Another Mid Cork U21 Hurling Title Blarney defeated Inniscarra on a score line 2-18 to 2-11 to win the Muskerry U21 Hurling Championship under lights in Cloughduv on the 4th of September last. Blarney set the tempo from the throw in. Mark Coleman broke through the Inniscarra defence where he found himself one on one with the keeper, who saved well. A minute later David Dunlea also had a goal chance but eventually the ball went wide. Coleman opened Blarney’s scoring on the 3rd minute from a free, with Inniscarra equalising with a free of their own a minute later. Conor Forde got the first from play on the 9th minute to leave Blarney 3 points to 1 up. It was a tight game in the first half with the referee blowing for many frees. The majority of first half scores came from frees from both sides. In the last few minutes of the half Blarney showed their class with strong running and finding forwards in space. Dan McSweeney beat his man to strike well from 50 yards, Barra O’Connell who was playing as a third mid fielder pointed from the stick from the left wing and Shane Mulcahy also got on the score sheet. The sides went in at the break, Blarney 0-12 Inniscarra 0-7. Coleman opened the second half with a pointed free before Blarney’s neighbours responded with two points. David Cremen was introduced on the 9th minute and a minute later showed great skill to win the ball and beat his man to strike from the 21 metre line into the corner of the net. This goal gave Blarney plenty of confidence to play more freely. Coleman and Dunlea hit three points between them before Conor McCarthy found himself in space near the Inniscarra goal to coolly finish for Blarney’s second goal of the game. Dunlea and Kevin Cremen got further scores on the 24th and 25th minute respectively. The score board now read Blarney 2-18 Inniscarra 0-10. Inniscarra scored two goals and a point in the last five minutes, which left the full time score Blarney 2-18 Inniscarra 2-11. It was a good team performance from Blarney, who deserved their victory, but still lots to work on for their upcoming county game against Newcestown. Blarney: Conor Murphy, Paul O’Connor, Stephen Sheedy, Wayne Shine, Conor McCarthy, Peter Philpott, Alan McEvoy, Shane Mulcahy, Mark Coleman, Conor Forde, Dan McSweeney, Ray Murphy, David Dunlea, Barra O’Connell, Darragh Kelly. Substitutions: David Cremen for Darragh Kelly, Kevin Cremen for David Cremen, Michael John Shine for Shane Mulcahy, Eoin Mullane for Conor Forde David Sheahan for Wayne Shine
Exciting Talent On Display In Parish Leagues There was some great hurling on show in the annual Hurling Parish Leagues held in on pitch 1 on Saturday 19th & 26th of September last. This year the final was won by the Connaught and the Donal Downey Memorial Trophy was presented to the winning captiain Jerry Murphy. The Runners-Up prize is the Brendan O’Donoghue Memorial Trophy and was awarded to Ulster Captain Daniel O’Leary. The 3rd Place final was a craking match and ended as a draw. The Munster and Leinseter captains Oscar Ahern and Joe Cronin will share the Sarah Buckley Memorial Trophy for the year. Well done to all the hurlers and managers who competed in the hurling parish league over the past two weeks. Well done also to all involved in the running of the great event. Connaught: Jerry Murphy(c), Robert Browne, TJ Enright, Ronan Twomey, Daniel Manley, Conor O’Donovan, Eoin Gabriel, Oisin Dennehy, Ronan Byrd, Shane Coleman, Thomas McCarthy, Darragh Lawless, Calum McMahon, Ivan Sullivan, Conor Daly (Management: Colin Lawless, Terrence McCarthy, Ken Manley) Leinster: Joe Cronin(c), Alex Dawes, Cian Lawless, Cian O’Connell, Andrew Condon, Brian Hoare, Danny O’Mahony, Diarmiud Forrest, Kristan Power, Matthew O’Sullivan, Robert Twohig, Charlie McCarthy, Harry Byrd, Liam Cremein, Daniel Shine, Jack O’Rourke (Management: Donal Cronin, Murty O’Sullivan, Chris Power) Ulster: Daniel O’Leary(c), George Forrest, Barry Hoare, Robert Mackey, Seán McDermott, Warren O’Brien, David Spillet, Ben O’Sullivan, Dylan Buckley, Dominic Meade Vaughan, Oran Dennehey, Tom Forrest, Darragh O’Sullivan, Lewis O’Brien, Robert Farrell (Management: Tony O’Connell, Howie McDermott, Tom Dennehy) Munster: Oscar Ahern(c), Tiernan O’Brien, Dylan Reidy, Emmett Mitchell, Jamie Murphy, Eoghan Ahern, Jack Murray, Callum Donohoe, Alex Manley, Seán O’Connell, James Kelleher, Daniel Byrd, Joe Ryan, Harry O’Sullivan, Darragh Rowley (Management: Daire Donohoe, Colm Kellher, Seán Ahern) U21 Hurlers defeat Newcestown in thriller to reach semi final Under lights in Cloughduv on the 4th of September last, Blarney hurlers showed great fight to crawl back a 5 point deficit to defeat Newcestown in the quarter final of the U21A County Championship. Blarney got off to a good start with Mark Coleman scoring his first free of the night in the first minute and Barra O’Connell displaying great skill to find space and score from 55 metres a minute later. Coleman got two more points (one from play and another free) and Shane Mulcahy got his first of the night to leave Blarney 5 points to 3 up after 8 minutes. But Newcestown responded with 3 points in a row and on the 16th minute scored a well worked goal to leave Blarney with an uphill battle. Coleman frees in the first half kept Blarney in touch with the teams going in at the break Blarney 0-7 Newcestown 1-09. Despite conceding the first point of the second half, Blarney started the half with more aggression and fight. Dan McSweeney scored Blarney’s first of the half 2 minutes in and got 3 more on the trot thanks to Mulcahy, Coleman free and captain O’Connell from play. The team were working hard all over the field to win primary possession and frustrating Newcestown. Sean Crowley scored a point from 45 metres on the 45th minute to leave one between the sides. Coleman levelled the game 4 minutes later with Newcestown quickly responding to take the lead again. It was end to end with the supporters getting value for money in an exciting and high quality game. Coleman levelled the game again with 6 minutes left on the clock. Two more Coleman frees left Blarney up by two with 3 minutes left. Newcestown responded with another point and were pushing Blarney all the way. Great Wayne Shine defending to prevented Newcestown levelling, and a minute later McSweeney found himself in space to point to put two again between the teams. Newcestown did score another point, but Blarney fought to the bitter end for a deserving victory. Final score Blarney 0-18 Newcestown 1-14. It was a most satisfying win for all in the club and was great to win our first county U21 hurling game since 1998. Photo attached A Royal Flush In 45 On 26th of August last, Helen Kirwan who is originally from Newcastle Blarney & now living in Bishopstown, got a hand all card players dream off in 45. Helen has supported Blarney GAA since our very first 45 Card Drive which started in 1993. 45 Card Drive takes place every Wednesday night at our clubhouse at 9pm. All welcome.
All Ireland Medals Coming To Blarney Well done to Blarney Camogie club’s Jennifer Murphy and Orla Cremen with selector St John Cremen who won the All Ireland under 14A Final with Cork in Ballyboden St Endas GAA Club in Dublin. Cork defeated Kilkenny in the semi final and Clare in the final. Big congratulations to you & all in Blarney Camogie Club.
Cork GAA Club Draw The Cork GAA Club draw is now open to join for 2015/2016 and there are some fantastic prizes every month to be won. It costs €100 to enter for 12 months, with a draw taking place every month. At least €45 euro of your €100 entry goes directly back to Blarney GAA club. 10% of the profit made from the draw will go towards the €70 million redevelopment of Páirc Uí Chaoimh. The remaining profit will be invested into grants and coaching of GAA around Cork. You can enter online www.corkgaadraw.ie or representatives from our club will take your entry details in the near future. More details about signing up in person will be posted on our website in the coming days. The first two Draws of 2015/’16 Series will take place at Páirc Uí Rinn on 30/10/15.
U15 Footballers Win County Blarney U15 footballers made history earlier this month in Ballincollig winning the U15A County Title defeating Aghinagh on a score line 3-7 to 1-10. Blarney were well prepared and very focused coming into today’s final, but it was the blue and white of Aghinagh that settled into the game from early on. For the first five minutes, possession was shared between the sides with the ball going end to end. Aghinagh opened the scoring on the 3rd minute with a point from play. On the 9th minute Aghinagh were awarded a penalty and converted to leave Aghinagh 1-3 to no score up. As the half progressed, Blarney hit a few wides and were tackled hard resulting in turn over in possession. It took Blarney 14 minutes to register their first score, thanks to a Dylan O’Keeffe point from play. On the 22nd minute Aghinagh went 1-7 to a point ahead. Blarney had now settled and had more possession of the ball. The forwards had a number of goal scoring opportunities and finally found the net on the 28th minute thanks to Declan Hanlon drilling the ball low past the keeper. The half time score was Blarney 1-1 Aghinagh 1-7. Blarney regrouped at the break and their determination was very visible from the restart. Shane Barrett was brought on who gave the red and white more direction in the inside forward line. Aghinagh got the first point of the second half which was quickly cancelled from an O’Keeffe free. A few minutes later Daniel Quill made a great run forward from the half back line to score from play and O’Keeffe pointed another free soon after. On the 44th minute Shane Barrett brought a big cheer from the Blarney following finding the Aghinagh net. The goal was a real turning point in the game. Blarney now dominating in possession went a point up on the 46th minute when O’Keeffe found himself in space to split the posts. It was end to end now in what was a great contest. Aghinagh levelled the game when they scored a point on the 54th minute. Declan Hanlon (point) and Trevor Harrington (goal) both scored from play on the 54th and 55th minute respectively to set up a nail biting finish. Aghinagh managed to get another point but could not breach the Blarney defence to find that all important goal to bring the game into extra time. Blarney showed great team spirit, discipline and determination to put bodies behind the ball and defend as one unit. The final score was Blarney 3-7 Aghinagh 1-10. It was a fantastic come back from the lads and a victory that will be remembered for many years to come. Belief and work ethic was at the core of today’s performance. From all in the club, big congratulations to all the players, mentors, coach and parents for your contribution in making history. Blarney: Darragh Hurley, William Crowley, Stephen Mullane, James Doody, Mark Cummins, Isaac Mulcahy, Daniel Quill, Gavin Mullane, Cian Aherne, Jack O’Keeffe, Declan O’Hanlon, Seamus Humphries, Trevor Harrington, Kevin Dunlea, Dylan O’Keeffe. Shane Barrett, Eoin Doody, Cian Kirby, Dane O’Sullivan, Donal Hoare, Fergal Cremin, Jack Power, David O’Sullivan, Ben Aherne, Ben O’Sullivan, Darragh O’Donovan, Padraig Power, Cian Dunlea.
Duhallow Too Strong In U21A Semi Final Duhallow defeated Blarney on the 30th of September last in the semi final of the county U21A hurling Championship, played under lights in Cloughduv. Blarney got off to a bright start with two points in the opening minute thanks to Conor Forde and Shane Mulcahy. But the north Cork divisional side quickly responded converting two frees. On the 7th minute Duhallow got their first goal of the night, with their corner forward showing plenty of pace running past the Blarney defence to bat the ball into the net. Duhallow now dominating the middle of the field, scored two more points on the trot and on the 15th minute struck another goal. A minute later Mark Coleman showed great skill pointing over a side line ball around the 45 metre line to leave the score board read Blarney 0-4 Duhallow 2-5. Duhallow extended their lead before Barra O’Connell found space and ran at their defence. His shot was well saved by the keeper but Barra did well to follow up and pull on the ball into the net. However in the next play, Duhallow scored their third goal of the night, which was a killer blow. Alan McEvoy scored a well taken point from the left wing just before the break to leave the half time score Blarney 1-6 Duhallow 3-9. Both sides exchanged points in the opening minutes of the second half before O’Connell got his second goal of the night, batting a high ball into the Duhallow net. This gave Blarney confidence and started running at Duhallow defence drawing frees where Coleman pointed. However Duhallow had many forwards who could score and with their pacy corner forward were always a threat. The closest Blarney got was five points and went for goals in the last few minutes of the game. However Duhallow had the last say in the match where they used the space in the Blarney full back line to score the fourth goal. Final score Blarney 2-13 Duhallow 4-15 Duhallow were the better side on the night and Blarney can have few complaints. However Blarney still put in a good team performance with Conor Murphy in goal making some great saves, McEvoy and O’Connell also having good individual performances. Conor Murphy, Stephen Sheedy, Conor McCarthy, Wayne Shine, Paul O’Connor, Peter Philpott, Alan McEvoy, Mark Coleman, Ray Murphy, Conor Forde, Dan McSweeney, Sean Crowley, David Dunlea, Barra O’Connell, Shane Mulcahy. Kevin Cremen for Wayne Shine, David Cremen for Dan McSweeney, Daragh Kelly for David Dunlea, Michael John Shine for Conor Forde. For the latest club news, please visit www.blarneygaa.ie