Ballysaggart advance to Munster Final

Ballysaggart’s year just gets better and better.

A week after ending Waterford’s long run of poor results in the Munster Junior Club hurling Championship, they have become only the second Waterford Club to reach a Munster Final at this grade, following on from Tramore in 2004, when they were beaten in the final by the then Cork champions Ballygarvan on a 0-16 to 1-5 score line.

Like many others within the county, I am not happy with the way those charged with picking the various awards presented with by the county board have gone about their business. This year the committee have named three people or clubs for the majority of their awards from which one will be picked as the overall winner.

In the club of the year, Passage, De La Salle and Abbeyside/Ballinacourty are all fighting it out for the overall award, and which ever that does come out on top, will be a worthy winner, but you cant but feel do the judging committee now have some egg on their face that Ballysaggart have qualified for a Munster Final, which they have an excellent chance of winning.

For a such a small club with such a small population (we are told it’s around 250), making them possibly the smallest club in the county, to reach a Munster Final on December 8 is a great achievement.

The only saving grace it could be argued for the committee tasked to pick the various winners is that they have not announced all the winners. There is a Special Merit or Achievement Award to be picked and it’s possibly fair to say that when the award winner is announced next weekend, that the Name of Ballysaggart GAA Club will be engraved onto the winners prize.

For the second week running, Ballysaggart got off to a great start in this game. Stephen Bennett opened the scoring on two minutes and it was followed up with an effort from Barry Murphy four minutes later.

The same two players in the same order repeated the act which gave Ballysaggart a four point lead with just ten minutes on the clock.

Knockshegowna however were not going to throw in the towel too early without a fight, and they added a brace of scores through Declan Costello with five minutes of the first half still to play.

However, Ballysaggart in the time that remained in the first half as they have done several times this year proved to be the stronger of the two teams and finished the opening half with Kieran Bennett and Michael Kearney getting on the score sheet to give them a 0-6 to 0-2 lead at the interval.

Ballysaggart began the second half as they ended the first as Stephen Bennett and then Darren Meagher hit points which gave them a six point lead.

Declan Costello from a placed ball pulled a point back for the Tipperary representatives in this years competition to leave five between the sides.

On thirty nine minutes, Ronan Walsh did well to pick out Stephen Bennett with a cross field delivery and once in control of the ball, he made no mistake in beating Richard King in the Knockshegowna goal with a low hard shot.

Declan Costello and Stephen Bennett swapped scores to keep Ballysaggart 1-9 to 0-4 in front with the game having entered its final quarter.

Costello added his fifth for Knockshegowna from a free shortly afterwards, but points from Kieran, Shane and Stephen Bennett in that order followed to wrap up the victory for Ballysaggart.

The visitors did strike for a late consolation goal from the stick of Declan Costello in the closing moments of the game, their only score of the game that did not come from a free.

Ballysaggart haven played many of their games close to home throughout the year, now have a relatively short journey to travel for their Munster Final.

Limerick side Feenagh-Kilmeedy will provide the opposition for Ballysaggart at Mallow on December 8, after they beat Clare champions Bodyke 1-14 to 1-11 at Sixmilebridge last week.

In the first semi final, an early second half burst saw the Limerick side advance in this semi-final. Locked at 0-5 a piece at the break, Feenagh-Kilmeedy hit 1-3 in the opening six minutes of the second half, the goal coming from Diarmuid Coleman which the Clare champions found hard to respond to.

Despite their early burst in the second half, the Limerick side however had to withstand a good finish by Bodyke who with sixty minutes played lead 1-13 1-11 and had to face a twenty metre free which they managed to save and go down the field to get the insurance score.

Hurling will be on a high in Limerick at this point following Na Piarsaigh’s comfortable win over Sixmilebridge in the Senior Munster Club Final which will mean that Feenagh-Kilmeedy will go into the December 8 clash in a confident mood, but so too will Ballysaggart who have an excellent chance of securing a first Munster success at this level of hurling for Waterford.

Ballysaggart advance to meet Knockshegowna in Munster Semi Final

I don’t recall the exact words I used last week on twitter, but it basically was that Waterford’s record in the Munster Junior Intermediate and Junior Club Hurling Championship was not good, but I did add that if one club could improve Waterford’s record, it was Ballysaggart, and so they proved me right last weekend.

The side from just inside the Cork and Tipperary County Boundaries all year have proven to be somewhat impressive. They played nine championship games going into last weekend’s game, winning seven, loosing one and drawing one, both against Modeligo.

While hurling is a team game, and there is no ‘U’ or ‘I’ in team, the Bennett brothers have got great praise all year for the rolls they have played in helping Ballysaggart achieve what they have, and once more they were to the fore in this game, Stephen in particular playing a major roll in this latest win, as he hit 1-11 of his sides 1-12, with younger brother Shane hitting the other point.

Ballysaggart at the break lead 1-5 to 0-4.

They got off to a flying start as Stephen Bennett put over a brace of early points.

With five minutes played, he hit his side’s most crucial score, after he was quickest to react after blocking down a Mark Kenny clearance, racing to the loose ball and hammering to the net to give his side a five point advantage.

Shane and Stephen Bennett then increased Ballysaggart’s lead to seven, before Ultan Duggan struck a first score for a misfiring Grenagh side with twenty minutes played.

That score did give the newly first time crowned Junior Hurling Championship winners from Cork renewed hope and points from Tom Kenny and Conor Fitzgerald helped cut Ballysaggart’s lead to a more manageable four point difference.

Both sides before the break however managed to land a further point each. Stephen Bennett hit his fifth score of the game for Ballysaggart before Sean Bourke pointed to leave four between the sides at the switch of ends.

Ballysaggart began the second half as they had started the first as Stephen Bennett hit three early points only for Seamus Coleman pulled on back to give the four time Waterford Junior Hurling Champions a six point cushion.

The Cork champions were dealt a major blow in the second half when the game was held up for eight minutes following an injury to Niall Doherty which saw him stretched off the field.

However, loosing a player in such circumstances meant that the Cork side’s players raised their game. A goal from Seamus Coleman helped the Cork side right back into contention with thirteen minutes of the hour still to play, after which Ultan Duggan, Tom Kenny, Martin Barry and DD Duggan all landed points to level matters on 1-9 to 1-9 with the clock showing five minutes of stoppage time played.

However, in the closing minutes, it was Ballysaggart that proved to be the hungrier of the two sides. Stephen Bennett brought Grenagh’s continuous flow of scores to an end as he edged Ballysaggart back in front and then extended that lead with another.

However, he was not finished and the best was yet to come. In the closing minutes of the game he showed the class that many know he processes with some while as he took control of the ball with his back to goal and shot over his shoulder and over the bar for a score that will be remembered for some time to come by those that witnessed it.

Ballysaggart are back in action again this weekend when they play the Munster semi final against Tipperary Champions Knockshegowna again at Fraher Field, a venue that Ballysaggart will only be playing championship hurling at for only the third time this year.

Ballysaggart: Matty Meagher: Bobby Ryan, Kieran Fennessy, Daniel Devine; Barry Murphy, Eugene O’Brien, Cailean O’Gorman; Christy Murphy, Kieran Bennett; Shane Bennett, Darren Meagher, Ronan Walsh; Stephen Hale, Stephen Bennett, Tom Bennett. Subs: Michael Kearney for Tom Bennett, Cathal Fitzgerald for Ronan Walsh, Fergal Meagher for Eugene O’Brien, Eugene O’Brien for Stephen Hale.

Scorers: Stephen Bennett 1-11 (0-7 frees), Shane Bennett 0-1.

Grenagh: Mark Kenny; Kevin O’Neill, Raymond Dorgan, Paul McCarthy; DD Dorgan, Gerry Russell, Kelvin Cummins; Niall Doherty, Colm O’Neill; Sean Bourke Tom Kenny, Dean Dalton; Conor Fitzgerald, Seamus Coleman, Ultan Duggan. Subs: Tadhg Walsh for Dean Dalton, Liam Walsh for Niall Doherty, Martin Barry for Conor Fitzgerald.

Scorers: Seamus Colman 1-1, Ultan Duggan, Tom Kenny 0-2 each, Conor Fitzgerald, Sean Bourke, Martin Barry, DD Dorgan 0-1 each.

Referee: Anthony Sherlock (Tipperary)

No Lady Luck for Ballinacourty in Ennis.

A first Senior Championship defeat in 2013 for Ballinacourty means that their hopes of playing in Croke Park on Saint Patrick’s Day in 2014 are over, after they went under to Clare Champions Cratloe on Sunday afternoon last.

Hopes were high for Ballinacourty heading into this game. The Clare County Final was only played twenty four hours before this game, but Cratloe who had won their first ever senior football championship showed that what was taken out of them by a Doonbeg on Saturday afternoon sometimes does not matter too much as momentum and a strong finish saw them through to a meeting with Kerry champions Dr Croke’s in the coming weeks.

This was a game that ebbed and flowed, and had it required extra time or even a replay few would have complained as many would have seen a tied result as possibly a fair result.

At the end of the first half, Ballinacourty held a one point advantage, but so evenly matched were the two sides that they were tied together on five occasions over the course of thirty plus minutes.

James O’Mahony opened the scoring for Ballinacourty only to have his effort cancelled out by Cathal McInerney.

Patrick Hurney put Ballinacourty back in front, but on ten minutes the sides were as they began once more after Cathal McInerney hit his second of the game.

Sean Collins put Cratloe in front for the first time on the quarter of an hour mark, but points from John Hurney and then Michael O’Halloran had Ballinacourty back in front with ten minutes of the half still to play.

Conor McGrath levelled matters for the fourth time when he pointed with five minutes to go.

However before the break, Ballinacourty hit two more points, the first from Mark Ferncombe, the latter from Patrick Hurney just before the break, but sandwiched in between was an effort from Liam Markham which had the sides locked together for the fifth time.

So close were these two sides matched, the feeling was the first goal, should one go in was always important.

Unfortunately for Ballinacourty, the opening and only goal went to the home side, two minutes after the restart. Fergal Lynch and Cathal McInerney were responsible for setting up Conor McGrath whose low shot passed Stephen Enright.

The measure of a good team is how they respond after leaving in a goal, and Ballinacourty’s response could not be faulted.

Points from Patrick Hurney, John Hurney and Patrick Hurney again had Ballinacourty back in front six minutes into the second half.

It was Cratloe’s turn to show what kind of side they were, and they too responded well. Cathal McInerney pointed on forty minutes. Patrick Collins edged the Clare side back in front on forty four minutes and five minutes later Cathal McInerney had his sides lead stretched to two.

Points from Shane Briggs and Gary Hurney had the sides level for the eight time with six minutes to go, and it was looking as though extra time was going to be on the cards.

However, Cratloe came back with a storming finish, as Liam Markham and then Conor McGrath had the umpires reaching for a while flag in the fifty-seventh and fifty-ninth minutes.

In stoppage time, both sides had their numbers cut as Richie Foley and Conor McGrath were flashed a straight red card by Ardfinnan Club man Derek O’Mahony.

While Ballinacourty will be disappointed with the defeat, they can take great heart in what they achieved this past year.

They played eight games in the county championship winning all eight, had a good win over Limerick champions Dromcollogher-Broadford, and put up a good display against the newly crowned Clare Champions.

They have over the past year or two brought some new blood into their team. while the championship next year locally is once again expected to be fought out by the big three (Ballinacourty, The Nire and Stradbally), with the likes of Clashmore, Kilrossanty and An Rinn also expected to make a major impact, you cant but feel that of the clubs most likely to challenge, that Ballinacourty are likely to begin as the favourites and are possibly best equipped going forward to try and secure a first ever Munster Championship win for Waterford in Senior Football.

Ballinacourty: Stephen Enright; Brian Looby, Shane Briggs, David Collins; Richie Foley, Sean O’Hare, Conor Moloney, John Hurney, Gary Hurney; James O’Mahony, Mark Fives, Mark Ferncombe; Michael O’Halloran, Jason O’Brien, Patrick Hurney. Subs: Shane O’Donovan for Jason O’Brien, John Power for Michael O’Halloran.

Scorers: Patrick Hurney 0-4, John Hurney 0-2, James O’Mahony, Mark Ferncombe, Michael O’Halloran, Gary Hurney, Shane Briggs 0-1 each.

Cratloe: Pierce De Loughrey; Sean Chaplin, Barry Duggan, David Ryan; Martin Óg Murphy, Michael Hawes, Enda Boyce; Fergal Lynch, Cillian Duggan; Liam Markham, Podge Collins, Conor Ryan; Cathal McInerney, Sean Collins, Conor McGrath. Subs: Sean Hynan for Enda Boyce, Brendan Bugler for Martin Óg Murphy.

Scorers: Conor McGrath 1-2, Cathal McInerney 0-4, L Markham 0-2, S Collins, P Collins 0-1 each.

Referee: Derek O’Mahony (Tipperary).

Ballinacourty look to secure Munster Final spot

How or where would you start writing a preview of Ballinacourty’s Munster Senior Club Football Semi Final?

Not only do we not know who Ballinacourty be playing this Sunday, they don’t know where the game will be played, and there is even the possibility that the game might not even go ahead. Hardly ideal preparation is it?

The County Final in Clare is not due to be played until Saturday afternoon. The game is due to be played in Ennis if Cratloe should emerge winners on Saturday afternoon, but if Doonbeg who go into the game as the underdog despite winning the title eighteen times in the past while Cratloe have never won the Clare Senior Football Championship, the game goes ahead on Doonbeg’s own home venue.

However, what happens if the game ends in stalemate after and hour’s football on Saturday. Have the Clare County Board and the two clubs involved agreed that extra time will be played in the hope of finding a winner, and even after that, what happens if the game ends in stalemate.

The whole problem is one caused by the Clare County Board and one that other Counties have often found themselves in.

When they go on good run in the Inter county Senior Hurling and Football Championships, Club games involving the thirty plus players on the panel are suspended, and the end result is that come late October and early November, County Boards and Clubs are playing catch up to be ready for the Munster Championship.

Is it right that County Boards suspend games during the year? You answer that for yourself. We all will do what we can to try and help our county win a Munster or All-Ireland Final during the year, but we have to think of the consequences of the actions we take to do so, and the few hundred players who are left without meaningful games during the course of the summer months when we should be playing our games.

This is not a stab at the Clare County Board, but at County Board’s in general. Waterford in the past had no team competing in the Munster Club Championships because competitions in Waterford ran late. Thankfully this has improved over the past few years, and we now have our county played in good time and have our representatives ready to compete in Munster.

Can Munster Council do something to ensure that a repeat of what is happening this weekend does not happen again? They can. Will they however is the big question? I doubt it somehow is my answer.

Maybe a way to try and fix what is happening this weekend is to not hold draws for the different championships until the middle of October each year, and maybe throw in some sort of rule, that if the competing counties do not have their county final played by the date that the draw takes place, then they are not included in the draw. This might sound harsh to some, but it would ensure that County Boards would have to work hard to ensure that all games are played by a given date.

Cratloe are favourites to win tomorrow’s Clare County Final.

They go into the game having beaten Kilmurry-Ibrickane in the first round of the championship on a 0-11 to 0-4 score line. This was followed up with an equally impressive 4-11 to 0-12 win over Cooraclare and in the quarter finals they beat Kilrush Shamrocks 2-6 to 0-7 and in their recent semi final they had a 2-8 to 0-9 win over Eire Óg Ennis.

Doonbeg head into Saturday’s County Final after beating Lissycasey 1-13 to 1-10 in the first Round of the championship. In Round two they proved too strong for St Sennans Kilkee, winning 0-15 to 1-9 and in the quarter finals beat Cooraclare 1-8 to 0-4. In the semi finals recently, they beat Lissycasey for the second time in the championship, by the same margin as they won first time around, winning this time 0-15 to 0-12.

Which ever of the two sides Ballinacourty get to play, they will face a contrasting side to the other, but Packie Hurney’s charges will be ready for which ever come through and will be capable of beating either.

Cratloe are a side that play the game with speed. They like to favour a short quick puck out and to work the ball with speed and support up the field and once in front of their opponents goals they can prove to be very dangerous.

Doonbeg on the other hand tend to favour a slower more traditional game, but once they have the ball in front of their opponents goals, especially in the hands of David Turbidy they can be very dangerous.

Playing too days in a row will not be ideal for whoever comes through from Saturday’s County Final. However they will be looking to fellow Clare club Whitegate for Inspiration. They recently played the Intermediate County Final on Saturday and twenty-four hours later drew with Youghal in the Munster Semi Finals. Sometimes winning can give you great momentum games.

Ballinacourty have reached a Munster Final once before and will be confident that they can do so again this year. Their previous final appearance was in 2007 when they lost to Nemo Rangers.

They have a very experienced team. In the likes of Stephen Enright, Shane Briggs, Sean O’Hare, Richie Foley, Mark Fives, John Hurney who is set to return to the team after missing the game against Dromcollogher-Broadford after he was sent off on a straight red against Stradbally in the county final, Mark Ferncombe, Gary Hurney, Michael O’Halloran and Patrick Hurney they have experienced and some exciting players to watch.

Appearances by Waterford sides in a Munster Senior Club Football Final are rather thin on the ground. Stradbally in 1980, Kilrossanty in 1986 and again in 1988, Stradbally in 2004 where they lost after a replay, The Nire in 2006 and Ballinacourty twelve months later have all reached the final, but a Waterford side is yet to win.

Ballinacourty will feel that they can reach another final in 2013, and maybe go on to become the first Waterford Club to win the title by beating Dr Crokes from Kerry or Loughmore-Castleisney from Tipperary, but first they will have to overcome the obstacle put in front of them on Sunday afternoon.

Ballysaggart look to improve Waterford’s record in Munster Junior Club Championship Hurling

For some the end of 2013 cannot come fast enough. Many that I have heard speak during the course of the year have spoken of a horrible year, but it’s possibly no better or worse than any other years, it’s just that they believe the old wives tales about 13 being an unlucky number.

There is many I am sure in the Ballysaggart area that will not claim that 2013 was a bad year. The opposite is the case I am sure in fact.

Sunday’s game for Ballysaggart is their tenth championship game of the year and their record is impressive. Of the nine games played to date, seven are won, one is drawn and one is lost, meaning that they go into the game in a confident mood.

In the league they also faired well. They along with Geraldine’s, Colligan Modeligo and Saint Mary’s opted to step up a grade and competed in the Western Intermediate League, finishing in third place in group one, a point behind the second placed team Shamrocks who finished on seven points.

The championship for Ballysaggart could not have started as they recorded a 5-30 to 1-9 win over Kilgobinet at Cappoquin. It was back to Cappoquin again for their second game and at the Corner Stone venue they again recorded a win, this time a 3-13 to 1-17 victory over Colligan.

Game three saw Ballysaggart again return to Cappoquin for a game against Modeligo, but this time defeat was their lot, loosing 2-18 to 1-15 during the second weekend of June.

The venue for Lismore’s third game was somewhat closer to home, as The Geraldine’s made the trip to Lismore, a venue that Ballysaggart would be very familiar with, and they returned to winning ways, winning 0-16 to 0-14 and it was then back to Cappoquin for their final game in the group section of the competition against Saint Mary’s who they beat 1-14 to 1-9.

That win gave Ballysaggart top spot in the league section of the championship and a place in the semi finals against Modeligo. Two attempts were needed to beat Modeligo, which set up a Western Final against Colligan who also needed two attempts to beat Geraldine’s in their semi final.

In the Western Final, Ballysaggart accounted for Colligan a little easier than expected 3-10 to 1-9 and in the county final which was played recently at Walsh Park they had nine points to spare over a fancied Tramore side.

That win was Ballysaggart’s four in a county final. Prior to this, their most recent was in 2007 and of the twenty players that played against Tramore, eight (Matty Meagher, Kieran Fennessy, Daniel Devine, Eugene O’Brien, Christy Murphy, Ken Cashell, Ronan Walsh and Fergal Meagher) played a part in both wins, with Matty and Fergal Meagher also playing a role in their 1992 County final win at this grade. The fourth county final win came back in 1972.

The Cork side will go into the game in a confident mood this weekend. Waterford’s record in this competition is lets be honest, is less than satisfactory, while the Cork champions of the past three years, Meelin in 2010, Charleville in 2011 and Kildorrery last year went on to add the Munster Title to the County title won a little earlier in the year.

Grenagh will have a very experienced player in their line out in Tom Kenny. He will be key to their hopes. He is a player that have won Munster and All-Ireland Finals and shows the difference between the thinking in Waterford and Cork. In Cork, regardless of what grade you play at, if you are good enough to be picked. In Waterford, with some there is a line of thinking that you should be playing with a senior club to earn a place in the Waterford Senior Hurling panel or at least be with a very good intermediate club. Thankfully, not everyone conforms to this thinking.

In the Cork County Final played last weekend, they beat a fancied Kilbrin team in the final at Pairc Ui Rinn. Kilbrin had appeared in the last two finals without success and were hoping to make it third time lucky, but it was not to be.

The win was a first for the mid Cork county side, who were beaten in the 2004 final. Last weekend, they had a great start to the game as Dean Dalton had the ball in the Kilbrin net with just three minutes on the clock.

Throughout the hour, Grenagh proved to be the better of the two sides and retired at the interval holding a deserved 1-5 to 0-3 lead.

A goal for Kilbrin in the third quarter meant that there was only three between the sides, but it was Grenagh that the goal ignited and with five minutes to play in the game, five points separated the sides.

And while the sides swapped scores in the following minutes, even though Grenagh conceded a goal in the closing moments, Kilbrin were not able to add to it as and Grenagh held out for a two point win.

Last weekend, Tom Kenny with four points, Dean Dalton with a goal, Colm O’Neill and Ultan Duggan who shared five points between then as well Raymond Dorgan, DD Dorgan and Gerry Russell were there most impressive performers and they will be looking for a repeat this weekend.

As pointed out, Waterford’s record in this competition is not the best, but maybe, Ballysaggart are the club that will help improve the county’s overall record in it. They are impressive all year. They have hit seventeen goal and one hundred and forty right points, conceding ten goals and one hundred and eleven points.

In Shane and Stephen Bennett they have two fine performers. Both became household names this year thanks to the rolls they played in helping Waterford win a first All-Ireland Minor Hurling final since 1948.

Kieran Bennett was involved with the Waterford minors in 2012 and is also a very good player. Ronan Walsh is a player that most will know off with a while, while Matty Meagher’s puck outs are legendry.

Ken Cashell who line out at wing forward in the County Final win over Tramore will miss game having moved to New Zealand in the meantime and he will be a loss. However, who ever comes in for him will have earned their place and won’t let the side down.

The Cork champions will go into this game as the favourites, but if any club is capable of proving the bookies or those that are making the newly crowned Cork champions – wrong, it is Ballysaggart.

Aisling O’Brien inspires Lismore to Munster Final Glory

Lismore are sixty minutes away from becoming only the second Waterford Club to reach an All-Ireland Camogie Club final after they beat Clare Champions Newmarket-on-Fergus in the Recent Munster Intermediate Final replay at Latten-Cullen in Co Tipperary.

Saint Anne’s were to this point Waterford’s only side to contest an All-Ireland Final. That came in 2009 when they took on Down Champions Leavey at Ashbourne.

On that occasion, the Laurels when to the northern side on a 1-13 to 0-7, but only at the second attempt to find a winner as the two sides drew 1-11 to 1-11 after extra time a week earlier.

Lismore went into last weekends game as the underdog. In the drawn game a week earlier at the same venue, the Clare side were somewhat unlucky not to have snatched victory before the game went to extra time as free dropped short of the target in the dying moments of the game and Lismore were able to clear the danger.

Both sides for the game made one change to the side which played a week earlier. Sharon McMahon came into the Newmarket-on-Fergus for the injured Joanne Walsh while Sarah Fenton came in at wing back for Sinead Walsh in the Lismore team.

Lismore knew from the off that to beat the Clare side was not going to be an easy task.

Newmarket-on-Fergus in their previous six games had clocked up sixteen goals and sixty-nine points on the scoreboard. Jenny Kelly hit 4-11 of this total, Áine O’Brien hit 1-21 and Carol Kaiser hit 3-5, meaning a close eye would have to be kept on the three-o. At the other end of the field in the same six matches Newmarket-on-Fergus conceded 7-48 meaning Lismore were always in with a shout.

Lismore would also be aware that if they put in a disciplined performance in their own half of the field their chances of winning would be increased as the majority of Áine O’Brien’s scores came from placed balls.

In the drawn game, it was Newmarket-on-Fergus that got off to the better start, but this time around it was Lismore that had a flying start as Johanna Houlihan put over an early point.

Caithriona McGlone extended Lismore’s lead with another point on eight minutes, but two Áine O’Brien free’s had the side level after eleven minutes.

Lismore however wasted no time in responding and a brace of Aoife Hannon free’s resulted in the umpire reaching for a white flag on both occasions which gave Lismore a two point cushion.

On the day, the performance of no player could be faulted, as each gave it their all from the first whistle till the last, but there was one stand out performance.

Anybody that knows me will know that that I like to see good players come through from a young age and to follow their progress through the years.

For 15 years, I worked at a local national school and for much of this time was also involved with Bord na nÓg. In both capacities I attended many school league games and tournaments and would have spotted some excellent prospects.

The names of Thomas Ryan, Jamie Nagle, Maurice Shanahan, Brian O’Halloran were know to me a lot longer that they would be to hurling supporters in general within the county and it always gave me great please to see them play. However, for me one name always stood out.

That player was Aisling O’Brien, who for a number of years played in goal for Aglish in the School hurling leagues.

In games of this standard to me, it was always someone very brave or someone that can easily be talked into something easily that ended up between the posts, as at times children can be very hurtful with what they say to each other, and if the ball was to pass a goal-keeper some extremely hurtful things could be said to them. The reason – when a goal goes in it was always the goalkeepers fault and the outfield players played no part in it going in, something we all know is not correct.

Playing in goals you also ran the risk of picking up an injury. These games were often played with a very light sliotar and a very good young player was able to strike these balls with some speed meaning that if it hit you, it was going to hurt.

In the games I would have seen Aisling play, she was always very difficult to beat, even by the best of players, who of course would often claim afterwards that they were ‘taking it easy because she was a girl’.

Of course these were only excuses. She was good, difficult to beat, something that can still be said of her over a decade later.

On Saturday last she was judged to be to be the player of the game and was a worthy winner of the accolade, pulling off a string of excellent saves to keep her side from never falling behind.

The first of these saves was on twenty-two minutes when she did well to put the ball out for a forty-five which Áine O’Brien converted to leave one between the sides.

Lismore however were to finish the half the stronger of the two sides. Moments after Áine O’Brien pointed for Newmarket-on-Fergus, Aisling O’Brien made another good save and from this Lismore attacked up field and won a free when Ruth Geoghegan was fouled and from the free Aoife Hannon made no mistake, and just before the break the same player put over a forty-five to give Lismore a 0-6 to 0-3 at the turn around.

The second half began with Aisling O’Brien making another excellent save but from the resulting forty-five Áine O’Brien converted.

Newmarket-on-Fergus tried hard to eat into the Lismore lead, but they forgot the old saying ‘go for your points and the goals will come’. Going for goals proved pointless for the Clare side as no matter what they tried they could not beat the outstanding Aisling O’Brien.

Two Aoife Hannon points either side of the three-quarter stage mark in the game helped extend Lismore’s lead to four points with time ticking down.

Aimee McInerney did manage to pull a point back for Newmarket-on-Fergus near the end, but was to prove to be a mere consolation score as Lismore ran out winners on a 0-8 to 0-5 score-line.

Lismore can now enjoy a few weeks off the heavy training. Some work to keep the side ticking over could well be done till the New Year before the hard work starts all over again.

In the All-Ireland semi final they will play Ulster Champions Liatoim Fontenoys fro Down who recently beat Eglish from Tyrone in the Ulster Final. The game will take place on the first weekend of February, the same weekend Four Roads fro Roscommon will play __ in the second semi final, with the All-Ireland final pencilled in to take place the first weekend of March.

Lismore: Aisling O Brien; Sarah Coughlan, Shauna Prendergast, Sandra Prendergast; Aoife Houlihan, Shauna Kiernan, Sarah Fenton; Marie Russell, Shona Curran; Laura Buckley, Nicola Morrissey, Aoife Hannon; Johanna Houlihan, Caithriona McGlone, Ruth Geoghegan. Sub: Sinead Walsh for Ruth Geoghegan (57 mins)

Scorers: Aoife Hannon 0-6 (5 frees, 1 ‘45), Johanna Houlihan, Caithriona McGlone 0-1 each

Newmarket on Fergus: Erica Minouge; Jane O Leary, Laura McMahon, Aoife Griffin; Aimee McInerney, Roisin McMahon, Carol O Leary; Ruth Kaiser, Aine O Brien; Deirdre Cassidy, Niki Kaiser, Sharon McMahon; Annmarie Hayes, Jenny Kelly, Carol Kaiser. Sub: Rachel Mulcaire for Sharon McMahon (45 mins).

Scorers: Aine O Brien 0-04 (3 frees. 1’45), Aimee McInerney 0-01.
Referee: Mike O Kelly (Cork)

Lismore and Newmarket-on-Fergus to do it all over again to find Munster Champions

Lismore and Newmarket-on-Fergus have to travel to Latten-Cullen in Co Tipperary for the second time in a week on Saturday afternoon as the two sides will have to do it all over again to see which will be Munster Intermediate Camogie Champions for 2013 after the two sides drew 2-10 to 2-10 after extra time in last Saturday’s original fixture.

Weather Conditions last Saturday were far from ideal for a classic to be fought out but credit to both sides, despite the fact the senior Munster Final was played on the field prior to the game, both sides gave it their all and in the end, the draw was possibly the fairer result, but in saying that, the Co Clare side did have a chance in the closing seconds of normal time to snatch victory, but a free fell short and the Lismore defence were able to clear the danger.

Newmarket-on-Fergus last weekend were possibly the slightly more dominant team which will mean that they will go into this weekend’s replay as the slightest of favourites, but this is something that will not deter the side from the banks of the Blackwater from the task they face this weekend.

Last weekend, the Clare side had the better of the starts. Jenny Kelly had the sliotar in the Lismore net with just three minutes on the clock.

Áine O’Brien put over a free for Newmarket-on-Fergus two minutes later, but Lismore cancelled it out when Aoife Hannon pointed shortly afterwards.

Newmarket-on-Fergus went five points up when Ruth Kaiser and Deirdre Cassidy landed points for the Clare Champions with fifteen minutes played, suggesting that the signs were not looking good for Lismore.

Any fears for Lismore however were not to be fulfilled, as they came storming back. Caithriona McGlone hit 1-1, the goal coming from a delightful pass from Johanna Houlihan and Aoife Hannon back in the team after picking up an injury in Lismore’s semi final win over Carrigaline hit 0-1 meaning at the end of the first half the sides were locked together at 1-3 a piece.

Newmarket-on-Fergus has they had in the first half began the brighter of the two sides.

Top scorer for the Clare champions on the day Áine O’Brien landed a brace of frees and Carol Kaiser hit a second goal for the East Clare side to give them a five point lead.

However, Lismore again refused to throw in the towel, as an Aoife Hannon point helped cut the Clare side’s lead.

Deirdre Cassidy pointed again for the Clare Champions with the game on forty minutes, but Lismore were to finish the game the stronger of the two sides. Points from Aoife Hannon and Shona Curran, both from frees, helped real in Newmarket-on-Fergus’ lead to a more manageable margin.

The game’s most crucial score of the game came mid way through the second half when Lismore’s pocket-rocket Ruth Geoghegan smashed to the net to level matters.

Points from Áine O’Brien and Jenny Kelly helped Newmarket-on-Fergus go two points back in front, a dangerous lead in any game, but two points from inter county player Nicola Morrissey followed to send the game to extra time.

In such condition’s extra time was always going to be taxing on the players from both sides, and more over on a pitch that was getting heavier with each passing minute with a game played on it earlier in the day.

Lismore began the first extra ten minutes the better of the two sides. They took the lead for the first time in the game when Nicola Morrissey put over a point in the opening minutes and moments later, that lead was extended when Caitriona McGlone had the umpires reaching for a white flag.

However, prior to the second half time whistle of the game been shaded, Áine O’Brien cut the Lismore lead to one and the sides were drawn level again when Ruth Kaiser put the ball over the Lismore crossbar.

In the second half with conditions getting worse, and with the players on the two sides getting tired, it was no surprise that neither side registered any further scores meaning the sides have to do it all over again this weekend.

After last weekend’s nail-biting battle, the two sides will have to return to the Mid-Tipperary venue on Saturday for a 2-30pm thrown in.

Lismore will know that they did not play to their maximum last weekend and will be hoping that the same does not happen this week.

They had their chances to win last weekend but were somewhat lucky in the end to get a second bite of the apple.

The Lismore girls will not need telling that indiscipline got to them last weekend, as they conceded in the region of twenty frees over the course of the eighty minutes played, but thankfully from a Lismore perspective only a quarter of them resulted in scores.

Last weekend, Aimee McInerney, Aoife Griffin, Niki Kaiser as well as Áine O’Brien proved to be Newmarket-on-Fergus’ best players and they will be looking for more of the same from them this weekend.

For Lismore, Sarah Coughlan, Caitriona McGlone, Aoife Hannon, Shone Curran as well as Shona and Sandra Prendergast proved to be amongst their best players on the day and will be looking for a repeat performance this weekend.

This will be the fourth clash between the two sides in recent years. To date, Lismore have two wins and a draw. No doubt they would like to keep that unbeaten run alive this weekend. Extra time again will happen if the sides are inseparable after an hour of action.

Lismore: Aisling O Brien; Sarah Coughlan, Shauna Prendergast, Sandra Prendergast; Aoife Houlihan, Shauna Kiernan, Marie Russell; Shona Curran, Laura Buckley; Sinead Walsh, Nicola Morrissey, Aoife Hannon; Ruth Geoghegan, Caithriona McGlone, Johanna Houlihan. Subs: Sarah Fenton for Laura Buckley (15 mins), Sinead Bennett for Sinead Walsh (45 mins), Jennifer Kingston for Ruth Geoghegan (54 mins), Ruth Geoghegan for Jennifer Kingston (62 mins), Sarah Geoghegan for Sandra Prendergast (66 mins), Grainne Kennelly for Johanna Houlihan (74mins)

Scorers: Caitriona McGlone 1-2, Aoife Hannon 0-4 (frees), Ruth Geoghegan 1-0, Nicola Morrissey 0-3, Shona Curran 0-1.

Newmarket on Fergus: Erica Minogue; Jane O Leary, Laura McMahon, Aoife Griffin; Aimee McInerney, Roisin McMahon, Carol O’Leary; Ruth Kaiser, Aine O Brien; Deirdre Cassidy, Niki Kaiser, Joanne Walsh; Ann Marie Hayes, Jenny Kelly, Carol Kaiser. Subs: Sharon McMahon for Jenny Hayes (55 minutes), Aislinn Keogh for Jane O Leary (76 mins), Ann Marie Hayes for Carol Kaiser (78 mins).

Scorers: Áine O’Brien 0-5 (frees), Jenny Kelly 1-1, Carol Kaiser 1-0, Ruth Kaiser, Deirdre Cassidy 0-2 each.  

Referee: Ger O Dowd (Limerick)