GAA Notes - 29th August 2011

Post date: Aug 29, 2011 3:49:25 PM

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Senior Hurling

Ballygunner 2-17 Tallow 0-6

Our senior hurlers suffered a heavy defeat last Saturday against Ballygunner. It was an evening when little went right for us and Ballygunner were relentless in their capacity to drive on and keep the scoreboard serviced.

Starting with the wind, two early goals from Ballygunner gave them a cushion of an eight point lead midway through the first half. A good save from Sean O Sullivan prevented a third goal as our defence settled a bit more. Points from Paul O Brien and Thomas Ryan's frees got us a little closer and the redeployment of Aaron Pratt as an extra defender stemmed the tide for the second quarter. However the goals proved influential in giving Ballygunner a comfortable lead at halftime 2-8 to 0-4.

Our hopes of a second-half comeback were dashed by a strong start to the second half by Ballygunner whose half-back line and midfield were dominant and they added four points in a row to stretch their lead and put the game beyond doubt. Our backline did begin to win more ball but we had difficulty translating that into scoring chances and Ballygunner were happy to keep us away from goal and tack on a point every so often.

Team: S O Sullivan, T Feeney, D O Brien, K Kearney, J Murray, M O Brien, W Henley, P O Brien, A Kearney, T Ryan, K Geary, K Henley, A Pratt, D Mulcahy, B Henley. Subs E Sheehan for A Kearney

Results elsewhere mean that our game against Roanmore next Friday evening is a winner take all affair with Roanmore having defeated Passage last weekend. Four teams in our group are battling it out for the right to join Ballygunner and Mount Sion in the quarter finals and it's more than likely that the winners of our game and the winners of the Dungarvan-Passage game will take the remaining two spots.

All of this means that our fate is in our own hands and we will have to dust ourselves down and get back on the horse to defeat Roanmore. I came across a few lines of poetry about a year ago that was often used by the American coach Marv Levy to rally his players and they are apt in this circumstance.

'Fight on my men, Sir Andrew said

A little I'm hurt but not yet slain

I'll just lay down to bleed a while

And then I'll rise and fight again'

Throw-in at Fraher Field on Friday evening September 2nd is at 6:30

Junior Hurling

Tallow 1-15 Fourmilewater 1-10

Our junior hurlers qualified for the Western final with a typically hard-fought win over Fourmilewater last Friday night. A superb goal from Stuart Barry got us off to a great start but Fourmilewater responded with a goal of their own midway through the first half and we went in at halftime with a one point lead 1-7 to 1-6.

We raised our game at the start of the second half and a succession of unanswered points gave us a four point lead halfway through the second half. However Fourmile showed why they have often been a thorn in our side as they rallied to level the game with about seven minutes to go. With our half forward line and midfield maintaining their workrate opportunities came our way in the final minutes and five late points sealed the win.

Team: B Power, E Hickey, K O Hallahan S Pratt, K Fraser, T Mc Grath, T Daly, W Murphy, M Curley, R O Sullivan, P Cunningham, Brian Mc Carthy, K Henley, S Barry, B Sheehan.

Our final group game is against Ballyduff in Tallow this Thursday Sept 1st at 6:45.

Best Wishes

Best wishes to Paul Kearney who will be undergoing an operation on his knee in the coming weeks. Paul has been one of our most consistent and classy forwards over the last ten years and indeed one of the best forwards in Waterford club hurling. Our upcoming game against Roanmore provokes memories of the game that announced his arrival about twelve years ago when he stroked over a glorious point off his left side from in front of the original dugouts in Fraher Field to level a Godforsaken relegation dogfight against the same opposition. We hope hope to see him back in a Tallow jersey soon.