Shocks live another day

What is it about teams wearing red in county finals played at Walsh Park and late come backs.

Just over twelve months ago, we say Passage capture their first Waterford Senior Hurling Championship, beating their neighbours Ballygunner by three points having found themselves seven points down with seven minutes of normal time to play.

On Saturday afternoon, at the same venue and with different teams involved, this time in football, a much harder game to get scores in, Old Parish with ten minutes to play found themselves seven points down.

I am sure that while it be admitted to loudly there was some in the stand watching on from Kill who believed that victory was theirs, they were going back to playing in the Intermediate grade in 2015 having played Junior for the past two years, and there would be some in the stand from Old Parish who were believing that their wait for a first county final since 1949 would have to be put on hold for another year.

However, no game is over till the final whistle is sounded. You have to expect the unexpected. You have to keep going, no matter what and this is what Old Parish did.

Kill in the eyes of many went into the game as the favourites to win. They appeared in last years Eastern Final where they were beaten by a Mount Sion side who were knocking on the door in Eastern and County Finals with a number of years, and with the Monastery Men having moved up to Intermediate for 2014 after winning last years final against Colligan, the mid county side were always fancied in the east of the county and more over so when they locked horns with neighbours Fenor.

Old Parish however were never going to be too far away from reaching this stage of the championship. Colligan who won the western final in 2013 and who were beaten in the 2013 co final were always going to be expected to be the strongest side in the west again this year but with Old Parish haven added Graham Guiry and Declan Ryan to their panel this year they were always going to be in with a major shout.

This was a game of two halves if ever there was one. No I tell a lie, it was a game where Kill not dominated the opening half, they were also the better side for twenty minutes of the second half.

Old Parish to be honest it has to be said only showed up for the final ten minutes of this game and the extra four minutes that were played at the end. Had they put in the effort they did in the final minutes of the game from the off, you can’t but wonder would the game have a different outcome for them.

Ray Hennessy the hero for Kill in their Eastern Final win over Roanmore was again to the fore for the mid county side in this game.

He gave his side a good start to this game with a point from a free on two minutes. Kill followed up with efforts from Anthony Kiely and Ben Gallagher but no score resulted from these efforts.

On eight minutes, Kill widen the difference between the sides when a good run from the right wing resulted in a Sean Cheasty goal.

Ray Hennessy, Ben Gallagher and Sean Cheasty followed up with points for Kill to give them a 1-4 to 0-0 lead with just twelve minutes on the clock and it was not looking good for OId Parish.

The Shocks first score of the game came on nineteen minutes through a Declan Ryan free, a score that was to prove to be their only one in the first half.

Kill however would add to their tally, Ray Hennessy not for the first time again proved to be the saviour converting a free seven minutes from the break to give his side a 1-5 to 0-1 lead as the sides swapped ends.

Declan Power kicked the first score of the second half to draw Old Parish to within six of Kill. However a Ray Hennessy point twelve minutes into the second half soon had them seven back in front once more.

At the end of the third quarter Tomas Curran with a fisted effort after he was picked out by Declan Ryan but five minutes later that score was cancelled out when Ray Hennessy put over a free and with ten minutes to play it was looking as though it was going to be Kill’s day.

Brian French pointed for Old Parish six minutes from the hour mark and when Declan Ryan finished to the net soon afterwards, there was just three between the sides and Old Parish fans must have been a Shock was on the cards in the eyes of some.

Three minutes from the hour mark, Old Parish cut the Kill lead to two when Padraig Healy pointed. The large Old Parish support now were wondering in the time that remained could they hit the scores to get something from the game.

Two minutes into four of added time at the end of the hour it looked as though it was curtains for Old Parish when Conor Rockett pointed for Kill giving them a three point lead, but Old Parish refused to give up.

At every opportunity they attached the Kill goal and with time almost up an attack by Old Parish began in their own half of the field. When it got near the Kill goal they attempted to strike for goal, but the effort was blocked. Again Old Parish tried for goal and again the shot was blocked but it was third time lucky when the ball made its way to Shane Power the team captain who successfully appealed a straight red card he received in the Western Final he was in the right place at the right time to slot the ball past Kieran Dunphy in the Kill goal.

From the restart after the goal Alan Kissane blew the full time whistle, meaning the two sides will have to head back to Walsh Park and do it all over again.

Strangely, the last time Old Parish won the final in 1949 they won it beating Kill after a replay. Can history repeat itself sixty-five years on?

Old Parish: Aidan Power; Ian Curran, Patrick Conway, Dan Murphy; Andy Walsh, Michael French, Stephen Conway; Cormac Nugent, Shane Power; Tomas Curran, Declan Ryan, Declan Power; Ray Terry, Graham Guiry, Padraig Healy. Subs: Bryan French for Declan Power, Brendan Hogan for Tomas Curran, Dermot Conway for Ray Terry, Padraig Keating for Ian Curran.

Scorers: Declan Ryan 1-1 (0-1f), Shane Power 1-0, Declan Power, Tomas Curran, Bryan French, Padraig Healy 0-1 each.

Kill: Kieran Dunphy; David Sullivan, Stephen Dunne, Luke Middleton; Fergal Whelan, Jim Halley, Brian Flynn; Conor Hennessy, Niall Hennessy; John Flynn, Anthony Kiely, Ben Gallagher; Paudie Raher, Ray Hennessy, Sean Cheasty. Subs: Mike Nicholls for Paudie Raher, Peter Kirwan for Niall Hennessy, Peter Torpey for Conor Hennessy (B.C.), Niall Flynn for Anthony Kiely (B.C.) Chris Rockett for

Scorers: Ray Hennessy 0-5 (4f), Sean Cheasty 1-1, Ben Gallagher, Conor Rockett 0-1 each.

Referee: Alan Kissane

Lismore with 4 County and 4 Munster titles in 5 years are up there with the best around.

Twelve teams will compete in Division 1 of the 2015 National Hurling League, split into two groups of six in accordance to how the teams did in this years competition.

Taking a look at what is happening in the twelve counties at club level shows us that there is some sides competing at the top level in these counties are pretty consistent.

In Clare four different clubs have won the Senior Hurling Championship in the past five years. Cratloe, Sixmilebridge, Newmarket-on-Fergus are the last three winners. Before this, Crusheen won it two years running.

In Cork clubs almost in shouting distance of each other have been coming out on top. Sarsfields have won the competition three times in the last five years, coincidently all in even number ending years. Neighbours Midleton and Carrigtwohill are the other two winners of the championship since 2010.

In Dublin two clubs have dominated the championship since 2010. Kilmacud Crokes have won the competition twice since 2010. Ballyboden Saint Enda’s have won it the other three years.

In Galway, this year’s championship is not yet complete and it could take some time yet to finish it as there are ongoing objections to the result of a game played earlier this year. The four previous finals however have been won by four different clubs, Portumna, Saint Thomas’, Gort and Clarinbridge.

In Kilkenny this coming weekend Clara or Ballyhale Shamrocks will win a second county final since 2010. The other winners Nore-side since 2010 are James Stephens and O’Loughlin Gaels.

Across the border in Tipperary, Thurles Sarsfields are proving to be the most consistent team in the Premier County, winning it three times and just like Sarsfields in Cork their titles have  come on the even number years. Two other sides Loughmore-Castleiney and Drom-Inch have also won the Dan Breen Cup since 2010.

Having a look at the teams that will be in Division 1B of the 2015 league, in Antrim Loughgiel Shamrocks have won four of the last five titles. Cushendall this past year ended the dominance of the Loughgiel club.

In Laois Rathdowney-Erril are the most consistent side winning the title three times, like Sarsfields in Cork and Thurles Sarsfields in Tipperary all on an even number year. Camross and Clough-Ballacolla are other most recent winners in Laois.

Who says History does not repeat itself? In Limerick two clubs have dominated Kilmallock have three titles won in the past five years and Na Piarsaigh have two. Can anybody guess when Kilmallock won their titles? Here is a clue for you check when Sarsfields, Thurles Sarsfields and Rathdowney-Erril won their titles.

In Offaly again two clubs have shared the past five titles. Kilcormac/Killoughy have won the past three titles. Before that Coolderry won the title the two years previous.

In Wexford just like in other counties, two clubs have dominated. Shelmaliers won the title in 2014. Previous to this Oulart-the-Ballagh won four in a row.

And finally in Waterford, three clubs have won the title in the past five years. Ballygunner and De La Salle have won it twice. Passage are the club that broke the domination of the two clubs to win it twice since 2009, winning the title in 2013.

Move up the ladder a bit and Na Piarsaigh twice have won the Munster Club Championship and Thurles Sarsfields and De La Salle have also won the competition since 2010.

In Leinster Mount Leinster Rangers, Kilcormac/Killoughy, Coolderry and O’Loughlin Gaels are the winners since 2010, in Ulster Loughgiel Shamrocks have won four of the last five finals. Portaferry won the competition this year and West of the Shannon, the Galway Champions over the past number of years have been automatically crowned Connacht Champions each year.

And in the All-Ireland Finals played since 2010, the Galway sides are fairing best, with Portumna, Saint Thomas’ and Clarinbridge all winning it. The only non Galway winners since 2010 were Loughgiel Shamrocks in 2011.

You make your own mind up from the above teams that have proven to be the most consistent side in the last five years, and I will put up an argument for another side, one that has not been mentioned yet, but one I am sure you can guess who it is from the accompanying photos.

In previewing the Munster Intermediate Camogie Final which was played last weekend in Fermoy, I asked was there a more consistent team over the past few years than Lismore’s premier Camogie team.

The facts I am sure will tell it all.

There will be some that will scoff at the idea of a women’s team in any sport being ranked as one of the best teams around.

But let them scoff if they want to. I wont loose any nights sleep over it and neither (I’m sure, I didn’t ask) will any player on the Lismore team or any other team.

Over the past few years we hear a lot about the sacrifices made by the players on our top club and inter county teams. There is no doubt that these players make sacrifices but so to do those that are involved in our ladies teams and ladies sports. Maybe there sacrifices are even bigger but because they are seldom reported on we don’t get to hear about them.

Let’s use Lismore as an example. How many teams involved in a big game early in any new year would go training on Saint Stephen’s Day. Not many I am sure. Let’s use the Waterford Intermediate Camogie team. How many inter county sides would sit in their own cars and drive over a 100 mile round journey to an away league game in order to try and help the county board spare what limited money they had for when a bus was needed for a longer journey. Waterford footballers did it a few years back I know but not many others would.

Over the past few years consistent is a word that can be used to describe Lismore.

Four County Senior Titles in the last five years, Four Munster Intermediate Titles in the last five years, one All-Ireland title in the last five years and two county senior league titles in the last three years tells just part of the story.

Add in the fact that a large number of the clubs players have played on different inter county teams, winning honours along the way indifferent competitions, different underage competitions have been won helping players gain valuable experience before playing on the clubs highest ranking team, and members of the club have also won honours with Blackwater Community School and on third level college sides.

The clubs most recent piece of silverware is a fourth Munster Club title, beating a fancied Sarsfields side at Fermoy.

The Cork side came into the game after having an excellent year.

The Cork County Intermediate Championship was won recently and earlier this year the Cork Intermediate League was won. The side based in the Glanmire and Riverstown area also played in the final of the Munster League during the summer, loosing out to Tipperary side Annacarty, and only a week before the game they won the Cork Minor Championship.

The question is often asked is a side winning the pre-match toss better playing with the breeze at their backs in the first half or to play into it.

There is a case for both arguments. Yes it does take time for a side to settle and maybe it is better for a side to use the elements in the second half when they should be in their stride and the opposition tiring.

On the counter side playing with the wind in the first half you get the chance to try and build up a lead by the break. Sometimes teams elect to play against what breeze there is only to find for the second half the breeze has died somewhat. In a game played in November you may also be better off playing with the wind in the first half as the pitch will cut up as the game goes on and if it was to badly cut it could prove to be a bigger disadvantage than playing with the strongest of winds can prove to be a benefit at times.

Lismore on Saturday played with the breeze in the first half and it proved to be the correct call.

Both sides did take a little time to settle. No scores were registered till the sixth minute but what a crucial score that proved to be.

A little over twelve months ago, those that are not regular supporters of camogie could be forgiven for not recognising the name of Caithriona McGlone but over the past few months her name has become more and more known and reported on as a goal scoring forward with Lismore.

When she got the ball on six minutes she rounded the Sarsfields full back and once this was achieved there was only one place the ball was going to go into Chloe Casey’s far corner and she did not fail in her attempt.

Lismore were now on top and they added to their great start with a brace of points inside a minute of each other shortly after Caithriona McGlone’s green flag score.

It was Caithriona McGlone that had the umpire reaching for a white flag on eight minutes and a minute later Ruth Geoghegan picked out Nicola Morrissey with a good pass and the primary school teacher made no mistake in dissecting the uprights.

Lismore received a scare on thirteen minutes when Hollie Herlihy had a shot at the Lismore goal by Tanya Morrissey who impressed throughout was equal to the effort and kept the ball out.

Lismore hit the next three scores all from Aoife Hannon, two frees and one from play to give her side a 1-5 to no score lead.

The Cork side however ensure that they would not go to into the second half scoreless as Lucy Allen pointed from a free five minutes from the break.

With the breeze at their backs in the second half, Sarsfields started well.

Lucy Allen converted a free on thirty-three minutes and within seconds they added a second this time Julie Allen got her name on the score sheet with an effort from play.

Three points followed in a three minute spell.

Aoife Hannon got the ball rolling with a free on thirty-six minutes. Lucy Allen responded for Cork side with an effort from play a minute later and on thirty-eight minutes Aoife Hannon scored her fifth point of the game to giver her side a six point lead.

Lismore’s last score of the game came on forty-four minutes, but what a score it proved to be, one that killed off any hopes of a late Sarsfields fight back and to get something from the game.

The sides first goal came from Caitriona McGlone who is proving to have a real eye for goal and their second came from another proven goal scorer.

Laura Buckley and Aoife Hannon played a major part in the build up to Ruth Geoghegan the ball past Chloe Casey.

The Cork champions to their credit did not give up and in the time that remained, they tried to break down a teak like Lismore defence who had Shauna Kiernan, Tanya Morrissey, Shona Curran, Grainne Kenneally and Aoife Hannon in the form of their lives.

The Cork side did manage a late score through Hollie Herlihy on fifty-seven minutes, a point but it was to prove to be too little too late.

Lismore now with four county finals and four Munster finals won in five years now go on to play an All-Ireland semi final against the Galway Intermediate Champions Oranmore Maree in early February.

Lismore will have enjoyed this latest win as much as they enjoyed many of their previous wins in recent years. Some time may be taken away from the game now, as the side are together for nearly twenty months without much of a break. Any break from the game wont be a long one and the side will be back together stronger and as united as ever preparing for the game with the Galway champions.

Lismore: Tanya Morrissey; Sarah Coughlan, Shauna Prendergast, Marie Russell; Aoife Houlihan, Shauna Kiernan, Sarah Fenton; Sharon Williams, Shona Curran; Laura Buckley, Grainne Kenneally, Aoife Hannon; Ruth Geoghegan, Nicola Morrissey, Caitriona McGlone. Subs: Sarah Geoghegan for Sharon Williams, Niamh Molumphy for Marie Russell, Alice Russell for Aoife Hannon, Kate Heneghan for Aoife Houlihan, Ellen Curran for Ruth Geoghegan.

Scorers: A Hannon 0-5 (3f), C McGlone 1-1, N Morrissey, R Geoghegan 0-1 each.

Sarsfields: Chloe Casey; Ellen Murphy, Katie Barry, Gemma Donohue; Lauren Casserly, Jenny Murphy, Emma Casey; Eimer Fennell, Niamh O’Callaghan; Maeve McCarthy, Hollie Herlihy, Claire Holland; Lucy Kelly, Lucy Allen, Julie Allen. Subs: Nicola Hickey for Gemma Donohue, Maeve O’Farrell for Emma Casey, Orla Butler for Maeve McCarthy.

Scorers: Lucy Allen 0-3 (2f), Julie Allen, Hollie Herlihy 0-1 each.

Referee: Ger Browne (Tipperary).

Cappoquin and Feakle do battle for Munster Final Spot.

Cappoquin make their Munster Club Championship debut on Sunday afternoon at Sixmilebridge when they take on Clare Champions in the semi final stages of this years Munster Intermediate Club Championship where the prize on offer to the winners will be a meeting with Kerry Senior Champions Lisnaw or Limerick Intermediate Champions Bruff in the Munster Final.

Both sides have qualified for this game with an impressive run of results behind them.

The Clare champions played three games in the league stages of their championship while the Cornerstone Club men played four league games before they reached the quarter finals of the championships.

Feakle in their first championship game had a 3-19 to 2-11 win over Corofin and followed that up with a 2-19 to 1-9 win over Newmarket-on-Fergus and rounded of the league section of the competition with an impressive 0-24 to 1-12 win over Parteen.

In the County Semi Final they had it much tougher against Sixmilebridge. In a high scoring game at the end of the hour just one puck of the ball separated the sides, the side from North-East Clare winning 2-16 to 2-15.

The County Final for Feakle was a repeat of their last game in the league section of the competition, taking on Parteen at Cusack Park.

They had a great opening half to this game cracking four goals in the first thirty minutes and went to the dressing rooms with a 4-5 to 1-6 lead.

Both defences were much more on top in the second half. Feakle in the second thirty minutes added just five points but did enough back in September to win 4-10 to 2-12.

Readers of what happens in different counties during the different championship will know that very little is recorded on what happened in this game, but after match activities were well recorded.

In a lot of team sports there is a need for segregation, but there is no such need for it when it comes to the GAA. Everybody knows or should know of the great family spirit that exists when it comes to the GAA.

I saw this for myself just twelve months ago when my Aunt died, and my Father (who has since died) when it came to getting to his sisters graveside, four or five members of the GAA Club came together and lifted him in his wheelchair to the graveside, and something similar happened after the Clare Intermediate County Final when members of the club went to an area of the stand set aside for wheelchairs and brought the wheelchair bound club president to be with them for the celebrations before going to receive the cup.

The Clare County final may have been played back in September, but the Clare champions have not been idle since as they have played out the remaining league games the Clare Champion Cup where they finished second in division 1B and only a week before Cratloe played in the Ballygunner in the Munster Senior Club Championship Feakle played Cratloe in the semi final of the Cup and put up a good performance, but were to finish second best loosing 0-18 to 1-9.

Cappoquin too have impressed up to now. They are knocking at the door with some while when it comes to the Intermediate Championship in Waterford and it was only a matter of time before they won it.

They began their campaign with a 1-20 to 1-11 win over neighbours Tourin and then had a big 4-20 to 1-10 win over Abbeyside

 An Rinn who played in the Senior championship in 2013 and who it could be argued were somewhat unlucky to be relegated and maybe not to have reached the quarter finals of the competition, beat Cappoquin in the third round of the competition on a 4-12 to 1-15 score line but Cappoquin got back to winning way in round four with a 1-13 to 0-9 over Brickeys.

An Rinn were again to be Cappoquin’s opponents in the semi final, and would have gone into that game confident of beating Cappoquin for the second time this year, but the second game played between two sides in a short space of times is often the hardest to win and this time Cappoquin gained revenge for the earlier defeat winning 2-12 to 1-12 and then went on to beat Ballinameela 2-15 to 2-13 in the Western Final.

Playing in their first Intermediate final since 1976, Saint Saviours were Cappoquin’s opponents and while the side coached by Fintan O’Connor and managed by Fintan Murray ran out 2-19 to 2-11 winners, in truth things were much closer than the score line suggests with the corner stone men only pulling away late in the game.

Cappoquin two weeks ago were to play the Tipperary Champions in the Munster Quarter Final’s but the championships in the Premier County ran late this year as a result of the team reaching the All-Ireland Final and its subsequent replay meaning that Cappoquin received a walk over as the competition was not finished.

Feakle playing at a venue familiar to them and also having played competitive hurling more recent to Cappoquin should stand to them this weekend.

They are set to be without Ger Hanrahan who has done his Cruciate and is set to be operated on this week, while reports coming out of Clare suggests that they will leave it very late in the day before deciding whether to include Colm Haughton, Francis O’Grady and Stephen Conway in their starting team.

However what ever team put out for the Clare side who have former Clare hurler Colin Lynch working with them recently will be hard to beat, which could include the likes of Eibhear Quilligan in goals, Killian Bane, Eoin Tuohy, Shane McGrath, Oisin Donnellan, Colin Nelson, Gary Guilfoyle, Raymond Bane and Henry Hayes.

Cappoquin too are set to make chances to their county final winning team. Keith Landers is away on Army Duty while Aaron O’Sullivan who played minor with Waterford is still out and there could also be at least one chance in their full back line.

However, there should be still plenty of experience in the team for Cappoquin to mount a serious challenge in this game. Donal O’Rourke, Conor, Shane, Paul and Fintan Murray, Andy Molumby, Shane Coughlan, PJ Curran, Killian O’Sullivan and Paudie Landers could all expect to get game time here and are all capable hurlers.

The Clare Champions will go into the game as favourites, but you right Cappoquin off at your pearl. I have seen what Cappoquin can do with a long number of years now and know that often is the case that the later the years go on the better they can be, and it would be no surprise if they travelled home from the game looking forward to a Munster Final in a few weeks time.

Will it be Yellow or Blue ribbons that goes with the Black ones on Munster Intermediate Camogie Cup this Saturday.

In the last few years is there a more consistent team around than the Lismore Senior Camogie team?

Four County Finals are captured since 2010. The Denny Buckley Cup (Senior League) has been won three times since it was first played for in 2012. Four Munster Intermediate Camogie Championships (Waterford as an Intermediate Inter County team play in the Intermediate Club competition at Provincial and All-Ireland level) and earlier this year the ladies from the Heritage Town won a first ever All-Ireland Club Final, beating Kilkenny side Ballyhale Shamrocks in Clonmel after the two sides could not be separated two weeks earlier at Croke Park.

The success does not stop there.

Over the past few years, the club has won a number of underage titles and members of the club have helped Blackwater Community School to a number of honours and members of the club have represented the county at different levels, bringing back to the town it fair share of Provincial and All-Ireland medals.

This Saturday the club will look to add to its Roll of Honour when they take on Sarsfields for Cork in the Munster Club Final at Fermoy.

The Cork Club like their opponents this weekend are a very successful club. The current club was formed to serve the playing needs of women in the Glanmire and Riverstown area of Cork in 1969, five years before the Lismore club was formed.

Their first major honour was won in 1973 when they won the Junior ‘A’ Championship and six years later they won the Intermediate Championship and a further ten years passed before they won their next major honour, the Cork Senior Championship.

The club currently cater for players from under 8 to Intermediate and will provide stiff opposition for Lismore.

Just two years ago, the club had one of its most successful years ever winning seven trophies, the Munster Club League, County Championships at Minor and Under 14 levels and won Divisional finals at Under 15 A and B as well as Under 13 A and B levels, and it expected that some of these players will be pushing for a place in the team this weekend against Lismore.

If 2012 was a good year for the Cork Club, 2014 is proving to be just as good as the Intermediate team over the past few months have won the Cork Intermediate Championship, the Cork Intermediate League where they beat Brian Dillon’s in both finals and also contested the Munster Senior League final against Annacarty from Tipperary at Cashel back in July, a game that was won by the Tipperary Club by a small margin.

To reach Saturday’s game the Cork Club have played four games, beating Enniskeane in the first round of the championship on a 2-11 to 1-12 score line and in round two they had a comprehensive 5-15 to 1-0 win over Newtownshandrum.

In the semi finals Sarsfields were pushed hard by Blackrock, a game Sars had three points to spare at the end, winning 1-14 to 1-11.

The final against Brian Dillon’s proved to be a bit one sided as Sarsfields ran our 2-14 to 1-5 winners.

The past 18 months or so have proven to be an extremely busy time for Lismore.

In 2013 they began training over Saint Patrick’s Weekend for the campaign they faced and the work paid off as the League (Denny Buckley Cup) and the Championship were won, both against Saint Anne’s before the side went on to beat Newmarket-on-Fergus from Clare after a replay in the Munster Club Championship.

Very little if any time was taken away from the game after that win as the side in black and yellow hoops set their sites on winning a first ever All-Ireland semi finals and after winning that game the attention switched to a game in Croke Park and when they could not be separated from Ballyhale Shamrocks at GAA headquarters the attention switched to the clubs biggest ever game in its history at Clonmel, a game that was played and won exactly 52 weeks after they began preparations for the game.

Just like after the Munster Final, little time could be taken off from the game as the County Senior League was coming up and Lismore again reached the final which they were looking to win for the Third time in a row, but had to settle for second best against Saint Annes.

Soon afterwards the Championship began and it was three winds from three games against Butlerstown, Gailltir and Saint Annes in the league section to book a place for the club in the County Final back in September where they would beat their great rivals Saint Annes who had to pull out all the stops to beat Gailltir in the semi final.

In between the club games several members of the club were selected on different inter county teams.

The Intermediate team in Waterford is the premier team and several Lismore members were part of Waterford teams that reached All-Ireland semi finals in 2013 and 2014 loosing to Galway for the second time in two years in the 2013 game and Limerick in 2014.

Several members were also part of the Waterford team that won the 2013 Munster Intermediate Final against Tipperary in 2014 and this past year were part of Waterford teams that won Minor and Under 16 ‘B’ All-Irelands and were part of the Under 16 teams that won the Munster Finals in 2013 and 14 and who were beaten by Cork in the 2013 All-Ireland Final.

Heading into this weekend’s game the Cork side will be looking to some of their big guns which include Emer Fennell, Maeve McCarthy, Jenny Murphy, Katie Barry and Nicole Hickey to try and stop Lismore winning a fourth provincial final.

However should Lismore be able to stop these players playing at the full potential, they have plenty of others that are capable of stepping up to the mark including the likes of Chloe Casey, Chloe Ahearn, Claire Holland who played a big part in the County Final win, Julie Allen, Holly Herlihy, Niamh O’Callaghan, Lucy Allen, Gemma O’Donoghue, Lauren Casserley and Ciara Tobin.

For Lismore Grainne Kenneally, Marie Russell, Niamh Molumphy, Laura Buckley, Shona Curran, Nicola Morrissey and Aoife Hannon could well be the players that put in the big performances to win them a fourth Provincial titles.

Just like Sarsfield’s however it could be another player that makes the biggest impression on the day and that list of players include Caitriona McGlone the sides hat-trick hero in the All-Ireland Final replay back in March, Johanna Houlihan, Ruth Geoghegan, Sarah Fenton, Shauna Kiernan, Aoife Houlihan, Shauna Prendergast, Sarah Coughlan, Tanya Morrissey or Aisling O’Brien or even one of the younger players in the panel like Ellen Curran, Kate Heneghan, Alice Russell, Sarah Geoghegan and Sharon Williams.

Lismore may go into this Saturday’s game as the favourites, but they will know to win a forth Munster Final and to go on and try and retain the All-Ireland Final they won in March, they will face a stern test.

It is only two weeks since Lismore last played a competitive game beating Tipperary Champions Borrisoleigh at their own patch. Sarsfields will have been working hard since they won the Cork Championship some weeks ago, but while they will be training and playing challenge games, nothing can beat a good competitive game to keep you sharp and focused. Lismore get the nod to win as a result of having the more recent competitive game, but it could be close, maybe too close.

Kill favourite’s for Junior Football Co Final but could be Shocked by Western Champions

Let’s start this with a history lesson.

1949 – What was happening in Ireland and around the world that year?

Harry Truman was inaugurated for the first time for a full term as President of the United States of America. Of course he was President from 1945 to 1949 but did not serve a full term, taking over the position from Franklin D. Roosevelt who was sworn in as President but died 82 days later.

World heavy weight champion Joe Lewis decided to retire, Ireland decided to leave the British Commonwealth and a Republic was declared.

Albert II a Rhesus monkey became the first primate to enter space, the Federal and Democratic Republic’s of Germany were formed, Princess Elizabeth and her Husband Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh were given the Freedom of Belfast, Douglas Hyde the first President of Ireland died at the age of 89 and amongst those born around the world included Denis Taylor, Alex ‘Hurricane’ Higgins, Patrick Duffy (Bobby Ewing), Billy Joel, Jim Sheridan, Ben Dunne, Pat Rabbitte, Bryan Murray (Bob Charles from Fair City), Phil Lynott, Charlie Bird, Eddie Makin and Martin ‘The General’ Cahill.

1994 – What was happening in Ireland and around the world that year?

Ireland won the Eurovision with Paul Harrington and Charlie McGettigan singing ‘Rock n Roll Kids’, Riverdance took place at the interval at the same show, Jack Charlton was given the Freedom of Dublin, Niamh Bhreathnach, the Education Minister pledged to have free third level education for everyone which would be phased in over the next three years and Transition year was introduced in secondary schools.

Albert Reynolds was to meet Borris Yeltsin at Shannon Airport but the Russian President refused to get off his plane, the Fianna Fail and Labour coalition collapsed and Albert Reynolds stood down as leader of the Fianna Fail party and was replaced by Bertie Ahearn, John Bruton became the new Taoiseach of the Rainbow Government which was made up of Fine Gael, Labour and Democratic Left.

Eamon Coughlan became the first man over 40 to run a sub four minute mile indoors, Down beat Dublin to win the All-Ireland Football Final and Offaly beat Limerick to win the All-Ireland Hurling Final.

Amongst those to die were Martin ‘The General’ Cahill, Richard Nixon, Ayrton Senna, Tip O’Neill, Sir Matt Busby and Telly Savalas.

Yasser Arafat, Shimon Peris and Yitzhak Rabin shared the Nobel Peace Prize, the Channel Tunnel opened, Nelson Mandela was inaugurated as the first black President of South Africa, Finland decided to join the EU, Norway decided not to join the EU.

Nicole Brown Simpson was killed in Los Angelus and her husband O.J was acquitted of her murder.

Lorena Bobbitt was in the news, but I am not going to tell you what she did on here.

1994 was the last time that Kill won the County Junior Football Final, beating Tallow in the final at Portlaw and going back to 1949, Old Parish won the Junior Football County Final beating Kill in the final.

Both sides have gone close to reaching a county final in recent years, but lady luck was not to shine on them. Kill appeared in last year’s Junior Football Final where they were beaten by Mount Sion who would go on to win the County Final beating Colligan at Fraher Field. Old Parish were in a Western Final in 2011 where they were beaten by Sliabh gCua who would go on to beat Mount Sion in the final.

Kill no doubt will go into this game as the favourites. They are a stronger outfit to what they were twelve months ago after the footballers in Fenor decided to throw their lot in with the neighbours and the hurlers of Kill doing vice-versa. It is also worth noting that Kill would have played in the Intermediate grade from 1995 until they were relegated in 2012 and playing at a higher grade will have to count for something surely.

They come into this game with a good win over Roanmore in the Eastern Final under their belts.

There is a only Irish saying that when translated means ‘a good start is half the work’ and in the Eastern Final the mid county side did have a good start, going four points up in the first nine minutes with Sean Cheasty, Anthony Kelly and Ray Hennessy sharing the raising of white flags.

Some good work by Sean Cheasty and Ray Hennessy helped set up Ben Gallagher for the games only goal on twenty minutes and when the impressive Ray Hennessy landed two further points it gave his side a 1-7 to 0-3 lead at the turn around.

The same player at the start of the second half brought his tally for the afternoon to six as he kicked four points in a row which were cancelled out in a six minute spell at the start of the third quarter with a similar tally of scores coming from the boot of Dale Sheridan.

These scores gave the city outfit a great deal of hope and in an attempt to come more into the game and to make things difficult for the mid county side, Brian Nolan went for goal six minutes from the hour mark but Kieran Dunphy in the Kill goal made a great save to deny him.

The eventual winners in the time that remained outscored their opponents to win the game on a 1-13 to 0-8 score line.

Old Parish needed two attempts to reach this Saturday’s decider, but they will know that they could just as easily not be involved in this game as they needed goalkeeper Aidan Power to make a great save late in a drawn final to keep them in the game.

In the replay however there was only going to be one winner as Old Parish proved too strong for the 2013 Western Champions.

Old Parish to some are the surprise team of the championship, but they are there on credit.

They have John Phelan who worked with The Nire’s senior team for a long number of years involved with a couple of years now and he is getting results. They have got together in the region of 100 times this year for games and training.

They have also added two major additions to the team in recent times as well. Graham Guiry has played senior football with The Nire in recent years and Declan Ryan won a Senior Hurling County Final medal with Midleton last year and both have decided to throw their weight in with ‘The Shock’s’ and are proving to be vital cogs playing at centre forward and full forward.

Graham Guiry is a massive target man on the edge of the square for Old Parish this year and had hit some crucial scores, including two of his side’s goals in a 3-7 to 0-7 in the Western Final replay win. He also played a part in winning a late penalty in the first half which was converted by Cormac Nugent and was denied a hat-trick in the game when John Flynn made a late intervention to deny him the chance of putting the ball in its intended target while the Cork Man has proven to be a very capable of fining the range from frees and from play and is also able to pick out others, setting them up for scores with some clever ball.

Kill with the likes of Ray Hennessy, Jim Halley, Conor Hennessy, Ben Gallagher and Anthony Kiely to choose from will go into the game as the favourites to move up a grade in 2015, but Old Parish are an improving side all year and beating Colligan the last day out will give them much hope this weekend, and with the already mentioned Graham Guiry, Declan Ryan, Aidan Power as well as the likes of Ray Terry, Patrick Conway, Padraig Healy, Cormac Nugent to pick from Old Parish’s chances cannot be ruled out too quickly. In the Western Final replay they had team captain Shane Power sent off on a straight red which would rule him out of this game, but ‘The Shock’s’ have or about to appeal that decision and if they were to win the appeal, it would further strengthen them this Saturday in Walsh Park.

 

The Nire march on

In the last number of years the big three in Waterford football have all performed well in the Munster Senior Club Football Championship, and had lady luck shun on Stradbally, The Nire and Ballinacourty along the way maybe Waterford might not still be looking for a first outright win in the championship since it first started.

When it comes to football in Waterford on the Inter county front strides have been made in recent years and Waterford is no longer the butt of jokers from more traditional football counties. Promotion was achieved from the bottom division of the league some years back now and although Waterford’s stay in the third division was just one year with a bit of luck the sides stay out of Division four could be a bit longer as with two games to play the side had a chance of promotion if results went their way, but it was not to be and the side found themselves relegated.

On the club scene, Waterford sides have proven to be as good as anyone in Munster, and surely it is only a matter of time before a Waterford club will come out on top in Munster and you cant but wonder will 2014 be that year.

All year the Nire have proven to be the most consistent side in the county. Up to this weekend they had played eight games. All eight games were won, and some of them were won rather decisively. Of the games where the side laboured somewhat, they would not have minded too much as they more than anyone else that when it comes to games a win is a win regardless of it is by a double digit score or by a single point.

After a good win over Stradbally in the County final a few weeks back, The Nire would have travelled to Kilmallock on Sunday afternoon last in a confident mood that they would advance to the next phase of the competition from their game with Limerick champions Ballylanders.

Over the course of the year The Nire has played some good football, but they possibly saved their best for this game.

Over the hour, there could be no disputing that the better team have advanced to meet Clare champions Cratloe in the semi finals in two weeks time, a game that will be part of a rare Munster Club double header at Fraher Field as Intermediate Champions Brickeys also have a home game the same day against Kerry champions Ardfert.

On the day The Nire registered some note-wordy statistics. Twelve scores away from home in a November day is a good days work in the office. So too is conceding just seven scores. Of the Nire’s dozen scores all but one came from play. The Nire had eight different scorers over the hour, a healthy return from the sides attacking player, but an equally impressive statistic is that their defensive players allowed just three of the opposition to score and of the Limerick champion’s tally of scores, just four came from play.

But there was one worrying statistic for The Nire. In their County semi final win over An Rinn they failed to score in the last twenty-two minutes of the game and on Sunday afternoon they failed to score in the last twenty minutes of the game, something that on another day, against stronger opposition could have cost them.

But for now, the side will not be disappointed. From the off on Sunday afternoon they were always the better team and were on top in all sectors of the field.

The Nire began the game very brightly, hitting points from Brian Wall, Jamie Barron and team captain Shane Ryan inside the first seven minutes of the game to go three up.

Danny Frewen was a player that could have caused The Nire problems on the day. In the Limerick County final win over Saint Patrick’s at Newcastlewest he hit 1-1 of his side’s tally of 2-8, and it was he who opened the home sides account on eleven minutes.

But The Nire would waste no time in restoring a three point lead as Diarmuid Wall kicked a point within a minute of Ballylanders getting their first and when county duel minor star and man of the match in the County Final Conor Gleeson beat Ricky Slattery for the games only goal of the game two minutes later it was starting to look as though the day was going to be The Nire’s.

Further points from Craig Guiry and Conor Gleeson edged The Nire 1-6 to 0-1 in front with 20 minutes to play meant that it was defiantly going to be The Nire’s day barring something that looked very unforeseen at the back would happen.

Jimmy Barry Murphy pulled a point back on twenty six minutes for Ballylanders which was followed with Shane Walsh and Danny Frewen swapped points in the closing minutes of the half to sent The Nire to the dressing rooms with a 1-7 to 0-3 lead but they ended the half without the services of Craig Guiry after he was banished a Black Card by referee Conor Lane just before the end of the half.

The home side needed a good start to the second half if they were to get back into the game and they looked as they would have that good start when Mark O’Connell kicked the first score within two minutes of the restart.

But The Nire would hit back with points from Shane Ryan, Jamie Barron, Conor Gleeson and Michael Moore who came into the game for Craig Guiry at the end of the first half.

His score however would prove to be his side’s last of the game, and while the home side would hit three points between the fourteenth and twenty-seventh minutes, it was not enough as it was goals the side needed and against a very tight Nire defence all year, they were always going to be hard to come by.

This win will give The Nire much confidence going into their upcoming Munster Semi Final in two weeks time, but they will know that they cannot sit on their laurels as that game will prove to be a much tougher game than the one against Ballylanders proved to be.

Throughout the field against Ballylanders, The Nire had some excellent performances with the likes of Liam Lawlor, Shane Ryan, Diarmuid and Brian Wall, Shane Walsh, Jamie Barron, Thomas O’Gorman and Conor Gleeson following up his Man of the Match performance in the County Final with another fine performance in this game proving to be some of the Nire’s better players on the day.

THE NIRE: Thomas Wall; Justin Walsh, Thomas O’Gorman, Tommy Cooney; Diarmuid Wall, Brian Wall, Seamus Lawlor; Craig Guiry, Shane Walsh; Michael O’Gorman, Maurice O’Gorman, Jamie Barron; Liam Lawlor, Shane Ryan, Conor Gleeson. Subs: Michael Moore for Craig Guiry (black Card), Jack Guiry for Justin Walsh (40 mins), Keith Guiry for Maurice O’Gorman (black card, 48), Dermot Ryan for Jamie Barron (55).

Scorers: Conor Gleeson 1-2, Jamie Barron, Shane Ryan (1f) 0-2 each, Diarmuid Wall, Brian Wall, Craig Guiry, Shane Walsh, Michael Moore 0-1 each.

BALLYLANDERS: Ricky Slattery; Maurice Kelly, Shane Fox, Ger Casey; Brian O’Connell, Donal Kelly, Stephen Walsh; Johnny Murphy, Thomas Lee; Mark O’Connell (0-1), Jimmy Barry Murphy, James Kirby; Steven Fox, Eoin Walsh, Danny Frewen. Subs: Kieran O’Callaghan and Tom Fox for James Kirby and Ger Casey (h-t), Diarmuid McCarthy for Donal Kelly (50 mins), Jason Leigh for Brian O’Connell (56 mins).

Scorers: Jimmy Barry Murphy 0-4 (2F), Danny Frewen 0-2 (1f), Mark O’Connell 0-1.

Referee: Conor Lane (Cork).