Seniors:
Club Championship:
A game that was in the melting pot swung the way of our great rivals in dramatic fashion 12 minutes into the second half when first Barry John Keane received a second yellow card reducing our numbers to 14 and then following a Stacks wide a wayward kick out gifted possession to Star who slipped the ball to an inrushing forward for the lead goal.
These were the pivotal moments in a game where there was very little between the sides with scores level at the break, 0-07 each and level again on two occasions in the opening 10 minutes of the game.
An injury to David Moran with Kerry led to his withdrawal before the game which was a major blow to our chances.
Stacks had the aid of the slight breeze in the opening half and quickly set about their work, registering 3 points without reply after just 4 minutes before Tommy Walsh tapped over our opening score from a free on 6 minutes.
Stacks had further points from Ferdia O’Brien to lead by four but we gradually worked our way into the game with good play from Con Barrett and Gavin O’Brien around the middle and we fired over 4 points to level matters by the 24th minute following scores from Tommy (2), Chucky and Barry John – Stacks went ahead again but Barry John and then John Ferguson pointed to leave us ahead by the minimum as half time approached.
A missed free and a point from Star when he connected with a high ball saw the sides retire at the break on level terms.
There were no alterations to either side at the break and though David Mannix had the Rock in front on the resumption, Tommy again levelled matters from a free; Greg Horan’s point from play was quickly negated by another free from Tommy and then Gavin O’Brien scythed through the Rock following a great fetch to give us the lead point from an acute angle with a fisted point; Stacks levelled matters again as we approached the 12th minute of the second half.
The game was then to turn the way of the Rock as above mentioned and there was to be no way back despite the best efforts of Tommy, Gavin O’Brien, Cormac Coffey, Ross O’Callaghan and Chucky who never threw in the towel and were still taking the game to the Rock in the final minutes.
However, it was not to be, and despite making late changes , Stacks held out for the win.
Team: Gary Kissane, Danny O’Sullivan, Ross O’Callaghan, Cormac Coffey, Cian Sayers, Shane Brosnan, Karl Mullins, Con Barrett, John C O’Connor, Ryan Carroll ( 0-01), Tommy Walsh ( 0-07), Gavin O’Brien ( 0-01), Jack Savage ( 0-01), Barry John Keane ( 0-02), John Ferguson ( 0-01).
Subs used: Gearoid Savage, Padraig Griffin, Diarmuid O’Sullivan.
Following the disappointment of Saturday when losing the opening round to Stacks in the senior club championship, attention now turns to our home game with former All Ireland champions Dr Crokes next weekend, the game going ahead on Sunday @ 14.30.
Dr Crokes showed on Sunday last that they are in rude health with an emphatic victory over An Ghaeltacht, 1-17 to 0-06; they are a seasoned battle hardened side who know who to win games and have an impressive record in all competitions at local and national level.
They will be formidable opposition but our lads will not fear them and will be anxious to put some points on the board in this competition. David Moran’s absence from our defeat to Stacks on Saturday was a big blow, and our chances would be greatly improved if he was fit to start.
It promises to be an intriguing battle with Dr Crokes favoured to prevail but with home advantage in front of a partisan crowd, anything could happen.
Junior Blues:
It was a cold morning in Ballyrickard for the Academy Training with a great turnout. Well done to all our young players and especially their Coaches.
The parents warmed up with a cuppa Tea /Coffee along with some tasty Hot Cross Buns for Easter.
The Easter Bunny made an appearance during the training also. The Children didn’t feel the cold as they happily trained and learned the skills of the game under the watchful eye of their diligent Coaches.
Well done to the Players of the week U6 Rian McCoy
Hannah O’Sullivan
U8 Katie Higgins
U10 Grace O’Shea
Have a Great week and see ye all at Training in Ballyrickard Next Sunday the 8th April 2018 at 11am.
U12’s Start off the season next Sunday the 8th April 2018 at 6pm away to Milltown Castlemaine.
U14 B’s started the season off away to Dr Croke’s Team in the County League. They put up a good fight with some good scores to be defeated by a stronger Dr Croke’s side last Tuesday evening. The U14 B’s are at home to Stacks in Ballyrickard on Wednesday evening at 6.30pm
Minors:
Our minors had a great win on Good Friday when accounting for a fancied John Mitchels side on a final score line of 2-07 to 1-08 – this game was a double up fixture with points gained for both county league and Coiste Trá Lí. This was essentially a team display but special mention to Aidan Mangan, Daniel Bowler, Seán Duggan and Jordan Foley whose heroics ensured we came away from Ballyseede with the win.
Our next fixture is vs Austin Stacks this coming Friday night in Connolly Park with a throw in time of 19.00
Central Region U-16:
We had our first game in the Central League V Glenbeigh/Glencar/Cromane on Monday night last. We made a good start and led by1-03 to a point after 15mins. We still led by 3 points at the half time whistle. Glenbeigh were physically stronger than us and led by 2 points going into the last few minutes of the game , when we were awarded a penalty. Unfortunately for us Conor O’Sullivan’s powerful shot was excellently saved by the Glenbeigh keeper. Conor had scored 2 penalties earlier in the game. The Final score for KoR was 3-08 Glenbeigh/Glencar/Cromane 3-10.
Next game is away to Anascaul /Lispole in Anascaul on bank holiday Monday at 7pm
U-14s:
We made our debut in county league division 2 on Weds night last when hosting Fossa in Strand Road. Though our form had been good in Coiste Tra Lí league we were slow to settle and struggled for long periods of the game. We were short regulars in full back TJ Heaphy and corner forward Darragh O’Connor and both were major losses on the night.
We turned over at half time with a four point deficit ( 0-05 to 0-01) and despite an improved performance in the second half, we could not get sufficient scores to put Fossa under pressure; we had the upper hand in the middle of the pitch through Jack Savage and Seán Healy and our defence was outstanding with Jake Foley, Matthew Higgins and Eric McMahon to the fore – Tomás Kennedy was our biggest threat up front but we found it hard to penetrate. Final score: Kerins O’Rahillys 0-04, Fossa 0-09.
We make the long trek to Kenmare this Wednesday 6th April for our next game where throw in is @ 19.00
Ladies:
U12 GIRLS
We are away to Listowel Emmets in Round 2 of North Kerry on Thursday, April 5th. Throw in at 5.15p.m. Best of luck to the girls and their mentors. Texts with more details to follow.
U14 GIRLS
We are away to Milltown/ Listry on Easter Monday in round 2 of The County League. Throw in at 5p.m. in Milltown. Best of luck to the girls and their mentors Danny and Con.
U16 GIRLS
We are away to Moyvane this Thursday, April 5th in the County League . Throw in at 7p.m. in Clounmacon. Texts to follow. Best of luck to the girls, Diarmuid and Tricia.
BAKE SALE
Thank you to everyone who contributed in any way to our sale during the Kerry v Westmeath game.
A special thanks to Erris who baked a fabulous Easter cake which we raffled. Congrats to our winner Katie Nix.
Lotto:
There was no winning ticket in last week’s draw where the winning numbers drawn were: 3, 25, 27 & 29 – nobody matched 3. The five entrants for the special December draw ( 4 X €25o) are as follows:
Seán Kissane, Derek Molloy, Mary Moran, Martina Griffin and Susan O’Callaghan.
Next weeks jackpot will be for a prize of €3,400 – tickets €2 each, 3 for €5 can be purchased from the kiosk in the club house.
