Late Surge Secures Fifth Title in a Row for Mourneabbey Over Gallant Ballymacarbry

Cork side Mourneabbey produced a strong finish to clinch a fifth Munster Senior ‘A’ Ladies Football Final at Cahir on Saturday afternoon last over a Ballymacarbry side who produced a very solid performance.

This game was held up for 45 minutes at the start of the game when corner back Treasa McGrath picked up a serious injury after just two minutes which necessitated the calling of an ambulance to the ground to have the player removed professionally for the attention that she needed.

The long delay on a freezing cold day must have asked the question of some should games be abandoned when a game is held up for so long as surly it is very difficult to for players to re-warm up and to play a game when a player has picked up a serious injury which might mean that minds are elsewhere and maybe therefore risking further injuries.

After the restart the Cork side started brightly as Brid O’Sullivan put over a free on 3 minutes and it was followed by a brace of scores from Doireann O’Sullivan.

However Ballymacarbry came storming back into the game with a hat-trick of scores from Sinead Ryan including a tenth minute goal in the middle of the three when she was picked out by Linda Wall and when in control of the size 4, she looped Meabh O’Sullivan for a deserved goal.

Points from Ciara O’Sullivan and Marie O’Callaghan followed for Mourneabbey to level matters with 13 minutes played, and they retook the lead with a brace of Doireann O’Sullivan scores early in the second quarter.

Points from Abbie Dalton, player that we could see feature for Waterford in the near future and Aileen Wall leveled matters once more before Sinead Ryan edged Waterford in front from a free on 28 minutes, but a similar score from Doireann O’Sullivan on the half hour mark saw the sides turn around locked at 0-8 to 1-5.

Ballymacarbry started the second half brightly as Abbie Dalton got her second score of the game within sixty seconds of the restart and Sinead Ryan followed up with a point and then hit her second goal of the game on 33 minutes which put her side 2-7 to 0-8 in front and looking good to win a first Munster Senior ‘A’ title since 2000.

The Cork side however soon began to show the experience they gained in winning four finals in a row previous to this latest one, as Doireann O’Sullivan kicked two scores one from a free before Ciara O’Sullivan leveled matters once more on 40 minutes with a brilliant goal giving Lauren Fitzpatrick no chance in the Ballymacarbry goal.

Sinead Ryan and Ciara O’Sullivan swapped scores before Abbey Dalton gave her side the lead once more with 11 minutes to play, but this was to be her sides last score of the game.

Doireann O’Sullivan hit two frees to edge her side back in front, before her sister Ciara put over two in a row to send the Cork side clear of Ballymacarbry and they sealed the win when Laura Fitzgerald pointed on the hour mark.

Mourneabbey: Meabh O’Sullivan; Eimear Meaney, Cathy Ann Stack, Aisling O’Sullivan; Sandra Conroy, Róisín O’Sullivan, Kathryn Coakley; Marie O’Callaghan, Brid O’Sullivan; Eimear Harrington, Ciara O’Sullivan, Niamh O’Sullivan; Ellie Jack, Laura Fitzgerald, Doireann O’Sullivan.

Subs: Síle O’Callaghan for Aisling O’Sullivan, Anna Ryan for Doireann O’Sullivan.

Scorers: Doireann O’Sullivan 0-9 (6f), Ciara O’Sullivan 1-4, Brid O’Sullivan, Laura Fitzgerald (1f), Marie O’Callaghan 0-1 each.

Ballymacarbry: Lauren Fitzpatrick; Treasa McGrath, Michelle McGrath, Maeve Ryan; Mairead Wall, Karen McGrath, Abbey Dalton; Kelly-Ann Hogan, Laura Mulcahy; Aileen Wall, Eibhlis Cooney, Shauna Ryan; Linda Wall, Sinead Ryan, Michelle Ryan.

Subs: Becky Hogan for Treasa McGrath, Brigita Valuntaite for Shauna Ryan, Shauna Ryan for Eibhlis Cooney.

Scorers: Sinead Ryan 2-5 (3f), Abbey Dalton 0-3, Aileen Wall 0-1.

Referee: Niall McCormack (Laois).

Ninth Title in Quarter of a Century for The Nire

Having won their first County Senior Football Crown beating Dungarvan in a never to be forgotten day at Cappoquin in 1993, The Nire marked the silver jubilee of that win yesterday evening at Fraher Field when they overcame the challenge of a fancied Kilrossanty side with two points to spare at the end of the hour.

Kilrossanty had not won a title at this grade since they beat The Nire in the 1989 final at the same venue, meaning their wait for their 16^th title now goes on for at least one more year, but they will know that this is something that will be put to right sooner rather than later.

2454 paying patrons passed through the turn styles for this game despite the 6pm throw in for a single game played on what was a cold night under the lights and there was few if any of this sizeable attendance which surly is the largest to attend a final in recent years as the outcome of this game was in doubt right to the final whistle despite both sides having their period of dominance.

Scores were hard won in this game where both defences were on top. It looked as if Kilrossanty were going to be dealt a huge blow and maybe have their hopes dashed on the quarter of an hour mark when they lost full back Paul Keating with what looked to be a nasty arm injury when he bravely put his body in the line blocking down what proved to be a rare goal scoring opportunity in this game as Conor Gleeson bore down on the Kilrossanty goal at the country end of the ground.

But the Kilrossanty management team had the resources with reshape their team bringing Stephen Prendergast one of the most versatile footballers in the county from centre forward to full back a position that he has played in many times since he first pulled on a Kilrossanty shirt playing underage football over two decades ago and sent Jack Whyte into attack.

 While it was the winners that were first to score in this game, Kilrossanty proved to be the better of the two sides in the opening half turning around with a 0-5 to 0-3 lead showing on the scoreboard as the sides headed to the dressing rooms at the break and they will be wondering had they not taken 12 minutes to score in this game and then to go from the 28 minute of the first half to the 56 minute of the game without scoring what the story might be at the end of the night.

Shane Walsh who had a quiet game by his standards on occasions like this opened the scoring on five minutes but his side had to wait another seventeen minutes for their next score even if they were creating chances in between.

At the other end once Martin Dunne had split The Nire uprights on twelve minutes the side in green and gold began to get on top in this game.

Paul Whyte who earlier this year looked as if he would never play for club or county again kicked the first of his four scores shortly after his side lost Paul Keating at the other end.

Six minutes later Tommy Prendergast kicked a delightful score from out on the left hand side of the field as his side attacked the town end of the ground with the aid of the crossbar after the size 5 bounced on the metal work over the head of Diarmuid Murphy.

Shane Ryan who missed some of this years championship but who was back in the team in recent weeks split the posts from a free on 22 minutes, but Paul Whyte with the score of the game, a huge free hit between five and ten metres outside The Nire 45 metre line, out of his hands put some two between the sides once more and when Patrick Cunningham followed up with a score from play four minutes later things were looking very good for Kilrossanty.

However, The Nire gave themselves a boost heading to the dressing rooms when Man of the Match Darren Guiry put over a free in added time at the end of the opening thirty minutes to leave just two between the sides at the interval.

The Town end goal at Fraher Field is often perceived to be the scoring goal and playing into it in the second thirty minutes of this game, The Nire were always on top.

All-Star hurler Jamie Barron kicked the opening score of the second half two minutes after the restart and when fellow inter county hurler Conor Gleeson followed up six minutes later the sides were level.

The next score was now going to be crucial and even through The Nire had to wait another eight minutes for it, it went their way as Darren Guiry with his left leg put over his second score of the evening to give his side the lead for the second time in this game and the same player two minutes later repeated the trick when his side were awarded what appeared to be a harsh free against Mark Prendergast which was moved into a much more scoreable position by referee Alan Kissane for descent.

It was at this stage that both sides began to send for reinforcements, introducing fresh legs and maybe fresh ideas and instructions from the team mentors onto the field of play.

With six minutes remaining Shane Ryan put over a free for his side but it was his last act of the game as he was immediately withdrawn by the Nire mentors having picked up an injury moments earlier and indicating that he was not in a position to continue in this game.

Paul Whyte ended almost half an hour without a score for Kilrossanty putting over a free four minutes short of the hour mark but it was followed with an effort from Shane Walsh one minute from time to leave three between the sides.

In the added time at the end of this game pilled on the pressure at the Country end of the ground but The Nire were prepared to do what they had too to keep their opponents at bay.

Paul Whyte struck his fourth of the game a minute into stoppage time and his side continued to mount pressure on The Nire who drew bodies behind the ball in a bid to keep the Kilrossanty attackers out.

Tholom Guiry was even prepared to take a second yellow card, one of eight handed out in this game to keep Kilrossanty out.

The Nire’s dogged defending as this game wore on paid off as they held out for a two point win to win their ninth title in 25 years and now got on to play Limerick side Adare at the Gaelic Grounds on Sunday afternoon next in the Munster Club Championship, a game that they will feel that they can advance to the next phase of the competition from. 

 The Nire: Diarmuid Murphy; David Meehan, Thomas O’Gorman, Michael Moore; James McGrath, Tom Barron, Darren Guiry; Tholom Guiry, Craig Guiry; Jamie Barron, Dylan Guiry, Dermot Ryan; Shane Ryan, Conor Gleeson, Shane Walsh.

Subs: Ciaran Walsh for Dermot Ryan (52) Shane O’Meara for Shane Ryan (53), Conal Mulcahy for Craig Guiry (59).

Scorers: Darren Guiry 0-3 (3F), Shane Walsh, Shane Ryan (2F) 0-2 each, Jamie Barron, Conor Gleeson 0-1 each.

Kilrossanty: Darren Mulhearne; Niall Walsh, Paul Keating, Mark Prendergast; James Whyte, Patrick Whyte, Barry Prendergast; Tommy Prendergast, Martin Dunne; Patrick Cunningham, Stephen Prendergast, Conor Hayes; Donal Fitzgerald, Paul Whyte; Joey Veale.

Subs: Jack Whyte for Paul Keating (15), Michael Walsh for Donal Fitzgerald (53) and Alan Quinn for Jack Whyte (61).

Scorers: Paul Whyte 0-4 (4F), Tommy Prendergast, Martin Dunne, Patrick Cunningham 0-1 each.

Referee: Alan Kissane

Clonea Power Way to Munster Semi Final

The strength of Club hurling in Waterford particularly in the lower grades of hurling in recent years has come on a great deal and nowadays we see more and more players from what once would be described as unfashionable hurling clubs particularly in the lower grades stake a regular place for themselves on all of the counties hurling teams.

In the last few years more success has come to clubs in the Intermediate and Junior grades when the different county champions go on to represent the county in Munster than what we have seen in the senior grade and on Sunday afternoon we once more saw how strong these grades are when we saw Clonea produce a quality performance to beat Limerick champions Garryspillane in the Munster Quarter final at Fraher Field.

Just short of 1000 paying patrons were present to see this game and it is fair to say that those that were present could not but be impressed the performance that Brian Greene’s side produced.

In the county final win over Clashmore at the same venue recently Clonea looked good and for this game they looked an even better side playing as a team more than as individuals as you might see at times in such games.

The Limerick side travelled to Fraher Field just over a week after they won the Limerick County Final and did so with the tag of favourites in the eyes of many to advance.

They played in the senior grade in the Treaty County up to as late as 2013 when they were one of a number of sides relegated from the top flight after sixteen years playing in the grade when the different championships in Limerick were restructured with less clubs playing senior and a new look Premier Intermediate Championship similar to what happens in Cork introduced for the clubs that were culled from the top tier of hurling and those promoted from what was the second tier at the time.

But in this game they never lived up to the billing as favourites and laboured to hit many of the scores which they did and when they did score many of them came from placed balls.

Clonea at the break in this game were four points (0-10 to 0-6) to the good and the Limerick side did their chance no good in the second half when they missed a penalty saved by Stephen Power three minutes after the restart and having half time sub Danny Hayes sent off on a straight red card on 47 minutes, four minutes after he had netted the first goal of the game.

The opening quarter of this game looked as if things would be tight as Billy Power and Colin Ryan swapped early scores from frees before Michael Curry and Jason Gleeson split the posts at the Town end for Clonea.

Donie Ryan followed up with a brace of scores for the visiting side before Ciaran Power and Donie Ryan once more swapped scores to level matters at four points each after sixteen minutes.

Billy Power and Donie Ryan swapped scores before Jason Gleeson and Colin Ryan did likewise to tie the scoring for the fifth time (0-6 each) with 24 minutes played.

But the Comeragh Men seemed to get a new lease of life before the break as they hit four in a row from Conor Dalton, Sean Clancy, the very impressive Jason Gleeson and Billy Power to go in at the break with a four point advantage.

Billy Power and Sean Clancy extended Clonea’s lead early in the second half before they won a 33 minute penalty when Martin Scurry fouled Danny Hayes inside the box and from the resulting one on one Stephen Power pulled off a good save going to his right to keep Colin Ryan’s effort out.

Billy Power and Colin Ryan swapped scores from frees before Jason Gleeson and Dylan O’Shea did likewise but from play.

Sean Clancy and Colin Ryan were next to trade scores before Robbie Power helped extend his sides lead on 41 minutes.

The Limerick side managed to cut the Clonea lead to four (0-16 to 1-9) on 43 minutes when Callum Sheehan who impressed in Garryspillane’s County Final win played in Danny Ryan who beat Stephen Power.

Robbie Flynn and Michael Sexton cut two points off the value of Garryspillane’s goal with 14 minutes remaining and a minute later Danny Hayes was sent to the line by Nathan Wall for something that was not apparent from the press box.

Often it is the side that has a disadvantage when it comes to numbers that prove to be the better of the two sides after a sending off but on this occasion it was Clonea who played some fantastic team hurling playing against 14 men.

Jason Gleeson and Michael Curry fired over points before Billy Power, Robbie Flynn, Billy Power again and Robbie Power all fired over scores to put their side well in control.

With two minutes remaining if there ever there was doubting what direction this game was going Clonea made absolute sure of their passage with a goal put in by Robbie Power from close range after Andy Dooley fumbled in his area and his defenders were not able to clear the danger before Clonea’s half time sub batted to the net from close range.

          Michael Sexton hit one final score for Clonea in this game who now go on to play Clare side Feakle at Fraher Field on Saturday afternoon next where the winners advance to this year’s Munster Final.

Clonea: Stephen Power; Paul Drohan, Jack Nugent, Willie Hahessy; Martin Power, Martin Scurry, Robert Flynn; Martin Whelan, Jason Gleeson; Michael Curry, Ronan Cahill, Billy Power; Sean Clancy, Ciaran Power, Conor Dalton.

Subs: Robbie Power for Conor Dalton (HT), Michael Sexton for Jack Nugent (38), Aaron Gleeson for Sean Clancy (53), Liam Walsh for Martin Whelan (54), Paudie Hunt for Michael Curry (58)

Scorers: Billy Power 0-7 (4F), Jason Gleeson 0-5, Robbie Power 1-2, Sean Clancy 0-3, Robert Flynn, Michael Curry, Michael Sexton 0-2 each, Ciaran Power, Conor Dalton 0-1 each.

Garryspillane: Andy Dooley; Ciaran Bourke, David Ryan, Cathal Shanahan; Mark Quinlan, James Ryan, Gearoid Power; Colin Ryan, Michael Bourke; Michael O’Donnell, Donie Ryan, Ryan Tobin; Dylan O’Shea, Kieran Hickey, Callum Sheehan.

Subs: Danny Hayes for James Ryan (HT), Eoin Sheehan for Michael O’Donnell (HT), John Kerins for Michael Bourke (49), Roibeard O’Donovan for Mark Quinlan (57),

Scorers: Donie Ryan 0-5 (3F), Colin Ryan 0-4 (3F, 1 ’65), Danny Hayes 1-0, Dylan O’Shea 0-1.

Referee: Nathan Wall (Cork)

 

Goals Provide Devine Inspiration for Modeligo

          Modeligo are through to a first ever County Intermediate football Final after they beat a fancied Ballinameela side to capture a first Western Intermediate title whist appearing in their first final at this level.

Ballinameela were hotly fancied to come through from this game and win a third title at this level since 2009 and then go on to win the county title which would secure their senior status once more twelve months after dropping down after their second short stint in the top flight in the last decade but Modeligo had worked hard in the build up to this game and fully deserved their win in this one.

Come this time of the year when duel clubs are in contention for more than one title it must be very difficult. All year clubs are left without meaningful games for much of the summer and then come late autumn the successful clubs are severally penalised as they have to rotate between codes with only a short space of time between games and this is something that could well have affected Ballinameela who two weeks ago win the County Junior hurling final and a week later qualified for this final beating Ballinacourty’s second string side.

The side in green and white opened the scoring in this game with a point from Jamie Troy inside a minute of the throw in and they followed it up with a hat-trick of scores from the very impressive Shane ‘Shiner’ Troy including one after some good work by Sean O’Donovan in the build up.

Ballinameela’s first score came from Kevin Phelan from a fisted effort and followed it up with an effort from his brother Brian to leave just two points between the sides after nine minutes.

Points from Shane Troy, Sean O’Donovan and John Devine followed for Modeligo before Conor Buckley pointed for Ballinameela on 16 minutes to leave just four between the sides (0-7 to 0-3).

Modeligo in this game showed a terrific hunger and they extended their lead with former inter county player from Justin McCarthy’s time in charge of the Waterford senior hurling team Pat Fitzgerald pointed and they put themselves into a very good position going into the second half when five minutes from time Tom Devine from a quick free finished past James McGrath to give his side a 1-8 to 0-3 lead at the break.

Modeligo continued where they left off at the start of the second half as they hit early points from Mick Devine and Michael Troy to extend their lead before Michael Culloo put over a free.

 Modeligo soon upped their game and they were always on top for the remainder of the game as Pat Fitzgerald, Shane Troy and Keith Hickey with a delightful score all raised white flags while Tom Devine had the umpire reaching for a green flag eight minutes from the end.

 Ballinameela hit a goal three minutes from the break, Brian Phelan the player responsible for the waving of a green flag but for them it was to put a mere gloss on the scoreboard on this occasion.

Ballinameela will be disappointed with this defeat to their neighbours and will be even more disappointed with the margin of victory on the board on the night, but they know that for now the year is not over and they will work hard in the coming days and weeks to prepare for their Munster Club Championship fixture.

For Modeligo there will have been lots of celebrations after this game, but they will die down very quickly as the year is not over yet.

There is a trip ahead for them to the city to play Kilmacthomas in a county final this weekend that nobody in their wildest dreams could have predicted a few weeks back let alone at the start of the championship some months back now.

That game for most will be a real 50/50 clash and both will feel that they can add to their roll of honour and while most will argue that whichever of the two does go up to play in the senior grade for 2019 is likely to come straight back down for now neither side will be too worried about what others are thinking about what will happen next it, it is what happen this year that is all the matters now.

Modeligo: Thomas Walsh; Nicky O’Donovan, Brian McCarthy, Robbie Buckley; Sean Hennessy, Sean O’Donovan, Niall Browne; Rian Reddy, Mick Devine; John Devine, Shane Troy, Jamie Troy; Michael Troy, Tom Devine, Pat Fitzgerald.

Subs: Keith Hickey for Niall Browne, Pa Walsh for Pat Fitzgerald, Gavin Dalton for Michael Troy, John McGrath for Jamie Troy, Cian Byrnes for Nicky O’Donovan.

Scorers: Tom Devine 2-0, Shane Troy 0-5 (1f), Pat Fitzgerald 0-2, Sean O’Donovan, Mick Devine, John Devine, Jamie Troy, Michael Troy, Keith Hickey 0-1 each

Ballinameela: James McGrath; Cian Culloo, Michéal Shine, Keelan Looby; Paul Curran, Davey Phelan, Paidi Prendergast; Lorcan Looby, Kevin Phelan; Liam O’Brien, Brian Phelan, Donagh Looby; Conor Buckley, Mikey Phelan, Jim Curran.

Subs: Micheal Culloo for Mikey Phelan, Shane Flavin for Donagh Looby, Rob Shine for Jim Curran, Michael Kiely for Liam O’Brien, Shane McGovern for Cian Culloo.

Scorers: Brian Looby 1-1, Kevin Phelan, Conor Buckley, Michael Culloo (f) 0-1 each

Referee: Tommy O’Sullivan

 

Clonea Look to Bounce Past Garryspillane

Munster Club Championship hurling comes to Dungarvan on Sunday afternoon when Waterford champions Clonea and Limerick champions Garryspillane do battle at Fraher Field with the game having a 1-30pm throw in.

Clonea advanced to this game by virtue of beating Clashmore at the Shandon Road venue two weeks ago, while the Limerick side qualified last weekend when they proved too strong for Bruff at Kilmallock.

Callum Sheehan proved to be the hero of the hour for the County Limerick side last weekend as he netted a goal in each half helping his side record a 2-12 to 0-12 victory.

That win means that Garryspillane will re-enter the senior championship in the Treaty County for the first time in five years after they were relegated after different championships in the County were restructured with fewer sides allowed to compete in the senior championship, back in 2014 when 8 teams formed a new look Premier Intermediate Championship. Prior to their relegation in the new look championship Garryspillane had played Senior Hurling for 17 years after winning the Intermediate championship back in 1996.

Clonea too will compete in the Senior Championship next year after over a decade away from top flight hurling, in which the side from under the Comeragh Mountains twice contested the County Intermediate final, losing to Dungarvan in 2009 and last year to An Rinn.

Apart from the already mentioned Callum Sheehan veteran Donie Ryan, a brother of former Limerick player TJ who is the team’s manager played an integral part for the winning side landing eight points, six of which came from placed balls, while TJ’s son Colin gave a solid performance in the middle of the field.

The Bouncers were 1-7 to 0-5 in front at the break in that game and with twelve minutes of the game remaining they looked to be out of sight as they were 2-11 to 0-5 in front.

The winners however took their foot off the gas at this stage and once Bruff had scored their first score of the second half with eleven minutes remaining they hit a total of eleven scores in those closing minutes, conceding just the one, something that may have given the Clonea management team plenty of home going into this weekends game if they can keep a close eye on the Limerick sides attacking players and also proving to be very disciplined.

Clonea in their County final win over Clashmore showed the same guts and determination as Bruff in the Limerick County Final last week, except for them that determination paid off as Clonea hit two late scores (1-1) to win this game by three points when it looked as many inside the sizeable contingent at Fraher Field were going to win a maiden Intermediate Hurling County Final.

Clonea went into that game as the warmest of favourites but they were made to work hard by Clashmore and as time ticked down it looked as if it was going to be second time unlucky in twelve months having lost out to An Rinn in the final twelve months ago.

This is an experienced Clonea side as Garryspillane will find out when they take to the field. Whether the Limerick side had the chance to see Clonea in the County Final is unknown as the Championship’s in Limerick ran very late as a result of Limerick reaching and winning this year’s All-Ireland Final.

If they did see their opponents play then they will know that there is some fine hurlers in the Clonea side, including the likes of Billy Power who impressed hitting seven points in the county final, but also the likes of Robbie Power and Ronan Cahill who netted the goals in their win over Clashmore, while the likes of Jason Gleeson, Stephen Power, Willie Hahessy, Robert Flynn, Martin Scurry and Michael Curry will need careful watching.

This is a game that will need finishing on the day and the two sides will be fancying their chances of progressing to a meeting with Clare side Feakle next weekend.

Garryspillane’s experience of playing in the senior championship in Limerick should stand to them but while Clonea’s players as hurlers will not have played much in Fraher Field because of the divisional divide that exists in Waterford, they have done so plenty of times with Rathgormack in football and will know every blade of grass in the field, and if they were to draw as big as support as they had in the County Final recently proving to be the sixteenth man on the day, they are good enough to advance.

Near Neighbours Modeligo and Ballinameela Do Battle for Western Glory

Just as is the case in the east of the county on Friday evening two neighbouring club’s clash in the Western Intermediate Football Championship on Saturday evening at Fraher Field, except this time the two clubs are even closer in proximity as the two parishes are separated by the N72 as it runs in an east-west direction through West Waterford.

When Modeligo and Ballinameela clashed in the group stages of this year’s Intermediate Football Championship back in July Modeligo ran out convincing winners on a 1-15 to 0-9 score line at the Cappoquin venue, a result that no doubt made some sit up and take notice.

Modeligo are a club that have always produced some good footballing sides, but most of these good teams played in the Junior Championships, and when they run out onto Fraher Field on Saturday evening for this final, they will be doing so for the first time at this level.

The same cannot be said of their opponents in this one, for Ballinameela in the last decade have won this championship three times, in 2009, 2012 and again in 2015 when they beat Bunmahon after a replay, and before this they won the competition on three other occasions, 1979, 2003 and 2007 and have appeared in the final a number of other occasions.

They will head into this game as favourites, and head into this game on the back of winning the Junior County Hurling Final recently and therefore will come into this game very fit and with confidence high.

Last weekend Ballinameela they had  two point win over Ballinacourty’s second string side in their semi final and the Modeligo support present to see the game will have gone home believing that they can win a first ever Western Intermediate Football Championship in their maiden appearance in a final at this level.

In that game while Ballinameela were always on top in what was a very low scoring game turning around with a 0-3 to 0-1 lead showing on the scoreboard and looked they would pull away from their opponents in the second half when Mikey Phelan slotted past Kevin Dwane in the Ballinacourty goal.

But they allowed their opponents come back into the game when Aaron Beresford slotted home a penalty seven minutes short of the hour mark, which was followed with a brace of scores from substitute Eoin Kiely to leave just one point between the sides.

But Ballinameela were able to hold off the challenge of Ballinacourty and when Rob Shine kicked a score on the hour mark it sealed their sides passage to this Saturday evening’s final.

Modeligo are through to the final with a few weeks since they got the better of another neighbouring side Sliabh gCua in the first semi final.

That game in the first half proved to be a close encounter as the sides turned around at 1-3 each but in the final quarter Modeligo were able to pull away with Tom Devine’s goal on forty two minutes proving crucial. Since then it was football that Modeligo had all their concentration on while their opponents this weekend had to juggle their attention between the two codes.

This like the Eastern Final twenty four hours earlier could well go right to the wire, where little separates the sides at the end of the sixty allotted minutes.

Ballinameela in this game will be looking to the likes of the Phelan brothers, the Curran brothers, Paudie Prendergast, Liam O’Brien, Conor Buckley and Rob and Michael Shine to see then through in this game, while Modeligo will be looking to the different sets of brothers on their side, the likes of the Devine’s, the McCarthy’s, the Troy’s and the O’Donovan’s as well as goalkeeper Thomas Walsh to pull off big performances if they are to capture a first title at this level.

So who will win? If experience count’s then it has to be Ballinameela, but if hunger that count’s Modeligo looking for a first title will win.

But whether it is hunger or experience that comes to the boil, only one will win. I am sure that in the event that both sides will have agreed to play extra time on the night, especially with the Waterford champions due to play in the Munster Championship on November 11 against either Kilrush Shamrocks from Clare or Kilcummin from Kerry coming up and a county final date also has to be found between now.

Living just over a mile from the Modeligo border and seeing so many of their players come through playing with Naomh Brid, I would love to see them win on Saturday evening, even if Ballinameela would be the fancied teams. Maybe this is an occasion where you allow the heart to overrule the head.

Experienced Bunmahon Battle Emerging Kilmacthomas For Intermediate Football Title

Near neighbours Kilmacthomas and Bunmahon clash in the final of this year’s Eastern Intermediate Football Championship on Friday evening at the St. Molleran's Ground in Carrickbeg where it is expected that a close and interesting battle will be fought out.

          Bunmahon are a club that are regular participants in this stage of the championship, they reached the county final three years ago when they narrowly lost out to Ballinameela after a replay and last year they again reached the Eastern Final where they narrowly lost out to a Saint Saviours side who had been relegated from the senior grade at the end of the previous year.

Kilmacthomas this year are under the guidance of Benji Whelan who recently was appointed as the Waterford Senior Football Manager and they have played well under one of their own to reach this year’s divisional final, with some who are watching the championship in the East of the county believing that they have done so a year or two ahead of what many would have expected them to do so.

Both sides are through to this stage of the competition after semi final wins last week.

Bunmahon were first to qualify for the divisional final by virtue of gaining revenge for their defeat in the divisional final last year, beating Saint Saviours who lost out to Dungarvan in the county final last year, winning 2-7 to 0-8 at Dunhill, while later the same evening in a local derby clash at the Saint Mollerans Club grounds in Carrickbeg Kilmacthomas had a double digit victory over their next door neighbours Newtown.

There is nothing like two neighbouring sides meeting in a divisional or county final and the meeting of these two neighbouring clubs no doubt will bring out the best in each other on Friday evening.

Bunmahon are the more experienced of the two sides at this level, but that will not deter their opponents in this game who will go into this game believing that they can get one over on their neighbours and will look to the earlier game in the competition between the two sides for much of their confidence, a game that ended in a 2-8 to 0-14 draw.

Kilmacthomas have a very strong spine to their team which is likely to have Niall Cronin start between the posts, Gary Kiely at full back, Peter Gallagher in front of him, Jack Dee and John Cleary in the middle of the field, while Alan Fitzsimons is likely to start at centre forward and Adam Walsh who has played senior football for the county is likely to be at full forward and could well prove to be the side’s main score getter on the night if given opportunities.

Bunmahon will be able to pick from a number of players that went so close to winning a county title after winning the championship in the east of the county back in 2015 and that experience you feel would have to stand to them.

Players lie Eoin Fitzgerald, Kieran Roche, Jonathan Fenton, Niall and Patrick Queally, Michael Harney, Richie Walsh, Ciaran Buckley, Conal Queally, Dylan Power and Shane Dwan have done this all before and would love to add to their collection of medals.

This is a game that could well go right to the wire and be as close as the earlier game between the two sides and it might be no surprise to learn that the allotted hour might not be enough to find a winner.

Football for whatever reason has often suffered in the east of the county and this game could well give the game a boost in the eastern half of the county and whichever them comes out on top will have reached the county final on merit.

For me, Bunmahon who are favourites will win this title and therefore go on and play either Modeligo or Ballinameela in the final, and if they were to come out on top in that game in the coming weeks they will add to a number of traditional footballing sides in the middle of the county who will compete in the senior championship next year.

Ballymacarbry and Banner Ladies Renew Rivalry

One of the greatest rivalries that have built up in the world of G.A.A. be it in the men’s games or the ladies games is that between Banner Ladies and Ballymacarbry in Ladies Football.  

The sides have met each year in the Munster Senior ‘B’ Club Championship each year since 2012 and with the winners of those games (when they were Munster Finals) the winners have gone on in recent years to play Mourneabbey from Cork in the Munster Senior ‘A’ Final and that is another fantastic rivalry that has built up.

The two sides who are the kingpins or should that be queenpins of the game in both Waterford and Clare are due to play again this Friday Evening at the superbly appointed Mallow grounds in North Cork where the prize on offer once more is a meeting with Mourneabbey in the Munster final.

Ballymacarbry are without a competitive game in a number of weeks and you have to wonder what effect that will have on them going into this game.

Their last competitive outing was early last month when they beat Comeragh Rangers 0-8 to 0-4 at the Dungarvan Club Grounds in the County Final, a game that saw Ballymacarbry win what surly is a record thirty seventh county final in a row.

They were to due to play Killarney in the Munster Semi Final recently but the Kerry side conceded a walkover in that game which is something that must have disappointed the Ballymacarbry ladies in some way as they would have relished a game between a County Final and a potential Munster Final if as would be expected they got over the hurdle that the Kerry side processed.

In their game with Comeragh Rangers it was some of Ballymacarbry’s more experienced players that really stepped up to the mark once more when it came to scoring on the day as Sinead Ryan finished as top scorer with half of her sides tally of four points while Linda Wall and Michelle Ryan two more players that have given outstanding service to the Ballymacarbry Club shared the other scores between them evenly.

Banner Ladies had a game much more recent than what Ballymacarbry had when they had a comprehensive win over Tipperary Champions Cahir, putting nine goals past the South Tipperary Club in that game.

Earlier this year the Clare side were without a number of their more established players for some of their games, players like Niamh Keane, Emma O’Driscoll, Naomi Carroll and Sinead Power, but they would be expected to be close to full strength for this game and should also be able to call on players like Anne Marie Meenaghan, Ciara Corbett, Tara McInerney, Laoise and Aoibhinn Ryan, Evan Carey and Alannah McNamara.

Ballymacarbry will be able to call on a number of household names for this game, almost all if not all of whom have played inter county football at some level or other over the past few years.

Goalkeeper Lauren Fitzpatrick and corner back Treasa McGrath have played for Tipperary in recent years while the likes of sisters Michelle and Karen McGrath, Aileen, Mairead and Linda Wall as well as Michelle, Sinead and Louise Ryan have won numerous honours at club and inter county levels, while there is others like Kelly Ann Hogan, Abbie Dalton, Eiblis Cooney and Brigita Valuntaite will be absolute vital in this game for their side.

Most seem to favour the Clare side to come out on top in this game, maybe because they have tended to come out on top in the most recent meetings between the two sides, or because they played a competitive game more recently, but this Ballymacarbry side will not be put out with how some are rating their chances.

What Ballymacarbry have going for them this year is that Michael Ryan is involved in the management team and the former inter county team manager who has achieved so much both in Ladies Football and in the men’s codes has a fantastic brain to reading the game and his involvement will almost certainly mean that changes will be made as soon as they are needed if in fact changes are needed rather than maybe waiting for a message to come down from the stand and maybe by such time it might be too late.

I for one will respect the opinions of those that are expecting the County Clare side of advancing to a meeting with the Cork champions in the Munster Final, but I for one will be giving the side in Blue and White shirts an outstanding chance of advancing to that meeting with Mourneabbey.

 

 

Previous Meetings between Ballymacarbry and Banner Ladies

2012 Banner Ladies 4-11         Ballymacarbry 4-8

2013  Banner Ladies 5-6          Ballymacarbry 2-12

2014  Banner Ladies 4-11        Ballymacarbry 2-12

2015  Ballymacarbry 1-22        Banner Ladies 0-17

2016  Banner Ladies 4-9          Ballymacarbry 1-12

2017  Ballymacarbry 3-14        Banner Ladies 1-8

Two Outta Three Ain’t Bad

Gailltir Senior Ladies Camogie team won a second county championship in three years on Saturday afternoon last when they fought off the challenge of a gallant De La Salle side at the WIT Arena in what was a terrific County Final fought out between two excellent sides.

This was a game that was expected to go to the wire and so it proved to be with De La Salle goals from Beth Carton and rising star Abby Flynn to leave just the minimum between the sides despite the winners getting off to what was a fantastic start for them.

The winners made one change to the side which beat Saint Anne’s in their semi final at the same venue a week earlier, bringing in Ann Corcoran a young player that has made a big impact with the clubs underage teams in recent years in place of Clodagh Carroll who did manage to come on for the last quarter of an hour including time added on for stoppages at the end of the sixty and also made some positional changes from their semi final win, while De La Salle fielded the same fifteen which beat 2007 champions Lismore in their semi final again at the same venue a week earlier but like their opponents in this game made some positional changes.

Right now there is some brilliant young players coming through in the Déise County when it comes to Camogie and if they continue to improve as players over the coming years then Waterford could well become one of the giants of the modern era within the game if all were to gel.

Annie Fitzgerald is one such of these players and in this game she won for herself the award for the Player of the Match after she hit nine points for her side, five of which came from open play.

Her cousin Aoife also impressed in the light blue shirt hitting 1-3 while Kate Lynch and Ciara O’Sullivan also impressed while for De La Salle Beth Carton finished as the games top scorer finishing with 1-12 behind her name, while teenage sensation Abby Flynn also impressed.

In previewing this game last week I said that the side whose goalkeeper plays best would win this game. On the day Brianna O’Regan for De La Salle had a fantastic game in the white and red shirt making some fantastic saves to keep the Gailltir attackers at bay and she will be disappointed not to have finished on the winning side with her performance, but she will know that time is very much on her side and that there is plenty of time for her and for De La Salle to win a first senior title and to maybe even add a number of more honours within the game.

Gailltir started this game very brightly and opened the scoring with an Annie Fitzgerald ’45 which was followed with a score from Emer Walsh made for her by Áine Lyng who showed why she is nominated for an All-Star which will be presented next month.

Beth Carton pulled a point back for De La Salle but Gailltir would hit back with a goal on eight minutes when Emma Roche who did a terrific job curtailing the influence that Beth Carton could have had on this game if given the change, combined with Kate Lynch and Annie Fitzgerald before Aoife Fitzgerald beat the brilliant Brianna O’Regan.

 Both sides swapped a number of scores before three points in a row from Áine Lyng and the Fitzgerald cousins put Gailltir 1-9 to 0-5 with the break approaching but a penalty won for a foul on Megan O’Connor in added time at the end of the thirty was dispatched to the sliotar to the Gailltir net by Beth Carton to leave just four points between the sides at the break.

 De La Salle knew that a good start to the second half was an absolute must for them and they achieve this as Beth Carton put over two frees and Abby Flynn pointed from play with Annie Fitzgerald hitting one at the other end, De La Salle had Gailltir’s lead whittled down to a more manageable two points (1-10 to 1-8) with eight minutes of the second half played.

Annie Fitzgerald and Áine Lyng restored Gailltir’s four point advantage on the scoreboard with twenty minutes remaining.

De La Salle playing in their first County Senior Camogie Final hit back with a point from a Beth Carton free after Abby Flynn was fouled and moments later the sides were locked together when Niamh Murphy won the ball in the middle of the field and found Beth Carton who in turn played the perfect past to Abby Flynn who shot low past Ciara Jackman.

That goal was however was cancelled out with three points in a row, two from Annie Fitzgerald and the other from Aoife to put the eventual winners three up.

Points from Beth Carton and Abby Flynn followed to leave just the minimum between the sides with five minutes of normal time remaining

Shauna Fitzgerald and Áine Lyng combined to set up Annie Fitzgerald for another score and she scored again from a free after Brianna O’Regan did brilliant to keep an effort from Clodagh Carroll from entering her net.

Beth Carton put over two late scores to leave just the one between the sides and as De La Salle pressed hard for a score that would level the game or even win the game for them, Gailltir worked hard to keep them at bay.

Gailltir held on for a second win in three seasons and now go on to represent Waterford in the Munster Intermediate Club Championship where they have got a bye into the final.

Celebrations will have taken place in the Barony after this win, but they will not be overdone. Gailltir will be back preparing for a Munster Final in a few weeks time where they will be also looking to win a second title in three seasons and then to go on and hopefully achieve what Lismore did in the spring of 2014

Gailltir: Ciara Jackman; Emily Mahony, Margo Heffernan, Claire Dunne; Leah Sheridan, Emma Roche, Hannah Flynn; Aine Lyng, Shauna Fitzgerald; Ciara O'Sullivan, Kate Lynch, Annie Fitzgerald; Ann Corcoran, Aoife Fitzgerald, Emer Walsh.

Sub: Clodagh Carroll for Emer Walsh (51).

Scorers: Annie Fitzgerald 0-9 (2fs, 2 45s), Aoife Fitzgerald 1-3, Kate Lynch, Aine Lyng 0-2 each, Emer Walsh 0-1.

De La Salle: Brianna O’Regan; Siobhain Heylin, Taylor Healy, Jean Dooley; Lucy Hogan, Colette Hogan, Ciara Twomey; Courtney Healy, Niamh Murphy; Megan O'Connor, Beth Carton, Roisin Heylin; Holly Ryan, Abby Flynn, Chloe Dempsey.

Subs: Tonya Murray for Ciara Twomey (55), Hayley Cox for Holly Ryan (58).

Scorers: Beth Carton 1-12 (10fs, 1-0 pen), Abby Flynn 1-1.

Referee: Martin Quilty