Category / Hurling

by thesaffrongael

Heartbreak for Rathmore Grammar

Danske Bank Casement Cup final

St Patrick’s Keady 3-10 Rathmore Grammar 2-11

There was late heartbreak for Rathmore Grammar as they let a 9 point lead slip to lose to St. Patrick’s Keady in this Danske Bank Casement Cup final on Thurday night.

WHEN Aodhán O’Hanlon pointed to make it 2-11 to 1-5 in the 50th minute, the South Belfast side looked on their way to victory with Ronan Taylor in control round midfield and Christopher Robb Rathmore Grammar looked home and Christopher Robb dominant in attack.

However Charlie Lennon brought the Armagh challenge to life by forcing home a goal in the next attack and suddenly the momentum changed with Jack Loughran and James Hamilton dropping back to crowd the middle third and pick off points.

Conor Lappin’s somewhat fortuitous goal from inside his own half in the 57th minute left only a point between the teams and the wind had been taken out of the Rathmore sails with Loughran converted three late frees to deliver the knock-out blow.

Rathmore Grammar got off to the perfect start with Donncha McGurk unchallenged driving a long ball from inside his own half to the goal area at the other end and Aodhán McLaughlin reacted fastest to find the net. Within a couple of minutes Christopher Robb had added a point.

However a few fouls around their half back line gave Jack Loughran the openings to fire over three frees and get Keady off the mark.

The middle part of the half belonged to the Belfast school with the darting runs of Fionn McCann and Ronan Taylor creating problems that Robb converted into points from frees.

However Keady got a break in the 17th minute when the ball fell handily for James Hamilton to fire to the net. Between then and the break there was just one further score, from a Robb free, that saw Rathmore change ends with a lead of 1-5 to 1-3.

Rathmore started the second half brightly as they had done in the first and they struck with a number of impressive scores. Points from Ronan Taylor, Robb (three) and Aodhán McLaughlin were followed by a superb goal from Robb in the 49th minute.

Keady looked well beaten after registering just two points over the 20 minutes after half time but the Armagh College suddenly sprung to life and they scored freely to reign in the Belfast lads as they dominated the final ten minutes.

St Patrick’s: C Lennon and J Hamilton 1-1 each, C Lappin 1-0, J Loughran 0-8 frees.

Rathmore: C Robb 1-6, 0-3 frees, A McLaughlin 1-2, A O’Hanlon 0-2, R Taylor 0-1

St Patrick’s: Aaron Keenan, Ethan McEneaney, Liam Rafferty, Johnny Loughran, Shea McNaughton, Conor Lappin, Ronan Gaffney, Sean Óg McNaughton, Darragh McKee, Caoimhin Mone, Jack Loughran capt, Cayden Feeney, James Hamilton, Charlie Lennon, Tom Fox

Subs: Conor McKeever for T Fox, Darragh Burke for E McEneaney, Aaron Monaghan for Shea McNaughton.

Rathmore: Dara Boylen, ⁠Fiontan McLaughlin, ⁠Alexander Myers, ⁠James Bready, ⁠Cormac O’Hare, ⁠Donncha McGurk, ⁠Paul Dorothy, ⁠Ronan Taylor, ⁠Fionn McCann, ⁠James McElhone, ⁠Christopher Robb, ⁠Dáire King capt., ⁠Aodhan O’Hanlon, ⁠Aodhan McLaughlin, Jay Ward

Subs: Oisín McGarrity for F McLauhlin, Matthew Armstrong for F McCann

Referee: Barry Winters (Tyrone)

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by thesaffrongael

Carey have a big ‘hill’ to climb

Cork county final 2024

Watergrasshill 2-16 Carrigaline 0-19

Unlikely champions. An unbelievable success story.

The story of Carey’s opponents this weekend has been that of a remarkable turnaround by a team who went through the past two years in the Cork Intermediate Championship without winning a single game.

Up to this season, Watergrasshill hadn’t won a championship group game since August 28, 2020. Before this season, the new Cork Intermediate Champions sole victory in three years was a relegation play-off.

From going three successive seasons without a single win, to winning this season’s campaign outright is some turnaround. Going into this season the odds of them winning their first ever Intermediate title seemed remote to say the least, but that is exactly what they did, and it was their first title in any grade in twenty years.

Speaking after their county final win over Carrgaline team captain Séan Desmond was understandably elated “That group inside there in the dressing-room are special. I’ve no other words for them. We are a bunch of best friends that go out and enjoy playing with each other.

“When things get tough during games, we have had big fellas step up, and it has been an amazing year.”

In the match report in the Cork Examiner the reporter was high in praise for their centre half back Daire O’Leary “Standing up on Sunday was Daire O’Leary. Immense at centre-back. Impossible not to see him getting League game-time with Cork next spring.

And possibly championship game-time along with it. Beside him in the half-back line, Michael O’Driscoll was a force.

Moving up the field and there was no greater attacking force than Adam Murphy. He won frees, converted frees, and clipped three from play.

Murphy, who hurled with Bandon last year, transferred back to Watergrasshill in 2024. He finished the campaign as their top-scorer with 1-39.

“Our luck wasn’t really with us over the last few years and we were probably lacking that small bit,” Desmond continued. “Adam Murphy coming back from Bandon, he is an absolute beast of a man for us to have in the club. You saw what Adam did for us throughout the year.

“He comes up with big moments, his scoring is off the wall. There is a massive relief for us when you have players like Adam that can get them over the bar and get goals, it makes it easier for everyone.”

Murphy, unlike his Premier Senior final exploits with Imokilly, was not among their goal-getters here. He did provide the assist for their first in the third minute, his sideline cut deftly flicked to the net by Padraig O’Leary.

Their second was the more important major, part of a fourth quarter burst that turned the tide and the result.

From the 45th to the 56th minute, Watergrasshill reeled off 1-5 without reply. From behind by the minimum to seven in front. A 0-15 to 1-11 scoreline reshaped to read 2-16 to 0-15.

That second goal was provided by Desmond. Collecting an Ian O’Callaghan delivery, he shook off the challenge of two Carrigaline defenders before shaking the net.

While admitting afterwards that “it wasn’t my best day at the office”, it has been some year at the office. Premier Senior and Premier Intermediate county medals within a month of each other.

Desmond was integral to the Imokilly cause. Three points in the county final, 2-12 overall. Their second highest scorer from play.

Imokilly lifted him and the six other Watergrasshill men part of Denis Ring’s panel.

“Eddie [Enright, manager] is unreal for that. The minute he came in, we had a discussion about playing for Imokilly, he was very obliging to us.

“To have seven lads from Watergrasshill with Imokilly and win a Premier senior, we’d never heard of that before in the club, not to mind having four or five of us on the pitch at the one time.”

To Carrigaline. In front by 0-12 to 1-8 at the break. Three quarters of an hour in, the double chase was still on course. They did not die easily after being hit for 1-5.

Brian Kelleher and Eanna Desmond conjured a four-in-a-row to pare the margin to a goal. David Griffin continued to rain in ball from centre-back. They almost found an equalising goal, their injury-time effort repelled by corner-back Dylan Roche.

Watergrasshill’s year. A year unlike those that came before. Celebrations first, then a provincial swing against Wolfe Tones of Clare this Saturday at Páirc Uí Rinn.

Scorers for Watergrasshill in Cork county final – A Murphy (0-8, 0-4 frees, 0-1 ’65); S Desmond (1-1); B Lehane (0-3); P O’Leary (1-0); A Foley (0-1 free), M O’Driscoll, S O’Regan, C O’Leary (0-1 each).

Watergrasshill: A Foley; S Field, D McCarthy, D Roche; M O’Driscoll, D O’Leary, K O’Neill; A Sprigggs, S O’Regan; C O’Leary, S Desmond, L Foley; B Lehane, A Murphy, P O’Leary.

Subs: A Cronin for Foley (44); I O’Callaghan for Field (45-47, temporary); I O’Callaghan for Spriggs (55); P Cronin for O’Leary (58).

Munster Club semi-final

Watergrasshill 2-20 Wolfe Tones (Clare) 2-13

Their victory in the Cork final set up a meeting against Clare champions Wolfe Tones of Shannon, home club All Ireland winning Clare manager Brian Lohan….and what a game it turned out to be. Despite conceding a goal in the opening minute Watergrasshill hit back to lead by 1-11 to 1-05 at half time.

They again conceded early at the start of the second half but they soon steadied the ship and soon stretched their lead. There was controversy when Wolfe Tones were awarded a penalty in last ten minutes, but after consultation with the linesman the decision was reversed and the Cork champions pushed on to win in the end by seven.

Munster Club final

Watergrasshill 1-21 Cashel King Cormacs 0-14

The Cork side held the upper hand against Tipperary champions Cashel King Cormac in the Munster final which was played in Limerick

Centre-forward Adam Murphy was the star of the show for Watergasshill, scoring in the first minute of the game. He went on to hit 1-12 overall, 1-05 of it from play.

Managed by 2001 Tipperary All-Ireland-winner and All-Star Eddie Enright, the Cork champions had the better of a tight first half, and their ability to strike back right away after every Cashel score helped them to a 0-10 to 0-08 lead at half time.

During the third quarter the Cork champions began to stretch the gap, but Cashel stayed in touch through the accurate free taking of Devon Ryan, until the mercurial Murphy struck with the only goal of the game which gave them a 1-15 to 0-11 lead. From then on it was plain sailing for the men from the Rebel county who were ten ahead at the final whistle.

by thesaffrongael

Barney Campbell RIP

Former Loughgiel and Antrim hurler Barney Campbell was laid to rest on Wednesday after Requiem Mass in St John the Evangelist Church, Carnlough.

The church was packed to overflowing as the friends and family came to pay homage to a great man who starred in the red of his native Loughgiel and the saffron of Antrim.

During a glittering career Barney won six senior championship medals with the Shamrocks in the 1960s and early 1970s and was a member of the Antrim team who won the All Ireland Intermediate title in 1970. A tough as teak forward he played in a star studded forward line and will always be remembered being part of a famous half-forward line with Brendan McGarry and Seamus Richmond during a golden period in Loughgiel hurling.  

After marrying Maureen, Barney moved to Carnlough where they raised a big family, most of whom carried on that great hurling tradition with Glenarm Sean O’Neill’s and St John’s Camogie Club, Both those clubs formed a guard of honour at Wednesday’s funeral.

Barney Campbell will be fondly remembered by all those who knew him. A hard working decent man who devoted his life to his family, his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and what a send off they gave him yesterday. To Maureen and their family, his brothers and sisters we extend our sincere condolences.

Rest in Peace Barney   

by thesaffrongael

Maghera impress in semi-final win over St Mary’s

Danske Bank Leonard Cup semi-final:

St Patrick’s Maghera 4-16 St Mary’s CBGS Belfast 0-5

St Pat’s Maghera produced a quality performance in Wednesday’s Leonard Cup semi-final in Ahoghill to convincingly beat St Mary’s CBGS Belfast and set up an all Derry final against Gaelcholáiste Dhoire.

The Maghera boys struggled to put the scores on the board in the early stages, but once they got going they soon laid down a marker. St Mary’s were holding their own on the scoreboard but once left half forward Don Mulholland found the St Mary’s net it was clear that the Belfast side faced a major task.

Padraig Kelly hit back with a quick point for St Mary’s but St Patrick’s were begging to hit their stride and point from Mulholland, Hasson and Collins began to out space between the sides and when Maghera full forward Sean O’Hara burst through to kick the ball to the net to help his team to a nine point half time lead (2-6 to 0-3)

When O’Hara grabbed St Pat’s third goal one minute into the new half the only thing in question was the size of the winning margin. Things got worse for the Belfast side as Collins tagged on their more points from frees and Burke added two from play. Matthew O’Neill pulled a couple back for St Mary’s but St Pat’s were rampant at this stage and as they emptied the bench more players staked their claim for a starting place in the final, Aaron McGonigle grabbling his team’s fourth goal with a strong finish.

The win sets up an exciting final against their Derry neighbours Gaelcholáiste Dhoire, who impressed two weeks ago when beating Cross & Passion Ballycastle in the other semi-final.

St Patrick’s: S O’Hara 2-0, D Mulholland 1-2, A McGonigle 1-0, D Collins 0-8 (fs), O Burke 0-2, D Hasson and R O’Loughlin 0-1 each

St Mary’s: M O’Neill 0-3 (fs), P Kelly 0-2 (fs)

St Pats Maghera

F Wallace, C Duggan, D McKaigue, J Bradley, K Friel, D McEldowney, D McKenna, C McDonnell, S McCormick, D Mulholland, D Collins, O Burke, J Conway, S O’Hara, D Hasson.

Subs: R O’Loughlin for O Burke, B Bradley for D Hasson, T Leadon for J Conway, A McGonigle for D Mulholland.

ST Mary’s CBGS

D Gault, E Hughes, E Flynn, D Rainey, O Marley, M O’Neill, B McCaul, J Gamble, C Dempsey, R McIlhatton, F Smyth, O Kennedy, P Kelly, A McCahey, S McGarry.

Subs: T McCaughey for O Kennedy, F McKenna for R McIlhatton.

Referee: O Elliott (All Saints)

Pics by Bert Trowlen