Intermediate Football County Champions!
St Marys/Sean Finns 4-17, Oola 1-11
Congratulations to our intermediate footballers and their management team on capturing the County Intermediate title is such fine style last Saturday afternoon in Bruff. The fantastic win sparked of a terrific weekend of celebrations for the people of Rathkeale parish. The 4-17 to 1-11 final scoreline would lead you to believe that this was an extremely one-sided affair but Sean Finns only led at half-time by 0-08 to 0-04 after playing with the breeze. It was not until the early stages of the second half that the Rathkeale men finally began to click into gear and a two goal salvo within 4 minutes of the re-start began what was arguably the best display of fast, attacking, all-movement football by any team in Limerick for many a year.
The game itself was played in dry conditions with a strong breeze blowing up the field towards the road end. Mark O'Sullivan lost the toss and wound up playing with the wind in the opening half. Eoghan O'Connor opened the scoring for Rathkeale with a well taken point after 2 minutes before before Oola replied with a pair to take the lead for what was to be the only time in the game. Sean Sheahan and O'Connor again replied for Sean Finns by the 6 minute mark and Damien Quaid added another on 8 minutes. Oola were working hard trying to pin us back in our own half with a physical in-your-face type of game, putting huge pressure on our backs and closing down our options very quickly and they got a point on 10 minutes to make it 0-4 to 0-3. For the next 10 minutes we were under a lot of pressure but our backs worked tirelessly, kept the fouling to a minimum and Jonny Mooney made a great save on 15 minutes when a goal looked certain. Lady Luck also smiled on us as another great Oola effort screamed just wide, past the left upright three minutes later. Then we finally listed the siege and on 21 minutes with Trevor Nolan beginning to make an impact at mid-field we did get the ball up front, Eoin O'Donnell and Patrick Wilmott were magnificent, out first for the low ball, winning frees that were converted by Mark O'Sullivan on 21 and 23 minutes. Keith Harnett added another point on 28 minutes O'Sullivan added another free just before half-time. We had started well, weathered the storm mid-way through the half and finished the half strongly. Great work throughout the half by everyone but the work rate of Sean Sheahan and Timmy Hogan deserves special mention. Both were popping up all over the field, helping the backs and linking with mid-field and supplying to the forwards. Gary Enright, Sean O'Shea and Shane Hourigan were tremendous throughout the whole game and Patrick Sheahan our half backs of Patrick Sheahan, Damien Quaid and Darren Jones also put in huge efforts.
Some worried faces in the dressing room at half time, leading by just 4 points, and going back out to play against a stiff breeze. A few well chosen words from certain people had a massive effect and both teams returned to the field of play.
The half opened at a frantic pace and a goal for Sean Finns within the opening minute when great team-work and fast hands by Darren Jones, and Eoin O'Donnell placed Keith Harnett on the edge of the square and he made no mistake. We had barely stopped celebrating that before a similar interchange between Sean Sheahan, O'Connor, Sheahan and O'Connor again ended with a great O'Connor goal. A gem of a point from Eoin O'Donnell two minutes later and it seemed we were on the road. Oola to their credit replied with an unstoppable shot to the roof of the net on 6 minutes and a game of legendary proportions looked to be on the cards. Two great points from O'Sullivan both in the 9th minute were answered by a pair from Oola on the 10th and 11th minutes. Another interchange of points, O'Sullivan from a free on 15 minutes and a reply from Oola on 16 minutes. Darren Jones was having a tremendous second half for Sean Finns, working up the left wing. O'Donnell was showing for everything up front and winning most if not all of the possession. Another two points from the on-fire O'Sullivan and when he added a goal on 19 minutes after another sweeping passing move that started at the corner back position, the victory was sealed if not quite delivered. Doon to their credit fought back and scored the next 2 points on 23 and 25 minutes. Then came a score that I have never seen before in gaelic football, on 26 minutes Timmy Hogan drew a boot on a loose ball on his own 21 metre line with the intention of clearing it out over the side-line. However it screwed off the boot and went over the bar. An own-point!! No doubt that Timmy will be reminded of that one for a good few years to come. Timmy's point completed the scoring for Oola. Sean Finns were not finished yet. Steven Power who had just replaced Damien Quaid, was played through for our 4th goal with another fast passing movement and late points from Harnett, O'Sullivan and O'Donnell completed the rout for Sean Finns. Great scenes at the end as Pat O'Shaughnessy presented the cup to Mark O'Sullivan, the Sean Finns captain.
Team & Scorers: Jonny Mooney, Shane Hourigan, Sean O'Shea, Gary Enright, Patrick Sheahan, Damien Quaid (0-1), Darren Jones, Trevor Nolan, Keith Harnett(1-2), Eoghan O'Connor(1-2), Mark O'Sullivan(1-9, 0-5f), Sean Sheahan(0-1), Patrick Wilmott, Eoin O'Donnell(0-2), Timmy Hogan. Subs: Steven Power (1-0), Sean White, Dean Maune, Frank Geary, Dave Gilbourne, Adrian Stackpoole, Paul White, Timmy O'Connor, Conor Lyons, Jimmy Dillane, Martin Roche, Barry O'Riordan.
Manager: Brian Nolan.
Selectors; Sean Harnett, John Lyons.
First Aid: Mary Sheahan
Physio: John Earles.
Kitman: Anthony Frawley.
Maor Uisce: Padraig Jones, Gerard Frawley, Gary White.
Congratulations to everyone involved from everyone in Rathkeale. Massive thanks also to our team sponsor Sean Hennessy Electrical Superstores for his support. We look forward now to the Munster championship where we meet Miltown-Malbay of Clare on Sunday 3rd November. This will be a home venue for us so all support is appreciated.


All County Senior Football League
A win over Mungret in Bruff completed the group stages of the County Football league (Group-2). The win sees us topping the table on 11 points. We finish level on points with Pallasgreen but are actually top of the league, having defeated Pallasgreen in the head-to-head. We await other results in Group-1 to see what happens.

Current Senior Football League (Group-2) table:

Premier Under-21 Football Championship
This competition is about to start. Our first game is on 25th October against Drom/Broadford in Mick Neville Park at 6.30pm.

Scor na nOg Talent Competition coming up soon
All budding entertainers who will be still under 17 by 1st Jan 2014 are eligible to compete in Scor na nOg. Forget the X-Factor. If you are a member of your local GAA or Bord na nOg you may take part and there is no entry fee. The emphasis is on Irish music, Irish dancing and both songs and stories of Ireland, its people or Irish places. The range of competitions are as follows: Solo-singing, Figure-dancing, Ballad Group, Set Dancing, Instrumental music, Recitation and Drama. There is also a Quiz competition based on Irish history, Gaelic Games and other events of Irish interest.
The date and venue will be announced in the near future. Please contact your local Irish Officer, Shivaun O'Connor immediately if interested or for further details. Telephone: 086 1556727.

Scrap Metal
The club is collecting scrap metal again. If you have any scrap metal give us a ring on 087-2536902. We can arrange to collect it and/or give a hand to load it if required. Everything helps and is greatly appreciated. This might be a great chance to clean out that shed or garage you were putting off for a while. The list of acceptable items is long and varied, including empty food cans, saucepans, sink tops, radiators, ironing boards, solid fuel cookers, cast iron fireplaces, old golf clubs, old TV aerials, old bikes, trampolines, swing frames, old pots/pans, old cookers, old boilers, galvanized sheets, Go-Carts, goal posts, steel oil tanks, coal buckets, steel coal bunkers, steel window frames, Steel garden furniture, Gas heaters, Gas cookers, Steel gutters, clothes lines, Sheep wire, Fencing Wire, wheel barrows, Gates, Car doors/bonnets etc, wheel rims, corrugated iron, old farm equipment, trailers, balers, turners, mowing machines, ploughs, transport boxes, toppers, agitators, slurry tanks, ring feeders, diggers, railway lines, cement mixers, dozers, combine harvesters, binders, horse machinery, water pumps, electric motors, engine parts, milk cans. Buckets, milking machines, milk coolers etc etc.
No TVs, Fridges, beer kegs, gas bottles loose tyres, or anything with a plug or battery.


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Fixtures:
Friday 25th October 6.30pm: Premier U21 football v Drom Broadford in Mick Neville Park
Sunday 3rd November: Munster IFC, Sean Finns V Miltown - details to be confirmed. Tweet

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