Lismore prove too strong for Dunhill in Intermediate Hurling Final

Lismore will play in the county senior hurling championship in in 2017 after they recorded a 5-19 to 1-7 win over Dunhill in this year’s County Intermediate championship final at Fraher Field on Friday evening.

From the first second to the last, Lismore were always on top in this game despite for a few second in the opening minutes of the game when it looked as if Dunhill could put it up to the side that beat Modeligo in the Western Final least than a week previous.

The game was only twenty two seconds old when the Lismore were welcoming the first score of the game and what a game it was.

Davin Phelan pulled back a point for Lismore on two minutes which was cancelled out a minute later by a Peter O’Keeffe effort from play.

Three minutes later the sizable Dunhill support in the crowd that amounted to in the region of 2,000 were delirious when Shane Casey did all the spade work himself before beating Seanie Barry for a well taken goal.

Lismore however would not be behind for long as from the puck out after Casey’s goal, Jack Prendergast who was a worthy winner of the Man of the Match award in this game won the ball and laid it off to Dan Shanahan who beat Ryan Butler who impressed for Dunhill despite letting five goals past him.

Jack Prendergast, Maurice Shanahan, Brendan Landers and Maurice Shanahan again pointed for Lismore to give them a 2-5 to 1-1 lead with fourteen minutes on the clock.

Shane Casey and Eamon Murphy who have played senior hurling for the county in recent years added points for Dunhill before Lismore again raised a green flag.

A Seanie Barry delivery reached Dan Shanahan who broke the ball for younger brother Maurice who blasted to the net to give his side a 3-5 to 1-3 lead with just eighteen minutes played and the signs were starting to look not good for Dunhill.

Maurice Shanahan from a free, Jack Prendergast who was picked out with a nice flick from Dan Shanahan soon followed and on twenty one minutes, Dan Shanahan drew an excellent save from Ryan Butler, but with his next chance he made no mistake as he split the posts while falling to the ground to give his side a fourteen point lead.

A minute later, Lismore hit a fourth goal and it was no surprise to see who was involved as Maurice Shanahan repaid the earlier opportunity afforded to him as he picked out Jack Prendergast who finished to the net with style.

Further points from Peter O’Keeffe and Jack Prendergast followed by the twenty seventh minute and a minute later Maurice Shanahan put over but he will have known that he could just as easily have goaled.

The game was held up before the break following an injury to Conor Quinn which required him to be helped from the field, and in the time that was added on for stoppages by referee Pat Casey Shane Casey and Jack Prendergast swapped scores to give Lismore a 4-12 to 1-4 lead at the break.

Dunhill had a good start to the second half with Cillian Bonner putting over after just fifteen seconds but Lismore wasted no time in getting back on top as Maurice Shanahan with a hat trick of scores, Brendan Landers and Peter O’Keeffe put over scores to give Lismore a 4-17 to 1-5 lead with eighteen minutes to play.

The scores dried up in the third quarter as Jack Prendergast and Maurice Shanahan put over either side of the three quarter stage mark in the game which was followed with a fifth Lismore goal on fifty minutes, Dan Shanahan finishing to the net and giving his familiar goal scoring salute to the large crowd after he was picked out by Jack Prendergast after he won a long Maurice Shanahan free.

Dunhill did add two late scores, the first from a Davin Phelan ’65 and a Briany Dunbar effort from play but they proved to be mere consolation scores as Dunhill’s chance of winning this game had long gone.

Lismore: Seanie Barry; Michael Fitzgerald, David Prendergast, Pat Hennessy; Eoin Bennett, Ray Barry, Paudie Prendergast; Stevie Barry, John Prendergast; Brendan Landers, Jack Prendergast, Maurice Shanahan; Jordan Prendergast, Dan Shanahan, Peter O'Keeffe. Subs: Sean Reaney for Eoin Bennett (48), Ronan Landers for Jack Prendergast (56), Eric O’Sullivan for Dan Shanahan (56), Emmett Quinn for Ray Barry (56), Brian Bennett for Brendan Landers (58)

Scorers: Maurice Shanahan 2-8 (0-5f), Jack Prendergast 1-5, Dan Shanahan 2-1, Peter O’Keeffe 0-3, Brendan Landers 0-2.

Dunhill: Ryan Butler; Conor Quinn, Tomás Dunbar, David Raher; Noel Murphy, Jason Phelan, Tomás Casey; Eoin Ryan, Davin Phelan; Eoghan Casey, Bryan Cunningham, Cillian Bonner; Jamie Burns, Shane Casey, Eamonn Murphy. Subs: Eoghan Queally for Conor Quinn (30+1), Michael Casey for Jamie Burns (36), Niall Burns for Bryan Cunningham (43), Briany Dunbar for Eoghan Casey (48), John Ryan for Tomás Dunbar.

Scorers: Shane Casey 1-2 (0-2f), Davin Phelan 0-2 (1 ’65), Cillian Bonner, Eamonn Murphy, Briany Dunbar 0-1 each.

Referee: Pat Casey (Cappoquin)

Barony Ladies Advance to Munster Final

Waterford are once again going to have an interest in this year’s Munster Intermediate Camogie Club Final after Gailltir overcame the challenge of a strong Blackrock side in the Munster Semi Final played at the WIT Sports Campus in Carriganore on Saturday afternoon last.

In the Munster final they will play the Tipperary champions who will come from Drom & Inch or Nenagh who will play in the county final in the premier county this Saturday at noon with the game going ahead at the Tipperary Camogie Grounds at The Ragg.

Despite scoring first in this game Gailltir for much of the first quarter of this game as the Cork champions raced into a three point lead, but once the Barony ladies found their feed in the final ten minutes of this game, there was no turning back for them.

Kate Lynch got the side in Sky Blue Shirts off to a terrific start in this game as she goaled inside a minute of the game starting thanks to some brilliant work by Áine Lyng and Trish Jackman in the build up.

The lead however was a short lived one as the dangerous Grace Mulqueen quickly cancelled out the lead with a goal for the Cork side.

And when Hayley Ryan followed up with a brace of frees and Kate Leneghan added points things were starting to not look good for the newly crowned Déise champions.

Áine Lyng had an attempt for goal foiled by Clodagh Coughlan on the quarter of an hour mark, but the home side in their next attempt for goal this time made no mistake as Trish Jackman blasted to the net on 21 minutes.

The same player followed up with a brace of points to give her side a 2-2 to 1-3 lead and when Áine Lyng followed up with a brace the signs were now looking as if it was going to be Gailltir’s day.

The Barony Ladies would turn about with a five (2-5 to 1-3) point lead when Trish Jackman brought her tally to 1-3 for the afternoon.

Gailltir started the second half as they had ended the first as Trish Jackman put over another brace of scores to stretch her sides lead to seven, but it was back down to five by the end of the third quarter when Katyln Hickey and Michelle Murphy split the posts.

Kate Lynch added a point on 47 minutes and Trish Jackman found the range again on 52 after some good work by Shauna Fitzgerald.

The visitors added points on 54 and 57 minutes to draw them within five points of Gailltir who recently celebrated in style their first County Final win since 2008, but with time running out it was goals that the Cork side needed.

The home side added the final score of the game late on through Áine Lyng.

A 2-10 to 1-7 victory was a good win for Gailltir in this game and from what was seen of them here, they will give either Drom & Inch or Nenagh plenty to think about in the coming weeks.

Gailltir: Ciara Jackman; Áine O’Keeffe, Clara Hogan, Claire Dunne; Aileen Cummins, Sally O’Grady, Sinead Cunningham; Emma Roche, Shauna Fitzgerald; Annie Glavey, Áine Lyng, Trish Jackman; Roisin Flood, Eilis Cullinane, Kate Lynch. Subs: Emer Walsh for Roisin Flood, Fiona Conroy for Eilis Cullinane.

Scorers: Trish Jackman 1-6 (0-2f, 0-1 ’45), Kate Lynch 1-1, Áine Lyng 0-3.

Blackrock: Clodagh Coughlan; Teresa Cummins, Aoife McCurtain, Clodagh O’Keeffe; Roisin de Faoite, Carol Ryan, Áine Kearney; Kate O’Brien, Kate Leneghan; Katlyn Hickey, Sorcha Broderick, Anne Farrell; Michelle Murphy, Hayley Ryan, Grace Mulqueen. Subs: Sarah Carroll for Kate O’Brien, Margaret Moynihan for Sarah Carroll.

Scorers: Hayley Ryan 0-4 (4f), Grace Mulqueen 1-0, Michael Murphy, Kate Leneghan, Katlyn Hickey (f) 0-1 each.

Referee: Philip Dee (Limerick)

No joy for De La Salle in Munster Final

There was no joy for De La Salle on Saturday afternoon when they went under to a strong Scarriff/Ogonnelloe side in the Munster Junior Camogie Club final at Leahy Park in Cashel.

Full forward Rachel Minogue, centre forward Mairead Scanlon and wing forward Aoife Power prove to be a constant thorn in the side of the De La Salle defence in this game as between then they hit all but one point of their sides tally.

The County Clare side got off to a good start in this game with Minogue hitting a goal inside five minutes.

Beth Carton brought De La Salle back into the game with a couple of frees but an Aoife Power speculative shot from distance deceived Brianna O’Regan in the De La Salle goal and the defenders in front of her and fell to the net for a second goal for the Clare side on 15 minutes.

Overall the first half proved to be a tight affair. Mairead Scanlon and Aoife Power provided some valuable scores for the side that would eventually win, while for De La Salle, Beth Carton’s scores and a beautiful point from Ciara Twomey along with some hard work by Caoimhe Drohan were keeping the Déise champions in contention and they only trailed 2-5 to 0-10 at the break despite the conceding of two first quarter goals.

The Clare side started the second half scoring the first three scores of the half to extend their lead with Aoife Power and Mairead Scanlan sharing the scores.

Beth Carton replied with a free, but the experienced Clare side were causing problems for De La Salle with long balls into space, as Rachel Minogue added some good scores for the Clare side following some good work by Mairead Scanlan and Amy Barrett in the build-up.

While always behind, De La Salle never gave up and went in search of a goal but they found the Clare defence held strong, even if they did concede a number of frees from which Beth Carton made no mistake.

Late points from Beth Carton and Caoimhe Drohan (’45) brought De La Salle closer, but they could not find the goal they needed to rescue the game.

De La Salle: Brianna O’Regan; Katie Ryan, Taylor Healy, Rachel Butler; Emma Fitzgerald, Collette Hogan, Niamh Murphy; Courtney Healy, Caoimhe Drohan; Chloe Dempsey, Beth Carton, Ciara Twomey; Liz McEnaney, Aisling Madigan, Katie O’Keeffe. Subs: Hayley Cox for Liz McEnaney, Rachael Daniels for Katie O’Keeffe, Ciara Flynn for Katie Ryan.

Scorers: Beth Carton 0-11 (10f), Caoimhe Drohan 0-3 (1 ’45), Ciara Twomey 0-1.

Scariff/Ogonnelloe: Aisling Corbett; Shannon McNamara, Marian O’Brien, Leanne Horan; Amy Barrett, Alison Madden, Sarah Skelly; Roisin O’Brien, Holly McGee; Aoife Power, Mairead Scanlan, Rachel Moloney; Danielle Sheedy, Rachel Minogue, Sarah O’Donnell. Subs: Cathy Madden for Sarah Skelly, Aine O’Brien for Danielle Sheedy, Kealy Power for Sarah O’Donnell, Sarah Daly for Aoife Power, Clodagh Nash for Holly McGee,

Scorers: Aoife Power 1-6, Mairead Scanlon 0-8 (4f, 1 ’45), Rachel Minogue 1-4, Róisín O’Brien 0-1.

Referee: John Kirby (Cork).

Shanahan Brothers make the Difference in Western Intermediate Final

Lismore lost their long senior hurling status at the end of 2015 when they lost a relegation play off final against De La Salle but their stay in the Intermediate grade looks to be a short one, if we are to judge them on their Western Final victory over Modeligo on Saturday evening last.

It was no real surprise that these two sides were involved in this final.

Lismore as pointed out were somewhat surprisingly relegated last year and would be amongst the favourites to win this year’s Intermediate Championship.

Modeligo too from an early stage were expected to do well this year as last year they won this competition but lost out to Portlaw in the County Final at Walsh Park.

Lismore never trailed in this game.

Intercounty star Maurice Shanahan opened the scoring for them with a free in the fifth minute of the game.

Thomas (Tyler) Walsh who shared free taking duties with Jamie Troy in this game for Modeligo levelled matters four minutes later, but Lismore soon went back in front with a point from Jack Prendergast.

Jordan Shanahan edged Lismore two in front after 11 minutes but by the end of the first quarter the sides were locked together at three points each on the scoreboard after Jamie Troy and Thomas Walsh found the range with changes presented to them.

From here to the break Lismore were the team that were on top as they outscored the reigning champions 1-8 to 0-3.

Jack Prendergast gave his side a 0-4 to 0-3 lead and when Dan Shanahan followed up with points by the 19 minute things were beginning to look good for the Heritage Town side.

Maurice Shanahan edged his side four in from with ten minutes to play and two minutes later they stole a march on their opponents when an effort from Maurice Shanahan was finished to the Modeligo net by older brother Dan.

Kieran McCarthy and Pa Walsh pulled points back for Modeligo to leave them trailing 1-7 to 0-5 but Lismore would finish the half as strong as they were for much of the half as John and Jack Prendergast, Peter O’Keeffe and Maurice Shanahan with his third of the game landed further scores to give them a nine point lead, but a late Jamie Troy free gave his side hope as they turned around trailing 1-11 to 0-6.

Modeligo were first to score in the second half, Jamie Troy putting over another free. Maurice Shanahan pointed for Lismore only for Jamie Troy to convert another free to leave his side trailing 1-12 to 0-8 after 36 minutes.

The game however was almost over as a contest three minutes later as Dan Shanahan beat Cian O’Byrne for the second time in this game following some good work this time by Jordan Shanahan in the build up.

Kieran McCarthy and John Prendergast swapped scores by the end of the third quarter.

Points from Jamie Troy from frees followed by a Pa O’Donovan goal from a 21 metre free on 53 minutes gave Modeligo plenty of hope as they now trailed by just five points (2-13 to 1-11).

The goal however failed to ignite Modeligo as they failed to score after this and even had their numbers cut when Nicky O’Donovan was sent off late on in the game. Lismore however would add two late points from Maurice Shanahan to run out 2-15 to 1-11 winners and going on this performance, they will be very hard to beat in this weekend’s County Final against Dunhill who are set to be depleted for the Fraher Field clash.

Lismore: Seanie Barry; Aaron Whelan, Eoin Bennett, Pat Hennessy; David Prendergast, Ray Barry, Michael Fitzgerald; Stevie Barry, John Prendergast; Brendan Landers, Maurice Shanahan, Jordan Shanahan; Peter O’Keeffe, Dan Shanahan, Jack Prendergast. Subs: Brian Bennett for Jordan Shanahan, Eoin O’Sullivan for Brendan Landers.

Scorers: Dan Shanahan 2-2, Maurice Shanahan 0-6 (4f), Jack Prendergast 0-3, John Prendergast 0-2, Jordan Shanahan 0, Peter O’Keeffe 0-1 each.

Modeligo: Cian O’Byrne; Sean Hennessy, Brian McCarthy, Nicky O’Donovan; John McGrath, Pat Fitzgerald, Shane Troy; Willie Morrissey, Sean O’Donovan; Pa O’Donovan, Tom Devine, Kieran McCarthy. Jamie Troy, Pa Walsh, Thomas Walsh. Subs: Michael Troy for Willie Morrissey, Rian Reddy for Shane Troy.

Scorers: Jamie Troy 0-7 (7f), Pa O’Donovan 1-0 (f), Kieran McCarthy 0-2, Thomas Walsh (f), Pa Walsh 0-1 each.

Referee: Pat Casey.

Colligan come from behind to defeat Shamrocks in Junior Football Western Final

Colligan Emmetts started and finished strong at Fraher Field on Saturday evening to claim this year’s Western Junior Football Championship against Shamrocks.

No man of the match is presented after Western finals, but if such one was available Colligan’s Gavin Whelan would be in with a shout as he scored two points and helped set up their second goal and also tracked back from his wing forward position at times to help out in the middle of the field.

However there was one performance that outweighed that of the Colligan man.

It has become common practice to give out about the match officials after games, but in this game it was hard to fault the performance of referee Tom Mansfield who had an excellent hours work with the whistle in his hand.

The Affane/Cappoquin man left the game flow as much as possible, and was very much up with the play. When calls had to be made from a distance he in the eyes of this reporter anyway got them right and there was few if any shouts of disapproval from the line or the stand to calls he did make.

It was Colligan that were first out of the traps in this game when Johnny Wall put over a brace of early points to give his side a 0-2 to no score lead after nine minutes.

These however were to prove to be his sides only scores in the first half.

Both sides found scores hard to come by in the first half and the Knockanore outfit did not score till the 23 minute, when Padraig Ahearne finished to the net.

Prior to the break the side in white and green would add three further scores, two frees from Bernard Kelleher and one from play from the boot of Colm Roche to give their side a 1-3 to 0-2 lead at the interval.

After ten minutes of the second half things were looking good for the Shamrocks as they held a 1-6 to 0-3 lead, cancelling out Gavin Whelan’s first score of the second half with a brace from Bernard Kelleher and Adam Crawford.

But things turned for Colligan on 43 minutes when Johnny Wall blasted a penalty to the roof of Kieran O’Keeffe net to leave just three between the sides, and nine minutes later they hit a second goal when a Gavin Whelan effort from distance was fumbled by Kieran O’Keeffe and Stephen McGrath who was only on the field three minutes was in the right place to push the ball to the net to level matters.

Gavin Whelan with a delightful effort gave his side the lead on 54 and Johnny Wall extended it three minutes later, but they were left sweating when Bernard Kelleher who impressed for the Knockanore club kicked his fifth of the evening to leave just one between the side, but fortunately for Colligan the side in white and green were not able to add any further scores in the two minutes added time.

Colligan: Dean McKenna; Mike McGrath, John Nicholas Fennell, Alan Kinsella; Ray Bannon, PJ Coffey, Jason Dunford; John Morrissey, Darren Dunford; Gavin Whelan, Mark Flynn, Johnny Wall; Charlie Whelan, Richie Kiely, Colin Dunford. Subs: Sean Browne for Darren Dunford (6), Alan Walsh for Richie Kiely (HT), John Flynn for Mike McGrath (38), Stephen McGrath for Colin Dunford (49).

Scorers: Johnny Wall 1-3 (1-0 pen, 0-2F), Stephen McGrath 1-0, Gavin Whelan 0-2.

Shamrocks: Kieran O’Keeffe; Sean Murphy, Tom O’Donovan, Tomás O’Neill; Brian Harnedy, John Paul Lucey, Cathal Herlihy; Stephen Lucey, Shane Roche; Bernard Kelleher, John O’Donovan, Adam Crawford; Eoin Murphy, Colm Roche, Pádraig Ahearne. Sub: Edward Lonergan for Brian Harnedy (46).

Scorers: Bernard Kelleher 0-5 (3f), Pádraig Ahearne 1-0, Colm Roche, Adam Crawford 0-1 each.

Referee: Tom Mansfield.

Strong first half performance helps Ballyduff Lower to County Title

A dominant first half performance by Ballyduff Lower while playing with the aid of a strong wind at their backs, helped then secure a first County Junior Hurling Championship in 19 years at Fraher Field on Saturday afternoon last against a battling Saint Mary’s side.

Saint Mary’s went into this game without Kevin Sheehan in their side after he was dismissed late on in their Western Final win over Tourin two weeks earlier and his loss was a huge one for the Touraneena side but the common consensus was that while he was a loss, on the day his inclusion would still have resulted in the same outcome, but maybe with the final score much closer.

Former Waterford hurler Jack Kennedy on the day produced a man of the match performance and caused the Saint Mary’s defence all sorts of problems operating at centre forward.

However as the game went on his influence began to drop as Saint Mary’s dropped a player back to play in front of him and in doing so help cut the amount of ball that went his way.

It was the Touraneena side that opened the scoring inside a minute of the game starting with a point from an Eoin Kearns free.

The newly crowned Eastern Champions however soon got into their stride and Colman Power quickly levelled matters and once Declan Cheasty pointed after three minutes the side in red and white never looked back.

Brian Power followed up a pointed free before Jack Kennedy gave Eoin Cummins a perfect pass for his sides first goal on eight minutes.

Bryan Power put Ballyduff Lower six points up after 11 minutes and it was starting to look even at this stage that it was not going to be Saint Mary’s day for the second year running.

Jack Kennedy hit two points in quick succession for his side to stretch their lead and then went from score getter to score provider as Jack Lyons split the posts on 19 minutes.

Jack Kennedy had a shot for goal come crashing off the crossbar and waved wide by the umpires, an attempt from the press box looked as if it had gone over the crossbar.

Jack Lyons again pointed on 25 minutes to stretch Ballyduff Lower’s lead. The winners had their run of successive scores broken soon afterwards when Jack Power pointed from play for Saint Mary’s on 26 minutes.

Ballyduff Lower however would go on to increase the lead they had at the break (1-10 to 0-2) when Brian Power and Declan Cheasty pointed.

With the wind at their backs in the second half, Saint Mary’s came out all guns blazing and hit an early point from Eoin Kearns.

Brian Power cancelled that score out with another pointed free. After this Saint Mary’s enjoyed their best period, but it was goals that Saint Mary’s needed and they never really looked like coming their way.

Eoin Kearns put over a hat-trick of scores and younger brother Mike hit one to leave seven between the sides after 39 minutes.

Cormac Dunphy broke Saint Mary’s run of scores on 44 minutes and a minute later his side all but secured the win as Eoin Cummins found Jack Lyons who gave John Patrick Fitzpatrick no chance from close range.

Saint Mary’s in the time that remained refused to throw in the towel and Eoin Kearns put over four more points.

Ballyduff Lower: Michael Atkins; Martin De Paor, John O’Leary, Marcus Millea; Paul Kennedy, Calum Lyons, Bryan Power; Colman Power, Brian Power; Jack Lyons, Jack Kennedy, Cormac Dunphy; Dylan Reade, Declan Cheasty, Eoin Cummins. Sub: Ross O’Shea for Dylan Reade.

Scorers: Jack Lyons 1-2, Brian Power 0-4 (4f), Eoin Cummins 1-0, Declan Cheasty, Cormac Dunphy, Jack Kennedy 0-2 each, Colman Power, Bryan Power 0-1 each.

Saint Mary’s: J.P. Fitzpatrick; Tom Tobin, Sean Fitzpatrick, Conor Tobin; Dermot Tobin, Denis Coffey, Johnny Ahearne; Owen Barron, Stephen Coffey; Eoin Kearns, Brendan McGourty, Jack Power; Aidan Fitzpatrick, Mike Kearns, Jason Sheehan. Subs: Kieran Barron for Stephen Coffey (25), JJ Coffey for Jason Sheehan (HT), Jack Skehan for Jack Power (38), Dean Cliffe for Kieran Barron (53).

Scorers: Eoin Kearns 0-9 (9f), Jack Power, Mike Kearns 0-1 each.

Referee: Alan Kissane.

Ballygunner record third three in a row of titles

Ballygunner won a fifteenth County Senior Hurling Championship in fifty years on Sunday afternoon when they accounted for near neighbour’s Passage on a 4-20 to 1-12 score line at Walsh Park.

The neighbouring clubs had reached the final against each other previously as close as 2013 and on that occasion Passage came from seven points down with as many minutes to play to win the game by three points.

On that occasion ‘The Gunner’s’ were the fancied time and it came as a shock to many that they lost the game, especially when you consider the lead they had going into the final game.

Ballygunner were again fancied to win here with some bookies making them an almost un-backable side. But while most were fancying Ballygunner to move closer to the record number of titles in the county won by Mount Sion, nobody was ruling out the chances of Passage.

In front of an attendance of 3,811 inter county player Pauric Mahony produced a Man of the Match performance hitting 1-11 of his sides tally to help the club to win a third three in a row of titles in the clubs history.

Passage had first use of the strong wind and opened the brighter of the two sides with All-Star Nominee Noel Connors opening the scoring on six minutes.

By the tenth minutes they were five points up after Adam Roche, Owen and Thomas Connors and Jason Roche had further white flags waved and some would have been asking if Passage could secure only a second senior hurling county crown, and for both to come against their neighbours.

Man of the Match Pauric Mahony with a free opened Ballygunner’s account and when Peter Hogan followed up with another point they soon got into their stride.

The Gunners would go to the dressing rooms in front (2-5 to 0-10), the two goals coming in a three minute spell between the 18 and 21 minutes.

Tim O’Sullivan hit the first of his sides goals, slipping a shot past Eddie Lynch after Peter Hogan had done well to apply pressure on Darragh Lynch in the build-up and the second went to Billy O’Keeffe ho fired into the corner of the net again after some good work by Hogan in the build-up.

With the wind at their backs in the second half, the champions in the second thirty minutes upped their game considerable, hitting 2-15 to their first half tally while at the other end of the field just 1-2 went past inter county goalkeeper Stephen O’Keeffe.

Passage found themselves with a good chance of producing a green flag on 43 minutes when Conor Carey shot at the Ballygunner goal but Stephen O’Keeffe was equal to the effort, producing a spectacular save from close range.

If there was any doubting the final outcome of this game, things were done and dusted on 51 minutes when Stephen Power blasted to the roof of the net and in the next attack the champions hit a fourth goal, this time through Pauric Mahony with Peter Hogan not for the first time on the day playing an important role once mire.

Passage did raise a green flag six minutes from time but it proved to be a mere consolation score for the side.

Having secured their 15^th title it is on to the Munster Championship now for Ballygunner and next Sunday they make the trip to Semple Stadium in Thurles to play what will be a strong Thurles Sarsfields side who recently won the Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship.

Ballygunner; Stephen O’Keeffe; Eddie Hayden, Barry Coughlan, Ian Kenny; Harley Barnes, Philip Mahony, Shane Walsh; David O’Sullivan, Billy O’Keeffe; Shane O’Sullivan, Pauric Mahony, Conor Power; Tim O’Sullivan, Brian O’Sullivan, Peter Hogan, Subs: Wayne Hutchinson for Billy O’Keeffe (43), Stephen Power for Harley Barnes (48), Michael Mahony for Conor Power (52), JJ Hutchinson for Tim O’Sullivan (54), Johnny McCarthy for Peter Hogan (55)

Scorers: Pauric Mahony 1-11 (0-7f), Stephen Power 1-1, Brian O’Sullivan 0-4, Tim O’Sullivan, Billy O’Keeffe 1-0 each, Peter Hogan 0-3, David O’Sullivan 0-1.

Passage: Eddie Lynch; Darragh Lynch, Noel Connors, Jason Flood; Adam Roche, Jason Roche, Stephen Mason; Pa Walsh, Gary Cullinane; Owen Connors, Conor Carey, Sean Hogan; Thomas Connors, Eoin Kelly, Killian Fitzgerald. Subs: John Whitty for Gary Cullinane (H-T), Richard Hurley for Conor Carey (54), Calum O’Neill for Stephen Mason (60), Paul Donnellan for Adam Roche (60).

Scorers: Thomas Connors 1-1, Killian Fitzgerald 0-4 (0-3f), Owen Connors, Eoin Kelly 0-2 (0-1f) each, Adam Roche, Noel Connors, Jason Roche 0-1 each.

Referee: Michael O’Brien (Portlaw)

Ballinacourty beat 14 man Clashmore to book semi-final spot

Ballinacourty are through to this year’s County Senior Football Championship semi-finals and a meeting with neighbours Stradbally after they recorded a five point win over Clashmore in the last of this year’s quarter finals at Fraher Field on Sunday evening.

Clashmore finished this game with fourteen men after Padi O’Rourke received his marching orders on 44 minutes by referee Tommy O’Sullivan.

The sending off was an unusual one in that the Clashmore club man received a card of every colour in this game.

He was booked earlier in the game and received a yellow card, and then midway through the second half was issued with a black card which was followed with a red which meant that he could not be replaced with someone from the bench as would have happened if he had not received an earlier yellow.

The first quarter of this game was an evenly balanced contest.

Michael O’Halloran opened the scoring for Ballinacourty only for his first cousin Brian to level matters from a free on seven minutes.

Gary Hurney put Ballinacourty back in front a minute later but by the 12 minute Clashmore had taken the lead, first drawing level through Padi O’Rourke followed by a Brian O’Halloran free.

This was as good as it got for the Still Men however and in the second quarter Ballinacourty did much of the spadework to carve out this win.

Between the 15 and 25 minutes they hit nine points in a row which helped then to a 0-11 to 0-3 lead at the break.

Patrick Hurney got the ball rolling with a brace. Michael Maher gave his side a two point lead on 18 minutes and within seconds, Mark Ferncombe gave his side a double score lead.

Michael O’Halloran and Mark Ferncombe landed points before Patrick Hurney gave Ballinacourty a 0-9 to 0-3 lead with 23 minutes played.

Sean O’Hare and Michael O’Halloran then brought their sides tally to 11 for the evening with points on 24 and 25 minutes.

The second half was nowhere near as exciting to watch as the first, especially for the neutrals in the crowd.

Patrick Hurney and Brian O’Halloran swapped early points before Gary Hurney put over a free on 40 minutes to give his side a 0-13 to 0-4 lead.

Sean Fleming who had entered the game as a sub on 33 minutes gave his side a massive boost on 42 minutes when he finished a well worked movement down the bank side of the field towards the country goal to the net.

But the goal as sometimes happens failed to ignite Clashmore. Any boost they got out of it were dashed two minutes later when Padi O’Rourke was sent off.

Patrick Hurney and Brian O’Halloran swapped scores on 47 and 29 minutes and when Neil Montgomery pointed on 53 minutes there was no disputing what the outcome of this game was going to be.

Cillian O’Keeffe and Declan Allen did hit late points for Clashmore in this game, but they were mere consolation scores as it was goals they needed and with a man less to help try and get it against a strong Ballinacourty side, if they had come they were going to be hard won.

Ballinacourty: Stephen Enright; Conor McCarthy, Brian Looby, John Elstead; Shane Briggs, David Collins, Richie Foley; Sean O’Hare, Conor Prunty; Michael Maher, Patrick Hurney, Mark Ferncombe; Shane O’Donovan, Gary Hurney, Michael O’Halloran. Subs: Neil Montgomery for Mark Ferncombe (HT), John Hurney for Shane O’Donovan (50), Evan Collins for Michael O’Halloran (51), Maurice Power for John Elstead (57), Patrick Lynch for Shane Briggs (58),

Scorers: Patrick Hurney 0-5 (3f), Michael O’Halloran 0-3, Gary Hurney, Mark Ferncombe 0-2 each, Michael Maher, Sean O’Hare, Neil Montgomery 0-1 each.

Clashmore: Darragh Curran; Shane Russell, Ciaran Bourke, Sean O’Connor; Sean Bourke, Tadhg Bourke, Aidan Trihy; Jason Seaward, Declan Allen; Edmond O’Halloran, Brian O’Halloran, Cillian O’Keeffe; Paddy Prendergast, Padi O’Rourke, Paul O’Connor. Subs: Kieran Connery for Shane Russell (30+2), Sean Fleming for Paddy Prendergast (33),

Scorers: Brian O’Halloran 0-4 (3f), Sean Fleming 1-0, Padi O’Rourke, Cillain O’Keeffe, Declan Allen 0-1 each.

Referee: Tommy O’Sullivan

All Whyte on the night for Kilrossanty on the night

One of the most exciting games in this year’s county senior football championship was fought out at Fraher Field on Sunday evening last when Kilrossanty advanced to the last four of this year’s County Senior Football Championship with a one point win over An Rinn in the third of this year’s finals.

The outcome of this game was in doubt right to the finish. At the end of the game neutrals at the ground would have been happy for either side to advance to the last four, and even if the sizeable attendance had to sit through another twenty minutes, pushing back the start of the second game a little few if any could have complained.

Leaving the ground just before 9pm much of the talk amongst those that had seen the two games played was that this game was the better of the two games played on the evening. Many were in agreement that while Kilrossanty are a good side, this was a game that An Rinn lost more than Kilrossanty won.

At the three quarter way mark in the game An Rinn lead 2-7 to 1-5 and it looked as if they were going to seal their passage to the last four of the competition when Fergal Ó Ceallaigh found himself with a good chance in front of goal but he found himself with too much time on his hand and instead of simply tapping the ball to the net he blasted it and as a result it ballooned over the crossbar.

A minute later An Rinn again found themselves with another good chance for a green flag to be waved but Darren Mulhearne made a fantastic save again from Fearghal Ó Ceallaigh.

But if leaving the ground there was talk of An Rinn loosing this game there was also talk of Paul Whyte.

The talented Kilrossanty man is known with some time to those that have seen him play to be a special talent.

Against Ballinameela he hit 4-10 for his side and here against stronger opposition he again hit a very impressive tally of 2-8 for his side.

The first half of this game proved to be a low scoring affair.

An Rinn had the first chance of note when Fearghal Ó Cuirrín hit the base of the Kilrossanty post with Darren Mulhearne beaten on two minutes

Kilrossanty opened the scoring seconds later when a Joey Veale effort from out the field was broken in front of goal by Pa Cunningham and Paul Whyte was on hand to finish to the net.

Liam Ó Lonáin hit a brace of points and Corey De Róiste and Fearghal Ó Ceallaigh hit one each by the 19^th minute to give their side a one point lead, but they were to suffer a blow just four minutes later when the influential Liam Ó Lonáin was replaced after he sustained an injury.

Paul Whyte from a free levelled matters on 24 only for Jamie de Barún to level matters once more three minutes later, but the sides went to the dressing rooms all square after Paul Whyte put over another free a minute from time.

An Rinn hit the first of their goals within 30 seconds of the start of the second half, the industrious Fergal Ó Ceallaigh dispatching the size five past Darren Mulhearne.

Corey de Róiste and Alan Quinn swapped scores before Paul Whyte hit a brilliant score for Kilrossanty on 40 minutes to leave just two between the teams.

But that lead soon widened. Fearghal Ó Cuirrin shot straight at Darren Mulhearne but he was in the right place to ensure that when the ball came back to him he was in the right place and this time made no mistake in rattling the net.

Corey de Róiste and Paul Whyte swapped scores from frees and then Fearghal Ó Ceallaigh had a chance for a third An Rinn goal but his effort ballooned over the crossbar.

Pa Cunningham and Fearghal Ó Cuirrin swapped scores by the 49 minute but this was to prove to be his sides last score of the game.

A brace of points between the 53 and 58 minutes from Paul Whyte made it a four point game and a minute later when he was pulled down for a penalty Paul Whyte stood over the ball and despite the best efforts of Odhrán Ó hUallachain in the An Rinn goal to put him off, Paul Whyte made no mistake in reducing the An Rinn lead to one when he blasted to the net.

Whyte levelled matters on 62 two minutes and two minutes later the same player put over a free to seal a one point victory.  

Kilrossanty: Darren Mulhearne; Barry Prendergast, Mark Prendergast, Conor Hayes; Pa Whyte, Stephen Prendergast, Killian Whelan; Osgar de Paor, Tommy Prendergast; Donal Fitzgerald, Alan Quinn, Niall Walsh; Joey Veale, Pa Cunningham, Paul Whyte. Subs: Paul Keating for Osgar de Paor (34),

Scorers: Paul Whyte 2-8 (1-0 pen, 0-6f), Pa Cunningham, Alan Quinn 0-1 each.

An Rinn: Odhrán Ó hUallachain; Cillian Ó Murchadha, Shane Ó Cuirrín, Darach Ó Cathasaigh; Jamie de Barún, Ray Ó Ceallaigh, Tadhg Ó hUallachain; Shane Ó Ceallaigh, Ferdia Ó hAodha; Fearghal Ó Ceallaigh, Corey de Róiste, Lorcán Ó Corraoin; Paddy Ó Murchadha, Ferghal Ó Cuirrín, Liam Ó Lonáin. Subs: Cian Ó Conchúir for Liam Ó Lonáin (23), Eoghan Breathnach for Fearghal Ó Ceallaigh (60), Conor MacDiarmada for Paddy Ó Murchadha (65).

Scorers: Ferghal Ó Ceallaigh 1-2, Fearghal Ó Cuirrín 1-1, Corey de Róiste 0-3 (3f), Liam Ó Lonáin 0-2, Jamie de Barún 0-1.

Referee: Tom Dee

Stradbally advance despite late scare

2015 County Senior Football Champions Stradbally are through to the semi-finals of this year’s competition after they had a hard fought win over Ardmore at Fraher Field on Friday night last.

Over the past two decades the Cove Men have being a model of consistency in the Senior Football Championship.

In this time they have developed a terrific knack of doing just enough to win a game and are often more content winning by a point or two than to win by a big margin.

This was another game in which they did enough to just grind out the result. They won’t need telling from anyone however that had this game gone on any longer they could have found themselves in a lot of bother.

As Ardmore did against An Rinn in the opening minutes of the last qualifier game, Ardmore made life very difficult for Stradbally in this game.

The Round Tower men got the scoreboard ticking over when Kenny Murphy split the posts, but it was followed with efforts from Eoin O’Brien and Daniel Weldon.

David Gartland levelled matters once more and when Ardmore net minder Sean Barron put over a ’45 it looked as if Stradbally were going to have dig extra deep in this game if they were to come out on top.

Shane Lannon levelled matters for the third time on the quarter of an hour mark

In the next three minutes the reigning champions hit three points which proved to amongst the most crucial of the game.

Michael ‘Brick’ Walsh hit the first of his three points in this game which was followed with an effort from Shane Ahearne and when ‘The Brick’ hit his second of the game on 18 minutes his side were 0-6 to 0-3 in front.

As was the case in the opening quarter of this game, the remaining time in the first half proved to be an evenly balanced affair with both sides sharing four scores, two each with James Kennedy and Kenny Murphy finding the range for Ardmore while Shane Ahearne and Eoin O’Brien split the posts for the Cove Men, giving them a 0-8 to 0-5 lead at the interval.

Stradbally proved to be the better side in the third quarter. They hit three points in this period and kept their opponents scoreless.

Shane Ahearne landed a brace of points for the eventual winners and Michael ‘Brick’ Walsh hit one to give their side a 0-11 to 0-5 lead.

Stephen Keating pointed for Ardmore on 50 minutes and Michael Sweeney pointed three minutes later to keep six between the sides.

But this proved to be the final score that Stradbally would kick something on another day that could have cost them dearly.

With three minutes of the hour remaining, Tom Power pointed and the same player moments later finished to the Stradbally net to leave just two between the sides.

Stradbally now had to call on all their experience to ensure that another score would not be registered as it could cost them dearly and this they managed holding out for a two point win but they will know that when they play Ballinacourty next weekend in the semi-finals they will have to up their game considerably if they are to retain their grip on the Conway Cup won last November.

Stradbally: Eoin Cunningham; Cathal Cusack, Kevin Lawlor, Jack Mullaney; Tommy Connors, Shane Lannon, Tony Grey; Michael Walsh, Paddy Kiely; Robert Aherne, Shane Aherne, Daniel Weldon; Paul Tobin, Eoin O’Brien, John Coffey. Sub: Michael Sweeney for John Coffey.

Scorers: Shane Ahearne 0-4 (2f), Michael Walsh 0-3, Eoin O’Brien 0-2, Shane Lannon, Daniel Weldon, Michael Sweeney 0-1 each.

Ardmore: Sean Barron; Daniel Power, Declan Prendergast, Michael Cronin; Niall Hennessy, Seamus Prendergast, Richie Hennessy; Wayne Hennessy, David Gartland; Tom Power, Kenny Murphy, James Kennedy; John O’Brien, Eoin Conway, Stephen Keating. Subs: Sean Duggan for Eoin Conway, Declan Fitzgerald for Niall Hennessy, Seamus Keating for John O’Brien.

Scorers: Tom Power 1-1 (0-1f), Kenny Murphy 0-2, Sean Barron (’45), David Gartland, James Kennedy, Stephen Keating 0-1 each.

Referee: Anthony Fitzgerald