Killavullen

Pupils of St. Anne’s Primary School Charleville who have now rached their class target for reading and the number of books required. Class targets rabge from 100,000 in 2nd Class to 1million words in 6th Class. GAA CLUB NEWS

CLUB FORCED TO WITHDRAW FROM JUNIOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP – As alluded to in last week column, and following typical intransigence from the North Cork Board, Killavullen were forced to withdraw from their scheduled encounter with Glanworth in the third round of the Junior A Hurling championship.

Does this methodology of fixing fixtures in an ad-hoc way, sound the dead knell for smaller clubs in the division? Only the large clubs with a plethora of players could survive as a dual club entity at the moment.

We had only 11 players fit for last Saturday night. Do we force guys out of retirement, onto rock hard concrete pitches to fulfil a fixture, which the only certainty would be further injuries and players out of pocket?

We have a multitude of injuries, with Pa Sheehan and Ian O’Gorman out, with broken bones in their feet: Michael Cronin did a grade one strain of his knee AC joint; Charlie Lillis did his hamstring; Eoghan Buckley is out for the year with ligament damage to his ankle; Barry Murphy has torn his hamstring; Eddie Cotter was on holidays; Cian Lankford was on holidays; Pa Egan had a wedding but he was going to come back for the game; Séamus Fox is carrying a shoulder injury all year long.

We sought a bit of relief from the North Cork Board and from the Glanworth club, but no relief was forthcoming. Giving us even three to four days would mean that we could scrabble a team together.

The issue is that the games are being scheduled in a very ad-hoc way, so there is no visibility as to when games are coming up, and their (NCB) excuse is that they are playing games that do not include Cork squad players.

We are in serious trouble for the under-21 hurling championship on Tuesday night as well. The overlap of various competitions is having a very detrimental effect in our club. After winning our second round games in both hurling and football championship, the third round games were fixed for six days apart.

With the late start of the Avondhu league programs, and a compressing time frame to get the games played, our club have suffered a spate of injuries.

Leagues are not completed, before the championship starts, then the under-21 grades comes along, but the under-21 grade are ignoring minor fixtures, fixtures that have been in place for four to five weeks.

The record will show that the league final in Division 1 of the football this year will be contested between Charleville and Buttevant, both with huge panels. We played Charleville last in the league on June 19 when they had 15 players and 12 substitutes on the night.

Buttevant had 40 players in the program for last Year’s North Cork final, 30 on page 12 and 10 more additional players on page 17.

We wish Charleville and Buttevant the very best in the league final, scheduled to be played on July 6 but that final last year was played on August 11.

Ireland is changing and the GAA needs to change with it. Our club would like the GAA to become a leader in player welfare, to have proper structured games, with no player expected to play a game within four days of a previous game. Player welfare must become central to the ethos of the GAA, not merely lip service.

Administrators spread sheets currently dictate the playing of game, irrespective of weather or pitch conditions. No scheduled break in games means that soccer is winning out in loads of areas, where players vote with their feet to play a sport where they know when games are to be played, and there is a break.

It is the same players in a small dual club, that play hurling and football, and we are killing them. Player welfare is mere lip service and is abandoned. The consequences are increasing numbers are walking away from the sport in the mid-20s having been exploited as young players, and very often leaving with an injury that will persist with them, all of their adult life.

With regard to the Rebel Og competitions at the moment, and development squads, there are too many squad training sessions, and too many games for players.

Most young players are playing with their clubs, schools, and then development squads. They, being the stronger athletic types are also playing soccer, rugby and basketball.

We have seen unprecedented levels of growth plate injuries afflicting development squad players, where the regime of games is too much for their young growing bodies.

Young GAA players are being driven to breaking point by excessive demands, which are putting their physical and psychological welfare at risk, was detailed by Martin Breheny in his stark column in the Irish Independent.

So, what can you do, stay passive or speak up? Killavullen would rather speak – perhaps the Avondhu board should listen.

MINOR ACTION: KILLAVULLEN V BANTEER – Killavullen minors resumed their league campaign after the state exams with an entertaining game of hurling on Tuesday, June 26, against a strong Banteer side.

Both teams were short players due to holidays and agreed to the fair play rule with both togging out 14 players. Banteer were off the mark quickly and raced in to a three point lead. Points from Mickey O’Connor, Liam Fox and Darragh O’Grady had the side’s level after nine minutes. With the scores level on six points apiece, Banteer got a vital goal on 15 minutes. Killavullen struggled around the middle of the field for possession and Banteer added to their goal to leave them in front at half time 1-10 to 0-7.

The second half stated in a flurry with Colm Looney scoring a goal for Killavullen, but the ball had only hit the back of the net when Banteer rattled in another goal to cancel out Killavullen’s great start to the second half. The sides traded points and while Killavullen cut away at Banteer’s lead, Mickey finding the net from a bullet of a 21 yard free, Banteer always kept a three point lead throughout the second half. Podge in goals brilliant penalty save kept Killavullen in the game to the death but three late unanswered points secured a six point win for Banteer on a score line Banteer 2-20 Killavullen 2-14

Killavullen: Podge Cronin, Ben Hunter, Seán Browne, Darren Murphy, Noah Butler, Ronan Barry, Mickey Looney, Fionn Magner, Darragh O’Grady (0-3), Liam Fox (0-1), Mickey O’Connor (19, 1-7fs), Pádraig Looney (0-1), Colm Looney (1-0), Conor Griffin

MINOR ACTION: KILLAVULLEN V KEAL GEALS – Our home team and Keal Gaels minors played out a well contested game of hurling on Thursday, June 28, which ended in a draw.

The game started with a very even first quarter where both teams shared four points. Keal Gaels grew in confidence and their forwards began to find space creating goal opportunities. Fortunately for Killavullen, Keal Gaels managed only one goal in the first after creating at least 2more good chances. Killavullen’s back were under pressure at this point and half time with the score line 1-8 to 0-6 in Keal Gaels favour.

Killavullen’s performance in the second half was much improved. Some fine point taking along with and increase work rate saw Killavullen out score Keal Gaels 11 points to six in the second half to leave the final score a draw, Keal Gaels 1-14 Killavullen 0-17

Killavullen: Podge Cronin, Ben Hunter, Seán Browne, Darren Murphy, Mickey Looney, Conor Griffin, Fionn Magner (0-1), Mike Fresh (0-1), Colm Looney (0-2), Liam Fox (0-1), Mickey O’Connor (0-7, 5fs), Pádraig Looney (0-4), Mark Nagle (0-1)

The Keal Gaels goalkeeper certainly knew the Killavullen lads very well, with he, being Daniel Hartnett, who accompanies his dad, John to each and every adult training session, and has formed close friendships with his Killavullen compatriots.

LOTTO – There was no winner of the lotto last week end when the lotto jackpot stood at an €2,200. The latest numbers drawn last Tuesday night were – 19, 27 and 30 – No Winner. The lucky-dip winners were as follows: €50 Elaine Buckley – Seller: Mary Mellerick; €30 Seán, Niamh and Orla – Seller – Kevin O’Regan; €20 John Hartnett – Seller – Brian Mellerick. The next draw for €2,300 will be in the Haven Bar

FIXTURES – Due to confusion with regard to forthcoming adult games, it is not possible to give advice at this stage on forthcoming adult games.

We have a final Division 2 Hurling league game against Shanballymore to be played.

We are scheduled to play under-21 Hurling on Tuesday night, July 3, against Kildorrery but we cannot confirm if we have enough players to fulfil the fixture at the time of going to print.

Under-16 B1 Hurling championship – July 2 against Bride Rovers in Ballygiblin at 7.30.

Under-14 A Hurling championship – July 4 against St Catherine’s in Kilworth at 7.30.

Minor Hurling league – July 4 versus Ballycastle Gaels, July 4 in Castletownroche.