In what was an extremely busy weekend for club and division, the action commenced on Thursday night in The Ragg with the round robin format of Peil ‘B’ where Drom & Inch, Holycross-Ballycahill and Loughmore-Castleiney played each other for the right to represent the division in the county series. First up it was Drom & Inch against Holycross Ballycahill, where the Holycross boys got into their stride quickly with Eanna Ryan opening the scoring with a point early on and as their dominance began to tell Paddy McGrath found the net shortly before half time. Ben Stapleton pointed for Drom soon after the restart but a brace of goals from Mikie Nally sealed Drom’s fate as Holycross notched up the first victory of the night.
Next up Drom & Inch took on Loughmore-Castleiney in a very competitive contest. Loughmore opened the scoring before Niall Fogarty netted for Drom who were now coming to life. Conor Ryan though was in terrific form for Loughmore and scored the goal of the night with a super strike following a penetrating run, his side ahead at the break. The Drom lads came out with gusto in the second half and were soon back in front through Ben Stapleton who scored his second goal of the night, Drom consolidated their lead with three further points as they eventually gained the upper hand in holding out for victory.
So the final match had Holycross-Ballycahill back into the fray against Loughmore-Castleiney to decide the destiny of the Peil B title. The early signs were ominous for Loughmore and so it turned out to be as Holycross upped the ante considerably and ruthlessly. Ben Slattery netted in the opening minute and as his side controlled the play Jack Ryan did likewise midway through the half. Eanna Ryan then made it three as the exerted Holycross pressure paid dividends, Holycross comfortable at the break. Paddy McGrath took no time in getting his second of the night in as many games before a gallant Loughmore side got some rhythm of their own going. Conor Ryan was central to the cause again and his excellence in driving his side on saw him kick 1-01 inside two minutes to rally the troops. Darragh Nolan was another who gave his all and tried hard throughout. Alas though, the Holycross machine kept motoring fuelled by another goal from the foot of Denis Caesar this time as they continued to keep the foot on the pedal, Caesar in fact was unlucky not to have doubled his account as his side ran out comfortable winners. Holycross-Ballycahill now go on to play North opposition in Peil B in the county semi-final and with stars of the calibre of joint captains Cormac O’Connor and David Manning as well as Eanna Ryan, Mikie Nally and Paddy McGrath up front, with Frank Hanafin and Eamon Ryan also prominent in defence, they will provide a stern challenge to any opposition.
The Jimmy Coppinger sponsored Feile na nGael semi-finals and final took place in Littleton last Sunday morning with Moycarkey-Borris the eventual winners adding to their Peil crown of a week previous. Darren Flood was the main menace to Durlas Og in their semi-final victory while the other semi was a close run affair until an injury to one of Boherlahan’s main players enabled JK Brackens to stamp their authority on that one. We wish the very best of luck to both Moycarkey-Borris and Holycross-Ballycahill in their respective county semi-finals.
With the Roger Ryan Tournament called off due to a bereavement, Dr. Morris Park was the setting for the U16 Garda Cup. Mid played North in semi-final action and after a pulsating clash Mid emerged winners by five points. This was an energy sapping encounter with both sides going at it full throttle. James O’Sullivan scored Mids first goal and Lyndon Fairbrother contributed three first half points to leave Mid ahead at the break 1-07 to 0-6. North fought back and had the game all tied on eight minutes. However, hitting the net with a super strike Conor Stakelum got his first of two second half goals on eleven minutes to put Mid back in front. As Mid held on for victory Fairbrother fired over late on to ensure the win.
The final against South was even enough for the first half with the scores tied at the break Mid 1-1 to 0-4, the Mid goal coming courtesy of Stakelum again. Visibly tiring in the second half, Mid didn’t play the width of the pitch to their advantage and got sucked into up the middle tactics and unfortunately succumbed to a four point deficit. This great bunch of lads will know in their heart and soul that performance was well below their par as they are capable of much more as shown earlier in the semi-final. That being said the defence played excellent in both matches and were superb in the semi-final with Diarmuid Ryan in sparkling form and ably assisted by Diarmuid Leahy and Gavin Dunne upon his early introduction.
With mentors of the calibre of Ronan Stanley (Gortnahoe-Glengoole), Kieran Young (Drom-Inch) and Andy Ryan (GDA), they will no doubt bounce back for the interdivisional series on the May bank holiday weekend. Here again we thank one and all for their fantastic effort and dedication to training over the past few months.
Mid Tipp Garda Cup Panel; David O Shea (J.K. Brackens), Eoin Nesbitt (Clonakenny), Conor O’Meara (Drom-Inch), Diarmuid Ryan (Clonakenny), Diarmuid Leahy (Moyne-Templetuohy), Brian McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney), Tom Murphy (J.K. Brackens), Conor Sheedy (do), Radek Natkainec (do), James O’Sullivan (Boherlahan-Dualla), Bill Darcy (Durlas Og), Stephen Flanagan (Holycross-Ballycahill), Conor Stakelum (Durlas Og), Lydon Fairbrother (J.K. Brackens), Matthew Kelly (Durlas Og) Subs; Padraic Campion (Drom-Inch), Gavin Dunne (Holycross-Ballycahill), Eoin Ryan (Moycarkey-Borris), Bill Byrne (Durlas Og), T.J. Butler (Upperchurch-Drombane), Conor Ryan (Upperchurch-Drombane), Fionn Cleary (Gortnahoe-Glengoole), Harry Fitzgibbon (Durlas Og), DeLacey Byrne (Clonakenny), Mark Ryan (Moyne-Templetuohy), Keith O’Dwyer (Durlas Og), Stephen Maher (Loughmore-Castleiney), Fionn McCartan (Holycross-Ballycahill), Eoin Hayes (Moycarkey-Borris)
By Jonathan Cullen Mon 14th Apr
