St Oliver Plunkett's GAC, Greenlough Club Notes
April 19, 2014Three days after their first game of the league, Greenlough's Senior's hosted Ogra Colmcille at St Oliver Plunkett Park in their first home ACFL game of 2014.
It took the hosts very little time to settle into the game as they pointed within 28 seconds when Cormac O'Neill persevered while under pressure before scoring. A wide followed only, but quickly Greenlough got their second when a good ball in by John Og McPeake to Seamus Graham, saw the latter turn his man and fire over.
Another wide followed for Greenlough, but just as though it looked like the hosts would start to run away with the game, Ogra were given a lifeline when awarded a penalty, and unlike the game mid-week against Faughanvale, Greenlough's 'keeper Gerard Kearney was unable to keep the ball out of the net; despite guessing the right way he just couldn't get his fingers to the placed shot in the corner of the net.
A minute later and Ogra had moved two points up with their first point of the game as Greenlough could only reply with two wides. Eventually however in the tenth minute Cormac O'Neill was on hand to point his second and close the gap to one.
The St Oliver Plunkett's men were applying most of the pressure and after two good goal chances they finally found the net, when Seamus Graham gathered a Ryan Tohill pass and out muscled his man before blasting to the net.
Brian McCallion then blocked down an Ogra pass at one of the field before rejoining the attack and finishing the move by pointing at the other, before Seamus Graham fired over from a tight angle to put Greenlough four up after 14.
Ogra replied with a point in the 16th minute, but Greenlough replied with two points in a minute, first Ryan Tohill pointing his first after good work from the McCallion brother, Brian and James, and then John Og McPeake pointed after good work again from Brian McCallion and John Og breaking up an Ogra attack.
Again when it looked like Greenlough were beginning to run away with it Ogra struck back with a goal, this time from play, and a point to leave one in it with ten minutes of the first half remaining.
In the 26th minute when Seamus Graham was fouled Ryan Tohill pointed the free, before Brian McCallion's quick free kick found Niall Bradley in space, who in turn fired over from distance.
Greenlough still had time to add two more to their first half wides tally of eight before the half time whistle, but went in at the break with a two point lead.
Half-Time: Greenlough 1-09 Ogra Colmcille 2-03
The second half scoring started two seconds earlier than the first, this time Cormac O'Neill being the provider, with the help of Connor Madden, and Seamus Graham firing over.
Less than a minute later and the gap was up to four when Cormac then pointed again, this time drilling the ball low, just over the crossbar.
Brian McCallion's point from forty meters was quickly followed by Ryan Tohill pointing after a great team move that started with a free on Greenlough's own end line, to make it four points in three minutes of the second half, and increase the lead to six.
Ogra responded five minutes later, only for Ryan Tohill to point for the hosts again.
The game was put beyond the visitors in the 43rd minute, when Cormac O'Neill, having seen his initial shot cleared off line, gathered the half clearance and blasted high into the net.
Ogra did reply with two points either side of a James McCallion point, and added another in the 48th minute, but that would prove to be their final score of the game.
Greenlough took ten minutes from their previous score before Caolan Diamond pointed from long range for their next score to put nine between the sides with just over five minutes remaining.
Ogra almost closed the gap a minute later, but Gerard Kearney made a great save, pushing the ball onto the post, before the defence cleared the ball.
There was still time for one more score, and it was left to Ryan Tohill to round off the scoring when he pointed from a free with the last kick of the game, to ensure Greenlough won by ten.
Full-Time: Greenlough 2-17 Ogra Colmcille 2-07
Team and Scorers: Gerard Kearney, Paul Quinn, Joseph Kearney, Gary Loughlin, Christopher Kearney, Thomas McCann, James McCallion 0-1, Brian McCallion 0-2, Niall Bradley 0-1, Stefan Lynn, John Og McPeake 0-1, Connor Madden, Cormac O'Neill 1-3, Seamus Graham 1-3, Ryan Tohill 0-5 (2f). Subs: Caolan Diamond 0-1 for P Quinn (inj 40 min), Gary O'Neill for J Og McPeake (56 min), Ciaran Cassidy, Christopher Maguire, Michael Clarke, Liam Quinn.
ACFL Div 2: Faughanvale 2-12 Greenlough 0-20 (16/04/14) - Seniors hold on to earn away win in league opener
Our Seniors' All-County Football League Division Two campaign for 2014 began with a trip to Faughanvale on Wednesday evening, 16th April.
The game was originally scheduled for Sunday 13th, but due to Derry's continued involvement in the National League, the game was put to mid-week, putting pressure on players and supporters a like to make the 7pm start at the far end of the county.
When these sides met at St Oliver Plunkett Park last year, there was only two points to separate them, but the similarities between the games ended there, as in that game Greenlough came back from trailing at half time to steal a win, whereas this time it was a case of almost giving the game away after leading well.
Despite being the travelling side, Greenlough started the game quickest, and after a wide in the first minute Ryan Tohill pointed his and his side's first of the game and league campaign in the fourth minute. Faughanvale responded immediately with their first, before rattling the cross-bar and then firing wide twice. Enda Lynn's pass set up Connor Madden to put Greenlough ahead again, only for the homeside to level again within a minute.
Niall Bradley's pin-point pass found Seamus Graham, who turned and gave Greenlough the lead for the third time. This time however there was no instant reply from Faughanvale, as from the kick-out Stefan Lynn broke the ball to Enda Lynn who pointed his first of the day. Ryan Tohill and Enda then set up Christopher Kearney for a point, before Cormac O'Neill's half blocked shot crept over the bar to open the lead up to four by the 17th minute.
A great move from Gerard Kearney's short kick-out that started with Enda Lynn and went the length of the field, involving Joe and Christopher Kearney, ended with Enda scoring a great point in the 21st minute, and putting Greenlough five up and firmly in control.
But Faughanvale began to come back into it as the half was drawing to a close, and after two wides in a minute, they firstly added a point and then were awarded a penalty. Fortunately for Greenlough, Gerard Kearney made a great save from the resulting kick as the ball looked destined for the bottom corner of the net, and he then managed to clear the rebound as well. However, that was only a short delay, as within two minutes the ball did end up in the Greenlough net after the visitors' defence got distracted and the ball was fisted to the net.
Suddenly having lead by five, the gap was back to just one as half-time approached, but with the last kick of the half, Enda Lynn pointed to leave Greenlough two up at the break.
Half-Time: Faughanvale 1-03 Greenlough 0-08
The second half started very much like the first, with a Greenlough wide in the first minute, followed by a Ryan Tohill point, this time in the third minute after good work from Joe Kearney and Enda Lynn. This time however, rather than Faughanvale responding, Greenlough went on a scoring spree hitting five points in as many minutes.
Firstly Seamus Graham after a pass from Enda Lynn, before Enda took a short free, passed to Cormac O'Neill, received the return and pointed. The same combination that had worked two minutes earlier saw Seamus receive another pass from Enda, with the same result of Seamus scoring. Newly appointed captain for the year Brian McCallion then got on the scoresheet, before Ryan Tohill added another directly from the resulting kick-out, leaving Greenlough eight points up with less than ten minutes of the second half elapsed.
Faughanvale pulled two back soon afterwards, the first where Gerard tipped the ball over his own bar, but Greenlough responded straight away with a point from Cormac O'Neill after good work from Paul Quinn and sub John Og McPeake, and then another from Enda Lynn following a pass from another sub Thomas McCann.
Again at eight points up mid-way through the second half, Greenlough looked to be cruising, but Faughanvale had other ideas and the warning signs were there that they hadn't given up. After a couple of wides they pulled one point back, before rattling the crossbar for a second time in the game. The game's first pointed free had the gap back to six, before Ryan Tohill and Enda Lynn set Seamus Graham up for a well taken point.
The sides exchanged points in the 53rd minute, with Greenlough's coming from Niall Bradley catching a '45 that dropped short, before laying off to Ryan Tohill who scored under pressure. With just over seven minutes of normal time remaining, Greenlough were still seven ahead and in control of the game. But with time running out Faughanvale started to chip away at the lead, with three points in three consecutive minutes.
When the game was then stopped for two injuries, the second of which saw Damien McTeague stretchered off after hurting his knee, there was only suddenly two scores in the game, with Faughanvale continuing to put pressure on the Greenlough defence. And that pressure eventually told, as a minute after the restart following the injuries Faughanvale found the back of the Greenlough net for a second time, leaving just a point in it with only whatever injury time was added on remaining.
Ryan Tohill however did settle Greenlough's nerves a bit a minute later when he hit his fifth point of the day, but the home side responded again to leave the minimum between them. As time ran out Greenlough managed to work the ball up the field, and after a foul, Ryan Tohill kicked over his side's first and only pointed free with the last kick of the game, in the ninth minute of injury time, to ensure the St Oliver Plunkett's men started their league campaign with a nervy two point win.
Full-Time: Faughanvale 2-12 Greenlough 0-20
Congratulations to Brian McCallion who was named Senior Captain for 2014, and to Cormac O'Neill who was named Vice-Captain. Good luck to them both in leading the team during the season.
Unfortunately again we have to wish another player well after a knee injury, the fourth in 3 weeks. Following John McCloy, Michael J Henry and Owen McAlynn's injuries, we wish Damien McTeague a speedy recovery after he hurt his knee and had to be stretchered off in the closing stages of the game, and hope to see him back out as soon as possible.
Team and Scorers: Gerard Kearney, Paul Quinn, Justin Madden, Mark Tohill, Christopher Kearney 0-1, Joseph Kearney, Damien McTeague, Brian McCallion (Captain) 0-1, Niall Bradley, Stefan Lynn, Enda Lynn 0-5, Connor Madden 0-1, Cormac O'Neill (V-Captain) 0-2, Seamus Graham 0-4, Ryan Tohill 0-6 (1f). Subs: Thomas McCann for M Tohill (36 min), John Og McPeake for S Lynn (36 min), James McCallion for D McTeague (inj 60 min), Michael Clarke, Gary Loughlin, Christopher Maguire, Ciaran Cassidy.
Good Luck - to Greenlough Senior player Enda Lynn and his Derry team mates in the National Football League Division 1 Final against Dublin on Sunday at Croke Park.
2014 Club Anniversary Celebrations
Less than two weeks to go! Make sure you've your ticket bought! Also if you have any old club jerseys, Adult or Underage call 07729065940 as soon as possible, so we can display it on the night. Thanks.
All ticket sellers for the anniversary dinner are asked to have their money returned to the organising committee by the 25th April.
Club memorabilia: On the night of the dinner there will be a display of old memorabilia. If anyone would like to donate anything for this please contact Neil McErlean, 02825821624 or Emily Mullan on 02825821742/07761968810 ASAP. If you prefer for these not to leave your house we can arrange for these to be photographed.
Schedule: Friday 2nd May: Camogie Final (Kelly McGoldrick Memorial), Saturday 3rd May: 7.30pm: Anniversary Celebration Dinner - Clady Hall - display of club memorobilia, 3 course meal and Special guests Jarlath Burns, Mark Sidebottom & Cathleen Henry, Music by Juice. Tickets £40 (very limited number remaining). Sunday 4th May: Club celebration Mass, Family fun day, underage camogie and football blitz, Townloand "It's a knockout", Pig-spit, and a night of music and entertainment by Niamh McGlinchey, and much more.
Over 35s Tournament - Anyone who would be willing to play for Greenlough in the South Derry Over 35 tournament in aid of MacMillan Cancer Support and hosted by Desertmartin GAC (13-a-side 20 minutes a half) should contact Paul Downey (07708909400) or Stephen McPeake (07989309323) ASAP. The last 8 is due to be played on 24th May.
Lotto Results 14/04/14 - Letters: H N P T. Jackpot £2000 - not won. £25 Winners - Chrissy Henry, Lavey & Gary Downey, Glenone. Jackpot for 21/04/14: £2050. NB: Please buy a ticket from any of the sellers or local outlets, or return your lotto envelopes to the box provided or sellers. Thank you for your support.
More club details: www.greenloughgac.com or GreenloughGAC on Facebook, or @GreenloughGAC on Twitter.
St Columba's Camogie Club
Anniversary
Plans are well underway for the 70th Celebrations of our club. If anyone has any ideas or suggestion on how we could celebrate this throughout the year please get in touch via facebook or directly with Emily Mullan.
More camogie details: www.greenloughgac.com or Greenlough Camogie Club on Facebook, or @GreenloughCC on Twitter. Tweet
