'THE OULD DOG FOR THE HARD ROAD'
Senior Football County League rounds 1 and 2, West Championship
Newcastle West......... 0-10
Dromcollogher- Broadford..................1-11

The pairing that gave the county the best final in years and some controversy drew a handy crowd to the field on Saturday. They were well entertained by a game that was sporting and competitive to the final whistle. Three early points suggested that the county champions might run away with the game, but our lads settled after a shaky opening ten minutes and outscored Dromcollogher-Broadford 0-7 to 0-1 in the following 20 minutes, to be 0-7 to 0-4 ahead at half time. We expected to push on in the second half but for whatever reason that did not happen. Indeed it was Dromcollogher-Broadford with veterans Tom McGloughlin, Patrick Donnelly and Micheál Reidy playing major roles who grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck, limiting us to 0-3 and kicking a well taken 1-7 themselves. Our heads didn't drop but we definitely played second fiddle to our composed and clinical arch rivals in this period. Plenty to work on for our lads therefore and the defeat may be a blessing in disguise (every cloud has a silver lining...) ridding us of complacency and emphasising that titles are not won without effort.
Team: Noel Murphy, Donnacha Woods, Darragh Woods, Mark O'Sullivan, Seán Browne, Brian O'Doherty, Paul Hannon 0-1, Gavin Reidy, Seán Barrett, Cian Sheehan 0-1, Michael Quilligan 0-4, Eoin Hurley 0-1, Thomas Quilligan, Declan Brouder 0-2, Jonathan Carey 0-1. Subs: Brian O'Sullivan, James Kelly.
There are two games at the weekend, one on Saturday v St. Kieran's in the county league and one on Monday at 6pm at Mountcollins v Fr. Casey's in the West Championship. Two lively games are guaranteed with none of the teams likely to give an inch, and training continues.

Intermediate Hurling Challenge
Newcastle West..........0-14
Monagea.....................1-11
Mick Neville Park was the venue on Sunday morning, there was no hiding place from the bitter cold, and Brendan Stack refereed. Both teams played with commitment and effort and the result was a game that saw all the lads get a valuable outing under their belts ahead of the coming County Leagues and West and County Championships. A worthwhile workout indeed with all the players surviving the conditions without incurring injury, or catching pneumonia, we hope.
Team: Ollie McCoy, Evan Egan, Maurice Murphy, Conor Fanning, James Kelly, Seán Browne, Michael O'Grady, Paul Hannon, Mark Kelly, Michael Quilligan, Tony O' Connor, Aaron McCarthy, Thomas Quilligan, Andrew Curtin, Donnacha Woods,. Subs: Mike McMahon, Eoin Hurley, Cian Sheehan, Kieran McMahon, Sean McAuliffe, Jonathan Carey. Training continues.

U21 Hurling West A and B Championships round 4 and 5
The U21 hurlers, hoping to bounce back from their heavy round 3 defeat by Croagh-Kilfinny, play Dromcollogher-Broadford at Mick Neville Park on Thursday at 6.30pm and a Granagh-Ballingarry and Feenagh-Kilmeedy selection on Sunday at 6pm in Dromcollogher. A wooden spoon placing is on the cards but hopefully it will be avoided by a performance of guts, pride, commitment, spirit and so on. Time will tell and training continues.

U16 football Division 1 County Championship round 1
Newcastle West............3-8
Kilmallock...................1-5
Kilmallock was the venue on Monday. We were by far the better team in the first half, scored 2-4, missed as much through inaccuracy in finishing and passes going astray in the final third of the field, and led 2-4 to 0-2 at half time. Excellent work rate and support play were features of our play that must have pleased supporters, mentors John Hurley and Pa Keane and the players themselves. The second half was far more competitive with our hosts urged on by mentors including Andrew O'Shaughnessy going on all out attack. An early goal closed the gap to 0-5 and their Kieran Donaghy like full forward threatened to do gaisce, as they say in Kerry. However, with Seamus Hurley at full back in commanding form we weathered this early storm and worked hard to put 1-4 on the board and get the campaign off to a winning start. This team had skill and a good work ethic and these will be needed as they chase their second successive county A title.
Team: Conor O'Sullivan, Joseph Nash, Seamus Hurley, Aidan O'Connor, Shane Lee, Killian Brouder 0-2, Killian McMahon, William Hurley, Gerald Griffin, Diarmuid Kelly 0-2, Brian Hurley 0-1, Caleb O'Shea 1-0, Colm Foley 0-1, Adam Harrington 0-2, Adam Corbett 1-0. Subs: Liam Dowling 1-0, Padraig Guiney, Ronan Creedon.

U15 football
Newcastle West play Fr. Casey's in the county Championship round 1, provisionally today Wednesday at the field.

U14 hurling Féile na nGael round 1
Newcastle West............1-1
Croagh-Kilfinny..........2-1
A low scorer in cold and difficult conditions last Saturday at Croagh saw Croagh-Kilfinny slightly the better team and just about deserving of their win. Our lads battled well and this battling 100% effort and bottle will serve them well in the leagues and championships ahead.
Team: Brian Nix, Brian Foley, Jack Downey, Dylan O'Connell, Lee Woulfe, Thomas Griffin, Oisin Brennan, Seán Walton, Micheál Collins, Ben Finnegan, Brian Curtin, Conor Finucane, Niall McAuliffe, Mikie Carroll, Jack Nash. Subs: Daniel Normoyle, Darragh Collins.

Training under way
Adult (senior, junior A and U21 football, intermediate, junior B and U21 hurling): various times, check with management.
Minor: Fridays 6-7pm at the all-weather pitch.
U16: Mondays and Fridays 6-7pm at the all-weather pitch.
U14: Mondays 7-8pm and Wednesdays 5.30-7pm at the all-weather pitch.
U12: Wednesdays 5.30-7pm and Saturdays 10-11am at the field.
U10: Saturdays 10-11am at the all-weather pitch.
U8: Saturdays 10-11am in Newcastle West CC.

Intercounty U21 football
The Munster Championship semi-final between Limerick and Cork is today Wednesday at the Gaelic Grounds. Michael O'Leary, Ian Corbett and Jamie Lee are on the panel. Ian, James O'Meara and Darragh Treacy are county seniors and will be expected to take the fight to the odds-on favourites.

County minor football
Managed by 2011/12 Newcastle West trainer/coach Gerry O'Sullivan, the panel includes four Magpies, Gavin Reidy, Cian Sheehan, Eoin Hurley and Eoin Murphy.

Intercounty senior football rounds 6 and 7
Limerick 1-9 London 1-8
Stephen Kelly is recovering, Michael O'Keeffe is on the panel, Ian Corbett is with the U21s and Joe Lee is a selector. Round 7 v Clare is all important.

Intercounty senior hurling round 4
Limerick 0-21 Offaly 3-8 leaves us heading towards the A final v the Dubs with promotion to Division 1 and a Division 1 semi-final place the big prizes for the winner. On Sunday at 2.30pm it is Limerick v Wexford in round 5 at the Gaelic grounds.

Sympathy
Everyone in the club extends sympathy to the Neville family, Rathkeale, on the death of Fr. Ronnie, one of Limerick hurling's most enthusiastic supporters. His family gave the wonderful Mick Neville Park to Limerick G.A.A.

Lottery
Last Monday's draw took place at Pat Whelan's. The numbers drawn were 7, 12, 23 and 29. The jackpot was not won. Lucky dips of €40 each: Denis O'Connor c/o Kellos, Peter, Declan and Andrew Curtin c/o Patsy Curtin, Tommy Kelleher senior c/o Kellos, John Collins c/o J Collins, and Sharon Lyons c/o Martina Sheehan.

GAA ANNUAL CONGRESS
The GAA Annual Congress took place in Derry on Friday, March 22 and Saturday, March 23rd.
73 motions in total will came before delegates, 60 motions passed, 10 rejected and 3 withdrawn
Motion 4 on introduction of 'Black Card' passed
Motion 52 on Hawk-Eye Technology passed
Motion 1 on All-Ireland Hurling Championship Format passed
Motion 3 on opening GAA stadia for future RWC bid passed
The most notable change is the introduction of the black card from January 2014
Players who commit fouls, such as dragging down opponents, are to be shown the black card which would result in them having to be substituted. However, if a team receives three black cards in a match, any subsequent cards would result in a player leaving the pitch with no replace-ment allowed.
The proposed black card offences are:
1 Deliberatively pulling down an opponent
2 Deliberately tripping an opponent with hand, arm or foot
3 Deliberately colliding with an opponent after he has played the ball away or for the purpose of taking him out of the movement of play
4 Using abusive or provocative language or gestures to players
5 Remonstrating in an aggressive manner with a match official.

10KM WALK/RUN AND 80KM CYCLE IN AID OF CRY
(Cardiac Risk In The Young)
Monagea GAA, in association with the Herlihy and O'Donovan/Scanlan families invites you and all clubs in Co Limerick to participate in this charity event.
In the space of 8 months in the parish of Monagea, Co Limerick, we lost two beautiful, young people to Sudden Adult Death Syndrome. Niamh Herlihy (20) and Darra O'Donovan (15) were so cruelly and suddenly taken from their families and friends, that we feel the need to raise awareness of this unexplained condition.
Funds are needed to allow research into the possible causes of such sudden deaths as well as to facilitate further screening.
Date: Saturday 4th May 2013
Time: Cycle - 11am
Walk/Run - 12 o'clock
Starting from Monagea Community Centre
All participants are welcome to wear their club colours on the day.
Light refreshments afterwards at Monagea Community Centre.
For further information contact: Clare O'Donovan (085) 1458214, Liam Herlihy (087) 2998461
or email seanherlihy atcavanaghs.com or infoatcry.ie

Upcoming Fixtures
Under 21 hurling championship
Dromcollogher/Broadford v Newcastle west in Mick Neville Park at 6.30pm on Thursday 28th
Granagh Ballingarry/Feenagh Kilmeedy v Newcastle west at 6pm on Sunday 31st March in Dromcollogher
County Senior Football League
St Kieran's v Newcastle west 30/03 Coolcappa 5pm
West Senior football championship
Newcastle west v Fr Casey's at Mountcollins at 6pm Monday 1st April
U16 Football Championship
Newcastle West v Monaleen in Newcastle West at 6.45pm on Monday April 1st

2013 Cadbury Munster under 21 Football Championship Semi-Final
Limerick v Cork
When - Wednesday March 27th at 7:30pm
Where - Gaelic Grounds Limerick
Referee - Keith O'Brien (Tipperary)
Standby Referee - Derek O'Mahony (Tipperary)
Linesman - Brian Tyrell (Tipperary)
Sideline Official - Sean Lonergan (Tipperary)
Extra time - (2 periods x 10 minutes only) to be played if sides finish level at the end of 60 minutes
Replay date - Wednesday April 3rd at 7:30pm in Pairc Ui Rinn
Next Round - the winners play Tipperary or Clare in the Munster Final on Wednesday April 10th at 7:30pm
Admission Prices - Adult - €10. Student/OAP with appropriate ID Card - €5 Under 16s are free

Munster Under 21 Football Championship - Useful Information
Attendances for the Munster Under 21 Football Championship have grown by 150% in the period 2007 through to 2012.
Last meeting - 2007 Munster Under 21 Football Championship Quarter-Final at Pairc Ui Rinn


Cork ..........................0-17
Limerick......................0-9
Scorers - Cork: D Goulding 0-10 (0-7 frees), C O'Neill 0-3, M Shields, P Kerrigan, F Gould, C Keane 0-1 each.
Limerick: S Cronin 0-3, K O'Callaghan 0-3 (0-2 frees), M Kelly, G Collins, R Browne 0-1 each.
Cork: K O'Halloran, R Carey, M Sheils, G O'Shea, S O'Donoghue, D Limerick, E Cadogan, F Lynch, C Keane, S McCarthy, C Callinan, P Kerrigan, C O'Neill, E Goulding, R Leahy. Subs. S Cahalane for Callinan, F Gould for Leahy, D Kearney for Keane, N Horgan for O'Shea.
Limerick: T Enright, M Cahill, D Woods, S Garvey, L Martin, L O'Dwyer, R Browne, M Galvin, L Kavanagh, J Ryan, K O'Callaghan, G Collins, M Kelly, S Cronin, N Mulvihill. Subs. E Horgan for Mulvihill, I Ryan for Kavanagh, Kavanagh for Galvin (leg injury), T Gleeson for Browne, M Boyce for Martin.
Referee: P O'Sullivan (Kerry)
For the record Cork and Kerry have both appeared in 37 finals (Kerry's total includes 2 replays); Tipperary and Clare in 10 finals; Waterford in 8 finals and Limerick in 4 finals
Though Limerick, Waterford and Tipperary have won this competition in this millennium, the combined record of the so called four weaker counties since 2000 is played 80, won 29, lost 50 and drawn 3 - a winning percentage of 36%.
Kerry and Cork have dominated this competition and only once in the history of the championship were one or both counties not involved in the final. That was in 2000 when Limerick played Waterford in the Final in Dungarvan with Limerick lifting the crown for the first and only time on a 0-7 to 0-4 scoreline.

Munster Under 21 Football Cup
Corn na Cásca presented by the Football Council in 1966 to commemorate the jubilee of the 1916 Rising.
All Ireland Under 21 Football Championship
In Under 21 Football All Ireland Roll of Honour Cork have won 11 Titles and Kerry have 10 Titles to their credit. Cork were All Ireland Under 21 Champions in 1970, 1971, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1994, 2007, 2009. Kerry titles were won in 1964, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1990, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2008
Cadbury Hero of the Future Awards
Former Cadbury Hero of the Future Award Winners:
2006: Keith Higgins from Mayo; 2007: Fintan Goold from Cork; 2008: Killian Young from Kerry; 2009: Colm O'Neill from Cork; 2010: Rory O'Carroll from Dublin; 2011: Thomas Flynn from Galway; 2012: Ciaran Kilkenny from Dublin.

Social Media
All the latest information on the happenings in Newcastle west GAA can be got through the club website, our Facebook page or Twitter. http://ncwgaa.com/http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Newcastle-West-GAA-Club/101546396552816 Tweet

Most Read Stories