NA GAEIL SENIOR: Na Gaeil faced Churchill out in their new pitch in the heat for the first round of the junior championship.
The first half was an extremely even affair with both sides trading scores.
Darragh Carmody was deadly accurate from dead ball kick scored Na gaeil opening three scores with Dan O’Connor and Jack Barry also getting on the score board before Dave Culloty goaled after a direct ball from Mike Griffin, managed to get through a cluster of players to find Dave who coolly finished.
A strong finish by Churchill,02-02 without reply saw the home side go into the break with a two point lead . Churchill 02-06; Na Gaeil 01-07.
With so much at stake the second half was a close low scoring affair in contrast to the first. jack barry and Eoin Walsh reduced the home sides lead to a point after Churchill scored the opening point.
Na Gaeil defence held strong, despite being pressed hard in the second half keeping Churchill to two scores, A score from Mike Griffin and two pointed frees from Darragh Carmody gave Na Gaeil the lead with a few minutes on the clock, which they held on to till the final whistle.
Churchill 02-08; Na Gaeil 01-12
Tim Culloty, Paul Daly, Kieran Dineen, Mike Collins, Kieran O’Donovan, Jack Barry(02), Shane Fitzgerald, Dan O’Connor(01), Mike Griffin(01), Seamie O’Neill, Dave Culloty(01_00), Ian McCarthy, Dara Carmody(06,05free) Rob Murphy(01), Jamie lowham, Eoin Walsh(01), Dylan Seymour, Emmet Curran, Darragh Sheehy,Andrew Barry, jordan Murphy, eoin Daly, Eoin Sheehy, Cormac Sheehy.
NA GAEIL U16: Na Gaeil travelled west to take on Dingle in the Kelliher’s Toyota Central Region.
The first half proved to be a close contest with Dingle scoring some early points. Na Gaeil also found the posts when Patrick Roche scored a goal early in the game. Dingle were awarded a penalty mid-way through the half but goal keeping hero, Shawn Duggan, got his leg to the ball and deflected it over the bar.
In the 16th minute, Diarmuid O’Connor rounded his man and drove the ball to the net and sent Na Gaeil into a three point lead. Dingle came looking for goals but Fergal Barry was in the right spot saving on the line to deny Dingle a sure goal.
Niall O’Mahony showed some great skill around the middle of the field and scored a point in the 20th minute from good team play. This was an evenly contested first half with both teams level at the half way stage. Na Gaeil 2-02, Dingle 0-08.
Dingle opened the scoring after three minutes with a point, but it was to be their last until the 20th minute of this half. Na Gaeil had the better possession and scored more frequently with early points from Niall and Dara.
David Fitzgerald volleyed the ball to the net in the 13th minute from a high dropping ball from Diarmuid O’Connor and Damien Bourke also pointed shortly afterwards.
The game was going good for Na Gaeil and Niall O’Mahony added to their fortunes with a goal in the 17th minute.
Score of the game came from a side-line free by Diarmuid O’Connor who drove the ball over the bar with the outside of his boot in true Maurice Fitzgerald style.
Dingle launched several attacks on the Na Gaeil goal but terrific defending kept them out. Fergal Barry was making a habit out of saving off the line again in this half, reading the game well. Dingle had to settle for some hard earned points.
Late in the game, Dara Devine scored two fine points from play with Patrick Roche wrapping up the game with a last minute point. Na Gaeil had the edge on their opponents tonight but another meeting could prove to be a close contest. Final score Na Gaeil 4-10, Dingle 0-12.
NA GAEIL U14: Na Gaeil hosted Castleisland Desmonds in the County in sunny conditions last Saturday evening in Killeen. The visitors opened the scoring with a point, but Na Gaeil immediately replied with scores from Jack Bourke and Tadgh Lynch.
The scores were level minutes later and Desmonds began to control possession. They created a number of goal chances but Cian Devine continuing his excellent start to the season made two great saves.
However the Castleisland side were soon rewarded for their efforts with two goals in quick succession and opened a six point lead.
Na Gaeil fought their way back into the game and unanswered scores from Tadgh Lynch, Devon Burns and Mathew Burke reduced the deficit to three points. Desmonds had a chance to extend their lead but Cian Devine made another save and minutes later Tadgh Lynch had the ball in the back of Desmonds net to equalise the game.
Na Gaeil took control of the match and were soon back in the lead through another point from Devon Burns.
This was followed by another goal from Tadgh Lynch and a point from Darragh Reen and Na Gaeil opened a five point lead. Desmonds reduced the lead to four points but Na Gaeil were soon back in control when Devon Burns and Jack O’Brien scored two quick goals.
Despite this Desmonds refused to give up and Thomas O’Hanifan made a great block just before half time to deny the visitors a goal.
Na Gaeil’s bad luck with injuries continued when Eoin Cahill was forced off with an ankle injury just before half time. Desmonds got the final score of a very entertaining first half to leave the half time score Na Gaeil 4-7 Desmonds 2-4.
The second half turned out to be a much tighter affair. Dale Healy created an early chance for Na Gaeil by sheer hard work but his goal bound effort was kept out by a combination of the goalie and full back.
However on the tenth minute Tadgh Lynch extended Na Gaeil’s lead with his third goal of the game. Despite this set back,Desmonds refused to give up and scored their third goal to bring them back into the game.
The visitors took encouragement from this goal and they began to dominate possession and scored four unanswered points to reduce the deficit to six points.
The Na Gaeil defence were determined that they wouldn’t concede any further goals and brave defending from Enda O’Connor, Jimmy O’Sullivan Liam Rice Jack Sheehan Tadgh Horgan and Tom Walsh ensured that Na Gaeil would not lose this game.
The hard work of the defence was rewarded when Devon Burns scored Na Gaeil’s sixth goal of the game on the 30th minute to put the result beyond doubt. Castleisland got the last score of the game to leave the final score Na Gaeil 6-7 Desmonds 3-9.
This was a real team effort with brave defending from the backs and some excellent scores from our forwards.
We now have two wins from three in the County league and hopefully we can repeat this performance in the next two games. On the injury front Adam Burke and Ruri O’Sullivan should be back for our next game and hopefully Eoin Cahill will also recover in time also.
Panel: C Devine, J Sheehan E Cahill, T Horgan, L Rice, E O’Connor, J O’Sullivan, T Lynch, T O’Hanifan, J Bourke, D Reen, M Burke, J O’Brien, D Burns, D Healy, J Kelliher,T Walsh,S Daly.
NOTE: We are back in Galluras next Wednesday at 7.30 against An Ghaeltacht for our next game in the county league.
WELL DONE:Congratulations to Na Gaeil’s David Fitzgerald, Damien Bourke and Dan Goggins in their recent final of the Russell Cup (Kerry Schools Under 15 competition) which was played played at Dr. Crokes Pitch, Killarney on Friday 17th April. Result: Tralee CBS 1-10 Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne 0-11.
NA GAEIL LADIES U16: NA GAEIL v Austin Stacks Ladies County League Div 1 1st Round.We played at home on Monday evening against a strong Stacks team for the 2nd time in as many weeks.
We started brightly with Jadyn opening the scoring with a point from a free kick. Jadyn who was being marked tightly got another one soon after with Meagan following up with her 1st point of the night.
Stacks got their 1st point but on the resulting kickout from Mary which found Muireann who fed it to Sibeal to which she finished it off with a fine goal.
Stacks got another point but we had Meagan who was on top form, making a great run from the halfway line, twisting and turning and finishing it off with a wonderful strike for a goal.
Ciara was working well with half forwards, along with Caoimhe in full forward who worked her socks all night and was unlucky not to get a goal but only for a great block from a Stacks player.
Sarah hurt her fingers towards the end of the 1st half which disrupted us a bit, enabling Stacks to score 2 quick goals.
We made a few changes at half time as we were playing into the wind for the 2nd half, Sarah switched to midfield with Nora who had worked tirelessly in midfield along with Nessa going to the half back line. Grainne came in at full back and Abi came in at full forward.
Erika moved to wing back and started the second half with a great goal, unfortunately Stacks responded with 2 quick goals to cut our lead to a point.
We swapped Blaithnaid with Mary in goals to give her a rest after all her hard work defending against a fine Stacks forward line.
Nora, Erika and Muireann were run ragged with sweeping up everything that came around their half-back line.
Ria, Amii and Maura did a great job in the backs , and for the rest of the game, we kept Stacks scoreless.
Clodagh and Brid came on and with Caoimhe making some great runs, creating space for Meagan and Sarah to get a goal apiece along with Meagan hitting the crossbar and upright as well.
Meagan got another point , along with Sarah getting 3 more points. Abi finished off the game with a fine goal from distance. Well done to all on a well deserved win.
Team ; Mary O Connell, Amii Kerins, Blaithnaid O Connor, Maura Adams, Sarah Quigley, Muireann Moriarty, Ria Walsh, Nora O Connell, Nessa Mc Garty, Meagan Sheehy, Sibeal Casey, Jadyn Lucey, Ciara Gaynor, Erika O Sullivan, Caoimhe Hanafin, Grainne Early, Abi Casey, Brid Sinnott, Clodagh O Connor.
NA GAEIL LADIES U14:On Bank Holiday Monday last we played table toppers, Beaufort, at home. We struggled for numbers with only 11 girls available on the day. The game went ahead with the 11 Na Gaeil girls playing against 13 Beaufort girls and their subs on the full length pitch.
Eventhough we lost the match 3-10 to 6-7 the girls put in an heroic performance with each one of them playing out of their skins. For much of the game it was hard to tell which team was playing with two fewer players!
The atmosphere was tremendous and all the supporters really relished the football and spirit displayed by the girls. Well done to captain Clodagh and her team – Aine, Isabelle, Grainne, Sarah, Dearbhla, Abi, Mary, Caragh, Emily and Muire.
Last Saturday evening we travelled to Killorglin to play Laune Rangers B. We had a good turn out, only missing a couple of players.
It was a tight game and everyone had to dig deep with captain Aine giving a great performance in goal. Ria did a great job at full back with Sarah stopping a lot of the Rangers attacks at the half back line.
We were up two points at half time with a score of 2-2 to 2-0. Mary and Clodagh battled well in midfield while Abi and Kay caused a lot of damage in the attack.
Rangers were only two points down in the dying moments but we managed to score another point before the final whistle leaving the score line Na Gaeil 4-5 rangers 4-2.
Thanks to all the parents who drove and supported on the day. Our next outing is a home game against Scartaglin, details to follow.
NA GAEIL GIRLS U8 & U 10:Training Sunday morning at 11 am, bring a friend and new members welcome
LOTTO: The draw for the jackpot of €9,800 took place on Tuesday evening last. Numbers drawn were 2,9 11 14.There was no winner. €50 winners were John O Halloran Kay Dillane. €25 Winners were Mary O Donnell,Ruth Horgan,Micheal B O Grady Gu ter Siech.Next week’s lotto is worth €9,900 all welcome for draw in club, each Tuesday at 10.30pm.
DEFIBRILLATOR: Any member over 18, interested in doing a defibrillator course please put name in to club or give to any officer.
Course is free. Choose to do it in one six hour session on a Saturday or Sunday or in two three hour sessions over two evenings.
LOTTO:The draw for the jackpot of €9,800 took place on Tuesday evening last. Numbers drawn were 2,9 11 14.There was no winner. €50 winners were John O Halloran Kay Dillane. €25 Winners were Mary O Donnell,Ruth Horgan,Micheal B O Grady Gu ter Siech.Next week’s lotto is worth €9,900 all welcome for draw in club, each Tuesday at 10.30pm.
SYMPATHY:Sincere sympathy to Marie O Neill on the death of her Aunt.RIP.
