Newcastlewest GAA Club Notes

U21 HURLERS DIG DEEP TO CAPTURE FIRST WEST TITLE SINCE 1996
U21 HURLING WEST A CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
Newcastlewest……....................................................…2-9
Feenagh/Kilmeedy….......................................………1-11

Dromcollogher was the venue on Monday last with conditions as close to perfect as one could wish for with Shane Hourigan in charge of the whistle. It was all Feenagh/Kilmeedy in the opening 10 minutes as we struggled to get going and the boys in blue shot points at 3, 4, 5 and 8 minutes to lead by 0-4 to 0-0.
Thomas Quilligan settled the Magpies' nerves with 0-1 from a free at 11 minutes and then striker-Tony Quaid struck 3 in a row at 13, 17 and 23 minutes to leave the teams all square at 0-4 each. By half time Feenagh/Kilmeedy had moved 1-6 to 0-5 ahead, the goal in the 34the minute was of the 'soft' variety as our backs lost possession. A notable feature of the first half was our failure to convert frees and this nearly proved to be our downfall. 'Squandermania' from frees, 65s and play reached epidemic proportions in the second half as far more accurate Feenagh/Kilmeedy struck 0-5 in the 3rd quarter to our 0-2 and went 0-7 ahead on a score of 1-11 to 0-7. Our goose looked well and truly cooked! However, on the 51st minute after we had the umpires working overtime waving wides, captain Mark Kelly finally hit the jackpot,goaling brilliantly to close the gap to 0-4. On the 54th minute Tony Quaid converted a free to leave 0-3 between the teams.Feenagh/Kilmeedy were now well and truly on the back foot but we couldn't make our superiority tell on the scoreboard and as the game moved into t.a.o. and our wides tally mounted, we remained 0-3 behind. The cup looked Feenagh-bound. However, cometh the hour cometh the man! No heads dropped. As the the sliothar was cleared to midfield by our backs, the excellent Aaron McCarthy delivered a peach of a pass to Andy Curtin on the 21 and in a twinkling, the sliothar was in the back of the net from the Beechwood man, leaving the scores level at 2-8 to 1-11. We now had the momentum but momentum alone doesn't win matches and it was Tony Quaid now on free taking duties, who gave us the lead we were not to lose, with a point from a close-in free at 35. Feenagh/Kilmeedy then had a chance to level from a scoreable free but didn't and we had good reason to praise the work of our defenders as they dug deep to hold out in the final, exciting, dramatic and tension-filled 2 minutes. Shane Hourigan's final whistle was greeted with relief and joy by players, mentors and supporters. Johnny Brosnihan presented captain Mark Kelly with the cup and  he was fulsome in his praise for all involved in this very exciting and sporting final. In winning a first U21 hurling title for the club since 1996, the team played with discipline, commitment, determination and a lot of skill. There was 100% effort put in by each and every one of the seventeen players who got game time and all now look forward to the county semi final. Well done to all. Well done also to Feenagh/Kilmeedy,the most sporting of opponents.
Team: Tomas Murphy, Brian O'Doherty, Maurice Murphy, Ronan Kelleher, Michael Mulcahy, Niall Enright, Paul Hannon, Mark Kelly, captain 1-0, Kieran McMahon, Andrew Curtin 1-0, Timmy Nix, Seán Neville, Thomas Quilligan 0-4, Tony Quaid 0-5, Aaron McCarthy. Subs: Shane Collins, Jamie Lee, James Quaid. James Kelly(out due to suspension),Donnacha Woods,work-tied,both played significant parts in the progress to the final.
Management:Pa O'Connor, Neilus Sheehy, Peter Curtin (snr), billy Lee. Physio: Seán Roche.

INTERMEDIATE HURLING
County Championship Round 3
Newcastlewest v      Pallasgreen
Saturday evening next at 7p.m. in Kilmallock are the arrangements. We are in line for a quarter final place, but could also lose out depending on results. Pallas are without points after defeats v Kildimo and v Knockaderry but will contest every ball with 100% commitment. Their best known player is Lorcan O'Dwyer, wing back for the Limerick v Offaly game on Saturday last. We have been playing well enough this year but are likely to be without two of our top performers, Stephen Nix and Tony O'Connor,both on the injured list. Down to the wire is the expectation.

Dromcollogher  Tournament Final
Newcastlewest.............1-8
Dromina………........1-11
With many of our experi-enced intermediates out due to holidays, injuries etc we put out a very young team with all of the forwards U21,and 9 U21s on board altogether. Against the mature, talented intermediate title-chasing North Cork team our understrength team did very well indeed.They were competitive right up to the final whistle and the younger brigade gained invaluable experience which will stand them in good stead for Monday's West U21 Final. The until recently unavailable Karl Fullam excelled at No. 5 and another to impress was Maurice Murphy,first at wing back, later at No. 4. On a darkish, wettish evening there was a lot to enjoy about our display.
Team: Ollie McCoy, Evan Egan, Pa Keane, Michael O'Grady, Karl Fullam, Martin Hennessy 0-2, Maurice Murphy, Tony Doyle, Mark Kelly, Paul Hannon 0-1, Timmy Nix 0-1, Mike Mulcahy 1-0, Thomas Quilligan 0-4, Andrew Curtin, Ronan Kelleher. Subs: Seán Barrett, Aaron McCarthy.
Seamus McNamara refereed and our thanks to the Drom/Broadford club for the invitation.

SENIOR FOOTBALL COUNTY LEAGUE
Newcastlewest v Fr.                Casey's
Scheduled for Fr. Casey's Inch on Saturday evening last,this game was postponed. It has been rescheduled for next week at the field.

JUNIOR B FOOTBALL WEST              CHAMPIONSHIP
With a round one win over Feenagh/Kilmeedy under our belts (almost 2 months ago) we await the second round. A long time to wait for a game and unlikely to enthuse a Junior B player who is a committed peileadóir.

JUNIOR B HURLING WEST                CHAMPIONSHIP,                ROUND 3
Newcastle West v Drom Broadford
Next Sunday at 7pm in Knockaderry are the arrangements, We're on full points from two wins.

MINOR-FOOTBALL PREMIER-COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Newcastle West v    Kilmallock
Rescheduled to last night, Tuesday, in Kilmallock,It was likely to be down to the wire in a very competitive Championship where qualification won't be easy.

TRAINING
Under 14/Under 13/Under 12/Under 10
Training continues at the usual times.

Under 8/Under 6
Training is at An Pairc Amuigh on Saturdays from 10am to 11.30am.
INTERCOUNTY U21 HURLING MUNSTER CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI FINAL
Limerick v Clare
The Gaelic Grounds this Wednesday July 14th, at 7.30pm. Peter Curtin is a selector.

INTERCOUNTY     SENIOR HURLING              CHAMIOPNSHIP  QUALIFIER ROUND 1
Limerick 1-13, Offaly 1-19.
Not unexpectedly Limerick exited the 2010 Champion-ship at Tullamore on Saturday but battled Offaly all the way to the final whistle.

INTERCOUNTY     SENIOR FOOTBALL
The Limerick seniors, awaiting the qualifiers, trained at the field on Monday.

INTERCOUNTY U14
Limerick v Kerry x 2
Pa Keane and J.D. Aherne were on mentor duty. Darragh Quilligan, Shane Stack and Andy Brouder played as Kerry enjoyed comprehensive wins in both games. The Kingdom remain significantly ahead of Limerick in football and how to close the gap is the big question.

LOTTERY
Last Monday's draw took place at the Central. The numbers drawn were: 14, 27, 28 and 30. The jackpot of €6,000 was not won. The five €40 lucky dip winners were: Carrie Nash, c/o Steve Nash, Luke Devine c/o Martin Sheehan, Breda Cahill, Glendarragh, Amos Reidy c/o ESB, Eileen O'Donoghue, c/o Kevin O'Donoghue. This week's jackpot is €6,200. The draw takes place at Goodfellas on Monday next July 19th at 11pm. The club thanks all who are supporting, promoting and hosting the lottery.

SENIOR COUNTY A CHAMPIONSHIP               ROUND 1
Newcastlewest v Murroe Boher
Saturday August 24th at 7.30p.m. at a neutral venue are the arrangements for this game. Murroe Boher impressed in 2009 their  intermediates promotion winning successes but only time will tell if their morale has survived the heavy defeats they suffered in this year's senior league. We're in the same boat ourselves after an effort filled but difficult 2009 and 2010 and with a very young team our best chance of success is in the Senior B Championship which we have never won and which we contest along with Murroe Boher, Knockaderry and Gal-bally, the other kids on the block! Anyway training continues.

U18 (MINOR) CO. CHAMPIONSHIP
The championship is some way away but obviously with the ambition being to retain the A title we won for the first time in 2009, all players with enthus-iasm and commitment will be linking up with the senior training. Many who are U18 are already playing senior but a few are not and it's these few who should be getting their act together by going along to Ger Sheehy's well organised training.

U16 COUNTY A     CHAMPIONSHIP
Training is underway and obviously  100% atten-dance is desirable as we pursue a league/championship double. It was down to the wire in the A League Final win over Killeedy and Timmy Larkin's team, Bruff, St. Anne's (Kerry) and Na Piarsaigh will, no doubt, be the teams to beat in the hard to win championship.

U14 COUNTY A     LEAGUE FINAL.  COUNTY A           CHAMPIONSHIP
Newcastle West v Na Piarsaigh
On a roll in camogie and Peil Na mBan since March, our U14s (most line out with Monagea in Peil Na mBan) are enjoying a break, getting their appetites back and recharging their batteries. First up after a return to action is the A League Final v talented Na Piarsaigh, the team's keenest rivals since U12.

U12 WEST AND     COUNTY               CHAMPIONSHIPS
Also on a well deserved break are the U12s who enjoyed an excellent league campaign,losing narrowly in the A Final to Monagea with many of the camogie players on board who reached and lost the County Peil Na mBan, Division 1 League Final). Next on their agenda is the West Championship featuring teams from all clubs in the division, played on a league basis with the top two contes-ting the final and with winner and runner-up contesting County A and B Championship respectively.

U10
Training is on Saturdays from 1p.m. to 2.30p.m. and on Wednesdays from 5.30p.m. to 7p.m. New players are always welcome.

U8
Training is on Saturdays from 11.45a.m. to 1p.m. and on Tuesdays from 5.30p.m. to 6.45p.m. All who are eight years of age and/or seven in 2010 are welcome.

Note Re U10/U8      Training
Training sessions will  not be cancelled except in certain circumstances but parents/guardians should make the call re attendance in the event of unsuitable/difficult weather conditions e.g. heavy rain, high winds etc.

INTERCOUNTY     INTERMEDATE, ALL IRELAND          CHAMPIONSHIP
Limerick....................0-11
Derry...........................2-8
A major shock as Derry surprised the favourites.

U18 MINOR, ALL  IRELAND A           CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 2
Limerick......................0-7
Galway.......................3-16
In Ahane on Wednesday last Elaine Kennedy and Ashling McCartan both got game time as the Tribeswomen outscored the girls in green.

ANNUAL CHURCH               GATE COLLECTION
This will be taken  up at all Masses on Saturday and Sunday next, July 17th/18th and all support is appreciated.

U14 HURLING       CHAMPIONSHIP
Newcastle West v    Claughaun
We travelled to the city last Wednesday without a few regulars, (Brian Hurley, holidays, Liam McCartan injured, Darragh Morrissey, holidays, Adam Harrington and Eoin Sheridan, holidays). We were a bit unsure of our ability though. Playing into the dressing room end against a breeze,we started strongly with Cormac Long at midfield winning great ball and supplying the forwards with plenty of possession. AJ O'Connor at centre forward got us going with three points, two from play and one from a free. Darragh McMahon had a great game at centre-field. He won a high ball and gave a crossfield ball to Shane Stack to finish a great move over the bar. Caleb O'Shea won a great ball down the wing, crossed it to the square and Darren Doherty scored a smashing point. Claughaun pressed hard and were rewarded with three points from three frees. At half time we were on top by five points. The forwards started well with AJ driving forward, he shot for goal from thirty yards and scored in the corner. The boys were well on top in the second half with Conor Barry and William Hurley clearing many balls down the field. Our scoring was finished by a great goal by Adam Corbett.
Team: Conor Sullivan, Andy Brouder, Conor Barry, Jack Fanning, Seán Ivess, William Hurley, Gerald Griffin, Darragh McMahon, Cormac Long, Caleb O'Shea, AJ O'Con-nor, Shane Stack, Shane Lee, Darren Doherty, Declan O'Connor, Conor Walton, Adam Corbett, Tom Darcy.

U14 FOOTBALL
U14 Football v Ahane, Monday,July 12th, Newcastle West walkover, Ahane scratched.
U13 HURLING       CHAMPIONSHIP
Today Wednesday, July 14th in Newcastle West.
U10 Hurling            Tournament 
Last Sunday we took the short journey to Drom-colligher to take part in a tournament as part of the Dromcolligher Festival, with Monagea, Dromcolligher and ourselves playing off to determine who would play in the final. We faced Dromcolligher first and due to a bad start we found ourselves on the back foot from the throw in and that's the way it stayed for the remainder of the match with Dromcolligher winning, next up were Monagea in a must-win match and having put the disappointment of the first game to one side we quickly set about taking the game to Monagea and ran out convincing winners.
With both Dromcolligher and ourselves having qualified for the final we were determined to atone for our earlier defeat, however as much and all as we tried we were unable to get the lead on Drom-colligher and we lost out by a few points. Well done to each of our players who gave a great account of themselves and showed great determination and skill throughout both matches.
We lined out as follws: Dylan Singh, Oisin Brennan, Luke Barrett, Brian Foley, Shane Sanlon, Shane O'Mahoney, Daniel Normoyle, Evan McMah-on, Blayne Ahern, Cian Daly, Ross Donovan, Daniel Hayes, Cian Searles, Cian Doody, Gavin Lane.
Training continues today Wednesday at 6pm at the field, We have a football blitz this Saturday morning at 10.30am. All players to be present at the field for 10am.

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