St Oliver Plunketts Hurling Club Feile na nGael 2009 Another historic weekend for our U14s as they clinched a 3rd Feile na nGael title for the club, on this occasion annexing the Division 5 Miko McMahon trophy. Over an action-packed weekend the boys in green beat their hosts, Naomh Eoin of Sligo, Clontibret O'Neills from Monoghan, Brosna Gaels from Offaly, St Fintans Mountrath from Laois in the semi-finals and then Clonad from Laois in the final in O'Brien park Tullamore. First game V Naomh Eoin, Sligo, Friday June 19th in Robinstown, Mullingar. Conditions were perfect for hurling & the pitch was in immaculate condition. St Oliver Plunketts took about 10 minutes to settle into the game but goals from Cathal Burke (2) & Sean Lee settled the home side. A series of long range points followed & Plunketts led by 3-7 to 0-1 at half time. Early second half scores opened the floodgates with Plunketts comfortable winners on a scoreline of 13-12 to 0-1. Scorers - Cathal Burke 3-1, Ricky Mc Carthy 2-3, Dylan Cannon 2-2, Sean Lee 2-1, Paddy Lynam 1-2, Conor O Brien 1-1,Dean Scally 1-0, David Culkin 1-0, Sean O Brien 0-2. Second game V. Clontibret O Neills, Monaghan. Saturday June 20th. in Ballycumber. Plunketts started very well & never looked back in this game. This created an opportunity for 5 subs to get an extended run. The highlight of the gane was that 11 players got on the scoresheet, final Score - 9-14 to 0-1. Conor O Brien 2-2, Cathal Burke 2-2, Paddy Fagan 2-1, Ciaran Mullen 1-1, Dean Scally 1-1, Dylan Cannon 0-3, Luke Byrne 1-0, Paddy Lynam 0-1, Darren Carter 0-1, Ricky Mc Carthy 0-1, Sean Lee 0-1. Third game V Brosna Gaels, Offaly, Saturday June 20th in Ballycumber. A draw between Clontibret & Naomh Eoin ensured that Plunketts were through to the semi finals before the throw in. A number of players were rested & the squad members got their chance to shine which they duly took, final score; 6-11 to 0-0. Paddy Lynam 2-2, Conor O Brien 2-2, Sean Lee 1-1, Dylan Cannon 0-3, Darren Carter 1-0, Sean Byrne 0-2, Sean O Brien 0-1. Semi Final V St Fintans Mountrath, Saturday June 20th in Mucklagh. The Plunketts lads knew this would be a big step up in class from the earlier games but were very fired up & gave their best performance by far. This was a great team effort with all players on top form. Mountrath scored 2 first half goals to leave the half time score OP 4-4 Mountrath 2-0. However Plunketts scored 2 early second half goals to effectively finish the game & won out in the end 7-11 to 2-3. Sean Lee 4-2,Cathal Burke 1-3, Paddy Lynam 1-2, Ricky Mc Carthy 1-1, Ciaran Mullen 0-2, Dylan Cannon 0-1. Final V Clonad/Ratheniska, Laois. Sunday June 21st in Tullamore. The players were glad of a good night's rest but were slow to settle & a little nervous. Playing with the wind in the first half, the lead was only 2 points at half time (1-2 to 0-3)with the team rueing their many wides. An early second half goal from Dean Scally lifted the team & they went on to win 5-5 to 0-6. Cathal Burke 1-1, Ricky Mc Carthy 1-1, Paddy Fagan 1-0, Dean Scally 1-0, Sean Lee1-0, Paddy Lynam 0-2, Dylan Cannon 0-1. Squad: Paddy Fagan, Paddy Lynam, David Culkin, David Coyne, Darren Carter, Ricky McCarthy, Jack Quinn, Dylan Cannon(Vice-Captain), Ciaran Mullen, Niall Kavanagh, Seán Kavanagh, Stephen Kavanagh, Stephen Hassett, Conor O'Brien, Seán O'Brien, Conor Bracken, Seán Byrne (Captain), Luke Byrne, Cathal Burke, Dean Scally, Seán Lee, Donal Liddy, Seán Flanagan, Danny Purcell. Mentors: Aidan Cannon, Frank Mullen, Garrett O'Brien. Well done to all concerned. Senior Hurling Championship St Oliver Plunketts 2.11 - Castletown Geo 1.13. On Saturday evening last in Cusack Park our senior hurlers contested the first round of the 2009 championship against a determined Castletown Geoghegan team. Both teams took several minutes to settle and it wasn't until the sixth minute that Noel Gavin scored the first point of the game. By the eleventh minute Plunketts were 3 points to the good thanks to some accurate free taking by Mick Cleary. Castletown opened there account midway through the first half but still Plunketts led by 4 points. Next score was an excellent point by Govinda Geoghegan and this was closely followed by Cian O'Leary's goal when he rounded the Castletown full back and drilled low to the Castletown net. Move of the game produced an excellent point by Damien Kiernan with Greg Gavin and Mick Harris involved in the build up. As half time approached, a goal mouth scramble in the Castletown end was finished to the net by Cian O'Leary and this goal left the half time score at 2.08 to 0.05. Castletown were quickest out of the blocks for the second half and they added 3 quick frees to leave just 2 goals between the teams. Govinda Geoghegan then fired over a 60m free for St Oliver Plunketts and this was followed shortly by a brilliant side line score by Noel Gavin; but these scores did not settle the Mullingar men. Castletown were playing all the hurling and they seemed to have free men all over the pitch. Plunketts failed to convert the frees that were awarded to them but Castletown closed the gap with consistent free taking. A goal mouth scramble in front of the Plunketts net was cleared but the resultant 65 was struck over for Castletown's ninth point of the game. Midway through the second half Castletown were awarded a 14m free and the Plunketts defence knocked the goal bound shot over the bar to concede a further point. At this point Sean McGuire went off injured and David Murray came into the action. Castletown continued to pile on the pressure and scored another free to leave just 4 points between the sides. On 24 minutes Aaron Craig replaced Kevin Baker. Plunketts were living dangerously at this stage and another goal mouth scramble seen the sliothar touched onto the upright and cleared out for a Castletown side line ball. As the game approached full time, Plunketts moved up-field for a rare second half attack and Connaire Flanagan fired over only our third score and first from play of the second half. To everyone's surprise, three minutes of added time was announced and indeed five minutes were played. During this added time Castletown again piled on the pressure and were rewarded with a goal on 34mins. Fortunately for Plunketts the final whistle soon sounded and the game ended with the narrowest of margins in the Mullingar men's favour. This was definitely a game of two halves with Plunketts playing some excellent hurling in the first period but they failed to turn up for the second half. The number of missed frees is again a cause for concern and we can also count ourselves lucky that Castletown did not score more of the goal opportunities that came their way. But a win is a win and the players and management can now look forward to competing in the winners group of the senior hurling championship. Team: Peter Collins, Oisin Clinton, Sean O'Leary, Steve McManus, Damien Kiernan, Noel Gavin, Sean McGuire, Mick Harris, Greg Gavin, Ciaran Curley, Govinda Geoghegan, Mick Cleary, Kevin Baker, Cian O'Leary, Connaire Flanagan, David Murray and Aaron Craig. Training Details Check out our web site for details of times and contact numbers for the various underage and adult hurling grades. New players are always welcome. Members Monthly Draw Preparations for our monthly draw are well underway and we hope that all Club members and supporters will contribute to this important fundraiser. Extensive details of the draw are published on the Club web site; or for further information please contact Ciaran McKenna at 087 8324079 or Connie McCormack at 087 2269359. Condolence St Oliver Plunketts wish to extend deepest sympathy to the Kindregan family on the untimely death of Michael Kelly of Ballyglass Co. Roscammon, may he rest in peace. Website Don't forget to log into the club web site for information on club affairs - www.stoliverplunketts.westmeath.gaa.ie and also the county board web site for upcoming fixtures www.westmeathgaa.ie There are a number of images of the Feile na nGael outing now viewing on the web site. Tweet

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