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This past week has been a busy one for the club with hurling and camogie teams of all ages on the field of play.
Senior Men
Tralee Parnells 1-25 St. Brendans 2-10
Tralee Parnells Senior team that defeated St. Brendans in Intermediate Championship Quarter Final
Tralee Parnells Seniors lined out on Monday 17th in Caherslee for their Intermediate Hurling Championship Quarter Final vs St. Brendans.
After a deluge of rain in the previous 24 hours, it remained thankfully dry for the match, so other than being soft underfoot, conditions were otherwise perfect. St Brendans opened the scoring with a free which was followed after 3 minutes by a great point from distance by Parnells No. 10 Gearoid Doherty.
St. Brendans went 3 points to 1 in front with another free from their free taker Colm Healy and a superb sideline cut from Kieran Fitzgerald. Doherty was on the mark with a free of his own for Parnells and this was followed by 2 points from play in quick succession by Parnells full forward Brian Lonergan.
But St. Brendans responded with a couple of points of their own from play. Darragh Reen at centre forward for Parnells was starting to come into the game and got a great score on the run.
Another Doherty free was followed by a superb Lonergan point. Just before the 1st water break, St. Brendans were awarded a free, brought forward for dissent, and Healy rattled the net to leave the scores level, 0-7 to 1-4.
Parnells got on top after the water break and outscored St Brendans by 5 points to 1, but just before the short whistle, St Brendans with a point from play and another goal from a free by sharp-shooter Healy left St Brendans with their noses in front. Parnells knew they had played the better hurling but some silly frees had kept St Brendans in the match. HT Tralee Parnells 0-12 St. Brendans 2-7.
The second half was a different affair with Parnells cutting down on the fouling and really making their fitness count. Eoin McKivergan replaced Daniel Teahan for the second half and he was making his presence count playing a lot of ball.
Within a minute of the start, Darragh Reen fired over after a superb overhead catch. Doherty, who was clinical all evening from the placed ball, followed up with 4 points in a row from 2 frees, a penalty (when Lonergan was fouled in the small square) and a great point from play.
In fact, Lonergan was proving a handful for the St. Brendans defence all evening, drawing frees when not scoring himself. Parnells hadn’t threatened the goal from play but just before the second water break, a super run and shot from Cillian O’Riordan beat the goalkeeper but struck the crossbar and bounced down but didn’t cross the line and the St. Brendans defence scrambled it away.
However, O’Riordan got on the scoresheet with a point from play straight after and another pointed free from Doherty had Parnells in a 5 point lead at the final water break, Parnells 0-19 St. Brendans 2-8.
St Brendans got the first 2 points after the resumption but that was to be their final contribution, as Parnells took over from there to the end. Midfielder Luke Chester, who was outstanding all evening, was rewarded for his efforts after a great block on the St. Brendans keeper resulted in a point.
Doherty (free) and Reen added further points before O’Riordan finished out the scoring with 1-2 of his own, the goal coming after he rounded the keeper and got the goal that he and Parnells deserved. Next up is a repeat of last year’s semi-final as Parnells meet Kilgarvan on Friday 4th September, unfortunately behind closed doors.
Final score: Tralee Parnells 1-25 St. Brendans 2-10
Scorers for Parnells: G. Doherty (11points, 8 f, 1p), D. Reen (0-6), C. O’Riordan (1-3), B. Lonergan (0-4), L. Chester (0-1).
Subs used: 17 T. Crowley; 19 E. McKivergan; 22 Jonathan Lowe; 27 R. Gilsenan
Minor Hurling
Tralee Parnells 2-04 Ballyheigue 6-14
Parnells Minors lined out in Ballyheigue last Friday evening in the Minor Championship Quarter Final against the home side. Ballyheigue dominated the first quarter and went 3-3 ahead very quickly.
Parnells settled in the 2nd quarter and closed the gap but by then the damage was done. The 3rd quarter was even but Ballyheigue pulled away in the final quarter in what turned out to be a disappointing result considering the team put in some strong spells during the match.
Although there were some really fine individual performances, it was a hard lesson in what happens when a team doesn’t train regularly as a panel. It was a disappointing start and end to a very strange season.
U16s
Our U16s play their next match in Phase 2 of the U16 competition next Thursday 27th August. Keep an eye on texts for further details.
U14s
Tralee Parnells 1-12 Ballyduff 4-07
Our U14 hurlers began Phase 2 of their County League campaign with a ‘rematch’ against Ballyduff in Caherslee last Saturday, against whom they had fought valiantly in Phase 1 and just came out the wrong side of a great match.
Unfortunately, the result was the same this time, though this was definitely a game Parnells could have won. Missing 4 of the team that lined out against Ballyduff the 1st day, they went behind early to a sucker goal with a mix-up in defence resulting in a long range Ballyduff free ending up in the net.
That put the boys on the back foot straight away. Though they hadn’t played well, Parnells were only 3 points down at halftime, Parnells 1-4 Ballyduff 2-4, with the goal coming from midfielder and captain, Sean Barrett, who was excellent all day. Parnells narrowed the gap to a point straight after half time with 2 quick points, but conceded another sucker punch with a clever flicked goal by Ballyduff.
Try as they might, Parnells couldn’t get the goals they needed to bring them back into the game. They did manage to narrow the gap to 1 point once more with some good free-taking by Eoghan Costello, but just as Parnells were pressing for an equalizer, Ballyduff broke down the field and got their final, and crucial, goal.
Goals win games and this was so true in this match. Parnells will wonder what might have been and now must dust themselves off as they prepare for a trip to Kenmare next Saturday.
U12s
Tralee Parnells U12 boys played the first round of Phase 2 of the County League last Friday night with the A team away to Kenmare and the B team away to Causeway at the same time.
In Kenmare, the boys came out on top in blustery conditions against a physical and able Kenmare team. Parnells had built a big lead by the three quarter mark but Kenmare came back very strongly in the last quarter. A couple of late Parnells goals sealed the result to win by 9-2 to 5-3.
At the same time in Causeway the B team, in what was one of the youngest U12 teams the club has fielded with squad of 4 U11s and 11 U10s, battled to the end but were not able to make too many inroads against a significantly more experienced Causeway team.
We play Crotta A and B in the next round of the league in Caherslee next Friday.
U6s & U8s
Our U6s and U8s welcomed Abbeydorney to Caherslee last Friday evening and there was a festival of hurling on display. The U8s had 2 teams in action and both sides displayed some amazing skills in both matches.
Adam Quill was a well deserved selection as player of the week. Likewise the U6 boys and girls gave it everything in their match and it was great to see both sides enjoying their hurling. Thanks to Abbeydorney players, parents and mentors for the matches.
Minor Camogie
Tralee Parnells Minor Camogie team vs Causeway in 1st Round of Co. Championship
Our Camogie Minors displayed true grit as they played end to end hardball against Causeway on Sunday 16th in our first round of the County championship in Caherslee.
The score board didn’t reflect the speed, strength and skill of the players in the wettest match we’ve played in 8 seasons of camogie at Tralee Parnells! Hats off to our 10 Minors, supported by 10 U16’s, they never gave up .. even when the referee’s notebook disintegrated!!
U16 Camogie
Tralee Parnells under 16s got their competitive 2020 Camogie season off to an intense start last Tuesday 18th in Caherslee. Thankfully the deluge the minors endured Sunday had cleared, so it was in more clement conditions that they faced Causeway.
There was nothing mild however in the attitude of our players and the intensity they brought to the contest.
It was great to see the tireless work across the backs and midfield who were severely tested throughout. Our forwards had to forage widely for possession against a strong Causeway defense but made good use of scarce possession and never gave up to the final whistle.
The great spirit of the side was exemplified by a surging attacking move, driven by Róise in the dying moments, starting on the half back line and driving all the way to the right end line. Causeway showed their experience in some judicious score taking, but their attacking opportunities were tracked by a stout defense who made them work for their scores and thwarted countless other opportunities.
A strong traditional side like Causeway are always blessed with talent and ability, but this meant our players got a test that allowed them to measure themselves against a high standard.
The Tralee side were not found wanting in effort and tussled for every ball and supported each other tirelessly from start to finish.
Overall it was a stern start to the competitive county season, one that allowed our players to show how much they have come on as individuals and as a squad over the recent months of training. This is the kind of baptism of fire that will stand to them and we look forward to seeing them bring the same commitment and drive into their upcoming under 16 county fixtures.
U12 Camogie
Tralee Parnells U12 Amber team played Sliabh Luachra in Castleisland last Monday 17th. Unfortunately the girls were well beaten by a better team especially in the first half. There was definite improvements all around for Parnells as the match went on and great heart by all the girls they kept battling on – great match play experience for all – onwards and upwards we will go.
The U12 Royals match vs Causeway was called off last Thursday.
