Underage round-up
There are Rebel Óg and Go-Games a plenty currently with the program in full swing across all age-groups.
Our U8 boys got the weekend off to a great start, hosting Lisgoold in Watergrasshill. Well done to all involved for a great morning of hurling and thanks to Lisgoold for travelling to Watergrasshill for the games.
Our U9 and U10 teams were both on the road on Saturday. U9s travelled to Ballynoe to play St. Catherine’s and our U-10’s travelled to St. Finbarr’s to play their second series of games in the Cashman Cup against Glen Rovers and St. Finbarr’s.
The Cashman Cup is an U-10 invitational tournament organised by Blackrock run over 4 weeks in April and May. During this period the boys will play against Blackrock, St. Finbarr’s, Glen Rovers, Éire Óg, Blarney, Carrigtohill and Youghal. It’s a great opportunity for the boys to play against some very good teams and they have acquitted themselves very well thus far, displaying their skills and teamwork and are enjoying the experience.
Our U11 boys hosted Kinsale on Sunday morning. The 22 boys played 2 competitive games and what was most pleasing to see was the work rate and the hunger to turn over the ball when the opposition had possession and then turn that possession into scores. Thanks to Kinsale for traveling up to play and it was a great morning for hurling, also best wishes to the kids getting confirmation on Thursday hope ye enjoy the day.
Our U12 boys hosted St. Colman’s on Monday evening in Watergrasshill, coming out on top in a great game of hurling on a fabulous evening. This team are really working hard.
Our U13s had a busy weekend of Hurling action with an away trip to Castlelyons on Saturday followed by a trip to Castlemartyr on Sunday for a refixed fixture versus Kiltha Óg. Saturday’s clash with Castlelyons was an enthralling contest with our lads just coming up short on a score line of 4-19 to 4-15. In an evenly matched, very competitive and highly entertaining game the boys played really well and were a match for our hosts throughout. It was neck and neck in the first half with some lovely scores from both teams. Castlelyons edged the first half by two points 2-11 to 2-9, with little more to separate them.
The second half continued as the first with neither team giving an inch. Castlelyons took command of the scoreboard, but these Hill boys don’t give up easy and worked their socks off to make sure they stayed in touch and in with a chance to take the spoils. Some soft frees against us kept the gap to a few points and despite a great effort the lads just came up short in the end losing out by four points. Lots of positives to be taken from this one, and it was off home to rest up for 24 hours and then back on the road for our next league outing.
The Kiltha Óg game proved to be a frustrating affair. The boys didn’t get the reward for their effort once again coming up 4 points short on a score line 5-8 to our 3-10. The boys showed up with their trademark honesty of effort. They worked their socks off from start to finish. Every single one of them tore into it from the off, you would never have thought they had a tough game played a little over 24hrs earlier. At half-time we were down 6pts, 3-6 to 1-6 but had played into a breeze and were unlucky to have conceded two soft goals.
Second half the lads tried really hard to get back into the game and with 10mins left still had the half time deficit to bridge but had momentum building. The rattled off two late points and went hard to get the elusive fourth goal that would have swung things in our favour but in the end, they came up short on the score line of 3-10 to 5-8. Great effort and performance across both games against two strong sides. We have lots of positives to take back to the training pitch and work on and be ready for the second half of the league season. Well done lads on a bumper weekend.
EQUIPMENT RE-CYCLING DRIVE
Our equipment recycling drive kicked off in April and there has already been a fantastic response.
With so many new families in the parish and in an effort to minimise the cost of getting started and maximise accessibility to hurling, we are asking that if anyone has hurleys or helmets which they no longer use, that they be dropped to the clubrooms where our drop boxes will be located.
The clubrooms will be open every Saturday morning between 10am and 1pm where we will have a “home for hurleys” and a “helmet hub” where items may be dropped for re-use.
We will ensure that all equipment is fully sanitised before re-distribution and make sure that no child goes without.
This initiative will primarily benefit our juvenile club by providing affordable access to equipment and who knows, maybe unearthing the next Daire O’Leary from our underage academy.
LOTTO
We are delighted to announce that our lotto jackpot has been won. Congratulations to Brian O’Riordan who scooped the jackpot prize of €12,900 following the weekly draw held in the Hut Bar on 25th April. Numbers drawn were 5, 7, 9 and 22. We will have a photo with Brian and his winning cheque in the coming days once presented – congratulations Brian and thank you for supporting the club through playing our Lotto.
Lucky dip winners are Pat Foley, Lizzie O’Leary, Jerry Mackey and Valentin Prillop-Dodita, Congrats to you all. Next week’s jackpot is €1,500 and draw will take place Monday, 2nd May. Tickets are on sale in some of the village businesses like The Hut Bar, The Fir Tree, Johnny’s Shop and our new Lotto stand in Ross’s Centra. Tickets can also be purchased on-line via our club website (www.watergrasshillgaa.ie).
The club would like to take this opportunity to thank all our members and supporters of the Watergrasshill GAA club lotto. The Club Lotto is a vital source of income for the running of all our teams within the club and for future development of our facilities, so we ask you to please support it if you are in a position to do so. Remember, if you’re not in you can’t win.
RECENT RESULTS
Friday, 15th April Rebel Óg Coiste Fé14 Hurling League Watergrasshill 4-13 v 1-8 Bride Rovers. Wednesday, 20th April U19 Hurling Leagues, East, Group 1 Watergrasshill 1-8 v 2-13 Fr. O’Neill’s. Saturday, 23rd April Rebel Óg East Fé13 Hurling Grading League Castlelyons 4-19 v 4-15 Watergrasshill. Sunday, 24th April Rebel Óg East Fé13 Hurling Grading League Kiltha Óg 5-8 v 3-10 Watergrasshill. Monday, 25th April, Rebel Óg East Fé12 Hurling Grading League Watergrasshill 4-12 v 3-3 St. Colman’s.
UPCOMING FIXTURES
Friday, 29th April Rebel Óg North Fé17 D1 Hurling League Clyda Rovers v Watergrasshill in Mourneabbey at 7pm. Sunday, 1st May Rebel Óg Coiste Fé17-C3 Hurling League Watergrasshill 2 v Mallow 2 in Watergrasshill at 7pm. Wednesday, 4th May U19 Hurling Leagues East 1 Group 1 Watergrasshill v Passage West in Watergrasshill at 7pm. Thursday, 5th May Red FM Intermediate Hurling League D2 Group A Watergrasshill v Courcey Rovers in Watergrasshill at 7pm.