Club Notes: 18th September 2017
Shamrocks GAA Club Notes ( Kindly sponsored by Allen Engineering and Agri Sales Ltd.)
Club Lotto.
Last week’s winning numbers were 4-12-18-25, and there was no winner. €20 winners were Ann Flanagan, O’ Donnell Family, Anita O’ Doherty, Eileen Coady, and Oliver Flanagan. Next week’s jackpot will be €6750.
IHC Shamrocks 1-15, Stradbally 0-19.
Stradbally have been somewhat of a bogey team for Shamrocks in recent years, with last year’s victory over the seasiders a rare win. And so it proved again last Saturday evening in Cappoquin when just a single point separated the teams at the end. Colm Roche’s absence with a foot injury was a blow to our hopes before the start, as Colm had been our chief scorer in our first round draw with Cappoquin, and another man absent was veteran full back John O’ Donovan who has a serious knee injury. On the other hand, we were happy to welcome Eoin Murphy back after a lengthy break from hurling, though he was lacking a bit of match fitness. Stradbally got off to a solid start with the first two points before Stevie Lucey and Shane Roche pulled us back. Stradbally added four more points to just two in reply from Shane before John Paul Lucey finished off a good move involving Joe Leahy and Edward Lonergan to crash home a goal. Stradbally went ahead again before points from Stevie, Joe, Kelvyn O’ Farrell and John Paul left us one ahead coming up to half time, but two sloppy frees gave Stradbally a one point lead at the break. Whatever pep talk was given at half time seemed to work at the start of the second half as points from Eoin Murphy, Edward Joe and Kelvyn gave us a three point lead. However we couldn’t sustain that momentum, and a succession of frees saw Stradbally gradually get on top again. Try as we might, we couldn’t get our noses in front again, and time ran out for us once again. One statistic from the game was a very telling one, Stradbally scored around 14 points from frees, and only five points from play, by my reckoning they only missed one free. On the other hand we scored 1-10 from play, and only 5 points from placed balls. This was the main reason we lost, and there’s no point in sugar coating it, we are losing games because of our poor free taking returns. I’m not pointing the finger of blame at anyone, obviously the guys are doing their best, but it’s a problem. The end result is that we now have to beat Ballysaggart next Saturday to have any hope of qualifying. I have to say the lads fought to the end and gave their best, with excellent performances from Stevie Lucey, Joe Leahy, Padraig Roche, and particularly from goalie Ciaran O’ Keeffe who pulled of a couple of great saves, and generally didn’t put a foot wrong. This was in my opinion a game we should have won given the chances we created, but our inability to finish cost us dear. Panel; Ciaran O’ Keeffe, Padraig Ahearne, Tommy O’ Donovan, Brian Harnedy, Adam Crawford, Shane Roche ( 0-5), Padraig Roche, Edward Lonergan (0-1), Chris Murphy, Stevie Lucey (0-2), Kelvyn O’ Farrell (0-2), John Paul Lucey (1-1), Cathal Herlihy, Joe Leahy (0-2), Eoin Murphy (0-2), Edward Hynes, Jason Ahearne, Liam Murphy, Billy Hynes, Tom Roche, Alan Kelly, Martin Delaney, Eamonn Forbes, Michael Lucey, Bernie Kelleher.
Fixtures;
Intermediate Hurling, Shamrocks v. Ballysaggart in Cappoquin next Saturday 23rd Sept. @ 5.30pm. Junior Hurling semi final Shamrocks v. Brickey Rangers next Sunday 24th Sept in Cappoquin @ 12 noon.
Junior Hurling semi final.
Shamrocks Junior Hurlers, who finished top of their qualifying group play Brickey Rangers in the semi final next Sunday at 12 noon in Cappoquin. This team has been going very well all year, and with a mixture of young and veteran players, are combining very well. 12 o’ clock is the throw in time in Cappoquin, so come along and give them some support.
Deise Draw.
Congrats to John and Jane Murphy, Headborough, who won €250 in the Deise Draw recently.
Dubs do the Treble.
Dublin overcame Mayo by the bare minimum to win the first three-in-a-row football titles since the great Kerry team of the 70’s and 80’s. Mayo were probably the better team on the day, but a lack of composure at the very end was their undoing, while Dublin’s coolness saw them confirm their status as one of the best teams of the modern era. Donal Vaughan’s sending off was crucial as not only did they lose a key player, they also lost the free and the chance to finish the game with an extra man, as the Dublin player was going to be sent off anyway. Mayo really deserve an All Ireland title, but Dublin are unlikely to be dislodged any time soon.