Carrigaline Under Age GAA Report

EIRE OG 1 – 12 CARRIGALINE 3 – 8

Carrigaline travelled to Ovens on Saturday to play the home side in the Premier County Football Quarter Final. This was Carrigaline’s first Championship outing since meeting Sliabh Rua in the SE Final. The squad was well prepared having had some excellent training sessions in the lead up to this game.
Eire Og as expected started strongly, pushing forward and scoring three early points. Some astute sideline switches changed the balance of the game and allowed Carrig to gain a grip. A free by Niall Coakley resulted in a goal. The sides then traded points before Eire Og broke through on the Carrigaline goal with only the keeper to beat. James O’Reilly was equal to the task and deflected the ball over the bar. With very strong defence from all six defenders Carrigaline began to strengthen their grip on the game. A pinpoint pass from Robert Foley in midfield into the path of David O’Regan who deflected the ball to Simon O’Brien and Carrig had another goal. From the kick out the ball was won by Carrigaline, carried forward by Conor Hurley who passed to David O’Regan and following an exchange of passes with Simon O’Brien, David found the Eire Og net for Carrig’s third goal. Eire Og responded with several attacks on the Carrigaline goal but solid goalkeeping prevented a goal. At half time Carrigaline led by 3 - 2 to 0 - 7.

The second half commenced with Carrigaline having the wind to their backs. In trying for a score they gained a 45 which was converted by Niall Coakley. Eire Og responded with a point from a free. From a short kick out Eire Og pressurised the Carrigaline defence, who were unable to clear the ball, resulting in a goal for the home side. At this stage the score was Carrigaline 3.06 to Eire Og 1.11., and you knew it could go either way. With home advantage the Eire Og supporters willed on their side. Carrig responded with a point from David O’Regan. David Manley came on for Kyle Kinsella, quickly picked up the ball, but was narrowly wide of the target. The excitement was mounting with both sides putting pressure on the opposition goalmouths but sending their shots wide. Another push forward by Eire Og saw them breaking through but James O Reilly was quickly off his line to make a great save. The breaking ball was quickly cleared forward to Niall Coakley who scored a point for Carrig. With Carrig leading only by two points it was a heart stopping last few minutes as a goal for Eire Og would snatch victory from our grasp. However Carrigaline willed themselves forward and gained a well deserved victory. Eire Og, a sporting side, wished them well in the Semi Final next Saturday, venue and time to be decided.
The Carrigaline panel was : James O’Reilly, Killian Kavanagh, Darragh Coughlan, Brian Giltinan, Cian O’Sullivan, Conor Hurley, Andy O’Sullivan, Robert Foley, Eoin O’Sullivan, Tony Murphy, David O’Regan, Eoin Harrington, Kyle Kinsella, Niall Coakley, Simon O’Brien, Brendan Cashman, Jamie O’Sullivan, Stephen Power, Kevin Ahern, Tony O’Connor, Shane Noonan, David Manley and Brian Twomey.
FE 14 COUNTY FOOTBALL QUARTER FINAL

CARRIGALINE 5 – 3 ST. MICHAELS 3 – 14

Also on Saturday last at Carrigaline St Michaels were visitors in the County quarter final in Under 14 football. In a high-scoring game the visitors emerged victorious despite a brave display from the Carrig team. The game was marred by injuries received by two Carrigaline players caused by late tackles which necessitated them to be taken to hospital by ambulance. Thankfully the players, David Spillane and Sean Mellett, were not detained in hospital and we wish them speedy recoveries from their injuries. It is regrettable to see players injured as a result of unsporting behaviour, especially so at underage level.
At half-time the sides were deadlocked at 2 – 3 to 1 – 6 and Carrig were well in contention until outstanding goalkeeper, Sean Mellett, was injured. Still Carrig fought courageously to the finish and emerged as the real winners on a day when the sport of Gaelic Football was the loser.

U-12 City Hurling League.

Carrigaline (1-5) V Bishopstown (2-5).

Carrigaline already qualified for the Semi-Finals in the City league lost out to a more determined Bishopstown team on Saturday afternoon last. With a turn out of a large U-12 panel, all got a good chance to play football after a summer of hurling.
The lads played well throughout the game with Michael McIntyre clearing a lot of ball at corner back. Jamie Kind played well at full back. Bishopstown were strong up the centre but our lads stood up to them. Brian Curran also played well out on the wing. At half time Carrigaline had one point on the score board and made a few changes. In the second half they piled forward to narrow the gap to 3pts but ran out of time as Bishopstown held on. Andrew Thomas, Kevin Conlon and Conor Cremin along with Philip Ahern all put in a great effort

CARRIG U21 HURLERS PUT IN BRAVE CHALLENGE DESPITE DEFEAT
COMPLIED BY NATHAN WALL PRO

UNDER 21 SOUTH EAST HURLING FINAL:
Two timely goals from corner forward Tadgh Fitzgerald put Valley Rovers into cruise control in this South East Final played in Riverstick on Sunday last. With the sides level at 1-4 to 0-7 after 2 minutes of the second half, Fitzgerald struck a major blow to Carrig’s chances of victory with two goals in the space of 3 minutes to end Carrigalines brave challenge and put his team on a point scoring spree. Valley’s had a powerful second half display and added 2-9 while Carrig could only manage to score four points, 3 of these coming after immediately after the goals and giving Carrig a slight chance of a comeback put the experience of Valley’s, who had a superb victory against a very favored Ballinhassig side in the semi, put them on the path to victory.Carrigaline had the perfect start when Barry O’ Keeffe batted in a goal from close range in the 10th minute. Michael O’ Sullivan and Gary Harrington both hit points while Valleys replied with two points from Ritchie Butler and Cork Intermediate hurler Kevin Canty. Valleys soon began to dominate and converted 3 frees to level the game. And going into the break at half time valleys had the slightest of leads despite a massive pointed free from Gary Harrington, half time score Valley Rovers 0-7 Carrigaline 1-3. Craig Neville spilt the posts on the restart but then Valleys goaled. A minute later an attempt by Canty hit the post and Fitzgerald was on had to respond fastest to easily tap in for the Rovers. Carrig managed 3 further points from Elliot O’ Keeffe and Michael O’ Sullivan (2) but from here Valleys took control. Valleys hit over a brace of unanswered points to the disgust of the Carrig team and on the day the rovers held on for a deserved victory on a scoreline of Carrigaline 1-7 Valley Rovers 2-17. The scoreline does not reflect Carrig’s performance as every player played his heart out and with one player missing for next year this team will hopefully be back in a final and hopefully be walking off the pitch as winners. Well done to Valleys who now go onto play Bandon in the County and Best of luck to them also in the U21 county football final against Nemo Rangers.
PREMIER MINOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP:
This weekend sees the Premier Minor footballers play Ballincollig in the quarter final of the county. After a great victory over Valley Rovers in the first round Carrig will find their opponents a bit better than their first game. The game is fixed for this Sunday 23rd of October @ 1200 noon in Brinny. Best of luck to the team and lets hope they can continue their flying form this year and come off with a victory.
FIXTURES:
SUNDAY 23RD OCTOBER: PREMIER MINOR FOOTBALL COUNTY QUARTER FINAL: CARRIGALINE V’s BALLINCOLLIG: VENUE: BRINNY @ 1200 NOON.

MINOR HURLERS CONTINUE GOOD RUN
BY NATHAN WALL PRO

PREMIER MINOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP:
The Carrigaline Premier minor hurlers continued their fine season with a hard fought victory against north Cork division Duhallow and now find themselves in the Semi-Final of the county championship where they now await the winners of Sars and Inascarra. After narrowly beating another north Cork club, Rathliurc, at least 3 months ago Carrig had the presence of Joe Moran and Peter Ronayne back in the squad. Carrig had a good start which saw them put massive pressure on the Duhallow defence and scored 3 great points from Tony Murphy, Wesley O’ Brian and midfielder Mitchell Cuddihy. Duhallow found themselves playing against a swirling wind that favored Carrig in the first half. Duhallows first attack was on the 7th minute after they were settling back into the game and on the 8th minute after a lot of pressure were awarded a penalty that was sensibly pointed. Immediately after the puck out the Duhallow midfielder won possession and was striking the sliothar for a certain point until he was amazingly blocked down by Ronayne, and from a defencesive position Carrig were soon on the attack which led to a great point from Craig Neville and in the space of 3 minutes Carrig were soon on top. Carrig managed to keep possession from the puck out and a great ball by Cuddihy was won by Timmy Kennellly which ended up in the bottom right hand corner of the net and again straight from the puck out a Paul Campbell point made it 1-5 to 0-1 after 17 minutes of play. After this Duhallow creep back into the game with 2 unanswered points from play and Carrig could have been climbing a mountain if it was for the outstanding efforts of Shane Barry in goal who throughout the game pulled off some outstanding point blank saves and if he hadn’t made these saves I can guarantee Carrig would not be looking forward to the Semi- Final. With the pace of the game picking up a bit and better play from both sides an excellent Wesley O’ Brian point put Carrig further ahead and he was ably assisted by Paul Campbell. In the final minutes of the first half both teams had mixed fortunes with Carrig scoring 3 points in the final 3 minutes of times with those points coming from Cuddihy, Neville and Corcoran. But in the 2 minutes of injury time the North Cork men scored 2 magnificent points and it must be side that their full forward line was causing hassle for the Carrig defence and it was up to Shane Barry to yet again deny the Duhallow side with the last puck of the first half. Half time score: Carrigaline 1-9 Duhallow 0-5. The Carrigaline management would have been a bit worried at the interval as they should have been further ahead at the break and Duhallow were no means our of this game. It was the North Cork men who registered the first point of the second half with 25 minutes left in the game and they were beginning to attack a lot more but a solid display in the second half by the Rock John Walsh who had a mighty second half with very strong clearance and mighty catches was one of the signs that Carrig wanted it more. It took Carrig 12 minutes to get on the scoreboard in the second half as they found it very hard to break the Duhallow defence and the hardworking Wesley O’ Brian fired over Carrig’s 11th score to make it 1-10 to 0-6 with 18 minutes remaining. But like throughout the game Duhallow replied with a sweet point. In a second half which was very scrappy and never really sparked it was always going to be Carrig to progress on the day as they had players who were leaders with the likes of Shane Barry, John Walsh, Ray Keohane, Peter Ronayne, Wesley O Brian and Craig Neville. In the final ten minutes of the game Carrig got fine points from Neville, Tony Murphy and a Jerry O’ Connor style point from Paul Campbell to seal the game for Carrig. In the final stages of the game Duhallow piled the pressure on as they searched for that goal that Shane Barry bravely denied them throughout the game but he could do nothing about the goal that trickled past him in the final minute. Further points from both clubs rounded of the game. Carrigaline ran out winners on the scoreline of Carrigaline 1-14 Duhallow 1-8.
SOUTH EAST U21 ‘A’ HURLING FINAL:
This weekend coming sees carrigaline compete in the South East final in Riverstick @ 1100 Sunday 16th against Valley Rovers. It has almost been a decade since a carrigaline u21 team competed in a south east u21 hurling final and they players deserve the support of the local community. Carrig already played valleys in the first round and got beaten well but the team has progressed since then and has put in solid performance to beat Shamrocks, Ballymartle and Courcey Rovers in the Semi. People will have already made their minds up on the favorites and no doubt on their record it will be Valley Rovers, but I can promise you that this game will be nothing like the first round with Carrig well up for this. Please come out and support the lads on the ambition on becoming victors. The game has an 1100 throw in @ riverstick on Sunday 16th October.

Fixtures:
SUNDAY 16TH OCTOBER: SOUTH EAST U21 ‘A’ FINAL: CARRIGALINE V’S VALLEY ROVERS IN RIVERSTICK @ 1100.