Killavullen
GAA ROUND-UP
UNDER-16 HURLING – On July 27 Croke Rovers travelled to play Killavullen in the under-16 Hurling league. Finian Magner made his comeback as manager as John O’Donovan, our present manager was on holidays and his Management team of Charlie Lillis and Eoghan Buckley had to leave a half time to go Junior Training ahead of the Junior A North Cork semi-final Vs Kilworth on Saturday night.
Killavullen had very good form going into this game winning the last four games in a row and in this game they have had another brilliant win, 15-17 to 1-7 with a 52 point winning margin which puts them into pole position in the league.
During the first half Fionn Magner started off the scoring with a fantastic goal bursting through the middle from the throw – in and putting it in the net. Darragh O’Grady, Noah Butler, Mickey O’Connor and Colm Looney added points before Noah scored a goal and Colm scored his first of many, minutes later all before Croke Rovers scored their first point and another seconds later. However, with Eoin Birchill and Mikey O’Connor in flying form, they responded with two points each.
Liam Fox, who played a fantastic game in full back attracted his own fan club with the junior footballers watching on at the future star of Killavullen, Liam was catching high balls and driving it up the field and he reminded me of Diarmuid ‘Rock’ O’Sullivan, Colm Looney was also in flying form as well in the full forward line added two more goals alongside Mikey o Connor, who scored one goal and Darragh O’Grady in centre forward scored another point to add to his tally of four points, Croke Rovers scored a goal and three more points before half time to make it 6-11 to 1-5
Darragh O’Grady came out in the second half scoring four points to bring his tally to eight points but Croke Rovers scored two points in quick succession but that ended their scoring for the night with a total score of 1-7. Noah Butler scored 1-1 within the space of two minutes after good build up play from Ben Hunter and Mark Nagle.
However Croke Rovers had another chance for goal but it was cleared off the line by some brilliant goalkeeping by James O’Keefe and Cian O’Connor drove it up the pitch to Mikey Looney, who fielded one of his many catches and hit it into the forward line where Mikey scored another point. From the puck out a big high ball came down on top of Brian Cotter, who fielded it brilliantly and gave it to Mark Nagle, who scored a goal.
Coming to the end of the match Liam Fox somehow found himself in the full forward line even though he was still supposed to be playing full back, Fionn Magner set him up with a pass to get our 15th goal to make the final score 15-17 to 1-7.
Match report and stats compiled by once again by Jamie Magner covering for our club PRO John O’Donovan, who is in Dubai working on his a tan where I hope he is not spending club money.
The team and those who scored was: James O’Keefe; Cian O’Connor; Liam Fox (1-0); Mark Nagle (1-1); Brian Cotter; Mikey Looney; Noah Butler (3-2); Fionn Magner (1-0); Ben Hunter (1-0); Darragh O’Grady (1-8); Eoin Birchill (0-2); Colm Looney (4-1); Mikey O’Connor (3-3)
UNDER-16 FOOTBALL LEAGUE – Killavullen scored some delightful points and a number of goals to run out easy winners against St Dominic’s in the last game of the regular section of the under-16 football league. The game was played in Killavullen on August 7 – the bank holiday Monday where a decent crowd attended. This win will qualify us for the semi-finals of the competition.
The Glanworth/Shanballymore combination had the opening score of the game, when we conceded a soft goal after two minutes. Brian Cotter scored points in quick replies in the third and fourth minutes. Eoin Birchill then was found in space by Fionn Magner and he scored a nice point. Mark Nagle scored a neat goal for us in the seventh minute, after showing good determination along the end line. Cian O’Connor was proving to be very effective as a full forward, and scored himself in the 10th minute.
Mark repeated his goal scoring tricks in the 11th minute, this time scoring from a very acute angle. Eoin Birchill got our next goal, round the same time, after Mikey Looney had cut out a St Dominic’s attack, and his quick pass forward was worked cleverly by the forwards to Eoin, to score. We got sloppy at the back again, and conceded a goal, that should have been cleared in the 12th minute. Mark scored a delightful long range point, and then his third goal in the 18th minute. Mikey O’Connor scored his point after making good space for himself, and our final score of the half, was another good effort from Cian. Our opponents scored two further points to leave the half time score 4-07 to 2-02.
After the break, we had points from Eoin x two, Colm Looney and Mark again, by the fourth minute before Brian Cotter got a nice point after a nice exchange of passes. Brian and Cian were very influential in this half, and seemed to have their own private scoring battle going on; one would score, only for the other to counteract that score with another.
Colm Looney scored another point when he had a goal scoring opportunity before a good strong run up the field by Noah Butler ended up with the same player scoring a good goal. Noah got his second goal in the 16th minute, and Cian finishing his impressive display with a goal in the 17th minute. Liam Fox was parachuted to the attack, and Fionn Magner deputised at full back, only then for Liam to show some of the forwards how to score goals, after being sportingly set up by Darragh O’Grady. Brian Cotter scored our ninth goal of the night and we concluded our scoring with a brace of points for Brian and another for Mark.
St Dominic’s scored two points in this half. This game qualifies Killavullen for a semi-final berth, where stronger opposition awaits. What was pleasing to the selectors was the good work ethic and accurate foor passing, items that we have been working on, in training. Our backs got tighter as the game progressed and Shane in goals was very effective.
Good competitions for places for the starting berths on the championship team will now be used as the catalyst to spur things along nicely, a healthy complaint to have.
Shane Walsh; Colin Carey; Liam Fox (1-00); Mikey Looney; Fionn Magner; Darragh O’Grady; Brian Cotter (1-04); Noah Butler (2-00); Colm Looney (0-02); Eoin Birchill (1-03); Mark Nagle (3-04); Cian O’Connor (1-03); Mickey O’Connor (0-01)
FORTHCOMING JUVENILE/ ADULT FIXTURES – Killavullen v Buttevant, Avondhu Division 1 League Final in Kildorrery on Friday, August 11, at 7.30 p.m.; Killavullen Blue v St Dominic’s, under-12 Hurling League on Tuesday, August 8, in Killavullen at 7 p.m. – Pitch 2; Killavullen v Ballygiblin, under-14 Hurling League on Thursday, August 10, in Killavullen at 7.30 p.m.; Killavullen Blue v Ballyhea, underFootball League on Monday, August 14, in Ballyhea at 7 p.m.; Killavullen White v Ballyclough, under-12 Football League on Monday, August 14, in Ballyclough at 7 p.m.; Killavullen v Blarney, Cork County Junior B Hurling League on Wednesday, August 16, in Blarney at 7.30 p.m.
LOTTO
The jackpot of €1,600 was not won last Tuesday night. The numbers drawn were 2, 13 and 34. The draw was held in the Haven Bar. The lucky-dip winners were: €50 – Angela Murphy – Seller – Denise Hanrahan; €30 – Kay Cahill – Seller – John Angland; €20 – Ian, Niamh and Deirdre O’Gorman – Seller – Edmund O’Gorman. The next draw will take place on August 8 in Magners Bar.
LEAVING CERTIFICATE
Best of luck to all of our players and supporters who expect to get their Leaving Certificate results on August 16. Life is not all about examinations, but as long as your expectations, be they whatever, are realised, that is the important point.
PHIL LEAHY R.I.P.
Killavullen GAA Club expresses its sympathy to the Leahy family in Ballyhooley on the tragic death of Phil. A fine player with his club and a gentleman off it, his loss is incredible, and cruel. Phil was a stalwart of several Blackwater Rovers teams when Killavullen and Ballyhooley had joint teams under that moniker. We extend our sincere condolences.