St Oliver Plunketts hurling Club Pen Pictures
October 17, 2013Player Pen Pictures
Peter Collins.
Peter has successfully made the goalkeeper's berth his own, can also play in the forward division and his free-taking abilities can be a great asset to this team. He has won numerous championships with Plunkett's and is a current member of Westmeath hurling squad. He will keep his defenders on their toes.
Stephen Conway.
Stephen has returned to the hurling field after a short absence and he is a valuable member of the defence line. He can also play up front and is well capable of taking scores from both frees and open play. He has won various championships with Plunketts.
Aaron Craig.
Another player with plenty of ability, Aaron has come on in leaps and bounds over the past few years; his physical strength and ability to clear his lines are of immense value to the Plunketts rearguard. Aaron is also a current member of Westmeath hurling squad.
Stephen McManus.
Another long-time servant of Plunketts, Stephen has great strength and speed and will leave blood, sweat and tears on the field in order to clear his lines. Stephen is another defender that can play up front and he has won various championships with Plunketts.
Paddy Laide:
Bounced back from a recent injury setback to turn in a trojan performance in this year's semi-final. Brave player, P has been involved with Plunketts from an early age and holder of a number of underage hurling titles.
Noel Gavin:
Older brother of Greg and our club captain for a number of years up until this season, Noel has been the heartbeat of our defence in recent years. Tremendous hurler on his day, long range free taking is a great asset to the team and Noel has tasted Leinster junior championship success with our club in 2001.
Robert Ryland:
Joined the club three seasons ago and struck the all-important late goal which has us in this week's senior showdown. Very strong and good at reading the game, he is having an excellent season in the Plunketts rearguard.
Greg Gavin:
Probably the first name on the team sheet, this year's senior captain and surely among the better hurlers from the county not to have won a senior championship medal. Greg oozes class; he represented the county at all grades and also a holder of 2 All Ireland Feile titles.
Conor Lynch:
Made his senior championship debut as a goalkeeper during 2012 and has since been brought outfield to fulfil a different role for the team. Has been hit with injury on a number of occasions over the last couple of seasons. Conor is son of our late great chairman John Joe Lynch.
Ciaran Curley:
One of three brothers to have played senior championship for the club in recent seasons. One of our top performers, still young enough to have a bright future in the game and hoping to secure his first senior medal on Sunday in what will be his first appearance in a senior hurling final.
David Gavin:
Still a student and one of the brighter prospects to have come from the underage ranks in the last decade, David is physically strong and has great ball striking ability. He played against Kilkenny at county minor level a handful of seasons ago.
Connaire Flanagan:
Club stalwart, always showing huge passion for what we are trying to achieve as a club, from playing, training juveniles to fundraising, Connaire is always available to Plunketts. Versatile in terms of position and a former club captain at underage level, also a holder of All Ireland Feile title.
Damien Kiernan:
Arguably the most dedicated hurler ever to represent Plunketts. Has had a fine season, tremendously fit and well able to take a score when given the space to do so. Damien just like Connaire makes himself available for all Club matters; he is also a holder of All Ireland Feile title.
Ciaran Gavin:
Better known for his county football exploits, but no mean hurler and produced the catch of the century which led to the crucial late goal in our semi-final victory over Clonkill. Kieran is older brother of David and will give his all if called upon on Sunday.
Govinda Geoghegan:
Handed the task of rectifying our heretofore troublesome free-taking duties and has done well in the main in that regard. Govinda is one of our older members of the panel and a fine player over the last decade for us. Joint senior captain in 2009 and he is having an excellent season for Plunketts.
Michael Harris:
Picked up an injury which has sidelined him for virtually the whole of this season. Powerful with ball in hand and one of our better men to read the breaks. Michael is a very experienced hurler with a great number of titles under his belt including an All Ireland Feile title.
Sean Maguire:
In and out of the team in recent years but is a well capable hurler. On his day Sean has great ball striking ability and has scored some excellent points from play down through the years. He can play in defence or attack if required
Conor Bracken.
Conor is hurling with Plunketts for some years now and he can play outfield or in goals, he is currently minor goalkeeper and is a well capable hurler who uses his height to his advantage.
Shane Donoher:
Skilful hurler who was a member of the Westmeath minor squad a few seasons back. Can be a goal threat if given the opportunity as emphasised by his late strike against Castlepollard in this year's quarter final.
Paddy Kiernan:
No-compromising defender who has a proud attendance record at training since returning to the playing ranks in 2009. Paddy is brother of Damien and is a well capable hurler who has no problem clearing his lines and finding a colleague when required to do so, won a number of underage titles with Plunketts also.
Mickey McKnight:
Ever-present squad member over the last few years, good reader of the game and a very enthusiastic player. He is also a holder of a variety of titles with Plunketts and will be ready for action if called upon.
David Murray:
David is a strong and determined hurler who takes no prisoners. He is well capable of playing in defence or attack and is always very close to the starting 15. Holder of a number of titles with Plunketts including a Leinster Junior medal.
Oisin Clinton.
Oisin is a long time servant of St Oliver Plunketts and a holder of a huge variety of adult and juvenile hurling medals including All Ireland Feile title. He is a no-messing defender and always seems to win his battle against whatever attacker he marks. He was carrying an injury earlier on in the season, but came back strong to claim a starting place in the recent semi-final victory.
Johnny Dooley:
Johnny has been playing with Plunketts for a number of seasons now and is our main target man up front since arriving in early 2010. Sure to give us a physical presence in the full-forward line and has accumulated a fair number of goals from limited opportunities.
Colm O'Leary:
Younger brother of Sean and Cian. Colm is another who has quietly moved through the juvenile ranks and is currently challenging for a senior championship position in the forward division but struggles with injuries unfortunately.
Tony Gavin:
Enjoyed a fine underage spell of success when a major cornerstone of our underage side, but a serious leg injury hasn't helped him in recent years. Can play outfield or as a goalkeeper. Tony is younger brother of Greg and Noel and has plenty of ability with a hurl in his hand; holder of an All Ireland Feile title also.
James Duggan:
Young student who was out through injury earlier this season. James has come quietly through the underage ranks and is a no messing hurler. He can play in defence or midfield and he also is close to a starting berth when fit.
Cian O'Leary:
Cian is a very skilful hurler and his aerial ability is a great asset to Plunketts. Holder of a number of titles and he was an ever present member of the senior team up to last season when injuries interrupted his hurling career. May not win the race for fitness for the final but would be a huge boost if he could play any part.
Darragh Geraghty:
Great clubman who scored an early point to set us on our way in last year's junior B championship final. Captained us to minor silverware a couple of seasons back and will give his all if called upon.
Paddy Lynam:
Paddy is another young hurler with plenty of skill and determination; he is usually a great striker of the ball and has been known to score some great points during his underage hurling career.
Rest of Panel.
Clive Kenny, Ciaran Glennon, Johnny Plunkett, Trevor Matthews, Sean Flanagan, Donal Liddy, Aaron Fitzgerald, Kenny Rabbitte, Sean Byrne, Luke Byrne, Neil Chevalier, Cian Brennan, Darren Carter, Sean O'Leary (inj), Dermot Curley (inj).
Team Manager; Ciaran McKenna
Selectors, Liam Dalton and David Cornally
Coaches, Paul Sharry and Shane Flynn
Physio, Paddy Hassett
Backroom Team, Gerry Geraghty, Bernard Bracken, Ross Brady, Terry Gavin, Fergus Walls. Tweet
