GAA

County League:  Churchill 3-6 Ballylongford 0-15

Churchill made the trip north to Ballylongford on Sunday knowing their promotion destiny was in their own hands. Three wins from their three remaining games would ensure a return to Division 3 after a long absence.

From Bally’s perspective, they required a win to keep alive their hopes of staying in Division 4. In the end, a draw was the outcome, an unsatisfactory result for both teams.

Churchill raced into a 1-3 to one point lead, the goal coming courtesy of Cillian Fitzgerald. At this stage, you would have put your money on Churchill leaving with maximum points.

However, they couldn’t sustain the pressure and ended up trailing by a point at half time, as the home team picked off some good long range points.

Half Time: Churchill 1-3 Ballylongford 0-7

Ballylongford continued to pick off the points, but a goal by Benny Dillon kept Churchill in the match. With 15 minutes to go, Ballylongford led by 3 points, 0-13 to 2-4.

At this stage, Churchill were chasing the game and Cillian Fitzgerald had a number of goal-bound shots well saved by the Bally keeper. Bally seemed to have lots of time on the ball and were able to work themselves into scoring positions.

They extended their lead after 20 minutes to 4 points and at this stage, the home side looked likely to secure the win. In fact, had their full-forward not blazed wide when one on one with Paul O’Sullivan, it would have been game over.

To their credit, Churchill galvanised themselves for one final effort. A well worked move out of defence and carried on by Fiachra Griffin, resulted in Cillian smashing the ball to the net, his fourth goal in 2 games.

Benny Dillon followed this up with a close-in free and the sides were level again. With time running out, Ballylongford counter attacked and their dangerous corner forward, Kiki Mulvihill, swung over a lovely point.

From the kickout, Churchill moved the ball up the right wing and JJ Prior, operating as corner forward, kicked a wonderful point from a tight angle.

That was to be the last score and when the final whistle blew, the Churchill players fell to their knees – their effort had come up just short.

While we still need to win our final two games, promotion is now out of our hands and we will be relying on other results to go our way.

Any one of five teams is in the running for the third promotion spot. On a more positive note, while not mathematically safe, the draw should ensure we avoid relegation to Div 5. Our penultimate match is a home fixture vs Cordal on 28th September.

Full time: Churchill 3-6 Ballylongford 0-15

All-Ireland Tickets: The draw for All-Ireland tickets will take place in Spa Community Centre on Wednesday night, 17th September, at 9pm. Members must be there on the night to collect and pay for tickets – tickets will not be held for anyone.

Kerry Minors: Best of luck to Ivan Parker and the Kerry Minor and Senior teams in the All-Ireland Finals next Sunday.

Spa NS Ice Bucket Challenge

Staff Members of Spa N.S. get a soaking from the students as part of the school’s very own ‘Ice Bucket Challenge’ last Friday. The event raised €350 for the Irish Motor Neuron Society. (see photos below)

Plaque Unveiling

A plaque was unveiled last Saturday in Fenit Church to honour former P.P. Eugene O’Connor.

Born in no. 1 Courthouse Lane, Tralee, on August 4, 1910, Eugene was the fifth of eleven children born to parents James O’Connor of Lisnanoul, Castlemaine and Mary Foley of Boolteens, Castlemaine.

Attending Tralee CBS, young Eugene excelled not only academically but also at hurling and football. Continuing his education in St. Brendan’s College, Killarney.

He enter Maynooth Collage in 1930,and conferred with a Bachelor of Science Degree on 8th November 1933. He was ordained to the priesthood on the 20th June 1937.

Fr. O’Connor taught mathematics in St. Brendan’s Seminary, Killarney from 1937 to 1938, following which, he transferred to Caherdaniel Parish.

He actively partook, as a crew member of a rescue boat together with four others, during the winter night of 26th February 1941, in rescuing 14 crew members from sinking lifeboat from the S.S. Nailsea Lass which had been torpedoed two days previously durning World War 2.

The 40s, 50s and 60s saw Fr. O’Connor serve in Sneem, Dingle and Boherbue parishes finally ending up in Spa/Churchill in 1964 were he remained until his retirement in 1986 (age 76years).

A passionate GAA follower and a noted player especially hurling and football in his youth, he rarely missed an All Ireland semi final or final.

He also assisted the local GAA club in acquiring its current playing and community centre at the Spa. (The latter was named after Fr. O’Connor).

He was also a guiding influence in the formation of the original Tralee Bay Fishermens Co-op, which he chaired. A wizard at crosswords, Fr. O’Connor completed them daily to keep his mind challenged and active and loved good company especially at a game of cards or billiards.

He was a gentleman and a perfectionist and most welcoming to all. During his time in Churchill he carried out extensive repairs to the Church of the Purification Churchill, and built a new school in Fenit.

He also personally gave considerable financial aid towards the building of St. Josephs Oratory in Fenit.

Fenit Samphires

Seniors: We got off to a great start to the season with an 8-0 win over Ballyhar Dynamos. Daniel Clinton scored a brace, Ger McCarthy, Bill Mullins and Darren Lynch all scored in the first half and the points were ours by then.

However Ray Walsh scored a couple in the second half and Ciaran O’Mahoney made it 8. A great kick off to the season and lets hope that we can carry on from here and keep climbing the table.

Schoolboys: The schoolboys/girls season starts next Saturday. All players need to be registered before then and it is very important that anyone that hasn’t brought back their registration forms do so at their next training session.