were really tested at this stage and but for the tenacious defending by Conor Ryan and Aoife Cross in the full back line and a wonderful diving save by Shea Doyle in goals, we would've been in big trouble. Shaun McNamara then got a goal of his own, when his low accurate shot found the back of the net. Michael Hourigan and Cormac Greaney in the half back line and Jack Barry in midfield began to clean up the breaking ball around the middle of the field and drove the team forward.  Into the fray during the second half came Colm Slattery-Wright, Luke Reddan, Jack O'Loughlin and Sam Hartigan, each making vital contributions. As the game drew to a close, Cliodhna Twomey put the icing on the cake with a powerful strike into in the Killinure net. The final score, Ahane NS 5-2, Killinure 2-1. Captain Shea Doyle accepted the cup on behalf of a jubilant Ahane team.

Corks 3 time All-Ireland winning and dual All-Star goalkeeper Donal Óg Cusack visited the club last Wednesday evening to speak with the Minor Hurling Squad in the run up to the County Minor Hurling final. In his chat with the lads, Donal Óg emphasized the importance of good attitude and positive thinking in everything the players do, be it at training, in preparation for a big game or during the game itself. He asked the lads to push each other and to expect more from each other on and off the pitch so as to constantly strive to improve their game.

 

It was interesting to hear Donal Óg reflect on his own career and his current position as chairman of the inter-county players GPA association and to still conclude that the times he spent, training and playing with his native club, Cloyne in County Cork were some of the best times in his playing career. 'Your club is where you start playing hurling and it's where you'll finish playing your hurling' he said. The session ended with a Questions and Answers session between Donal Óg and the lads during which the topics of match day preparation, responsibilities of the captain, players and subs, attitudes to alcohol and drugs and the story of Donal Óg in the dressing rooms on All-Ireland final day with the wrong boots were all discussed.

 

On behalf of the club and the minor panel, Ahane's minor hurling manager, Dave Givens thanked Donal Óg for making the trip after his work-day from Cork to Limerick especially to talk with the lads. It's probably a mark of the man that Donal Óg's only response was that it was as much an honour and pleasure for him to be in Ahane talking hurling. Thanks for the making the trip Donal Óg, the pleasure was definitely ours!…

Tweet

Most Read Stories