St Colmcille’s take the crown

U18 2 HURLING LEAGUE FINAL St Colmcille’s 2-13 Nemo Rangers 1-13

St Colmcille’s U18 hurlers were crowned league champions when they defeated Nemo Rangers in a final played in Carraig na bhFear on Wednesday, 10th May. This victory crowned a league double given that they had defeated Ballinora in the football final a week earlier. As there is no championship in this grade in 2023, the club has effectively won all the trophies available to them. Most of this group are U17 and competitions at this level will start shortly. There are three players who are actually on the grade and for them, this was their final underage game.

To the game itself, it was Nemo Rangers that made the better start and they went into a three-point lead in the opening 8 minutes. Colmcille’s had hit a few wides. Eddie Coughlan hit his side’s first point of the game in the 10th minute and the same player hit two massive frees by the 16th minute. The radar was definitely working now.

In between these frees a long ball into the Nemo square dropped kindly for Micheál Murphy who scooped the ball into the net to give his side the lead for the first time. They would never give up the lead but in comparison to previous games against Whitechurch or Lisgoold, they were in a match here against tough southside opponents. Both sides swapped four pointed frees in the next 10 minutes. Cian Ryan scored the only other point from play before the break to give his side a 1-06 to 0-06 lead at the short whistle. The game could easily have been level had it not been for an outstanding, brave save from goalkeeper Adam O’Halloran who blocked a close range shot from the Nemo Rangers full-forward.

The second half started in a whirlwind for Colmcilles. The opening three minutes saw four scores. Eddie Coughlan punished Nemo’s indiscipline with three frees while Sean Whelan scored a point from play. Four minutes later Evan Flynn scored a goal from play and now the home-side led on a scoreline of 2-10 to 0-06. The Capwell based side were in no mind to lie down and they started to chip away at the lead and they scored the next 1-04 by the 20thminute to leave only one goal in it to set up a tense final ten minutes.

Eddie Coughlan got a settling free for Colmcilles on the 21st minute while substitute Sean Delaney got a fine individual point after running at the Nemo defence. On each occasion though Nemo hit back as they would when Eddie Coughlan scored his ninth free. Nemo pushed hard for the equaliser but they were repelled by a backline where Joe Dunphy gave an outstanding performance from start to finish and was ably assisted by the likes of Mark O’Keeffe and David O’Mahony who also won their individual battles. The final whistle came after three minutes to the relief and happiness of the majority in the large crowd.

Team: Adam O’Halloran, Mark O’Keeffe, Joe Dunphy, David O’Mahony, Aidan Docherty, Ruairí Quinlan, Adam Bowen, Eddie Coughlan (0-10, 9 frees) Evan Flynn (1-00), Seán Whelan (0-01), Billy Ryan, Cian Ryan (0-01), Micheal Murphy (1-00), Rob Sheehan, Ronan Healy. Subs used: Seán Delaney (0-01), John Barry.

MCCURTAIN CUP HURLING White’s Cross 1-12 St Vincent’s 1-14

White’s Cross were knocked out of the McCurtain Cup when they played St Vincent’s in Páirc Uinsinn on Sunday morning last at their grounds in Kilmore Road, Knocknaheeny. This, as the scoreline suggests, was a very closely fought game throughout. White’s Cross put in a strong performance despite having an injury hit squad. Only 17 players togged out and a number of those were carrying injuries. Most of the scoring was done in the first half with again Eddie Coughlan being the scorer-in-chief for the Cross. That said there was a greater spread of scorers on this occasion with Cathal O’Flynn and Cathal Quinlan both on the scoresheet while the score of the half was an outstanding long-range effort from wingback Seamus Quinlan. The score at half time was 0-10 to 0-08.

The home side got an early goal after the break to push five points clear. However, the visitors responded immediately with a point from Eddie Coughlan while Cathal O’Flynn pulled on a low ball that trickled over the line to leave the minimum between the sides. Vincents went back into the lead before an Eddie Coughlan free and Conor Buckley effort from play in the 15th minute put the sides level.

A tense 10 minutes followed where both sides had plenty of the ball but no scores were recorded. The home side had the luxury of substitutes and this made the difference as White’s Cross tired notably and struggled to get ball up the field. Vincents added two points in quick succession in the 26th and 27th minute. Eddie Coughlan pointed a 65 after a goal-mouth scramble. The last act of the game was another free from the home-side which saw them run out winners. There were plenty of positives from the White’s Cross point of view and plenty to work on as they complete their league programme.

Team: Shane Cahill, Senan Ryan, Murt Kelleher, Chris Dunne, Gearoid Fleming, Ruairi Quinlan, Seamus Quinlan (0-01), Max Philpott, Tom Casey, Donncha Murnane, Cathal Quinlan (0-01), Conor Buckley (0-01), Eddie Coughlan (0-08, four frees, one 65) Richie Sherlock, Cathal O’Flynn (1-01). Subs used: Seamus Reid, Fionnan Quinlan.

JUNIOR 4 FOOTBALL LEAGUE

White’s Cross 1-15 Ballyphehane 2-15

Our second adult football team went under to Ballyphehane in the league in a game played in White’s Cross on Monday, 8th May. This was a very open game of football; particularly in the first half where there were over 22 scores in thirty minutes (there was no injury time).

Max Philpott opened the scoring within 20 seconds of the throw in to put the home side into the lead for the first and only time. A long, high-ball deceived goalkeeper Jack O’Driscoll, who otherwise put in a great shift, a minute later to put the southsiders in front. They were a well-drilled outfit whose fast, direct running and slick passing caused White’s Cross countless problems in the opening period.

They rattled five points in succession before Brendan Quaine kicked a couple of frees from the ground to keep his team in the game. White’s Cross’ second point from play came courtesy of Ruairi Teehan in the 20th minute. Eddie Coughlan added two more from play before the break, but these were in response to another goal and four points (all from play) from a dominant ‘Hane outfit. They led at the break on a scoreline of 2-12 to 0-07.

The break came at the right time for White’s Cross. Though there were some positives, it was the visitors that had dictated the pace of the game. However, it was the proverbial game of two halves as the second thirty belonged to the Cross. Points from Eddie Coughlan, Cathal O’Flynn, Luke Murphy and Ruairi Teehan brought the home side right back into the contention. Ballyphehane only added three points (the first in the 20th minute) in the second half. However, they came at crucial stages and made sure that White’s Cross were not able to cut the deficit below five points. Eddie Coughlan did get a late goal to cut the deficit to three points. While they did have two more attacks, they were not able to get the second goal that they needed. Ballyphehane ran out deserving winners.

Starting team: Jack O’Driscoll, Chris Dunne, Ronan Quaine, Seán O’Donnell, Cathal Quinlan, Tom Casey, Luke Murphy, Brendan Quaine, Daniel Kelleher, Cathal O’Flynn, Eddie Coughlan, Max Philpott, Ruairi Teehan, Fionnán Quinlan, Colin Punch. Subs used: Stephen Whooley, Seán O’Leary.

REBEL ÓG EAST U14 1 HURLING LEAGUE St Colmcille’s 1-10 Watergrasshill 2-07

Both sides played out a cracking draw on a glorious night for hurling in this hurling league clash played in Carraig na bhFear on Friday, 12th May. The outlook did not look good for Colmcille’s early on as the visitors raced into a 2-02 to 0-00 lead after 10 minutes. Their full-forward line in particular was causing all sorts of problems for the home side’s defence.

However, Colmcilles slowly started to come into the game. Charlie Horgan, Davyn Maher and man-of-the-match Dylan Manley got on top at the back and Fachtna Kelleher, Mike Murphy and Tom O’Sullivan started running at the Hill defence. This drew fouls and Alex Sheehan punished each of them. Colmcilles scored seven points before the break (all frees) to the Hill’s one. At half time the score was 2-03 to 0-07.

Oisín Arrigan and Matt Laffan were introduced at half time and both had a big influence in the second half. Arrigan opened the scoring with a great point from play. Laffan’ height caused a lot of problems for the away side and he scored a crucial goal mid-way through the half to put Colmcille’s in the lead. The last quarter was nip and tuck as put sides pushed to win the game. The Hill went back into the lead before Alex Sheehan levelled with his ninth point of the game late to secure a share of the spoil for his side.

Team: Brian Barry, Josh Varley, Charlie Horgan, Dara O’Driscoll, Dylan Manley, Davyn Maher, Ronán Aherne, Tom O’Sullivan, Fachtna Kelleher, Tom Collins, Joe Aitken, Mike Murphy, Cillian Burns, Alex Sheehan (0-09, all frees), Evan O’Leary. Subs: Matt Laffan (1-00), Oisín Arrigan (0-01).

REBEL ÓG EAST U12 HURLING LEAGUE St Colmcille’s 2-08 Fr O’Neills 1-06

The U12 hurlers had a well-earned win over Fr O’Neills in the hurling league in a game played in Carraig na bhFear on Monday, 8th May. St Colmcilles edged a low-scoring first half by three points. Both defences were very much on top in the opening period. Max O’Reilly at wingback for the home side was the star-man while Ben Cashman added a couple of nice points for his side at the other end.

The second half saw Craig Kennedy introduced to the Colmcilles’ full-forward line. He got on a lot of ball and wasn’t long to net a crucial goal for his side. The Ladysbridge outfit were never going to lie down easily, and they came right back into contention with a major of their own. Cárthach Kelleher (on free taking duty) and Joe Coughlan added some frees to keep their side in the lead. A great goal from Harry Horgan ensured the victory. O’Neills kept battling away but strong performances from the likes of Tom Kelleher, Tommy Forrest and David Lynch kept then at bay and guaranteed there would be no late drama.