Action round-up
Our Fé14 boys had a busy weekend travelling to Shanagarry on Friday evening to play St Colman’s, then hosting St Catherine’s on Sunday afternoon. The boys lost 1-17 to 1-6 on Friday evening but turned it around on Sunday, beating St Catherine’s 3-10 to 0-10.
Without a few first team regulars, but bolstered by members of our U13 squad - some great heart and resilience shown to regroup and seal a great win on Sunday evening.
REBEL ÓG EAST FÉ14 D1 LEAGUE Watergrasshill 3-10 St Catherines 0-10
Our U14s had a quick turnaround from a league game on Friday 14th, now hosting St. Catherines at home in the Hill on Sunday 16th in game three of their Rebel Óg East, D1 League campaign. The ask from the boys was to start Sunday’s game how we finished Friday night and they certainly did that. From 1 to 15 we were tuned in from the off. All over the pitch we were first to the sliotar and aggressive in the tackle. Our opponents who we know well, are a good team and it was competitive for the first quarter, we shaded the scoreboard two points to one.
The next two scores came our way and crucially so did the first goal of the game. It was a well worked team goal out of defence that ended with the green flag being lifted. St Catherines did tag on two points to leave the scoreboard at half-time 1-4 to 6pts, a narrow lead. The ask for the second half was simple, more of the same and once again the boys responded.
We got the first two scores of the second half, and very pleasingly it was the 10th minute of the second half before we conceded a free. St Catherines working hard to stay in touch always posed a threat but our back seven players were giving nothing easy and our opposition had to work hard to pick up scores. Going into the last quarter we had a two point lead but from here the Hill boys shifted up another gear and turned the screw on the scoreboard with some great scores. Midfield were making it hard for our opposition to build a platform and the forward line were winning ball, moving with great effect and creating space for each other.
A converted penalty and another excellently worked goal from play but some daylight between the two teams. A great team performance from every one of the squad today from one to seventeen. A well-deserved win for the effort the boys put in. Well done lads.
REBEL ÓG EAST, FÉ18 D1 LEAGUE Watergrasshill 2-16 Carrigaline 2-14
Following the U18s win over Fr O’Neills, the Watergrasshill U18s were out again on Easter Monday hosting Carrigaline at our home grounds.
Again, the match took place with a very strong wind, the Hill chose to play with the wind in the first half, playing towards the astro. Cian Cronin-O’Neill opened the Hill’s scoring with an early point from a free, followed by a goal and a point by Ciaran Linehan before we were given a masterclass in point scoring from the in-form Liam Foley who put 8 points over the bar in the first half. Cian CroninO’Neill added another point from play while Carrigaline score 2-6 (3 points from frees) to see the Hill lead by two points at the half-time whistle on a scoreline of 1-11 to 2-6.
Just like the Fr O’Neill’s game, the opposition hit form at the start of the second half, scoring seven points without reply. The Hill, now trailing by five points were under severe pressure but the turning point in the second half was the introduction of Michael O’Driscoll after ten minutes. Mick stabilized the defence and was instrumental in supplying high quality ball to the forwards, resulting in the Hill scoring four points (Cian CroninO’Neill 2 and one each from Ryan Loftus and Liam Foley), reducing the margin to a deficit of a single point.
The game intensified with 8 minutes of normal time remaining and Carrigaline scored a point, extending their lead to two points. However the Hill lads weren’t done yet and an intense attack with multiple efforts resulted in a fine goal finish by Mike O’Riordan. With five minutes of normal time remaining and the Hill holding a single point advantage, the sliotar travelled up and down the pitch without any score before Liam Foley put away his tenth point of the game and gave the Hill a two-point margin. This was enough to see out the intensity of added time of five minutes and the Hill won the game on a score line of 2-16 to Carrigaline 2-14.
REDFM HL D5 Watergrasshill 2-16 Midleton 1-13
Our intermediate hurlers secured a solid win over a determined Midleton side on Friday evening in Watergrasshill. Both sides started well trading points, on 12 minutes, a point blank save from the Midleton keeper, ensured Brendan Lehane’s effort raised a white flag, when a green flag seemed inevitable. The Watergrasshill lead had stretched 0-5 to 0-2 after 16 minutes, but Midleton were showing great resilience and in fact turned that deficit into a one point lead by the 25th minute, leading 0-5 to 0-6.
Again, the sides traded scores before Watergrasshill finally raised the first green flag of the evening. At the break, Watergrasshill led 1-8 to 0-8 and with the wind at their backs for the second half, were determined to capitalise. Watergrasshill roared out of the blocks in the second half with the forwards work rate, led by Liam Foley and Brendan Lehane, making life very difficult for the Midleton defence. The Hill had stretched out to lead 1-14 to 0-9 after 15 2nd half minutes, including a massive long range free from keeper Aidan Foley.
Midleton registered their first and only goal of the game on 19 minutes to bring the gap back to 1-16 to 1-10, but with Aaron Ricken and Ian O’Callaghan really putting in a performance at the back, the platform for the hill to push on again was set. In the closing minutes, Midleton had reduced the deficit to 3pts, 1-16 to 1-13 and were pushing hard for a second goal, but it was Seán Desmond who capped a super performance with the insurance goal for the Hill, a score which was
well deserved, having contributed a massive shift for his team.
Final score Watergrasshill 2-16 (22) Midleton 1-13 (16), next up are Dungourney on April 30th.
RECENT RESULTS
Friday 14th, Rebel Óg East, Fé14 D1 League - St Colmans 1-17 v 1-6 Watergrasshill. Friday 14th, RedFM Hurling League - Watergrasshill 2-16 v 1-13 Midleton. Sunday 16th, Rebel Óg East, Fé16 D1 League - Lisgoold 4-15 v 2-11 Watergrasshill. Sunday 16th, Rebel Óg East, Fé14 D1 League - Watergrasshill 3-10 v 0-10 St Catherines. Monday 17th, Junior Hurling League, D2 - Midleton 3-12 V 1-14 Watergrasshill.
UPCOMING FIXTURES
Sunday 23rd, Rebel Óg East, Fé12 Group 6 - Youghal (2) v Watergrasshill (2) in Youghal at 6:00pm. Monday 24th April, Rebel Óg North, Fé12 Group 2 - Watergrasshill v Kilworth Araglin Óg in Watergrasshill at 6:30pm. Wednesday 26th April, Rebel Óg East, Fé14 D1 League - Watergrasshill v Killeagh in Watergrasshill at 6:30pm. Sunday 30th April, RedFM HL D5 - Dungourney v Watergrasshill in Dungourney at 11:30am.
CLUB ASTRO HANDED OVER
Anyone who had driven past Watergrasshill GAA recently can’t but have noticed our new astro pitch development. Making the best use of a limited site, an 1800m2 flood-lit Astro pitch and adjacent hurling bays were installed. This development is the next step in a multi-stage capital program for the club, in which we aim to provide the best possible facilities for the club and our community.
Although they won’t want to be named, there’s huge credit due to Don O’Riordan, Barry Joyce, Dan Linehan, Niall O’Riordan and Kieran O’Keeffe who were the team behind this development. It will provide a great facility for players of every age and a huge asset to the community, especially during the winter months. Rest assured, we will have an official opening late in the year once the weather improves and maybe a special guest or two to help us cut the ribbon.
LOTTO
There was no winner of the lotto jackpot this week. Numbers drawn were 1, 8, 10 and 27. Lucky dip winners are Larry O’Connor, Pat O’Regan, Jerry Mackey and Don O’Riordan. Congratulations to you
all. Next week’s jackpot is €3,600 and draw will take place on April 24th in the Fir Tree Bar.
Tickets are on sale in some of the village businesses like The Hut Bar, The Fir Tree, Johnny’s Shop and our lotto stand in Ross’s Centra. Tickets can also be purchased online via our club website (water-grasshillgaa.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.