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Minor Co. Championship St. Brendan’s Play South Kerry in the Co. Minor Football Championship semi final on Monday, August 24th in Killorglin at 6pm. We wish them the best of luck.
Co. Championship Quarter Final St. Brendan’s on the back of their victory over West Kerry at the weekend will now play Killarney Legion in the quarter final of the Senior County Championship on Saturday next August 29th at 5pm in Austin Stack Park Tralee. As there are no spectators allowed due to Covid-19 restrictions the game will be live streamed. Extra time will be played if necessary. We wish them the best of luck.
Na Gaeil Minor Ladies Having opened with a win against Legion three weeks ago we were at the wrong end for our game away to Fossa/Glenflesk and our home (played in Castlegregory) against MKL (Milltown/Keel/Listry).
Na Gaeil Ladies Minor Football Team that defeated Abbeydorney on Friday evening.
In order to progress in the competition we needed to get a result out at least one of our two remaining matches. On Friday last we entertained Abbeydorney at Kileen, unfortunately, with no spectators due to the new Covid rules. Winning the toss we chose to play into the stiff breeze.
Muire opened the scoring for the home side with a well taken point. A lot of the play was taking place in between the two 45’s with Mary, Freya, Cara Gannon and Sarah battling well with their opponents. The visitors were next to score with a point after six minutes and then getting the better of Ciara Butler with a goal five minutes later.
The Na Gaeil full back line of Caragh, Aisling and Annie were having to work hard to defend against some very tricky Abbeydorney forwards. Our wing backs Dearbhla and Emma were making some good runs from defence and they were setting up our wing forwards Eimear O’Donoghue and Muire for some good attacking opportunities. One of these attacks set up Eimear Ni Shúilleabháin for a point after 16 minutes. Cara Gannon made a good run from midfield a minute later leading to another home point. Caoilin was working hard at corner forward and was substituted for Siena after 20 minutes.
Abbeydorney stretched their lead with a point after 25 minutes. Ciara Rath was causing the visitors problems in at full forward and was rewarded with a point a minute later which was our last score before halftime. This was a tight well fought game with neither side letting up. The visitors stretched the lead again with a point from play and one from a free leaving the halftime score 0.4 to the home side 1.4 to the visitors.
We had the wind advantage in the second half but it was Abbeydorney that split open the defence and Aine had no chance to stop this one. They were now two goals to the good. The home girls had an up- hill battle now. Eimear Ni Shúilleabháin settled Na Gaeil when she weaved past the Abbeydorney defence to score a great point.
The home side was settling and Mary won the ball in midfield and picked off a fine point. Siena followed up with a point a minute later to leave a goal between the sides. Our Castlegregory girls weren’t here just to make up the numbers so Eimear O’Donoghue took her point. Both sides exchanged points on the stroke of the third quarter with Cara Gannon scoring for the home side. Muire got her second point a minute later but the visitors cancelled this out straight away.
Eimear Ni Shúilleabháin was causing the Abbeydorney defence the world of trouble and got another two points, one from a free. We were now level. Against the run of play Abbeydorney broke up the right wing and fed their full forward who finished the ball in the back of the net! The girls in green were not going to leave this one behind them and the tenacious Eimear Ni Shúilleabháin scored a super goal to level thing once more. Ciara Butler who had been in goal for the first half was now based at the edge of the box and scored a point to put us in front with three minutes remaining, she followed this up with one of the points of the match, a huge kick from 40 yards.
The visitors pulled one back in the dying seconds but too little too late. Final score Na Gaeil 1-14; Abbeydorney: 3-07.
Our U16 girls Cara Greilish, Alice, Sorcha, Elizabeth and Siun made a big impact when they got a run. We play Listowel in our final game of the round away next Friday.
The week previously we played MKL in Castlegregory in very humid conditions. We had good numbers and there was also a strong following for both teams. MKL opened up the scoring with a point after a minute and doubled the advantage five minutes later.
Eimear O’Donoghue with the local knowledge leveled the sore with a point in the 11th and 13th minute. MKL went a point in front again before Ciara butler put the home team in front with a well taken penalty. However, the visitors followed up with three unanswered points to leave them leading by a point at half time on a scoreline of 0-06 to 1-02.
Na Gaeil with the three Castlegregory girls were settling well into the game and were well up for the challenge going into the second half. The home side suffered a sucker punch in the opening minute of the second half as MKL got an early goal. This was a fast paced physical game with both teams putting together some lovely passages of play. Both sides exchanged points and the visitors kept their three point advantage until a well worked move saw Na Gaeil pull a goal back to level matters again. MKL made a strong burst up the pitch straight away and slotted in a goal to open up an advantage again. Na Gaeil closed the gap to two again with 10 minutes to go, all to play for. Then a turn-over in midfield saw MKL break forward again to get their third goal and four minutes later they struck for their fourth. With only five minutes remaining there was too much of a mountain to climb. We managed to pull one more goal back, but victory went to the Mid-Kerry side. Final score: Na Gaeil: 3-07; MKL: 4-09.
The home side will rue a few early missed opportunity but can be proud of the way they played and on another day the result could have gone the other way.
Na Gaeil: Aine O’Sullivan, Ciara Butler, Caragh O’Neill, Aisling Casey, Annie O’Neill, Dearbla Quirke, Sarah Barrett, Emma Dewey, Mary O’Connell (C), Freya O’Connor, Eimear O’Donoghue, Cara Gannon, Caoilin O’Brien, Ciara Rath, Eimear Ni Shúilleabháin, Alice O’Connell, Roisin O’Mahony, Aoife Barrett, Sorcha Casey, Muire Kingston and Siena Lucey.
U10 On Sunday our U10Boys visited Dr. Crokes in their home pitch in Killarney. Na Gaeil fielded two strong teams and the boys played some excellent football. With plenty of goals, points, saves, blocks and tackles we were very proud of our boys’ efforts. We thank the Dr. Crokes club for hosting us.
Sympathy We extend our sincere sympathy to the Freeman family on the recent death of Liam Freeman of Ballybeggan, Tralee. May he rest in peace.
Clubhouse Open The clubhouse is open for food on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings from 6.30pm to 10.30pm. Club members can order a toasted sandwich, chips and salad plus a couple of more options for €9. Last food orders are at 8.45pm. This weekend went very well and there is very positive feedback from club members that availed of the service. Hope to see you there next weekend.
Clubhouse The clubhouse is closed for all outside activities and the gym will also be closed until there is further clarification from GAA Headquarters as to when they can re-open. This means that our Monday night bingo, Tuesday night lotto and Wednesday night card playing are suspended until then as well as all other activities that normally took place there on a weekly basis.
Clothes Collection There is now a Clothes Collection Bin situated in Na Gaeil car park for use by all members of the public.
