Mike O Connell Menswear City Senior hurling championship

Last Sunday saw the conclusion of the Mike O'Connell Menswear sponsored City Senior Hurling Championship. This saw Patrickswell face off against Na Piarsaigh in what also doubled as the final of the all county league final. Ground conditions were good but it was a bitterly cold day for any sport but credit to both sides for what turned out to be an exciting and entertaining game of hurling even in December. With a number of enforced changes from the match program both sides were tentative at the start but this game livened up and with good play from both sets of forwards that had both sets of defenders in sixes and sevens throughout the opening half. On the twenty minute mark Brian Murray kept his side in the game with a breath taking save to deny Adrian Breen and the resultant sixty five was duly converted by Shane Dowling. There were a number of robust challenges that required the intervention of the referee and calm was restored when a number of yellow cards were presented to the offenders. The half time score saw Na Piarsaigh lead by 0-9 to 0-6 with all but one of the city side's scores coming from Shane Dowling five frees and one sixty five and two from open play, Patrickswell on the other hand had six different scorers on the board with one a free from Aaron Gillane.

The second half started in whirlwind fashion and a defensive mix-up when clearing by Na Piarsaigh saw Aaron Gillane fire to the net for the equaliser. David Sheppard and Diarmuid Byrnes traded points before Shane Dowling restored the three point advantage with three points from frees. Patrickswell stormed back with four points before Adrian Breen levelled the scores from play. A Peter Harty goal and three points from Diarmuid Byrnes (2) and Aaron Gillane and a single reply from Shane Dowling had Na Piarsaigh five points in arrears with time running out. A Dowling Free reduced the deficit and when the same player took a short free he found Conor Boylan on the edge of the square to give Brian Murray no chance and that left just a point between the sides. Pater Casey who had come on as a late substitute due to illness levelled the sides and moments later Ronan Lynch who had been largely anonymous throughout the game launched from the middle of the field to score a memorable point that secured both trophies for the City side.

Congratulations to the Mungret Club for giving their field for the competition and having it in splendid condition. 

 

City Under-21 Football Championship Final.

Saturday last saw Tory Gaels take on reigning champions Mungret in Clarina. Both sides were absent a number of players due to third level exams. To their credit both sides tried their best to play expansive Football but it was evident that with things winding up at adult level in most clubs it is becoming more and more difficult to get teams to train and play etc at this late stage in the playing calendar. Tory Gels ran out winners on a score line of 2-6 to 0-8 but both sides progress to the county stage of this competition and we wish them both the best of success in that campaign. Well done to Ballybrown in making their field available at this late stage in the year and having it in such good condition.

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