Lismore Chase Munster Glory

Sometimes when a club is relegated from a particular grade of hurling or football, it is often seen as the end of the world.

A few years back here in Waterford we saw Ballyduff Upper relegated from the Senior Hurling Championship, but we saw them bounce back up to the senior grade at the first time of asking. And within a short space of time we saw them going on to win the Senior Hurling Championship.

A little more recently we saw the Waterford senior hurlers relegated from Division 1A of the National Hurling League. Twelve months later, Derek McGraths side won the league as a Division 1B side and twelve months further on, the side reached the final for the second year in a row, only to lose out this time to Clare after a replay.

I have no doubt that just over 12 months ago when Lismore lost a relegation play off to De La Salle there was some that would have felt it was the end for Lismore for some time.

In Waterford to win the Western Intermediate Hurling Championship is one of the toughest competitions to win.

There are so many teams with little separating them that the competition is as hard as the lottery to win.

And whatever side does come out, you often in the county final you have to be at your best again against the side that wins out what is also a difficult competition at the eastern end of the county to win.

After a bit of an Annus Horribilis in 2015, Lismore are having a much different year in 2016.

They came through the Western Championship beating Modeligo who won the competition last year in the final, with the Shanahan brothers playing a big part in the win.

Dunhill were comprehensively beaten in the county final with Dan and Maurice again showing their class, but it was Jack Prendergast that impressed most on the night.

Since then the Heritage Town side have impressed in the Munster Championship, first beating Cork Champions Bandon and then Tipperary side Newport.

Lismore are back in action again this coming Saturday when they take on Kerry Senior Champions Kilmoyley in the Munster Final at Mallow.

Waterford’s overall record in this competition is not the best.

Only once has a Waterford Club won the competition, that as recent as 2014 when Cappoquin beat Bruff at Mallow, but this Lismore side is well equipped to repeat what their neighbours down river achieved and possibly even better what the Corner-Stone Club achieved.

But they will know that in Kilmoyley they face formidable opposition.

Hurling in Kerry has improved greatly in recent years. Former Limerick Hurler Ciaran Carey has taken over as manager of the County’s Senior Hurling team and is getting good results, using a number of players from the Kilmoyley club.

The Kerry side were very impressive last time out and when they played Limerick Champions Moonaleen in the Munster Semi Final, beating them 4-12 to 0-12. Before this they had beaten Ballyduff in the Kerry Championship.

By all accounts this Kilmoyley side is one that nobody should underestimate. They have some fine players in the likes of Tom Murnane, Daniel Collins, Paudie O’Connor and Doughie Fitzell. Stories coming from the Kingdom is that this is a side good enough to win a first ever hurling club title at provincial level for Kerry.

But Lismore too will be believing that they can win.

Under the guidance of team coach Tony Browne, the side are playing a good brand of hurling.

Maurice and Dan Shanahan are their big players but right throughout the side there have good players like Jack, Paudie and John Prendergast as well as Ray, Seanie and Stevie Barry.

Playing against Kilmoyley, Lismore will find then like many of the Ulster Club sides that Waterford clubs have faced down the years. Hurling may well be stronger on the Inter county scene in Waterford, but the club sides in these counties are always very strong, something like when the big three have represented Waterford in the Munster Senior Club Football Championship in recent years.

This is going to be a big test for Lismore and may well prove to be one of their most difficult games this year, but they are good enough to advance to an All-Ireland Semi Final in the New Year.

The Nire are back in Munster Final

The Nire have advanced to a third Munster Senior Club Football Final in the clubs history after they over turned a six point second half deficit to beat Carbery Rangers after Extra Time at Clonakilty.

After thirty minutes things were not looking good for the side that won an eight county senior football championship last weekend, as they trailed the side playing a short distance from their home ground 1-6 to 0-4, and six minutes into the half, things were looking worse as they trailed 1-8 to 0-5, but lead by the brilliant Conor Gleeson they fought back to send the game to two extra ten minute periods at the end of the hour.

The first score of the game came on five minutes and went to the home side as Brian Hodnett put the size five over the head of Tom Wall in The Nire goal.

They added a goal three minutes later. A long clearance by Tipperary footballer Robbie Kiely broke to John Hayes who rolled the ball into the corner of Tom Wall’s net.

Brian Wall pulled a point back for The Nire on nine minutes from a free, but Brian Shanahan put four between the sides once more a minute later.

Points from Brian Wall and Conor Gleeson left two between the sides but points from Kevin McMahon and Brian Shanahan in a three minute spell had four between the sides once more.

Points from Brian Shanahan and Dylan Guiry followed and just as the half was about to draw to a close, John Hayes from another free put five (1-6 to 0-4) between the sides at the break.

Brian Wall and Kieran Fitzpatrick swapped early second half scores before a Jerry O’Riordan effort on thirty six minutes put six between the sides and it was looking that the Cork side would be appearing in their first senior provincial decider in two weeks’ time.

But The Nire had other ideas and on thirty eight minutes they hit the first of their goals.

A sweeping movement up field resulted in Conor Gleeson crashing the ball off the crossbar and from the rebound Liam Lawlor made no mistake in expertly finishing to the net to leave his side trailing 1-8 to 1-5.

Points from Brian Wall and Conor Gleeson followed to leave just one between the sides, but at the end of the third quarter Brian Hodnett made it a two point game when he split the posts.

Brian Wall on forty six and Conor Gleeson on fifty minutes followed to level matters and not all the momentum was with The Nire as they began to call on and show all their experience.

Brian Wall edged them in front for the first time when he put over a free but two minutes from time John Hayes put a similar effort over for Cork Champions.

The Brilliant Conor Gleeson looked as if he had given victory to The Nire with just a minute to play but two minutes into stoppage time Seamus Hayes after he was picked out by his brother John, fisted over the head of Tom Wall to send the game to extra time.

Brian Shanahan gave Carbery Rangers the lead in the first minute of extra time but the effort was quickly cancelled out with an effort from a Darren Guiry free now on free taking duty in the absence of the withdrawn Brian Wall.

Jake Mulcahy put his side one up in the seventh minute of extra time and the game began to look as if it was going to be The Nire’s when Shane Walsh pounced on a mistake in the home sides defence and he slotted home to give his side a 2-13 to 1-12 lead.

Before the sides would turn around however, The Nire would add to their tally when the brilliant Conor Gleeson pointed.

Darren Guiry put over his second of the afternoon two minutes into stoppage time. Kieran Fitzgerald looked as if he was going to make things a little uncomfortable for The Nire late on as he looked to finish to the net, but Tom Wall made a great save to keep the ball out but in the process picked up a facial injury that forced him to be replaced for the final minutes of the game.

Neither side created any further chances in the time that remained after this but John Hayes put over a late free to put a gloss on the score board for Carberry Rangers.

The Nire: Tommy Wall; Tom O’Gorman, James McGrath, Jamie Barron; Shane Ryan, Justin Walsh, Dermot Ryan; Shane Walsh, Dylan Guiry; Brian Wall, Séamus Lawlor, Craig Guiry; Conor Gleeson, Liam Lawlor, Darren Guiry. Subs: Keith Guiry for Craig Guiry (51), Jake Mulcahy for Liam Lawlor (57), Liam Lawlor for Brian Wall (60), Conal Mulcahy for Justin Walsh, (77), Diarmuid Murphy for Tommy Wall (77), Kenny Brazil for Liam Lawlor (80).

Scorers: Brian Wall 0-6 (0-5 frees), Conor Gleeson 0-5, Liam Lawlor, Shane Walsh 1-0 each, Darren Guiry 0-2 (0-1 free), Dylan Guiry, Jake Mulcahy 0-1 each.

Carbery Rangers: Ronan Milner; Jerry O’Riordan, Thomas O’Rourke, Micheál Kelly; Stephen Murray, Robbie Kiely, Pádraig Hodnett; Brian Shanahan, James Fitzpatrick; Alan Jennings, Kevin McMahon, Brian Hodnett; Chris O’Donovan, Cathal O’Rourke, John Hayes. Subs: Rob Hegarty for Murray (15), Kieran Fitzpatrick for Cathal O’Rourke (h.t), Séamus Hayes for Chris O’Donovan (44), Michael Mennis for Alan Jennings (45), Anthony Roche for Michéal Kelly (49), Mark Ronan for Thomas O’Rourke (58), Micheál Kelly for Pádraig Hodnett (68), Alan Jennings for Brian Hodnett (h-t. et), Chris O’Donovan for Michael Mennis (72, bc)

Scorers: John Hayes 1-3 (0-3 frees), Brian Shanahan 0-4 (0-2 frees), Brian Hodnett 0-2, Jerry O’Riordan, Kevin McMahon, Kieran Fitzpatrick, Séamus Hayes 0-1 each.

Referee: Pádraig O’Sullivan (Kerry)

Gailltir are Queens of Munster

In doing up a preview of this year’s Munster Intermediate Club Camogie Final between Gailltir and Nenagh Eire Óg on Friday evening, I began by saying that the Gailltir club was formed in 1958, the club was 58 years old and would it not be ironic if a score in the 58 minute would capture for them a first ever Munster Club Championship.

I only wish I had gone to a bookies shop and to ask what odds I would be given on such an event happening, maybe with a minute either side given as a little leeway.

Gailltir did win a first Provincial title on Saturday afternoon in Cahir but the winning score came in the 59 minute and it was fitting that it was their Captain and star player Patricia Jackman that got the winning score.

The last few years have seen a growth in Camogie within the county. We have seen underage titles come to the county. We have seen the counties highest placed team win a Division two National League and All-Ireland Intermediate Championship double and in their first season we have seen the team more than hold their own against the strongest sides in the country.

On the Club scene we have seen Lismore compete in three Munster Finals in a row, winning two, and winning One All-Ireland along the way.

We have seen the likes of Gailltir and De La Salle perform remarkably well at Féile na Gael in the past few years.

And each time success comes to the county it gives encouragement to all that play the game of camogie or who is involved in the game in one way or another.

New clubs have sprung up across the county. De La Salle after a few good years on the underage front competed in the adult championships for the first time last year in the Junior grades and next year will play in the senior ranks. A club has also being formed for example in Modeligo and this year they have had a great year winning underage titles and hopefully it won’t be long before we see them compete in the adult grades.

Gailltir’s win in Cahir on Saturday afternoon will I have no doubt give the game a further boost in the county. They will have seen what Lismore did in recent years and their players will have wanted to repeat what they saw happen in Lismore. Gailltir have now matched part of that success and will want to go and achieve more of what Lismore have and it will also encourage other clubs, maybe newly formed clubs to do the same.

All who follow the game of camogie knew going into the Munster Final that a close game between two good and evenly matched sides was going to be fought out. But I am sure not many expected it to be as close.

Both sides enjoyed purple patches in this game where one would take the lead and then the other, but at the end of the hour, few if any could say that the better team on the day won the game.

Both sides knew going into this game that the other were strong opposition. Gailltir were able to call on the likes of Patricia Jackman and Áine Lyng, players that have done it all in the past at club and county level. They also had youth on their side, being able to call on some outstanding young players that have come through successful underage teams at club and county level.

Nenagh Eire Óg are a much younger club than Gailltir. They were reformed a few years back, and had enjoyed great success, winning the Junior ‘B’ and Junior ‘A’ titles in Tipperary in 2013 and 2015 before winning the Intermediate Championship in recent weeks against Drom & Inch.

They had first use of the wind at Cahir and made good use of it, turning around leading 2-4 to 0-7.

They were first to score in the game, the dangerous Grace O’Brien putting over after she was set up by Ciara McGrath.

The Barony Ladies soon hit back with a point from Patricia Jackman from a free, the first of her ten scores in this game.

Gailltir had many goal chances in this game, the first coming on six minutes when Eilís Cullinane drew an excellent save from Sarah Quigley in the Nenagh goal on six minutes. Three minutes later, they took the lead when Róisín Flood put over from play.

But it was a short lived lead as on thirteen minutes, the Tipperary side hit the first goal of the game, Grace O’Brien finishing to the net at the second attempt after her first attempt after she was picked out by Eimear Ryan came crashing back off Ciara Jackman’s crossbar.

Patricia Jackman and Grace O’Brien swapped scores to keep the scoreboard operator busy and when Áine Lyng and Patricia Jackman with her third of the game landed scores by the eighteenth minute the sides were locked 1-2 to 0-5.

The North Tipperary outfit went back in front when Grace O’Brien split the post on twenty one minutes, but by the twenty eight minute Gailltir were back in front as Annie Glavey and Áine Lyng landed scores.

With the wind at their backs Nenagh Eire Óg pressed on in the time that remained and drew level with a Michelle Collins point on twenty nine minutes and three minutes into stoppage time they hit a second goal when Caroline Browne and Grace O’Brien played a good one-two which saw Brown give Ciara Jackman no chance giving her side a 2-4 to 0-7 lead at the break.

Gailltir had a brilliant start to the second half.

Áine Lyng reduced the Nenagh Éire Óg lead with an early point, and the lead was wiped out on thirty three minutes when Patricia Jackman crashed a penalty to the net to give her side a 1-8 to 2-4 lead.

The eventual winners after this never trailed.

Points from Áine Lyng and a brace from Patricia Jackman gave Gailltir a deserved 1-11 to 2-4 lead with fifteen minutes of normal time still to play.

Patricia Jackman edged her side even further in front, but the North Tipperary side came back with a purple patch of their own.

Maeve Coffey set up Grace O’Brien for her second green flag of the game on forty six minutes.  At the other of the field Sarah Quigley pulled off another good save again from Eilís Cullinane. Patricia Jackman pointed with seven minutes to play to give her side a 1-13 to 3-4 lead, but a minute later the umpires at the under end of the field were again reaching for a green flag, Grace O’Brien hitting her hat-trick of goal after she was set up by Ciara McGrath.

Points from Patricia Jackman and Grace O’Brien followed to keep the scores locked (1-14 to 4-5) with three minutes to go and it was beginning to look as if more than the allotted hour would be needed to separate these two fine sides.

But no game is over till the final whistle is sounded. The side that would show the most hunger would now win, and in the time that remained it was Gailltir that showed that greater hunger.

With time almost up, Player of the Match Patricia Jackman showed all her experience and kept her nerve as with the most crucial puck of a sliotar she split the posts to give her side a one point victory and a place in the All-Ireland semi-finals in the New Year. 

Gailltír: Ciara Jackman; Áine O’Keeffe, Ciara Hogan, Claire Dunne; Sinéad Cunningham, Sally O’Grady, Aileen Cummins; Emma Roche, Shauna Fitzgerald; Annie Glavey, Áine Lyng, Róisín Flood; Eilís Cullinane, Patricia Jackman, Kate Lynch. Subs: Emer Walshe for Róisín Flood (42), Jenny O’Grady for Eilís Cullinane (56).

Scorers: Patricia Jackman 1-9 (1-0 pen, 0-2f), Áine Lyng 0-4 (1f), Annie Glavey, Róisín Flood 0-1 each.

Nenagh Éire Óg: Sarah Quigley; Ruth Hassett, Aileen Duggan, Rachel Maher; Zoey Grattan, Hazel McAuliffe, Alanna Morris; Rachel O’Connor, Michelle Collins; Aisling O’Brien, Ciara McGrath, Eimear Ryan; Caroline Browne, Grace O’Brien, Louise Hickey. Subs: Maeve Coffey for Aisling O’Brien (37), Kristin Howard for Rachel O’Connor (42), Hazel Coffey for Louise Hickey (48).

Scorers: Grace O’Brien 3-4 (0-2f), Caroline Browne 1-0, Michelle Collins 0-1.

Referee: Cathal Egan (Cork).

The Nire are 60 Minutes from Third Munster Final appearance.

A week on from winning an eight County Senior Football Championship The Nire are back in action again on Sunday when they take on Cork champions Carberry Rangers at Clonakilty.

The Nire it is well documented were not at their best in some of their recent games but were still winning, but we might have seen last weekend that Benjie Whelan’s side might be about to peak at the right time as they easily accounted for a fancied Ballinacourty side at Fraher Field.

The Cork side playing on soil that they will be familiar with will go into the game in a confident mood. They beat Ballincollig in the Cork County Final recently on a 1-15 to 1-12 score line and in their last game they accounted for Limerick Champions Moonaleen at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick on a 2-11 to 0-7 score line.

In the Cork Final they were best served by John Hayes, who was very impressive with kick kicking, hitting five points over the course of the hour.

They lead 0-8 to 0-7 at the break and continued to be the better of the two sides in the second half with Seamus Hayes, John O’Rourke and Chris O’Donovan kicking their goal all landing some vital scores.

They again impressed in their last game. They had a scare early on as the Limerick side had three early goal chances, none of which they took, and once John O’Rourke (3), John Hayes (2) and Seamus Hayes (1) gave them a 0-6 to 0-1 lead after twenty minutes, they looked as if they were going to advance.

These recent wins will have the Cork champions entering this game on a high, but The Nire will travel to West Cork also on a high.

They are set to be without Maurice O’Gorman in this game after he picked up a facial injury late in the first half last week and it remains to be seen if Martin Walsh will play any part after he retired early in the same game with a head injury.

The side in Yellow and Blue however while they would miss these players they will know that they have players in reserve that can come in and do a job.

Last Sunday Liam Lawlor and Conor Gleeson were outstanding in front of goal. There was a split decision in the press box as to which was to receive the man of the match award. It was Lawlor that was given the nod as he would have contributed to other scores more than Gleeson did over the hour.

They do not rely solely on these players for scores as in the likes of Brian Wall, Shane Walsh, Shane Ryan, Seamus Lawlor, Darren, Craig and Dylan Guiry etc. they have players capable of winning any game.

Just as the Cork side will go into the game on a high, so too will The Nire. They have reached two Munster Finals in the last decade loosing on both occasions to opposition from Kerry.

They know that they have a very strong team and also know that they are not far off the mark to become the first club from Waterford to win a Munster Club Championship in Football.

The Nire on current form are well placed to win here, but they might have to put in a performance like last weekends against Ballinacourty to do so.

 

Ballyduff Lower take on Ballybacon/Grange for Munster Final Spot

Saturday is a big day for the Ballyduff Lower Club.

They face Ballybacon/Grange from South Tipperary in the Munster Club Championship Semi Final at Walsh Park (2pm start), coming off the back of two football games in a week.

Last weekend Ballyduff Lower beat Roanmore 2-8 to 0-6 at Carriganore, and during the week they played Colligan in the County Final at Carriganore in the County Final, a game that ended in stalemate.

Had the side from the outskirts of the city won the midweek game it would have made things very difficult for the club as in addition to playing on Saturday they would be away to Glencar from Kerry in the Munster Junior Club Championship on Sunday, twenty four hours after playing Ballybacon/Grange.

If such a situation happened, a serious look would have to take place both locally and provincially as to how it happened.

The Munster Council to their credit set out their dates for games very early in the year and everyone knows when the champions or representatives in each county will be playing. But they have to ensure that both hurling and football are not played in the same weekend.

Club sides these days winning County Doubles is fairly rare but it does happen. Ballyduff Lower would always be one of the sides most favoured to win the hurling championship in the east of the county this year and they would have always been expected to be there or there about when it comes to football as they have some fine footballers in their panel.

The Munster Council if they want to play multiple games each weekend could ensure that Senior, Intermediate and Junior Football are played one weekend and hurling the following weekend.

Supposing Ballyduff Lower had beaten Colligan on Wednesday night and were to win again on Saturday and Sunday, the Munster Council quiet rightly have played the Munster Junior football and hurling club finals at Mallow in recent years on the Sunday closest to December 8, would the Munster Council have asked the side in red and white to play one game at for example 2pm and a second game ninety minutes later.

If the answer is no, why would they have to play twice in the space of 24 hours? Where does player welfare that we hear so much about come into things?

The Divisional and County Board have also to look at the way they do things. And by boards, I don’t mean just the officers, whose hands are often tied. The Clubs have to give serious consideration into how we do things in Waterford.

How for example are we playing a County Final a few days before a Munster Championship game. And how are we playing a Divisional Final a few days before a county final. How are we going much of the summer without any games taking place in the county, meaningful games anyway?

Things are not much better in Tipperary. The County Junior Hurling Final is not played yet in the Premier County. Ballybacon/Grange are involved this weekend because they are due to play Kildangan in the County Final, but because Kildangan will be fielding a second string side they would not be allowed to participate in the Munster Club Championship.

They come into this game having beaten Loughmore/Castleiney at Boherlahan in the County Semi-final last Saturday, a game where they had five points to spare.

Former Tipperary goalkeeper Brendan Cummins is their stand out player, and Ballyduff Lower will have to be at their very best if they are to get past him.

He got a point for them last weekend from a ’65 and if presented with similar chances this weekend he is unlikely to miss many.

Right throughout the team the team they have players that are capable of hitting the range. Brian Dillon at centre back like Cummins is a long hitter of the sliotar. Michael O’Sullivan in the middle of the field, Billy Hewitt who hit the sides only goal last weekend after just 12 minutes, Philip Murphy, Daniel O’Regan and Aaron Lonergan all got on the score sheet along with Cummins and Dillon and will be looking to keep that run of scores going this coming weekend.

Ballyduff Lower looked very impressive coming through the Eastern Championship this year and were very worthy winners over Saint Mary’s in the County Final and last time out they beat opposition from Kerry in the Munster Quarter Finals at Walsh Park.

They will be able to call on some experienced and young players in the likes of Bryan Power, John O’Leary, Colman Power, Brian Power, Jack Kennedy, Kevin Cheasty, Jack Lyons, Ross Coffey-O’Shea  etc. here.

Playing at Walsh Park, Ballyduff Lower will be confident that they can win this game, but playing a third big game in a week is a big ask for anyone.

A big home support could well prove to be a sixteenth man for Ballyduff Lower on Saturday, and momentum from recent games might see them through this game, but they will know that they won’t have it as easy in this game as they had in some games already this year.

Gailltir and Nenagh Eire Óg do battle for Munster title

 

This Saturday is a big in the history of the Gailltir Camogie Club.

The Club was formed in 1958. It is 58 years old this year and would it not be ironic if in what is expected to be a tight game that a score in the 58 minute of this Saturday’s Munster Intermediate Camogie Final against Tipperary side Nenagh Eire Óg that they were to win their first ever Munster Club title.

The Cub has come a long way in its 58 year history.

The club was formed after Gaultier had won the Junior Football County Final and a group from the area decided that if the men of the area could do the area proud in football, so too could the ladies of the area but instead of using footballs, they wanted to do so using hurleys and sliotars.

Anne Dingley, Pat Power, Pat Doyle, Bernie Dingley, Mary Kennedy as well as Mary and Julia Cummins were some of the early starts of the club.

The area had a Camogie team a number of years prior to this and had stars in the likes of Anne Phelan, Biddy Barry, Nora Hartley, Elsie Rose, Mary Power and Ruth Clarke were those days.

The first game the present Gailltir club played was against Mooncoin from South Kilkenny. The first championship game the side played was against the now disbanded Ballinamult Club at Dungarvan, a game that would end in defeat for the Barony Ladies, and they recorded their first competitive win three months later against the same Ballinamult side.

The club won its first senior title in 1962 and retained the title twelve months later with a panel consisting of Anne Dingley, Anne Lee, Mary Kennedy, Julia Cummins, Anne Kearney, Eileen Richardson, Geraldine Flynn, Margaret Phelan, Josie Kennedy, Bridget Flynn, Maria Gough, Maura Flynn, Mary Cummins, Carmel Flynn and Anne Phelan.

Since then, the club has won many honours in every grade of the game, some of the highlights being the winning of a number of recent Féile Na Gael Titles at a national Level, and players that were involved in the first of these in 2013, the likes of Ciara Jackman, Ailis Doyle, Jane O’Connell, Shauna Fitzgerald, Kate Lynch, Emer Walshe and Katie Judge who were involved in that win will be involved again this weekend.

The North Tipperary Club was reformed in recent years and since it was reformed they have become a very strong unit, winning the Tipperary Junior B Championship in 2013 and the Junior A Championship last year following it up with the Intermediate championship this years and will play against the strongest sides in the premier County next year.

Earlier this year they lost out to Drom & Inch in the Intermediate Final at the Tipperary Camogie Grounds at The Ragg on a 5-11 to 3-11 score line but they gained revenge two weeks ago beating the same side at the same venue on a 2-14 to 2-6 score line.

On the day Full forward Grace O’Brien was their scorer in chief finishing with 1-12 of her sides impressive tally, six points of which came from frees. She is clearly a player that the Gailltir defence will have to keep a close eye on, but no team consists of just one player and the North Tipp side who like Gailltir wear sky blue shirts, also have good players in full back Aileen Duggan and a very formidable half forward line of Aisling O’Brien, Ciara McGrath and Eimear Ryan.

Nenagh Éire Óg having lost the league final to Drom& Inch and slipped to a heavy defeat against Silvermines in the opening round of the championship, but regrouped to beat Shannon Rovers and Kilruane MacDonagh’s before earning an impressive one-point win over the ‘Mines in a recent county semi-final. Éire Óg then faced into the county intermediate final against Drom & Inch.

Just as the North Tipperary side have been impressive to get to this Saturday’s Provincial decider, so too have Gailltir.

In the first round of the Waterford senior championship they beat Saint Anne’s 1-11 to 2-4. This was followed up with a 2-10 to 1-13 draw with Lismore and they rounded off the league section of the championship with a 2-12 to 0-8 win over Cappoquin.

The Barony Ladies played the Ladies from the Cornerstone Town again in the semi finals and beat then this time 1-16 to 1-6 and in the County Final they had a 2-9 to 1-6 win over Lismore.

Their most recent outing was against Cork Intermediate Champions Blackrock in the Munster Semi final where they recorded a 2-10 to 1-7 win to advance to this Saturday’s Munster Final.

Just as Nenagh Eire Óg have their starts for this weekends game, so to do Gailltir.

Trish Jackman is the player most familiar to supporters of Camogie across the country, but in the likes of her sister Ciara, Clara Hogan, Aileen Cummins, Sally O’Grady, Sinead Cunningham, Emma Roche, Shauna Fitzgerald, Áine Lyng, Annie Glavey, Roisin and Aisling Flood, Kate Lynch and Emer Walsh they too have big game players.

Twelve months ago, Cahir beat Lismore at this stage of the competition. They did so having won the Intermediate Championship in Tipperary last year and the Junior Championship the year before.

Nenagh Eire Óg last year won the Tipperary Junior Championship and the Intermediate Championship this year and will be hoping that history can repeat itself this time out at Cahir.

But this could well prove to be their toughest test to date this year. Gailltir are a side with a nice blend of youth and experience.

They come into this game confident. The beat a fancied Lismore side in the county final and they beat a fancied Blackrock side in the Munster Semi Final.

Just as Nenagh Eire Óg will know that this game will be a tough one to win, so too will Gailltir.

Some great work has taken place in recent years to promote the game in the area and those involved in that work are getting the fruits of their rewards of late.

Will Gailltir win here? They certainly have the players to do so and if they do it will give the game of Camogie in the Ballygunner, Passage, Gaultier and Dunmore East areas a boost, but also to the game across the county.

TEAM PANELS:

Nenagh Éire Óg panel: Sarah Quigley, Caroline Browne, Hazel Coffey, Maeve Coffey, Michelle Collins, Aileen Duggan, Zoey Grattan, Ruth Hassett, Fiona Hennessy, Louise Hickey, Kristen Howard, Sarah Kennedy, Rachel Maher, Hazel McAuliffe, Ciara McGrath, Niamh Sheridan, Alanna Morris, Aisling O’Brien, Grace O’Brien (captain), Kate O’Connor, Rachel O’Connor, Ciara Phelan, Eimear Ryan & Leahy Slattery.

Gailltir Panel: Ciara Jackman, Áine O’Keeffe, Clara Hogan, Sinead Cunningham, Aileen Cummins, Sally O’Grady, Claire Dunne, Emma Roche, Kate Lynch, Annie Glavey, Aisling, Flood, Aine Lyng, Shauna Fitzgerald, Trish Jackman, Roisin Flood, Shannon Delahunty, Emer Walshe, Eilis Cullinane, Fiona Conroy, Emily Mahony, Sarah Smith, Hannah Hutchinson, Sara Judge, Emma Frampton, Emma Tallon, Zoe Power, Jane O’Connell, Katie Judge, Claire O’Donovan, Chloe Murphy, Ailis Doyle.

The Nire are Senior Football Champions for the Eight Time

The Nire might have saved their best football for the closing weeks of the year not for the first time as they easily accounted for Ballinacourty in this year’s JJ Kavanagh & Sons Ltd. Senior Football Championship final at Fraher Field on Sunday, winning the game by the biggest margin since Kilrossanty beat neighbours Kilmacthomas in the 1986 decider on a 3-13 to 0-3 score line.

The fact that Ballinacourty finished this game with fourteen men paid little difference to the result of this game but it might have contributed in some way to the final score.

Ballinacourty on the day were best served by Patrick Hurney who hit seven of his side’s eight points while Stephen Enright showed why he is the number one net minder within the county, pulling off a number of good saves to keep The Nire’s final tally on the score board down.

Ballinacourty who were beaten in last year’s final against Stradbally had former Inter County hurler Richie Foley sent off on twenty minutes by referee Alan Kissane after he was issued with a second yellow card.

The first of the cards came nine minutes earlier when he was booked for a challenge to the head of 35 year old Centre Back Martin Walsh and the second came for a challenge on Conor Gleeson.

Gleeson who was returning to the side after sitting out the last two games due to suspension was in flying form for the winners in this game, kicking five points from play, the same tally as former Inter County hurler Liam Lawlor who just pipped his team mate for the Man of the Match Award.

Playing against the strong wind at a freezing Fraher Field, The Nire were marginally the stronger of the two sides in the opening half and went to the dressing rooms holding a 0-6 to 0-5 advantage showing on the score board, but in the second half they produced a very strong showing, outscoring their opponents 1-11 to 0-3, and in doing so will have impressed any on-looking Rosscarbry officials who they will play in the Munster Semi Final next Sunday in West Cork.

The Nire who won their eight title on Sunday last appearance in the Munster Club Championship was just two years ago, where they had to finish second best to Kerry side Austin Stacks at Pairc Ui Chaoimh, a defeat hurt Benjie Whelan’s side, one that they hope to make up for this year in the same competition.

The loss of Richie Foley after just twenty minutes of this game was a big blow to the chances of Ballinacourty, but so to for the Nire were the losses of Martin Walsh after eleven minutes as he left the field with concussion and seventeen minutes later they lost Maurice O’Gorman who moved from corner back to centre back when he picked up a facial injury.

It was The Nire that were first on the scoreboard in this game, Conor Gleeson pointing for them on three minutes.

Ballinacourty hit back and within three minutes they were in front as Mark Ferncombe and then Patrick Hurney landed points to give them a one point advantage playing with the strong wind at their backs.

The Nire however wasted no time in getting back in front and once Conor Gleeson and then Liam Lawlor with a brace of scores on eleven and seventeen minutes the winners never fell behind.

Patrick Hurney pulled a point back on eighteen minutes but The Nire went two in front once more when Brian Wall put over the free that resulted after Richie Foley was sent off.

Liam Lawlor gave his side a double score advantage (0-6 to 0-3) eight minutes from the end of normal time at the end of the first half which was followed by five added minutes after three Nire players needed treatment for knocks, but it was Ballinacourty that finished the half the stronger of the two sides in the opening half as Patrick Hurney put over points on twenty four and thirty five minutes to leave just the minimum between the sides at the break.

The Nire however could claim they were unlucky not to have been even further in front as Darren Guiry saw an effort for a green flag go astray close to the end.

Mark Ferncombe saw an effort for a goal blocked two minutes into the second half and with it went any chance they had of winning this battle as the winners upped their game.

Two Brian Wall frees with a Darren Guiry effort sandwiched in between gave their side a four point lead seven minutes into the second half.

Patrick Hurney pulled a point back for Ballinacourty, but it was followed with efforts from Seamus Lawlor, Conor Gleeson and Liam Lawlor in a six minute spell to give their side a 0-12 to 0-6 lead with thirteen minutes remaining.

Patrick Hurney again pulled back a point for Ballinacourty, but it was followed with points from Conor Gleeson, Brian Wall, Liam Lawlor, another from Gleeson and Kenneth Brazil between the forty-ninth and sixty first minutes to give their side a 0-17 to 0-7 lead.

Patrick Hurney rounded off a very good performance by him with his seventh score of the game two minutes into stoppage time, and in the final attack of the game Darren Guiry shook the roof of the net for a goal in injury time, the first time a goal was scored in the decider since Ger Power had a green flag raised back in 2012.

The Nire: Tommy Wall, Justin Walsh, Thomas O’Gorman, Maurice O’Gorman; James McGrath, Martin Walsh, Jamie Barron; Shane Walsh, Dylan Guiry; Seamus Lawlor, Darren Guiry, Shane Ryan; Brian Wall, Conor Gleeson, Shane Ryan. Subs: Jake Mulcahy for Martin Walsh (11), Dermot Ryan for Maurice O’Gorman (28), Craig Guiry for Justin Walsh (56), Keith Guiry for Liam Lawlor (58), Kenneth Brazil for Brian Wall, Conal Mulcahy for Seamus Lawlor (62).

Scorers: Conor Gleeson, Liam Lawlor 0-5 each, Brian Wall 0-4 (4f), Darren Guiry 1-1, Seamus Lawlor, Kenneth Brazil 0-1 each.

Ballinacourty: Stephen Enright; Conor McCarthy, David Collins, Brian Looby; Sean O’Hare, Shane Briggs, Richie Foley; John Hurney, Conor Prunty; Evan Collins, Patrick Hurney, Michael O’Halloran; Gary Hurney, Mark Ferncombe, Shane O’Donovan. Subs: Neil Montgomery for Shane O’Donovan (36), John Elstead for Brian Looby (39), Michael Maher for Mark Ferncombe (52).  

Scorers: Patrick Hurney 0-7 (3f), Mark Ferncombe 0-1.

Referee: Alan Kissane (Dunhill).

 

Ballinacourty and The Nire Clash For Conway Cup

Not for the first time in recent years, the destination where the Conway Cup will reside for the next twelve months will be decided by a shootout between two of the big three football sides within the county.

The Nire qualified for this final with a victory over Kilrossanty last Saturday evening. The two sides had met a number of times in the knockout section of the championship in recent years and produced some highly exciting battles but this latest clash could hardly be described as an exciting game.

The Nire in fact have not played to their full potential in recent games but they will be the first to tell you that knockout games are there to be won and the performance served up is not always that important.

Coincidently in their two knockout games they played without Conor Gleeson who is a fantastic footballer. He will be back in contention for a place in the team this Sunday after serving a two game suspension after he was sent off in the last game of the league section of the competition.

Ballinacourty were the more impressive side of the two last weekend. They worked very hard to overcome the challenge of reigning champions Stradbally on Sunday evening.

Stradbally are a side that are always very hard to beat with the last decade and a half and were so again on Sunday evening.

Ballinacourty would pull away going two or three points up on their neighbours but each time The Cove-men would come back to level or to go within one of Ballinacourty.

In the end it was Gary Hurney’s well taken goal early in the second half that proved to be the difference between the two sides.

To pick a winner out between the two is going to be a very difficult task.

Both sides have some very good footballers.

For The Nire they have the likes of Martin and Justin Walsh in defence, as well as the O’Gorman twins Maurice and Thomas.  Jamie Barron, Craig, Darren and Dylan Guiry, Brian Wall, Shane Walsh, Liam Lawlor, Shane Ryan, Jamie Barron and of course the returning Conor Gleeson are all very good footballers.

There is also plenty of class to choose from in the Ballinacourty side. Stephen Enright is an excellent goalkeeper. Brian Looby, David Collins, Richie Foley, Sean O’Hare, Shane Briggs in front of him are also players of note.

Conor Prunty and John Hurney in the middle of the field are also hard working players while up front they have lots of threat in the likes of Michael O’Halloran, Patrick Hurney, Neil Montgomery, Michael Maher, Gary Hurney, Shane O’Donovan and Evan Collins.

They would also like to be able to call on Mark Ferncombe in this game but he is having a horrible year with injuries so it remains to be seen what part he will play.

This game will go right to the wire. Maybe extra time might be needed to see who advances to next weekend’s Munster Senior Club semi-finals.

On paper Ballinacourty look to have the stronger side, but The Nire will go into the side confident that they can win and will be a little more confident than usual knowing they don’t have to face Stradbally.

Ballinacourty dethrone the Champions

Ballinacourty beat neighbours and rivals Stradbally on Sunday evening last at Fraher Field and ensuring that Stradbally for now will not be moving a step closer to the record number of senior football titles won by Dungarvan in the county.

Ballinacourty who had Waterford Senior Football Coach and Cork Senior Ladies Football Manager Effie Fitzgerald with them on the line for this game, had their homework done on the side from across Ballyvoile Bridge in this game and were kicking high ball into Gary Hurney on the edge of the Stradbally goal mouth where he caused the Cove-Men all sorts of problems and finished the game with 1-5 behind his name on the scoresheet.

Shane O’Donovan opened the scoring for Ballinacourty in this game with a point on eight minutes. Three minutes later Gary Hurney made it a two point game when he registered the first of his half dozen scores in this game.

But Stradbally were soon on top as Robert Ahearne fisted a point on twelve minutes and four minutes later Shane Ahearne put over a free to level matters at two points each.

Gary Hurney and Shane Ahearne swapped scores from frees to keep the sides locked together on the scoreboard with twenty one minutes played, before Stradbally got on top once more as Shane Ahearne and Michael Sweeney hit points to give them a 0-5 to 0-3 lead with seven minutes of the half remaining.

But Ballinacourty would end the half the stronger of the sides as they landed the final two scores, both from Gary Hurney, the first from a free and then a delightful effort from play out in the right hand corner as they attacked the town goal after he was picked out by Sean O’Hare.

Stradbally opened the second half with a point from Shane Ahearne but Ballinacourty soon followed up with the games only goal as Shane Briggs picked out Michael O’Halloran who in turn found Gary Hurney who beat Eoin Cunningham on 36 minutes.

Robert Ahearne made it a one point favour in Ballinacourty favour (1-5 to 0-7) with a point on 39 minutes, but a brace of points on 40 and 42 minutes from Evan Collins helped put some daylight between the sides.

Points from Shane and Robert Ahearne on 45 and 47 minutes again had the Ballinacourty lead down to one, but the Hurney brothers (Patrick and Gary) landed scores in a two minutes spell to give their side a three point lead once more with nine minutes still to play.

Shane Briggs made a brilliant block down on Daniel Weldon who looked certain to score a goal on 54 minutes and three minutes later Shane Ahearne put over another free to leave just two between the sides with three minutes to play.

This however would prove to be his sides last score of the game, while Ballinacourty would have one more chance, Patrick Hurney putting over on 59 minutes to secure his sides place in this Sunday’s County Final.

Ballinacourty: Stephen Enright; David Collins, Sean O’Hare, Brian Looby; Conor McCarthy, Richie Foley, Shane Briggs; Conor Prunty, John Hurney; Mark Fives, Patrick Hurney, Evan Collins; Michael O’Halloran, Gary Hurney, Shane O’Donovan. Subs: Neil Montgomery for Mark Fives (42), Michael Maher for Shane O’Donovan (53),John Elstead for Shane Briggs (55),

Scorers: Gary Hurney 1-5 (0-2f), Evan Collins, Patrick Hurney 0-2 each, Shane O’Donovan 0-1.

Stradbally: Eoin Cunningham; Kevin Lawlor, Kevin Coffey, Jack Mullaney; Tommy Connors, Shane Lannon, Tony Grey; Shane Ahearne, Michael Walsh; Paddy Kiely, Andy Doyle, Daniel Weldon; Michael Sweeney, Robert Ahearne, Eoin O’Brien. Subs: John Hearne for Andy Doyle (14), Paul Tobin for Eoin O’Brien (HT), John Coffey for John Hearne (46), Ger Power for Kevin Coffey (53), Stephen Cunningham for John Coffey (58).

Scorers: Shane Ahearne 0-6 (4f), Robert Ahearne 0-3, Michael Sweeney 0-1.

Referee: Tommy O’Sullivan (Affane).

The Nire March On

The Nire are back in the County Senior Football Final this coming Sunday after they overcame the challenge of Kilrossanty on Saturday evening last at Fraher Field.

The opening quarter of this game was instantly forgettable as neither side managed to put a score on the scoreboard.

In this opening quarter the Nire did play some good football, but Kilrossanty made it hard for them to score, defending in numbers.

At the other end of the field and when they attacked their main tactic was to get the ball into Paul Whyte who has been outstanding in recent games for them, kicking some impressive tallies, but here he was shadowed by Thomas O’Gorman who is one of the best man markers in the game and as a result Kilrossanty found scores hard to come by.

Inter county hurler Jamie Barron opened the scoring in this game when he put over a point.

Shane Ryan struck for a goal for The Nire on twenty eight minutes. Martin Walsh was denied a goal chance just before this as Conor Hayes deflected the ball out for a ’45. Shane Walsh saw his effort drop short to Shane Ryan who has his effort blocked but he followed up with a second effort and this time he made no mistake in putting the ball in the Kilrossanty net.

Liam Lawlor followed up to give The Nire a 1-2 to 0-0 lead with time in the first half running out, but Kilrossanty did manage to get on the score board before the break with an effort from Tommy Prendergast.

Time was not up yet and in the time that was left Shane Ryan put over a free to give his side a 1-3 to 0-1 lead at the break.

Jamie Barron opened the scoring in the second half to extend his sides lead. An ugly incident under the stand followed and when law and order was restored it spurred on Kilrossanty. On 35 minutes a long delivery from Paul Keating was finished to the net by Paul Whyte leaving just a kick of the ball between the sides, and shortly afterwards the side in Green and Yellow tried their luck for a second goal but Tommy Prendergast had his effort saved by Tom Wall.

The Nire were soon however were back on top as Dylan Guiry, Darren Guiry and James McGrath all hit points for The Nire with the game entering its final quarter.

Brian Wall put over a free to further stretch his sides lead, but Kilrossanty’s hopes for something were somewhat dashed on 50 minutes when Pa Whyte was ordered off on a straight red card.

Shane Walsh further stretched The Nire lead, but Kilrossanty refused to throw in the towel as Alan Quinn, Tommy Prendergast and Pa Cunningham landed points to leave just five between the sides.

The Nire however were not finished yet and Darren Mulhearne who has served the Kilrossanty Club now for over three decades, made a great save from Brian Wall but Dylan Guiry followed up with a point to give his side a 1-10 to 1-4 victory.

The Nire: Tom Wall; James McGrath, Thomas O’Gorman, Justin Walsh; Martin Walsh, Maurice O’Gorman, Jamie Barron; Shane Walsh, Dylan Guiry; Seamus Lawlor, Brian Wall, Shane Ryan; Keith Guiry, Liam Lawlor, Darren Guiry. Subs: Jake Mulcahy for Keith Guiry (47), Dermot Ryan for Darren Guiry (52), Craig Guiry for Liam Lawlor (55), Stephen Ryan for Shane Ryan (60), Conal Mulcahy for Martin Walsh (63).

Scorers: Shane Ryan 1-1 (0-1f), Jamie Barron, Dylan Guiry 0-2, Liam Lawlor, Darren Guiry, Dylan Guiry, James McGrath, Brian Wall, Shane Walsh 0-1 each.

Kilrossanty: Darren Mulhearne; Barry Prendergast, Mark Prendergast, Conor Hayes; Pa Whyte, Stephen Prendergast, Killian Whelan; Niall Walsh, Tommy Prendergast; Donal Fitzgerald, Alan Quinn, Paul Keating; Pa Cunningham, Paul Whyte, Joey Veale, Subs: James Whyte for Donal Fitzgerald (47), Osgar de Paor for Niall Walsh (52).

Scorers: Paul Whyte 1-0, Tommy Prendergast 0-2, Alan Quinn, Pa Cunningham 0-1 each.

Referee: Anthony Fitzgerald (Gaultier).