Feile na nGael Report 2009

Blackrock V Loughrea

Friday June 19th, 2009

St. Brendans Park, Loughrea

We had a good victory this against our hosts, St. Brendan's Loughrea. We received a warm welcome to their beautiful field and club premises in a lovely location. Our lads were quick out of the blocks but send a few bad wides early on. This could be due to the strong wind blowing down the field. Our first score came from Joe Logue and he followed with another from a free. We had all the play and 3and a half minutes a cracking goal ensued from a great pass by PJ Green to Eoin O' Connell who made no mistake. Darragh Kiely followed with a peach of a point from play. Loughreas’ Gearoid Loughnane converted a free in the 15th minute. leaving them trailing at half time 2-5 to 1 point. Blackrock played the second half against a stiff breeze and we wondered did we have enough on the score board from the first half. There was no fear as David Hurley tore through the Loughrea defence and scored a brilliant point. Cathal Cormack played a stormer at centre back and kept his lines clear. Long clearances against the wind ensured a starvation of supply to the Loughrea forwards.

With many clearances landing down on Joe Logue it was inevitable that he would score. First he was fouled and he scored the free. In the 11th minute of the second half a long ball came his way again and upon turning struck a great goal. This effectively ruined Loughrea's chances. Joe Logue then came off with a knee injury.

It ended 2-5 to 1 point.

Blackrock v Tynagh Abbey Duniry.

Saturday June 20th, 2009

St. Brendans Park, Loughrea

Blackrock started this game with some regulars rested. The replacements did well, but as a team we were sluggish for the first half of the game. Our first score came from a Craig Donovan clearance, was then fouled where Darragh Kiely scored a point from the resultant free. A great clearance by Paul Redmond went to Niall Cashman who delivered to Darragh Kiely who split the post with a beautiful ball. David King cut through again from a delivery to him, was fouled, but the free was sent wide. It was nip and tuck for the remainder of the first half when a ball from Ian O’ Keeffe went over for a 65. Cathal Cormack stepped up and sent it straight over the bar.

Then a free was awarded to our opponents which was expertly sent over the bar from 30 metres by Niall Maloney followed with a 65 just on the stroke of half time. Darragh Kiely twisted through the defence to score another before the half whistle. We led 4 points to 2.

Our boys started the second half at a great pace. Darragh Kiely was in flying form and landed two points quickly having received a text book pass from PJ Green for one of them. Eoghan O’ ‘Connell decided to get into the act and scored a nice point. We were now motoring well when we were rocked on our toes when Padraig Mitchell scored a great Goal for Tynagh. Game on now, but the Rockies stepped up a gear and Eoghan O’ Connell sent over two points. It ended 0-10 to 1-3.

Blackrock v Raparees, Enniscorthy Wexford.

Saturday June 20th, 2009

St. Brendans Park, Loughrea

This was a game of different standard to the first one and the Rockies quickly realised that it was game on here. Yet, they started well with good goal from PJ Green. Cathal Cormack having been fouled sent in the free to PJ, who made no mistake. A few minutes later Darragh Kiely had the ball over the bar. The Raparees responded now with a point from a free taken by Liam Ryan from the middle of the field. Raparees’ Kevin Foley spit our defence in two to be fouled, which resulted in a penalty t was taken by himself. It was brilliantly saved by Cathal Cormack. But we were in trouble again when the same player goaled. At the break we were down 1-03 to 1-01. As soon as the second half started Eoghan O’ Connell had the ball in the net. Raparees responded quickly with a point from a free taken by Kevin Foley. Darragh Kiely responded in kind. Immediately on the puck out the clearance was sent to him, which on receiving decided to split the Raparees defence. The Raparees goalkeeper, Aaron Sinnott made a save which was the save of the tournament. A 65 resulted which Cathal Cormack easily put over the bar. Alan O’ Callaghan made a run, passed to Joe Logue who sent it over the bar. On resumption a clearance from Eoin McCarthy landed to Pj Green who quickly sent the ball over the bar. It was now 2-5 to 1-3, before Raparees sent a ball over the bar to make it 2-5 to 1-4. Now it was the Rockies who were under pressure as the ball was landed repeatedly down on our defence for the last three minutes. Eventually the breakthrough came for the Raparees with a blaster to the net from Leonard Connolly to leave the minimum between the teams. The final whistle sounded much to our relief. Result Blackrock 2-05 to Raparees 2-04.

Blackrock v Dicksboro

Saturday June 20th, 2009

Tynagh

Blackrock started well against the breeze and in the first minute a breaking ball came into Niall Cashman’s hand and upon delivering he was fouled 65 metres from goal. Cathal Cormack stepped up and sent the free all the way over the bar against the wind. Ayden Walsh replied for Dicksboro followed by another by Kevin Kenny. They came at us again and Kevin Kenny went through and his excellent drive was saved brilliantly by Gavin Connolly, who had a terrific tournament. Blackrock worked the ball up field again and Joe Logue scored from a free, on being fouled himself. Dicksboro scored two more points before the break, one from a free by Shane O’ Brien and the other by their excellent centre forward Kevin Kenny. At the break it was 4 points to 2 for Dicksboro.

On resumption Blackrock were now playing with the wind, but Dicksboro went quickly up the field and scored an excellent point. We responded with two points, one from a free the Cathal Cormack and the other by Eoin O’ Keeffe. At this point the going was good for Blackrock when Eoghan O’ Connell broke through the defence took a pile driver, but the Dicksboro keeper brought off a brilliant save. They worked the ball up the field where Aidan Walsh scored a great point.

Our lads were doing well and the ball in our half, but were failing to score. The vital moment in the game came when Dicksboro doing some excellent passing up through the field landed a great goal by Patrick Cahill. This took the sails from our lads, but they kept trying to reduce the lead, but two more points went against them. It ended on a score line of 1-8 to 0-4.

Our lads were shattered, but they did Blackrock proud. They gave great displays and were very disciplined. To all involved with the team congratulations on a good performance and for the enjoyment given to all who followed them to Galway.