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Tralee Parnells Junior Camogie Team vs Causeway in their 1st ever adult county competition
Senior Camogie
In a sun drenched Caherslee GAA grounds last Saturday evening, our Tralee Parnells Camogie team took to the field in their first ever adult county competition. It was a historic moment for Camogie in our town and one that so many of these players have been training for and working towards, since they started with our Tralee Parnells club back in 2013.
Great credit is due to Causeway as an established Camogie club, in taking the major step in 2020 of fielding a Junior Camogie team, giving more players from both clubs the opportunity to participate in our sport and play competitive Camogie.
With their strong tradition and with so many players coming through from underage county squads, Causeway were always going to present a huge challenge to our your Tralee club and our developing squad.
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In the light of that background, our Tralee Parnells players acquitted themselves well and put in a tremendous effort across all the lines of play from goals and backs to midfield to forwards. Right from the throw-in by John Ross, both sides battled for every ball and it was great to see so many of our players in the cauldron of their first competitive adult county competition not just respond to the challenge, but actually thrive on it and push themselves to new levels. The Parnells supporters and family members on the sideline had plenty to cheer for and shouted their encouragement as Tralee tussled from possession up and down the field.
As expected it was the visitors who presented the strongest attacking threat. Throughout the first quarter Causeway repeatedly threatened the Parnells goal but were contained by huge defensive efforts.
Points struck by Causeway put them ahead as the teams paused for their badly needed first water break and the tiredness showing on the faces as they gathered was evidence of both the testing heat and also the high tempo of the game and the work being put in. In goal Saorlaith held out as the last line of defence and save and deflected several Causeway goal shots throughout the first half.
Across the back line, Síle, Rachael and Aoife were stalwart in their defence and thwarted numerous forays into our square. In the half backs, Ellen, Áine and Anna turned over attacks time after time and turned defence into attack.
In midfield Kate and Lia were tireless in their pursuit of ball and assisted the backs when needed as well as delivering possession to our forwards. On the half forward line Ella, Katie and Ciara were exciting to watch as they competed strongly and won ball for Tralee. With a very strong Causeway defence, we struggles to get the play to our inside forwards, but Chloe, Ruth, Clodagh, Shona and Caoimhe worked hard on whatever ball came their way and created problems for the visiting defence.
After a number of close attempts, the efforts were rewarded after the interval when Áine, who led by example throughout, on one of her surging runs forward, fed a lovely ball to a well positioned Kate, who took in on and struck accurately, for a well taken point once she was in scoring range. Both sides were visible tiring, but Parnells forced a number of 45s and kept the pressure, on despite having to work very hard for possession.
With some enforced changes in position, Parnells struggled to stay with Causeway who took their scores well as the clock wound down, but Parnells never gave up and kept up their Trojan work rate right to the final whistle. It was an exhausted team that gathered at the home sideline after this very intense match, but every single player can be well satisfied with the performance they put in for their team mates and their club. Having taken the big step of hosting our first ever county league game, we now look forward to the return encounter out in Causeway in a couple of weeks.
Team: Saorlaith Moore,Síle Lynch,Rachael O’Sullivan,Aoife O’Sullivan,Ellen Cooke,Áine Kelleher,Anna Kerdzaia,Kate Lynch,Lia O’Connell,Ella Breen,Katie Dwyer,Ciara O’Mahony,Ruth O’Connell,Chloe Griffin,Clodagh O Sullivan,Shona O’Connor,Caoimhe Donnelly.
U12 Camogie
Our U12 teams had their first outing in the County League last Wednesday evening at 2 separate venues 30 miles apart!
Tralee Parnells U12 Royal Blue Camogie Team vs Killarney Wed 5th Aug
U12 Camogie Div A (Royal Blue )
Tralee Parnells 7-1: Killarney 2-3.
This was a great display by the Royal blue team in Glenflesk on their first outing vs a strong Killarney team. It was great to see the girls using their skills and learning to work as a team.
Tralee Parnells U12 Amber Camogie Team vs AbbeyKilLix Wed 5th Aug
U12 Camogie Div B (Amber)
Tralee Parnells 2-0 AbbeyKilLix 4-0
At the same time that the Royal Blue team were playing Killarney, the Amber team played AbbeyKilLix in Caherslee. After a slow start, they came into their own with strong performances by Sarah Chute, Emma Gaynor and Orla Buttimer. The final score didn’t reflect the second half domination by the Ambers who were very unlucky not to get a lot more scores on the board with more than a few wides. This was a very promising start to the season for this young team.
U12 Hurling
Tralee Parnells hosted Ballyheigue last Friday evening. Having two U12s teams playing competitive hurling in the sunshine on freshly cut grass in Caherslee was as good a start to a beautiful weekend as one could ask for. The boys did very well against two strong, tough and skillful Ballyheigue teams. In the A game, Parnells shaded it by one point 4-06 to 3-08 in a very tough and combative match. In the B game, aided by 5 of the under 10s they boys were up by a point at half time but lost out by a few goals late on.
U14 Hurling
Tralee Parnells 4-16 Lixnaw 5-2
Tralee Parnells got their County League campaign back on track with a battling win away to Lixnaw on Bank Holiday Monday evening. On a perfect evening and a lovely pitch, Parnells raced out of the blocks and had 2-3 without reply, with a couple of goals from Andrew Kerins, who worked his socks off throughout. However, Lixnaw gradually worked their way into the game and were awarded a penalty, which was brilliantly saved for a 65 from Ivan Conway by Cian Harris. Lixnaw did raise the green flag soon after, though there was a suspicion of a foul on full back, Oisin, in the run up to the goal. Lixnaw then changed their tactics playing an extra defender and they started launching high balls into the Parnells square. Two more goals followed and Parnells were suddenly under a bit of pressure. Will Somers relieved that pressure a little with a goal of his own. HT: Parnells 3-7 Lixnaw 3-2. Lixnaw persisted with their high balls into the square after half time and this yielded another 2 goals. In between, Parnells picked off their points with some inspirational scores, notably from captain Sean Barrett and Andrew Kerins. After the last water break, the defence finally held firm and held Lixnaw scoreless while the forwards pegged on a few more scores including a cracking goal by Tomas O’Connell. Well done to all the boys on a great win.
Tralee Parnells 0-09 St Brendans 4-10
The U14s finished their Phase 1 campaign with what can only be described as a tough day at the office in Caherslee last Saturday evening. Against a much physically stronger Ardfert side and missing a few regulars, Parnells held their own until the first water break with only a few points separating the sides, thanks to a strong rearguard effort, where Cian in goal led by example and Oisin and the rest of the defence withstanding most of what St Brendans threw at them. However St Brendans gradually turned the screw and had 4 goals on the board by half time. HT Parnells 0-4 St Brendans 4-3. Parnells gave as good as they got in the second half but couldn’t get the goals they needed. Eoghan Costello was accurate from frees but while Parnells defended well, the Ardfert boys were able to pick off their points with strong running from midfield. The Parnells boys fought until the end but St Brendans were deserved winners. After 2 wins and 2 losses and outright 3rd in the group, the boys will now regroup as they await their Phase 2 fixtures.
U16 Hurling
Tralee Parnells 2-8 Abbeydorney/Causeway 6-15
In their second County League match in Causeway last Thursday evening, our U16s were beaten by a combined Abbeydorney/Causeway outfit. Our boys were in the game in the first quarter, mainly due to some wasteful shooting by the opposition and some great goalkeeping by Sean Barrett on his first outing in goal for the club. However, a few goals followed before half-time and Parnells were up against it in the second half. But the boys never gave up and 2 great goals by Luke Benson and some great sweeper play by Cathal Concagh kept them in the game. However, as Parnells tired, the Abbeydorney/Causeway combo were able to pick off some fine scores. Parnells are at home to South Kerry next Thursday 13th August in their first game in Phase 2 of the competition.
Tralee Parnells U12 Hurling vs Ballyheigue Fri 7th August Caherslee
Senior Hurling
Preparations are going well as Tralee Parnells Senior team get ready for their County Intermediate Championship Quarter Final vs St Brendans in Caherslee on Monday 17th August at 6pm. There is a great attendance at the training sessions and they have had a number of valuable challenge matches. Hopefully there will be a good attendance on the night (subject to the 200 permitted) to cheer them on. Please contact Club Executive regarding tickets.
