Sean Finn s, County Junior-A Football Champions 2011
After a long spell of 20 years, the Co. Junior-A Cup has been won by Sean Finn s Football Team. What a championship the 2011 season has served up to the teams and supporters. For the young but hungry and lion-hearted team from Rathkeale, no bar was too high to aim for. Winning the West Final against Glin on 1st October in Abbeyfeale was a huge event for our Deelside Club but once the celebrations had died down, the hunger for success was revived. As the month of October went by this proud team continued their winning ways and each weekend had success against strong opposition such as Ahane in the Quarter Final, Ballylanders in the Semi-final and at last the All-West County Final was upon us.
The lads had prepared well for this County Final under the stewardship of Brian Nolan, Sean Hartnett and John Lyons. With a strong army of supporters the Sean Finn s team travelled to Foynes on Sunday 30th October to play Glin. It was a close game in the St. Senan s GAA grounds which were amazingly dry after the heavy downpours of the past week. Both teams were up for the occasion and luckily for Sean Finn s it was to be a Deelside victory at last.
Without exception every player on the Sean Finn s team played as a great unit, passing, running, marking the opposition and the game as a result seemed to flow in a most enjoyable way. The Goalie Johnny Mooney was well served by the defenders Sean O Shea, Gary Enright, Shane Hourigan, Darren Jones and Patrick Sheahan. In the centre we had the experience of Keith Hartnett and Damien Quaid coupled with the youth of Paul White and Sean Sheahan. The ever-versatile Mark O Sullivan worked alongside Johnny Markham while the two E s -Eoghan O Connor and Eoin O Donnell were assisted by Barry (The Kid) O Riordan!. The substitutes who came on were also magnificent with Sean White and Stephen Power making their mark on the game. The other subs who did not get a start on this occasion were Timmy O Connor, Timmy Hogan, Jack Coleman, Ciaran English, Gerard Frawley, Mike Keating, Frank Geary, Anthony Supple, Brian Duggan, Robert White and Dean Maune.
The half-time score was 0:03 for Glin while Sean Finn s had scored 1:03. The second half was a more lively affair with Sean Finn s scoring eight more points while Glin scored just six more. The final score showed a clear winner with Glin s score as 0:09 while Sean Finn s had scored 1:11. The crowd of Rathkeale players and supporters were overjoyed on hearing the final whistle confirming the elevation of the Sean Finn s team to the Intermediate Level in the 2012 season. The Co. Football Board chairman, Sean McAuliffe presented the Co. Junior Cup to the Sean Finn s Captain Keith Hartnett. Both men complimented the St. Senan s GAA Club for having the pitch in such good condition and thanked the referee and other officials. Keith dedicated the winning of this Co. Football Final to the dearly beloved departed Mollie Frawley and players Paul Ducie Hogan and Michael O Sullivan. He echoed the thoughts of many in stating that the players felt the presence of an extra two players playing from above.
Having left the St. Senan s Grounds, Mr. McMahon of The Kerry Bar in Foynes kindly presented a fabulous Man of the Match trophy to the popular Eoghan O Connor who played a great game wearing No. 14. It was with fond memories that Eoghan was reminded that his Uncle and Godfather James (Connie) O Connor had been named as Man of the Match in the 1991 Co. Football final which was of course the last time that Sean Finn s Football team had accepted the same Cup. Ray O Doherty was Captain of the Sean Finn s team on that occasion.
It was a joyful return home to Rathkeale for the players, mentors and supporters. All involved with the team were treated to delicious hot tasty food by the ever-generous Davy Mann of Mann s Hotel. Later the traditional parade of winning teams through the town was serenaded by a Lone Piper, Seamus Hunt as the delighted crowd marched from Rathkeale House Hotel to the Community Centre. At the Community Centre, the new County Champions were individually presented to the crowd who cheered and acknowledged the significance of the event which will be remembered for many a day by the GAA population of the locality.
A dream has come true for Sean Finn s in winning both West and County trophies this year. We will have another opportunity to see these lads in action on Friday night 4th November when they will represent Limerick in the AIB GAA Munster Club Junior Football Championship. The opposition will be the Tipperary County Champions from Kildangan. Best of luck to everyone involved with this team and heartiest congratulations from all in Rathkeale.

U21 Football West Semi-Final
The Under 21 Football West Semi-Final has been postponed on a few occasions due to the continued involvement of our Junior-A Footballers in the County Championship. The game will now definitely go ahead on Saturday next at 7.30pm in Mick Neville Park. Best of luck to the team and mentors.


St. Mary s Under 14 s Advance to Co. Hurling Final
We played Cappamore in the County Under 14 Hurling Division 3 Semi-Final in Fedamore on last Saturday 29th October. This turned out to be a very competitive game. We started strongly and led by five points at half time. In the second- half Cappamore got an early goal and went ahead by two points. At this stage the St. Mary s team settled down and started to play as a unit, and we got some great scores from play. We were ahead as we reached the last fifteen minutes and our play improved in both the skill and determination shown by the players. There was some lovely play from our backs and forwards. At the final whistle the St. Mary s team was well ahead and the win was well deserved. The final score-line showed 4:10 for St. Mary s while Cappamore had scored 2:05. Well done to this team who have proven their worth and given their supporters a great spectacle to watch. A special mention for Adrian Brennan who was injured during the game, and we wish him a speedy recovery. Thanks a million to the parents and supporters who travelled to Fedamore to cheer on our young stars. We thank in a special way the team management of James Feane and Sean Sheahan, who have worked with this team all year and we wish them all the best of luck in the County Final. The following panel of players will now continue training for the Under 14 County Hurling Final: Gearoid Mulcaire (Captain), Thomas Collins, Brian Keating, Adrian Brennan, Dylan Murphy, Padraig Power, Darragh Curtin, Mikey Morrissey, Andrew White, Seamus Keating, Dylan Young, George Mulcahy, Brandon Tierney, Enda Walsh, Mikey Enright and Dylan O Shea.
We will now meet Ballybricken/Bohermore in the final. This game will be a repeat of the teams involved in the All County League Final played in September. We hope that in the final on this occasion, there will be a reverse in the result.

Sean Finn s Under-14 s Div. 2 Football º final success
Our Under 14 footballers had been due to play their Co. Quarter Final on Sunday 23rd October against Galbally. This game was postponed at the request of Galbally Club due to a bereavement. The game went ahead on Bank Holiday Monday 31st October at the Bog Garden. This was the second game for most of the team in two days but they were all fit and ready. We dominated the game from start to finish and won with a score line of 6:06 while Galbally had a score of 0:03. This was a great team effort from all the panel and we wish you all well in the County Division 2 Semi-Final.
Open invitation to Race Night- Saturday night in Rathkeale House Hotel
All roads lead to Rathkeale House Hotel on this Saturday 5th November for what promises to be a most enjoyable Race Night. At this stage, the horses are all in training with jockeys and owners getting a little excited at the prospect of the upcoming racing. A brisk trade in oats and hay has been reported from the local shops as owners/trainers get their horses in order for the big night.
The club are extending an open invitation to all our supporters and members to come along to the Rathkeale House Hotel this Saturday night for what promises to be a great night. First race is at 9.30 and finger food will be served.
We can all be owners and jockeys for the night without getting wet or carrying buckets of oats. Most horses have been given interesting names and are in the care of local owners and jockeys and we are delighted with the response from the community. We have also had a very positive response from the business community as always and we urge everyone to support the local business community who always help us when called upon. There are still a number of horses available (costing ¨20 for a full horse or alternatively buy a half share for ¨10). One lucky race winner will receive the Jackpot prize of ¨500. The Race Night is being held in order to raise some much needed funds to help pay for the drainage works carried out at our beloved Bog Garden. We are delighted to announce that the Main Sponsor of the night is Sean Hennessey Electrical Superstores who has made a big commitment to the night. Any further information from Willie 0862263733, Pat 0868835425 or Mary Liston 0861720277.

Sympathy
Rathkeale lost two senior citizens during the week who have both played their parts very well in Community affairs throughout their lives. Both were great supporters of Gaelic Games in Rathkeale as are their descendants. We offer our sympathy to the O Dwyer family of Ballywilliam on the death of Jack O Dwyer, RIP. We also offer our sympathy to the White families of Rathkeale on the passing of Dominic (Dom) White, (Senior) of Railway House, New Road, Rathkeale. May they both rest in peace.

Upcoming Fixtures:
Fri 4th Nov: AIB Munster Junior Football Club Championship: Sean Finns(Limerick) V Kildangan(Tipperary) at Gaelic Grounds at 7.30pm
Sat 5th Nov: Under 21 West Football Semi-Final: Sean Finns V St. Kieran s in Mick Neville Park @ 7.30pm
Sun 6th Nov: County U14 Hurling Final St Marys V Ballybricken/Bohermore at 1pm. (Venue to be decided)
Sun 13th Nov: County U14 Football Semi-Final Sean Finns V Pallasgreen (time & Venue to be decided) Tweet

Most Read Stories