GAA Notes 5th September 2011

Post date: Sep 05, 2011 9:50:37 PM

Sponsored by Tallow Area Credit Union

Senior Hurling Championship

Tallow 4-16 Roanmore 0-15

Our senior campaign got back on track in some style with a determined and skilful win over a useful Roanmore side last Friday evening.

Roanmore started more brightly and were up 5 points to 2 after ten minutes, out points coming from Thomas Ryan and Paul O Brien. Facing a wind we gradually clawed our way back into proceedings mainly due to the ability of Paul O Brien to occupy two men in the full forward line and it was Paul's crossfield ball to Donnacadh Mulcahy that led to our opening goal after 20 minutes. Again Roanmore recovered with points of their own but on the stroke of halftime Eoin Condon pounced for our second goal to leave us with a 5 point interval lead 2-7 to 0-8.

Minutes after the restart a high ball towards the Roanmore goal was broken down and the evergreen Brian Henley crashed the ball to the net to leave Roanmore facing an uphill struggle to get something from the game. While they did respond with two points the game was sealed by Thomas Ryan's wonderful dummy and pick-up to calmly slot it beyond the Roanmore keeper and finish the game as a contest. The teams exchanged points for the last quarter and our defence did well to defend two close-in frees to keep a clean sheet.

Team:S O Sullivan, T Feeney, D O Brien, T Mc Grath, J Murray, M O Brien, W Henley, K Geary, T Ryan, K Curley, E Condon, A Pratt, D Mulcahy, P O Brien, B Henley.

With the undercard out of the way the lights go up before the heavyweight quarter final bouts which see us take on neighbours Lismore on the weekend of the 17th September. Lismore will be a formidable challenge for us but in a local derby like this form can sometimes go out the window and we expect a cracking and full-blooded contest.

Junior Hurling

Ballyduff 2-10 Tallow 0-13

In our final group match, a goal in each half was enough for Ballyduff to qualify for a Western final where they will meet us again with a bigger prize on offer. Ballyduff started much the better team and were 1-2 to no score ahead after ten minutes. We gradually worked our way back into matters through the accuracy of William Murphy from placed balls and at halftime the margin was two points.

Scores were difficult to come by in the second half but points from Luke Mc Carthy, Robert O Sullivan and William Murphy again drew us to within a point before Ballyduff pounced for the crucial goal midway through the second half. We rallied once again to get close but couldn't find a way to the Ballyduff net.

Team: B Power, E Hickey, K O Hallahan, S Pratt, K Fraser, B Sheehan, T Mc Grath, W Murphy, M Curley, R O Sullivan, L Mc Carthy, K Henley, P O Callaghan, S Mc Carthy, J Power

The Junior Western Final takes place this Sunday 11th September in Cappoquin at 4:15. We have lost the last three Western finals at this grade and determination is strong to achieve victory.

Five Things we learned from the All Ireland

1 Hindsight

Hindsight, it is said, is the foresight of an idiot. Halfway through the first half, I thought of the words of a hurling-mad Dunnamaggin man when we were talking a few days after the Tipp- Dublin match. 'Are Tipperary that good that they can leave Brendan Maher on the bench?' he wondered aloud. He then smiled 'Or do they just think that they're that good?'

2 It Started in the Field

If we all cast our minds back to Sunday May 22nd and the match that marked the opening of Pairc Eamonn de Paor it's definitely possible to draw a line between the form showed there and last Sunday. Shefflin, just back form surgery, throwing himself into everything. Tommy Walsh, again back from injury, at his imperious best. The first showing of Paul Murphy. Above all, the attitude and desire in a match where they'd be forgiven for wanting to get back home before midnight.

3 Laying down a marker

JJ Delaney and Michael Fennelly delivered hits on Callinan and Shane Mc Grath in the first half that would have an NFL linebacker preening and strutting. What it said was- no room this year, no space to run into and above all no free run at us.

4 Tommy Walsh

When they talk of the game's legends, Millennium men and icons the names of Ring, Keher, Mackey and Doyle are brought up. The question has to be posed- how many balls would they win if they had to mark Tommy?

5 Next for Tipp

While the the average age of the team is young, three of their most influential players (Cummins, Kelly and Corbett) won't be there in the long term. Particularly in the forward line, can Callinan, Bourke, Maher and Mc Grath develop into more consistent scoring threats?