Junior ‘A’ Hurlers in Semi Final
Our Junior ‘A’ hurling team took on Fr O’Neills in the East Cork Championship quarter final in Lisgoold on last Thursday evening. On a well prepared field and on a great evening for hurling, the exchanges in this game were close enough in the first quarter. A great goal from Owen Murphy gave us a mighty boost. We had a succession of points from Terry, Pat, Owen Richie and Alan to leave us ahead by 1-8 to 0-5 at half time. We struck six wides also in the first thirty minutes. Fr O’Neills were basically the club’s Under 21 side and found the going tough against our more experienced side. The game was settled as a contest in the first five minutes of the second half. In quick succession we had two goals form Pat Walsh and Alan O’Keeffe to put us 3-8 to 0-5 ahead. We added a further 1-8, the goal coming from Alan O’Keeffe, to win by 4-16 to 0-9. This win puts us into the semi final of the Junior ‘A’ hurling championship for the first time since the glorious year of 1998. unfortunately both Cormac Collins and Sean O’Brien suffered serious hand injuries in the ame and we wish a speedy recovery to both.
Team & Scorers: Gavin Quill, Tomás Kearney, Brendan O’Driscoll, Stephen Walsh, Cormac Collins, Liam Forde, Jim O’Connor, Gavin O’Flynn, Pat Walsh (1-2), Michael Hogan, Richard Cahill (0-1), Terry Broderick (0-3), Owen Murphy (2-3), Alan O’Keeffe (1-2), Pat Cotter (0-4).
Subs: Stephen Pratt (0-1), Sean O’Brien, Fergus Collins, Ryan O’Connor.
Our opponents in the semi final are the 2009 champions, Castlemartyr. They have defeated St Itas, Carrigtwohill and Russell Rovers en route to this semi final. They say ‘champions die hard’ and undoubtedly we will be really up against it in the semi final. at the time of writing the fixture is not definite, but it seems quite likely that the game against Castlemartyr may be on next Saturday evening, August 14th in Ballynoe, probably at 7pm. – this is all to be confirmed. We wish the team the very best, they have given us some great entertainment this year. To reach the East Cork Final will be very difficult, but possible. Go for it lads.
Senior Hurling Championship
The last few weeks have been a very traumatic time for the club. Our position in the Senior Championship was very uncertain but now we know what faces us. On this coming Sunday August 15th we are billed to play Blarney in the next round of the Co. Senior Hurling Championship. The game is fixed for Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Sunday at 6pm. Blarney won the All Ireland Intermediate Club Hurling Championship in 2008 and this is their third season in the senior ranks. With their minor hurling team through to the final stages of the Premier Championship, hurling in the Mid Cork town is on a high. The Blarney Club has supplied players to the Cork minor, U-21 and intermediate teams in recent years. They game a great display in their last game when losing out to County Champions, Newtownshandrum. In our two championship games this year we were well on top on both contests. Against the Barrs and against the Glen we led on the scoreboard but finished poorly. On Sunday evening next we need to really give a top class display of hurling right until the final whistle. It will be a huge ask for our lads but the whole parish is behind this team and we wish them all the very best.
Senior Hurling League
Killeagh were visitors for a Red FM Cork Senior Hurling League game on Tuesday August 3rd. The game was close and tight with both defences well on top. Killeagh were winners on a scoreline of 0-14 to 0-12.
Team & Scorers: Terry Broderick, Shane Kearney, Aidan Collins, Trevor Moloney, Jason Pratt, Barry Murphy, Mike Kearney, Padraig Murphy, Stephen Boyce (0-2), Jerome O’Driscoll, Barry Johnson (0-9), Michael Collins, Jason Mannix, Sean Ryan (0-1), Daniel Dooley. Subs: Kieran Collins.
Minor Championship
Our East Cork Minor Championship semi final against Carrignavar was fixed for Sunday night also but obviously will have to be rescheduled on account of the senior game. Players will be notified at training when the game is refixed.
Cork Go Out
The Cats are still purring. At Croke Park on Sunday the Cork hurlers lost out in the All Ireland semi final to Kilkenny. The Black and Amber are now on course for a history-making five-in-a-row. Cork tried hard and full credit to them for their effort and commitment but on the day Kilkenny were just overpowering. Its hard to see either Waterford or Tipperary beating Kilkenny in the final on September 5th.
