Club Notes: 19th September 2016

Club Lotto.
Last week’s winning lotto numbers were 5-14-25-28, and there was no winner. €20 winners were John & Maggie Walsh, Frank Corcoran, James Buckley, Billy Cantillon, and Mike Condon. Next week’s jackpot will be €17,250.

Cappoquin open for business.
The G.A.A. pitch in Cappoquin has been a home from home for the Shamrocks going back almost to the formation of the club, and whether it was championship hurling or football, it wouldn’t be stretching it to say we probably played more matches there than anywhere. We haven’t been there too often in recent years due to the refurbishment work on the clubhouse. That is now completed, and last weekend it hosted two championship matches involving the Shamrocks, Intermediate Hurling on Saturday, and Junior Hurling last Sunday. The new clubhouse is a credit to the cornerstone club, and we compliment them on their progressive attitude and hope we will be returning for more championship action in the near future. Congratulations to all in the club for a splendid venue.

IHC, Shamrocks 2-16, Stradbally 0-16.
Shamrocks Intermediate hurlers won their third championship match in a row last Saturday evening in Cappoquin when they had two goals to spare over a very physical Stradbally side. The seasiders started the better, and led by three pointed frees to one after about ten minutes, but in the space of five minutes we scored two goals and a point to take control of the game. Stevie Lucey got the first, taking down a superb ball and finishing, and then a great run and finish from the lively Edward Hynes, with a great point from Colm Roche in between gave us a five point lead. Colm and Stevie added more scores before the first big talking point of the game came when referee Tom Mansfield produced a straight red card for John O’ Donovan. Given some of the very physical tackles that were taking place throughout the game, this sending off seemed very harsh in my opinion. So now we had to show our bottle with about 40 minutes to go and down a man. Three pointed frees brought Stradbally back into it , but Colm also put over three frees to leave the score at half time 2-9 to 0-9. Stradbally only scored one point from play in the first half, so Shamrocks were well on top. Stradbally started the second half, like the first, by scoring 3 points (one from play, their only other score from play in the match), to one from Colm from a free, and a couple more frees had the game down to two points, and it was then that this team showed their mettle with two scores from play from Colm and J.P. Lucey. Goalie Ciarán O’ Keeffe, who wasn’t really tested for most of the game, still had the composure to pull off a great save late on in the match, a vital stop. Stradbally were reduced to 14 men also when Shane Aherne got his second yellow, and Shamrocks pulled away with three unanswered frees from Colm to win by six points, a fair reflection of the game. This was a big win for the team, they withstood some extremely physical tackling (some of it actually reckless in intensity), and despite playing with a man less for over half the game, came through with some conviction. We have now qualified for the semi finals with a match to spare, and our final group game is against An Rinn next Sunday in Fraher Field at 6pm. Congrats to all the team and selectors on a job well done. Panel; Ciarán O’ Keeffe, Brian Harnedy, John O’ Donovan, Padraig Roche, Cathal Herlihy, Shane Roche, Adam Crawford, Edward Lonergan, Padraig Ahearne, Eoin Murphy, Colm Roche (0-13), John Paul Lucey (0-1), Kelvyn O’ Farrell, Stevie Lucey (1-2), Edward Hynes (1-0), Tomás O’ Neill, Mike O’ Neill, Alan Kelly, Bernie Kelleher, Sean Murphy, Keegan O’ Farrell, Tommy O’ Donovan, Edward O’ Neill, Eamonn Forbes.

JHC, Shamrocks 2-12, Brickey Rangers 2-6.
Shamrocks Junior hurlers made it a a weekend to remember by beating Brickey Rangers in the Junior Hurling quarter final last Sunday in Cappoquin, so avenging their defeat by the same opposition in last year’s Western Final. This was a full-blooded championship encounter, with some terrific hurling, despite the very wet conditions. Points from Bernie Kelleher, Chris Murphy, and Keegan O’ Farrell gave us a four points to nil lead, before Brickeys replied with two pointed frees. Further points from Edward O’ Neill, Chris and Jamie Murphy, plus a beauty from veteran Tommy O’ Donovan left us ahead by 8 points to 5 at the break. We continued to add on points from Chris before a goal from Keegan left us nine points in front with about 20 minutes to go. Brickeys then crashed home two goals in quick succession to bring them right back into the game, but we dug in deep and held out until a great pass from Padraig Tobin set up Keegan for his second goal to give us a six point win. There were some stellar displays from both young and not so young fellas, with two goal Keegan and Bernie as well as some great shooting from Chris Murphy the forwards who impressed most, along with seasoned Tommy O’ Donovan, Liam Dalton, and Michael Lucey in the backs to name just a few, but I must mention Seanie Murphy who ran himself into the ground and was still going strong at the end. This was a tough encounter with no quarter given or asked, and like the Intermediates the previous night, our boys were up for the test. We are now into the semi-final. Panel; Liam Murphy, Mikey O’ Neill, Thomas Baldwin, Michael Lucey, John Baldwin, Tommy O’ Donovan (0-1), Liam Dalton, Sean Murphy, Chris Murphy (0-6), Alan Kelly, Bernie Kelleher (0-2), Edward O’ Neill (0-1), Keegan O’ Farrell (2-1), Jamie Murphy (0-1), Padraig Tobin, Martin Delaney, Jody O’ Neill, Connor Goulding, Dan O’ Neill, Nat Smith, Seamus Tobin, John A. Kelly.

Junior Hurling semi-final.
This match has been confirmed for Colligan this Saturday 24th September at 2.30pm against Kilrossanty.

Congratulations.
Congratulations to popular player Connor Goulding who got engaged to Siobhan Hogan recently. Congrats from all in the club.
Congratulations also to Shamrocks stalwart Tom O’ Donovan and his wife Mary on celebrating their 40th Wedding Anniversary last Saturday. Well done to you both.

Sheila Bennett R.I.P.
Shamrocks would like to sympathise with the family and friends of Sheila Bennett, Tipperary, who passed away last week. Sheila was mother to Mary O’ Neill, Old Strancally, and grandmother to Helen, Sean, and Nicky. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.