SCARTAGLEN

GAA LOTTO DRAW

Scartaglen GAA Club’s next Lotto Draw will take place at The Clubhouse on Sunday August 9th at 7pm when the jackpot will be E9,600.All ticket sellers are asked to have their tickets in prior to 7pm for this draw.

CEMETERY MASS

The annual open air mass at Scartaglen burial ground will not take place this year due to the Corona virus, instead the mass will be celebrated on this Wednesday evening in Castleisland Parish Church at 7.30pm which will be reserved for people from the Scartaglen area. It is important that all areas have a sense of ownership for their own celebration.

LADIES FOOTBALL

Scartaglen Minor and 14 Ladies football teams got their season off to a winning start last week. The minor team had a good win over Kilcummin at Scartaglen whilst the U14 had a very comprehensive victory over Rathmore in Rathmore on Saturday morning last.

JUNIOR CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP

Round 2 Junior Football Championship Result: Cordal GAA 0-9 Scartaglen 0-9

Scartaglen and Cordal played out a draw on a Saturday night in a tight, tense match that had all the hallmarks of a local derby. The regular showers of rain throughout added to the local derby feel but the covid-19 enforced crowd restrictions did add a unique element to the occasion.

Amy Reidy regaled the local crowd with a pitch perfect version of Amhrán na bhFiann before Tom Moriarty threw in the ball and we were underway. Eddie Horan opened the scoring with a fine effort from play. Both sides traded a succession of frees thereafter to leave the scores 4 points apiece with 25mins played (Eddie Horan x. 2 and Shay Walsh for Scart). Highlights of that period of play included two vital interceptions from Hugh O’Connor and Niall Casey soring highest to claim a long high ball into the forward line leading to the free which Shay converted. Seán Horan continued his fine form from last week and he put Scart back in front with the score of the game. Seán began the move by collecting a mark at midfield and taking off on a solo run.

A neat foot pass found Tom Forde in space before Forde quickly returned the ball to his midfield partner who pointed expertly. A black card for Tom Forde turned the flow of the match back in Cordal’s favour and their top gunner Philip O’Connor levelled matters before the half time whistle blew.

Cordal began the second half strongly as they looked to capitalise on their numerical advantage. A pair of frees put them two points up. Cordal upped the pressure and attempted a few high balls into the square but David Kerins was dominant and secure in the Scart goal.

Scart relied on enormous levels of grit and determination to see them through this period of the game. Conor Cremin worked himself to a standstill on the wing, Josh Kerin’s tackle count hit double figures while Brendan Rahilly covered more ground than a GPS tracker could measure. An incisive burst forward from Alan Horan led to a Shay Walsh point. At the other end, Cordal looked to re-establish their two point lead only for Eddie Horan to block down the effort. Scart broke quickly and the rehabilitated Tom Forde claimed an attacking mark, steadied himself and nailed a long-range point to level the game. Scart were on top again and when Mike Horan sent Eddie Horan through on goal, it looked like it would be Scart’s day. Alas, Eddie was scythed down from behind before he could shoot. The exchange of views that followed led to both sides being reduced to 14 men permanently.

Eddie kept his cool to put Scart ahead with the free. Cordal came right back and substitute Seán Walsh made it 8 points each with a fine solo effort. Both sides had introduced a number of reinforcements at this point and Scart’s Flor McCarthy unselfishly set up the tireless Shay Walsh to put the visitors back in front as the clock ticked towards full time. Cordal continued to attack and were awarded a free deep into injury time. Step forward Brian Reidy to nervelessly convert and earn his side a share of the spoils.

Unsurprisingly, this Championship group will go down to the wire. Scart play Beale at a neutral venue this weekend knowing a win will see us top the group and progress to the quarter-finals.