Go neirí go gheal leat Thady:
It was wonderful to see our senior player Thady O’Sullivan pay a visit to his own Milltown/Castlemaine GAA Grounds on Thursday afternoon last. Thady will soon travel to Dublin to continue his fight against illness but he didn’t want to do so without calling to make a check on the progress of the Field Development Project. And he made sure he was wearing his club colours too! We know that every single member of our club will wish him the very best as he continues his brave fight. Your courage, bravery and grace is an inspiration to all of us young or old. Best wishes Thady from everyone at your Milltown/Castlemaine GAA Club. (Photo to follow from my personal email)
Under 6 Academy:
The was much excitement on Thursday evening last when all the children from the underage academy descended on our GAA Grounds for their first fun football session since the Covid restrictions had been relaxed. All the children, their mentors and Covid supervisors availed of the beautiful sunshine to actively participate in some great games and learn some new skills.
We would appeal to parents and guardians to please cooperate and support Susan and her team of coaches by following all the guidelines as outlined in all correspondence. This will hopefully ensure that everybody will remain safe in these Covid times. Huge praise must go to Susan for all her work. Iarracht den chéad scoth Susan. Maith thú agus míle buíochas.
Graduation:
Comhghairdeas to all our young footballers who celebrated their graduation from Nagle Rice Primary School last week. We wish you many happy days as you journey on to Secondary School.
Children’s Choir:
We had a very welcome return of the Children’s Choir on Sunday morning last at the 11.15 a.m. mass, after a break since last March due to Covid.
While we didn’t have the usual 20 plus performers because of number restrictions, two of our underage girls played a blinder with Sarah on concertina and Eimear on vocals. Well done girls-multi talented ye are.
Cómhbhrón:
We extend our sympathy to our Deacon Conor Bradley on the recent death of his brother Jim.
We are thinking of you and your family at this sad and difficult time.
May Jim Rest In Peace.
O’ Neills Club Gear Order:
Just to remind everyone the final chance to order O’Neill’s club gear for this year’s bulk order is: next Wed 29th, Thurs 30th and Fri 31st of July. On each of these evenings Suzy or Liam Doherty will be down at the club grounds to take orders from 18.00 – 18.30. Please call Suzy on +353 (87) 237 2729 or Liam on +353 (86) 041 3593 if you have any questions. While I know, this is only July, these could make ideal Christmas gifts. The early bird etc..! ️
SENIOR GAME TICKETS: Round 2 of the County Intermediate Football Championship.
A balance from 40 tickets (first preference to executive members who wish to travel), is available for Milltown Castlemaine’s senior game away next Sunday to Dromid Pearses in Pairc an Phiarsaigh. Any member interested in purchasing a ticket, which costs €8- please forward your name, phone number and email address to the secretary 087/2256548 BEFORE 5pm Tuesday. If demand exceeds supply there will be a draw.
Under 12’s: Generously sponsored by Foley’s Spar, Milltown
Well done to our 2 under12 teams tonight on two great victories away to Keel on Sunday evening. Both teams are playing some great football and producing great scores, showing the fruits of some fantastic coaching by their trainers. Thanks to the parents for their support too.
Under 14’s: Kindly sponsored by Foley’s Spar, Milltown
Best of luck to our Under 14’s A team who is away to Castlegregory on this Wednesday. July 29th at 7. Our B Team is away to Laune Rangers on Thursday July 30th at 6.15 p.m.
Please show your support.
SENIORS:
‘Mid Kerry Champions Finish With A Flourish’ Kerry Petroleum County Intermediate Club Football Championship, Group 4, Round 1 (Kerry GAA, Kerry Sports Hub) Milltown/Castlemaine 2-15, Waterville 1-08 Venue: Glenbeigh/Glencar GAA Grounds (Neutral) Referee: Tom Moriarty (Killarney Legion) By Dara O’Connor.
Sunday saw the long awaited and eagerly anticipated resumption of competitive GAA action for the first time in over four months as Milltown/Castlemaine and Waterville clashed in a Round 1 Intermediate Championship fixture, played in Glenbeigh as all games this weekend were neutral venues. In what is by and large perceived a very open group with two Mid Kerry and two South Kerry clubs, both sides were hoping to get off to the best possible start and take home the victory along with the all-important two points.
A change to the championship format for 2020 up to last year now sees the top two in each of the four Intermediate Championship groups advance to the Quarter-Finals so there is added incentive for every team at this grade to advance to the final stages. Milltown/Castlemaine were dealt two injury blows leading into today’s contest as the influential duo of Gavin Horan and Dylan O’Neil were both side-lined. Of course, when such bad luck falls upon these individuals, the other side of the coin would say it presents opportunities for others to put their hand up and stake their claim for a starting spot. Prior to throw-in, there was two changes on the Milltown/Castlemaine side from the match programme.
In came Jerome Flynn as a direct replacement for Dylan O’Neil whilst John Dennehy replaced Killian Kerins at Wing-Forward. Waterville also had a change from the programme with Oran Clifford coming in for Jamie Donnelly. Jonathan O’Sullivan kicked the opening point of the game inside two minutes on the turn for Milltown/Castlemaine to get the scoreboard working for the Mid Kerry side. Waterville midfielder Cormac O’Sullivan responded in kind in the fifth minute and pointed a long-range effort to tie matters up at 0-1 to 0-1.
It was to be all one-way traffic for the South Kerry men for the next ten minutes as they seemed to settle the better of the two sides and after the energetic Sam O’ Dwyer pointed excellently to make it 0-2 to 0-1 in their favour in the ninth minute before a rather poor goal to concede from a Milltown/Castlemaine perspective in the 13th minute, punched to the net after Cormac Leane initially making a good save, the rebound wasn’t dealt with and in popped Alan O’ Dwyer to fist home out of the hands of a Milltown/Castlemaine player. Oran Clifford extended this lead further with a point from play and had the Mid Kerry men in seemingly big trouble at the midway point of the first half at 1-03 to 0-1.
Waterville will probably point to the next action as a critical move in halting their momentum as a water-break took place for both sides (Part of the new rules for the GAA resumption at the middle juncture of either half). Milltown/Castlemaine will again on the flipside to the above say that it came at an ideal stage for them as they regrouped and went again with renewed impetus. There is no doubt that it was a factor as following the restart, Milltown/Castlemaine would finish the half with six of the last eight scores with the South Kerry side only adding two points to their total from the first fifteen minutes in the form of two Barry O’ Dwyer 14 yard frees. David Roche, who had an outstanding game from centre-forward and the first of what would be two super scores from marauding wing-back Gavin McKenna as well as a Brendan Delaney point which was calmly slotted over seen Waterville’s lead cut to 1-4 to 0-4 after 25 mins.
Gavin McKenna (always a good man for an attacking jaunt from deep) notched his second point in a matter of minutes after some neat interchange play with Jerome Flynn, Pa Wren with a terrific long distance score and an equaliser from David Roche had matters back at 1-4 to 0-7.
Barry O’ Dwyer through a free after he was deemed to have been fouled off the ball seemed to have given Waterville a narrow lead at the break but Craig Counihan popped up with the score and a great effort it was too going away from the goal 30 metres out which ensured both sides retired at the interval level-pegging at 1-5 to 0-8.
The second half seen Milltown/Castlemaine and Waterville go toe-to-toe for the first fifteen minutes and there was very little to separate both sides during this stage of the match. It was really only when the game began to open up in the final quarter that Milltown/Castlemaine kicked for home and ran out convincing winners. The half-time break ironically and in total contrast to the earlier stoppage actually seemed to have suited the South Kerry side more and it showed in the early stages of the second half as Waterville started brighter and Fergal Cronin had them ahead at 1-6 to 0-8 by the 32nd minute.
There was also two wides thereafter which could have pushed the lead out further in their favour but ultimately this would the last time they would lead in this game as Milltown/Castlemaine came again and started to take over, tightening up defensively, winning the midfield battles and above all finding the scores easier to come by.
Following superb build-up play coming in along the end line from a rather subdued Jonathan O’Sullivan up to that point, he played in Cathal Moriarty (Another quiet figure up to this point) and he made no mistake, palming the ball over the on-rushing Waterville goalkeeper to make it 1-9 to 1-6.
It was a sign that these two top-quality players, who when on-song are crucial to this side and can often be un-markable had upped their game and were ready to guide their team to victory.
More hard work from Man of the Match in my view today David Roche seen him dispossess Waterville coming out of defence and he set up Moriarty unselfishly to widen the gap to four points on 46 mins at 1-10 to 1-6.
Sam O’ Dwyer kept the contest alive for Waterville immediately after with an instant reply from distance in open play but Moriarty and O’Sullivan were on a different level for Milltown/Castlemaine by now and they added two fine points in the 52nd and 55th mins to make it 1-12 to 1-7, Moriarty had a goal on but opted to take the safer option, O’Sullivan cutting inside the corner-back, onto his weaker left and effortlessly slotting over.
There was a water-break again just before these two scores and an extended break followed due to an injury suffered by Craig Counihan who had to be stretchered off. We wish him the very best in his rehabilitation as it’s never nice to see anyone carried away like this.
A strong finish from Milltown/Castlemaine seen them add a further 1-3 as points from Pa Wren, Jonathan O’Sullivan and Cathal Moriarty and a goal from substitute Killian Kerins following brilliant build-up play from O’Sullivan when evading the attention of a number of defenders seen the score-line widen to ten points at the games conclusion.
Probably a bit cruel on Waterville to lose out so heavily at the end, they were well in this game approaching the latter stages but our lads can be justifiably proud of a strong finish, showing tremendous fitness levels Final Score: Milltown/Castlemaine 2-15 Waterville 1-8 Milltown/Castlemaine Team: Cormac Leane, Stephen Roche, Ciaran O’Connor, Jonathan O’Connor, Jeremiah Hayes, Gavin McKenna (0-2) , Pa Wren (0-2), Brendan Delaney (0-1), Donal Dennehy, John Dennehy, David Roche (Capt.) (0-2), Craig Counihan (0-1), Jonathan O’Sullivan (0-3), Cathal Moriarty (1-4), Jerome Flynn (Team photo to follow from my personal email)
MINORS:
Well done to our Minor team and their opponents Spa on July 17th who played their part on in a very entertaining game last night, as both teams saw their return to action. A high scoring affair that produced 10 goals also seen some fantastic defensive displays. Our team led by 3-07 to 1-09 at the break and finished the game with six point margin. Our minors next day out in the county league will come against Annascaul/Dingle/Lispole on the Sat the 15th of Aug with a 4pm throw in scheduled. Well done again to both sets of teams and coaches and congrats to our Minor side on a great win. Our minors next day out in the county league will come against Annascaul/Dingle/Lispole on the Sat the 15th of Aug with a 4pm throw in scheduled. Well done again to both sets of teams and coaches and congrats to our Minor side on a great win.
