INTERMEDIATE FOOTBALLERS GET SEASON OFF ON A HIGH

BY NATHAN WALL P.R.O

TOM CREEDON CUP:
CARRIGALINE 1-11
ERINS OWN 2-07

The Carrigaline Intermediate footballers got the 2006 season off on a great start in Carrigaline on Saturday afternoon with a one-point victory over newcomers and last year’s Junior County champions Erins Own. It was a Barry O’ Keeffe penalty in the last minute of the game that won it for Carrigaline after full forward Daniel Twomey was taking down as he was clean through on goal. The visiting team got off to the better start with them playing the better football and putting the very young Carrig defence under pressure, Carrig goalkeeper Tony Harris pulled off a superb save after 2 minutes to deny the Caherlag side an early advantage. In a very scrappy first half where Carrigaline failed to take full advantage of the strong wind blowing up the pitch and where some players were finding it hard to get used to the slippery conditions it was the away team that took an early advantage from the placed ball and after 12 minutes they were two points to none ahead. Both teams were at fault for some very silly fouling and also some bad passes but a good passage of play in the Carrigaline backline helped Carrig get on the scoreboard, half forward Wesley O’ Brian, who on the day was outstanding, won possession in the corner back he ran up the pitch and layed an excellent pass off to John Mullaney, who also on the day had a fine display and worked hard all over the pitch, as Mullaney was going through he was fouled and Barry O’ Keeffe kicked his free straight over the bar. This was one of many great passage plays from Carrigaline on the day but even the fact that the game was a scrappy one some of the play and build up to scores was excellent to watch. Yet again Erins Own took a comfortable lead after 20 minutes and were 4 points to 2 ahead, but it was in the final minutes of the first where Carrig really played, 4 unanswered points put them two points up going in at half time with O’ Brian, O’ Keeffe and Eoin O’ Sullivan slotting over some fine points for Carrigaline. Half time score was Carrigaline 0-6 Erins Own 0-4. In an enjoyable second half which saw both teams having a lot of possession it was the Carrig backs that won the game, last minute interceptions and great block downs was to be seen in the second half. It was Erins Own that got off to a better start in the opening moments of the second half and wasted to great chances of scoring two points and making it level, two easy frees were wastefully put wide. Then on the sixth minutes came one of 3 goals, Carrig midfielder Eoin De Barra somehow managed to get the ball to the back of the net to put Carrigaline 5 points clear. Carrigaline went further ahead from the boot of Barry O’ Keeffe after De Barra was fouled in front of the goal but this was one of the last passages of play for Carrigaline for about ten Minutes as Erins took charge and began to dominate. Carrigalines chances were not aided when they lost corner Kieran Blake due to an injury and Colin Lynch replaced him with 15 minutes on the clock. The Caherlag team managed to score 2 goals and 3 points in the last 15 minutes with one of the goals coming from a harsh penalty. But just like the first half it was Carrigaline who finished stronger with good points from O’ Keeffe and O’ Sullivan. In the final few moments of the game both teams kicked some nice points and nobody knew who was going to be victorious until the last minute when O’ Keeffe easily tapped over the bar from the penalty spot to the disgust of Erins Own and the home side were victorious on the day. Carrigaline were well served by Alan Noonan, Wesley O’ Brian; Barry O Keeffe and John Mullaney. Final score Carrigaline 1-11 Erins Own 2-07. Carrigaline team: T Harris, C Touhy, B Irwin, K Blake, P Clancy, A Noonan, K Forbes, E De Barra, E Murphy, W O’ Brian, E O’ Sullivan, E O’ Keeffe, J Mullaney, D Twomey, B O’ Keeffe. Subs- C Lynch for K Blake (inj)
Minor B Football League
The Minor B Footballers were most unfortunate to lose by one point to Delaneys after putting in a great second half comeback. Delaneys had the upper hand around the middle of the field in the first half and putting over some good points. There lead of 8 points to 3 at half time could have been greater but for the fine display of Carrig goalkeeper Kevin Ahern who brought off a number of fine saves.
Carrig were a different team in the second half with Eoin O’Sullivan taking over at midfield and Jamie O’Sullivan and David Manley also impressing. Carrig drew level entering the last couple of minutes and were most unfortunate when a goal bound shot from Ivan Ward hit the post. Delaneys had few attacks in the second half but they got there only point and what proved to be the winning point in the last minute to leave the final score Carrigaline 0-8, Delaneys 0-9.
Team: Kevin Ahern, Brendan Cashman, Ger Kiely, Brian Giltinan, Shane Noonan, Cillian Kavanagh, Brian Twomey, Eoin O’Sullivan, Eoin Harrington, Simon Deedy, Ivan Ward, Kyle Kinsella, Stephen Power, Jamie O’Sullivan, David Manley. Subs: James Crowley and Adrian Lynch.

OTHER NEWS:
The club held its annual dinner dance on Saturday 25th February in the Carrigaline Court Hotel. On the night the Premier Minor Hurling Trophy was on display plus the South East U21 b football trophy. It was a great night and special guest on the night Mr. Jim Healy of the Minor board spoke on the minor success and the future of this promising team. Astra Construction, the club sponsors presented the cheque to the club and a very deserving winner of the hall of fame award Tom Cooney said a few words also. In the chairman’s address, Billy Walsh wished Tom O’ Mahony a very speedy recovery and also spoke on the Minors Success. The club would like to congratulate former club player Padraig O’ Driscoll on his debut with the Dublin Senior hurlers and wish him the best of luck with them.
VISIT THE CLUB WEBSITE AT WWW.CARRIGALINEGAA.COM

Carrigaline Under Age GAA

City Under 15 Football League (Section 1)
Ballincollig 1 – 6 Carrigaline 1 - 4
On Saturday last at Ballincollig the Under-15 footballers played their first competitive game of 2006. Despite being short nine of the panel for a variety of reasons Carrig gave a gutsy and committed display before going down by the narrow margin of two points.
Outstanding for Carrigaline were Michael Dwane, Eoin Horgan, Stephen Gorman and Liam O Regan.

Street Leagues
At a recent meeting plans were drawn up for the 2006 Street League Programme. At this meeting Neil O Keeffe was elected as Chairman and the task of putting managerial teams and coaches in place for the various age-groups was addressed.

Registration for all players ages 6 – 10 years will take place at the GAA Club on Saturday February 25th between 11.00a.m. and 12.30p.m.
New players are very welcome in all age groups

Outdoor training will commence in March on a date to be confirmed. At present the Under 9/10’s are training indoors in the Community Hall on Tuesday nights.

CARRIGALINE GAA CLUB NEWS

BY NATHAN WALL PRO

JUNIOR 1 CITY FOOTBALL LEAGUE:
Carrigaline 0-8
St. Nicks 0-14

The Junior A footballers of Carrigaline played their first league game of 2006 in a superb pitch in Glen Field last Sunday morning. Both teams had early exchanges, which involved some nice free flowing football to be played. It took almost ten minutes for a score to be registered and it was Carrig who scored the first point with a pointed free from Cormac Creed Nolan. Carrig soon built on this and within minutes had another two points on the board after Nolan and Michael Webb kicked over. Both teams enjoyed some stages of dominance and the home kicked over some nice scores to reduce the deficit. Further points from Carrig left nothing between the sides and at half time the visitors had the smallest of leads on a scoreline of Carrigaline 0-5 St.Nicks 0-4. Perhaps the turning point came 5 minutes into the second half when a St Nicks player received his marching orders, and as all teams do when they are a man down they up their performance and the Blackpool side certainly did this. The home side were soon 4 points clear but if it was not for Carrig goalkeeper James O’ Reilly Nicks would have walked away with the game earlier in the match. Carrigaline upped their game but found it very difficult to penetrate a stubborn Nicks defence. With 5 minutes left on the clock Carrig yet again pressed very hard but it was the northsiders who went on to chip two late points over to leave the full time score St. Nicks 0-14 Carrigaline 0-8. Carrigaline were well served on the day by James O’ Reilly, Rory Barrett, Geoff Dillion, Paul Holland and Cormac Creed Nolan.
MINOR B CITY/ SOUTHEAST FOOTBALL:
The Minor B Footballers put up a spirited performance against Bishopstown and with a bit of luck could have emerged as winners.
Despite playing against the wind Carrig took the game to Bishopstown but Bishopstown forwards were very good in front of goal and led at half time by 10 points to one. The score could have been different if the Carrig lads had any bit of luck in front of goal. Simon Deedy had a great shot well saved by the Bishopstown goalie. A subsequent penalty hit the post and stayed out and a number of good chances from frees were missed. The only Carrig score came form the effective full forward Jamie O’Sullivan.
Bishopstown had the first score of the second half but carrig came storming back into the game when Eoin O’Sullivan goaled. An unfortunate injury to Andy O’Sullivan left Carrig short a player and Bishopstown took full advantage to goal. Carrig fought back again and a beautiful goal from Stephen Power left the final score Carrigaline 2-4, Bishopstown 1-11.
Team: Brian Giltinan, Cillian Kavanagh, Brendan Cashman, Stephen O’Gorman, Kevin Aherne, Andrew O’Sullivan, Eoin O’Sullivan, Eoin Harrington, Simon Deedy, Ivan Ward, David Manley, Stephen Power, Jamie O’Sullivan and Liam O’Regan

CARRIGALINE GAA CLUB NEWS:
BY NATHAN WALL PRO

JUNIOR 3 CITY LEAGUE:
CARRIGALINE 0-3
RATHPEACON 2-10

The killer b team played their first league game of the year in Carrigaline on Sunday last. In an entertaining opening few minutes where both teams kicked a few bad wides it was the visitors, who on the day were way too strong for a very young Carrig side. Rathpeacon scored the first two points of the game but they were soon equaled out with two points from Mick Quinn and a superb solo run from John Walsh saw his fine effort just sail over for a point. But that was all Carrig could manage to score in the first half even though they had numerous chances, Carrig’s efforts were not helped with the fact that the visitors scored two easy goals to leave the half time score reading Carrigaline 0-2 Rathpeacon 2-4. The second half saw Rathpeacon take total control of the game scoring 6 points where Carrig could only manage the 1, but this does not reflect the team’s performance because throughout the game they played with heart and pride. The game was made worse with a serious injury to corner back Eoin Murphy who broke his leg in this game and will be a major loss to this team. Final score Rathpeacon 2-10 Carrigaline 0-3.
OTHER NEWS:
The club victory dinner dance is been held on Feb 25th in the Carrigaline Court Hotel and tickets are €35. The tickets are available from club officers, music on the night is by Midnight Hour and a great night is guaranteed. Membership is also due and must be paid before 1st March. It is vital that all membership is collected early on in the year and Membership can be paid in the club on Tuesday nights between 2000 hrs and 2130 hrs. Over the weekend a few players in the adult section received serious injuries and the club would like to wish these players, Neilly Hayes, Eoin Murphy, John Keohane and Nicholas Murphy a very speedy recovery.
CONDOLENCES:
In the past couple of weeks the area of Carrigaline has lost a lot of highly active community people. The club would like to send their condolences to the family of the late Peg Farrissey, who was a great woman. Her son Gavin was a past player with Carrigaline and her son Ronan is highly involved in the Tennis club on the Gaa grounds. To the family of Alan Tuohy Shanbally, who passed away recently after a short illness. Alan was a city and southeast referee and refereed a lot of Carrigaline games very professional, he will be sadly missed on and off the field.
FIXTURES:
Sunday 12th February: Junior 1 city league V’s St. Nicks (away) @ 11:30
Junior 3 city league V’s Na Piarsigh (away) @ 11:30
Visit club website at www.carrigalinegaa.com for all latest news, fixtures, results and photos.