Club Notes: 5th September 2017
Shamrocks GAA Club Notes ( kindly sponsored by Allen Engineering and Agri Sales Ltd.)
Heartache for the Deise.
All Ireland final day, a truly uniquely Irish occasion and one of the great annual events in the calendar. This year’s final was a unique one with Waterford and Galway meeting for the first time. We could marvel at the crowds, the colour, the awesome stadium, the noise, and feel a part of it all. What a thrill to be there, to take it all in. Some counties are there so often they take it for granted, here in Waterford it happens so rarely that we could appreciate all the trimmings. Galway made a blistering start with scores coming quickly, but we kept in touch with goals from Moran and Bennett keeping us in the game. At half time there was only a point in it, no mean feat considering our slow start, and when we finally got ahead in the second half I thought we could kick on. At that point though, whether it was our inexperience or Galway’s maturity, we stalled, and the Tribesmen saw out the match and ended their famine with a 3 point win. Devastation for Deise fans, elation for the Westerners. We congratulate Galway, No one could begrudge them their victory, or deny they were the better team. Though hugely disappointed, we can be proud of our team, they hurled to the end without ever giving up, and pushed Galway all the way. It capped an extraordinary year for Galway who won league, Leinster and All Ireland titles, and added the minor title for good measure. Could we have won? Yes, but we needed to have our star players all playing well, and unfortunately that didn’t happen. My own opinion is that we won’t get the best out of Austin Gleeson until he’s restored to his best position at centre back. It has to happen. Wouldn’t Tom Devine have been a huge addition to bring on if only he was available. If only… Congratulations to Derek McGrath and all his backroom team including our own Eoin Murphy, and well done to all the players who gave us a year to remember. We’ll be back….
JAFC v. Tallow.
So we can finally get back to club action, and Tallow are our quarter final opponents in the Football championship this Saturday evening at 6pm in Cappoquin. The hurling championship will follow the week after. Hopefully we will have all our players back, and let’s give them some support.
Richard Murphy RIP.
Shamrocks would like to sympathise with Anne Murphy, Castlelyons, on the death of her husband Richard last week. Anne and her family have a long association with the Shamrocks. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam.
Congratulations!
We would like to congratulate the Shamrock ladies U-14 football team who beat St Anne’s to win the county football final last week in Modeligo. Well done to all!