Club Notes: 20th August 2018

IHC, Shamrocks 1-14, Ballysaggart 3-13.
Shamrocks bowed out of the Intermediate Hurling Championship for the second year running at the hands of Ballysaggart who had five points to spare at the end of this quarter final in Cappoquin last Saturday evening. Indiscipline was the cause of ‘Saggart going ahead 4-1 with 3 points from frees before Colm Roche finished off a great move by crashing home to the net. Two points from Colm and one from John Paul Lucey gave us a 3 point lead at this stage, but the frees continued for ‘Saggart, and more indiscipline led to ‘Saggart’s first goal as the referee moved the ball into a scoring position, and Stephen Bennett duly fired to the net to put the Westerners back into a two point lead which they held at the break, 1-8 to 1-6. To sum up that half, Ballysaggart scored 1-5 from frees, 3 from play, and Shamrocks scored 1-4 from play, and just 2 from frees. I don’t think I’d be unreasonable by questioning that amount of frees going one way only. Despite getting the first two points of the second half to level the match once again, gradually Ballysaggart began to get on top, and a goal following a poor clearance saw ‘Saggart gain control of the game, and when Kenneth Cashel scored a fine individual goal with about ten minutes to go they had built up a nine point lead, and we couldn’t find a way back. To give our lads credit, they kept playing to the end, with Colm scoring the last four points, and Edward Hynes was unlucky not to score a goal when keeper Michael Ryan pulled off a great save to deny us. Undoubtedly Ballysaggart showed more guile and were the more physical team (quite within the rules I stress), and showed way more hunger for the battle, which is what championship hurling is about. I was disappointed with our indiscipline and lack of composure, we made far too many mistakes especially in the backline, and we must congratulate our opponents who were deserving winners. John Paul Lucey, Adam Crawford, Padraig Ahearne and Colm Roche who scored 1-11 out of 1-14 certainly can’t be faulted, but when only two other players contributed to the scoresheet, well it’s never going to be enough. We thank coach Brendan Landers and selectors Padraig Tobin, Mike Leahy, and John O’ Donovan for their efforts during the year. Panel; Ciaran O’ Keeffe, Brian Harnedy, Adam Crawford, Padraig Ahearne, Edward Lonergan, Shane Roche, Tommy O’ Donovan, Billy Hynes, Chris Murphy, Cathal Herlihy, John Paul Lucey (0-2),Stevie Lucey (0-1), Eoin Murphy, Colm Roche (1-11), Kieran Crawford, Edward Hynes, Joe Leahy, Padraig Roche, Shane Harnedy, Kelvyn O’ Farrell, Thomas Goulding, Eamonn Forbes, Ivan O’ Neill, Liam Motherway.

Junior Hurling semi final.
Our Junior Hurlers play Brickeys in the Junior Hurling semi final next Sunday 26th August at 1pm in Cappoquin. It looks like we are going to be without a few of our players for this semi final next Sunday, so the odds are against us. But we wish them all the best, and please come along and give them some support.

Treaty are tops in Croke Park.
Congratulations to Limerick who overcame the odds and ended a 45 year wait for the Liam McCarthy Cup last Sunday. Galway were uncharacteristically sluggish for a lot of the game, and though Limerick were nine points ahead with ten minutes to go Galway clawed their way back, and it was nail biting at the end when the lead was down to a point. It can only be good for hurling to see the title going to different counties, perhaps Waterford can break their duck next year.