Draw with Newport leaves us fourth in group

Skeheenarinky played out a very entertaining draw against Premier Intermediate side Newport in R3 of the County Hurling league in Ballyporeen last Sunday on a scoreline of 1-16 to 0-19.

Playing with the aid of the breeze in the opening period, Skeheenarinky had the better of the opening exchanges racing into a 0-04 to 0-01 lead by the 10th minute with points from Charlie English and Tomas Vaughan (0-03, 0-01f). Newport gradually came more into the game and were back on terms midway through the half at 0-05 a-piece with Skeheen’s additional score coming from play from Riain Hennessey.

Skeheenarinky to their credit closed the half the better and outscored Newport by 0-07 to 0-04 to take a three-point lead into the break. The Skeheenarinky points in that period coming from Tomas Vaughan (0-04, 0-02f), Mikey Maher, Tommy Sweeney and Riain Hennessey with 0-01 each to leave the halftime score at 0-12 to 0-09.

On the resumption, Newport hit three points inside five minutes to wipe the lead out and began the second period in the ascendency. Charlie English hit his second to stop the rot before Newport levelled things up again at 0-13 a-piece. James Barry struck the game’s only goal after being fed by Evan Hickey to leave the score at 1-13 to 0-13 to Skeheenarinky after 10 minutes of the second half.

As the visitors continued to exert pressure, they hit four unanswered points to take the lead at 1-13 to 0-17. From there to the end both sides exchanged points, Riain Hennessey with one from play and Tomas Vaughan with a free for Skeheen to leave one in it entering stoppage time before Tomas Vaughan hit an equalising free to leave both sides level at the final whistle.

Both teams had chances in the final-quarter to take the spoils but the consensus at the end was that a draw was a fair result.

After Sunday’s game, Skeheenarinky have one win, one draw and one loss from their three games and lie in fourth place in the group with two rounds remaining, two points off top spot Newport and a point behind second and third placed Silvermines and Moyne-Templetuohy. Our next game is away to Moyne on the weekend of April 28-30th.

Team and scorers: Aidan Treacy,

Seamus O’Callaghan, Riain O’Callaghan, Paudie Fitzgerald, Aidan O’Donovan, Noel Vaughan, Kevin O’Mahony, Tomas Vaughan (0-09, 0-04f), John O’Callaghan, Tommy Sweeney (0-01), Dean Finn, James Barry (1-00), Riain Hennessey (0-03), Evan Hickey and Charlie English (0-02). Subs: Mikey Maher (0-01) for Aidan O’Donovan, Luke Stack for Tommy Sweeney, James Hackett, Cillian Hackett, Eoghan O’Dwyer, Conan Roche, Aaron Hickey, Glen Walsh.

CLUB SHOP

Our O’Neills club shop has been restocked with our club gear. The gear is available online at www.oneills.com. Click on the ‘Clubs & Education’ section on the site and search for Skeheenarinky Hurling Club to see what’s on offer.

COUNTY DRAW UPDATE

Congratulations to Thomas Molan on his win in the April County Draw – well done from all in Skeheenarinky.

The next draw will take place on Friday, May 5th. If you are interested in supporting the County Board Draw, entries can still be made online at tip-perary.gaa.ie. 50% of the entry to the draw reverts to the club as commission. Thanks for your continued support.

EXPRESSIONS OF SYMPATHY

The club extend our condolences to the Fox and Brennan families, Skeheenarinky on the recent death of Mary Hogan (nee Hennebry), Ballylanders and the sister of Bridget Fox, Skeheenarinky. We also extend our sympathies to the family, extended family and friends of the late Jimmy Moher, Ballygiblin and the wider Ballygiblin GAA Club on his recent passing. May they rest in peace.