Macroom under 14s clock up great win over Western Gaels

THERE’S much as ever going on within the world of underage GAA at Macroom.

The U-14s: Macroom played Western Gaels (Iveleary and Kilmichael) on Thursday 13th April in a challenge match.

After a slow start, Macroom dominated the game and led at half-time by 3-4 to 1-2 with Kieran Doody and Seán De Lacey getting the goals. Noteworthy was the performance of David O’Donoghue, grandson of Jimmy, for the opposition.

Macroom continued to be the better team and the final result was Macroom 4-8, Western Gaels 2-4. Next fixture: League; Macroom v. Ballinhassig in Macroom on 25th April.

U-11s/U-12s: Training Tuesday 7pm in Tom Creedon Park.

U-10s/U-9s: Macroom U-10s had 2 very competitive games on Tues. 11th April against Aghinagh.

Honours were evenly divided and many U-9s played and did well. The U-9 training session on Tuesday was taken by James McCarthy, GDA, and was excellent.

There is no training for either group this week-end. Fixtures: Sat 22th, U-9s v Bishopstown in Castle at 10, and U-10s v. Inniscarra.

U-6s/U-8s; Travel to play Baile Mhuirne next Saturday at 11am.

Club Leagues: Senior League catered for the U-11s, U12s and U-13s: 32 players took part and were divided into 4 teams. 1. Railway View – captain, Mark Hunt. 2. Codrum – captain Brian Healy 3. Masseytown – captain Ronan Morey and 4. Gurteenroe – captain Liam Holland.

The competition had U-13 rules, with all scores of equal value (goals = points).

Games were played in a round robin league format, were of twenty minutes duration, and the two top teams contested a final. All games were nip and tuck with no team winning all their games.

After 120 minutes of football, Masseytown and Gurteenroe – both with two wins each qualified for the play-off.

In the qualifiers, Masseytown had come out on top, so there was an opportunity for Gurteenroe to get revenge.

By now all had been playing for sixty minutes, so fatigue was a factor.

Nevertheless each player gave his all, and after a very close contest, Gurteenroe just about won.

A plaque was presented to the Gurteenroe captain Liam Holland by the Juvenile Club Chairperson, James Duggan. Afterwards, medals were presented to all the players and everybody had refreshments in the pavilion. The competition was a great success. Congratulations are due to the conceivers of the competitions and to all those who helped in organizing it. Well done to the winners and to all the lads who gave their best.

Junior League:

This took place on Thursday 13th April in the Castle Grounds.

Six teams competed and they were (with their managers’ names in brackets): Raleigh (Mike McKenna), St. Colman’s Park (DJ Lucey), Gurteenroe (James Duggan), Coolehane (Brendan Cregan), Codrum (Jerry Bradley) and Cork Street (John Cronin {Bobo}).

We had a fantastic night of football with six teams (in order of pictures above) of seven players competing in two groups.

The group games (expertly refereed by Conchubhar Murray and Alan O’Shea) were very close with very little between the teams and two games ended level.

Cork Street and St Colman’s Park topped their respective leagues and qualified for the final.

This was an absorbing contest which ebbed and flowed to the very end, and Cork Street equalised with the final kick of the game to take it to extra time!

Water was needed by all (and especially referee Alan O’Shea).

Extra time continued in this vein in a contest that was as exciting as any you will see in the Castle Grounds for a long time: St Colman’s Park finally overcame their opponents!

The quality of football was superb, with breathtaking attacking football combined with excellent defending.

‘Well done’ to all the players and thanks to all the parents / grandparents / uncles / aunties / brothers / sisters and friends who came to support our future stars.