Club Notes 26th August 2013

Upcoming fixtures
29th Aug, U12 Football
31st Aug, JA Hurling CL Vs Saint Patricks, Away, 19:00
31st Aug, U10 Hurling Blitz, Away
2nd Sept, U16 Football Vs Hospital Herbertstown, Home, 19:00
6th Sept, U8 Hurling Blitz, Home
7th Sept, JA Hurling CL Semi- Final
7th Sept, U12 Hurling Final, Rathkeale
14th Sept, U12 Football Final, Rathkeale
28th Sept, U10 Hurling Blitz, Away
4th Oct, U8 Hurling Blitz
26th Oct, U10 Hurling Blitz, Away

Minor Hurling
Following a four month break since their previous outing our minors were back in action vs Murroe Boher on Friday last. The lack of match practice was critical as M/B set the early tempo and lead 0.8 to 0.2 after the first quarter. Kilpeacon then settled into the game and well taked points by Liam Carey(4) and Liam Quirke and a M. O’Neill goal brough us back into the game. The second half was an evenly matched affair and despite a great Liam Carey goal we could not close the deficit. Overall it was an excellent team performance lead by Sean Fitzgerald, Colm Carey and Conor Burke at the back, Tim Moloney dominated mid-field and was well supported by Nicky Morrissey. Up front, L.Quirke,L.Carey and Damian Kearney were a constant threat in the half line and likewise M.O’Neill at full forward.
Panel: Gary O’Connell,Darragh Griffin,Seán Fitzgerald,Evan Moloney, Cormac Flanagan,Colm Carey,Conor Burke,Tim Moloney,Nicky Morrissey, Liam Quirke(0.1),Liam Carey(1.5),Damean Kearney(0.2),Craig McNamara(0.1),Micheál O’Neill(1.0),Eoin Enright,David Wixted,Conor Griffin,David Butler,Dean Fanning.

U12 Hurling & Football
It has been a quiet couple of weeks on the matches front for both our hurlers and footballers , however training has continued in earnest and as the last of the holidays are being taken , the numbers are starting to increase once again at the training sessions.

This is one of the times in the year where there is a pull on the kids from different sports with Rugby , soccer starting again and also the return to school , starting secondary school etc and it is important that we continue to try to work with the kids to ensure they maintain interest in the GAA and hopefully see out the season .

For the U12’s there will be 4 more official matches in the League , 2 in hurling and 2 in football (Included in this will be the finals day in UL), we will also have one or 2 challenge matches and then finish up with hopefully a trip to end the season. We have received our new set of jerseys and look forward to parading these at our next match . Thanks again to John Mullins from Stonage for kindly sponsoring these.

One of our Football panel , Killian Scanlon was caught up in a serious accident while on holidays in Italy and while the injuries sustained were extremely serious , I am happy to say that Killian has had the strength to pull through and is now starting down the road to recovery . I am sure I can speak on everyones behalf in wishing Killian and his brother Connal and all the family a speedy recovery and we look forward to welcoming them back to the panel in the future.

Some of our squad will be involved with the u13’s over the coming weeks beginning with a challenge match on Monday evening (26th Aug) against Newtownshandrom from Cork , so best of luck to all involved .

U8 & U10 Football
Crecora Manister GAA Club currently field underage football teams at all competitive levels from U12 to Minor. The club would like to ensure we continue to field football teams at all underage levels so we have commenced football training for U8 and U10s on Sundays from 6pm to 7pm.

We would also like to hear from anybody who would like to help out in any way, however small, with coaching football at this age group. For further details contact Noel Kennedy 086-1589256

Club Notes 19th August 2013

Upcoming fixtures
19th Aug, U16 Football Vs South Liberties Away, 19:30
22nd Aug, U12 Hurling
23rd Aug, Minor Hurling Vs Murroe Boher, Home, 19:00
29th Aug, U12 Football
31st Aug, JA Hurling CL Vs Saint Patricks, Away, 19:00
31st Aug, U10 Hurling Blitz, Away
2nd Sept, U16 Football Vs Hospital Herbertstown, Home, 19:00
6th Sept, U8 Hurling Blitz, Home
7th Sept, JA Hurling CL Semi- Final
7th Sept, U12 Hurling Final
14th Sept, U12 Football Final
28th Sept, U10 Hurling Blitz, Away
4th Oct, U8 Hurling Blitz
26th Oct, U10 Hurling Blitz, Away

U12 Hurling & Football
Following on from the enjoyable activity days in Cork and Limerick, our U12s travelled to Thurles for the last in the series of U12 Activity Days. It was another great opportunity for the players to play at a county ground. In the last few weeks we have enjoyed hurling and football games against teams from all the Counties of Munster winning 7, drawing 1 and just the 1 narrow defeat. Great credit is due to the players for their application and sporting attitiude during games and their excellent behaviour off the pitch; they were great representatives of the club. The series was very enjoyable for all and the players enjoyed tours of the grounds and meeting with intercounty players, Paul Browne, Paul Kerrigan and Brendan Maher. The players provided a great insight into the world of senior intercounty hurling and football. Thanks to all the parents who provided lifts to players over the last 3 weeks, ensuring all available players were able to travel to games. It would not have been possible without their willing co-operation. Despite work commitments and holidays, the coaches Ger Riordan, Noel Quirke, Colm Coughlan and Noel Kennedy put in a huge effort co-ordinating the activity days and ensuring the players got to make the most of this great opportunity. Thanks also to the Limerick GDAs Noel Hartigan and Ger Downes for their efforts and also to Joe Reddington and other Munster Council representatives for the welcoming and efficient manner in which the days were run.

U12 Hurling and Football training continues every Sunday Evening for Football and Mondays for hurling. It is great to still see such good numbers turning up for training during the holiday period and hopefully with numbers increasing from now on we can start to look at organising some more challenge matches in both hurling and football over the coming months . We also have the final phases of the U12 Leagues coming up so it is going to be a busy 2 months ahead.

U8 & U10 Football
Crecora Manister GAA Club currently field underage football teams at all competitive levels from U12 to Minor. The club would like to ensure we continue to field football teams at all underage levels so we have commenced football training for U8 and U10s on Sundays from 6pm to 7pm.

We would also like to hear from anybody who would like to help out in any way, however small, with coaching football at this age group. For further details contact Noel Kennedy 086-1589256

Crecora / Manister GAA club would like to wish Killian & Connall Scanlon a speedy and full recovery from a freak accident that occurred while they were on holiday in Italy recently, whereby a restaurant roof collapsed on them. Thankfully both are recovering well and due to be discharged from hospital shortly. Killian plays football with Crecora/Manister U12s and his Dad Dermot sponsored the Feile team.

Club Notes 12th August 2013

Upcoming fixtures
15th August, Junior Hurling Vs Old Christian, Monaleen, 19:00
19th Aug, U16 Football Vs South Liberties Away, 19:30
22nd Aug, U12 Hurling
23rd Aug, Minor Hurling Vs Murroe Boher, Home, 19:00
29th Aug, U12 Football
31st Aug, JA Hurling CL Vs Saint Patricks, Away, 19:00
31st Aug, U10 Hurling Blitz, Away

U-16 Hurling
U16 Hurling Championship Kilpeacon V Cappamore . Venue Crecora, Date 29th July 2013 at 7:30pm. Full time Kilpeacon 03:08 Cappamore 04:16
Kilpeacon Team: Shane O’Connell, Paraic O’Neill , Cian Leahy, Jake Loughran (capt),Mark Shanahan, Tomas Connolly, Richard Bateman, Michael Bateman , Edwin Wixted, Mathew Stenson, John Blake, Conor Kirby , Donnacha Connolly ,Garry O’Connell , Richard Murphy and Tom Shanahan.
Kilpeacon got off to a flyer with a well taken point after less than 20 seconds from Edwin Wixted who followed it up with a free. Then a great goal from Richard Murphy one of our U14 players and what a future he has as he went on to be our top scorer of the match. He added another point before half time along with 2 more points from Edwin.

The Bateman brothers Richard and Michael put in strong performances along with Jake Loughran our captain. Cappamore outscored us in that half to leave it at Kilpeacon 1:05 Cappamore 1:11 at half time.

Kilpeacon battled hard in the second half and brought it back to just a 3 point gap with super scores from Shane O’Connell a goal and point and another goal from Richard Murphy. Edwin added to his point tally with 2 more. Cappamore scored some frees and a couple of late goals to give them the victory.

It was a real team performance from Kilpeacon but great praise must go to the young men from our U14’s who really helped us out they were Donnacha Connolly, Mathew Stenson, Tom Shanahan and Richard Murphy.

Cian Leahy showed us his true club commitment and played with great guts only hours after his Mum and sisters were involved in a road accident.
So we wish Cian’s Mum, Vera and his sisters a speedy recovery.

U16 Hurling Championship Kilpeacon V Hospital Herbertstown. Venue Hospital, Date 15th July 2013 at 7:00pm. Full time Score Kilpeacon 02:14 Hospital Herbertstown 03:08.

Kilpeacon Team: Ian De Capitani, Stephen O’Donovan, Tomas Connolly , Paraic O’Neill, Jake Loughran, Edwin Wixted , Karl Moloney, Barry Fitzgibbon, Evan Keogh, Mark Shanahan, Damien Kearney , Shane O’Connell, Conor Kirby, Garry O’Connell & Donacha Connolly.

This was the first competitive match for Kilpeacon since May and with just 15 players who played their hearts out and earned a hard fought victory against a tough Hospital team.Conditions were warm and humid and Kilpeacon made a great start with super points from Mark Shanahan and Shane O’Connell. Edwin Wixted scored lovely points from play and frees. Damien Kearney put the ball past the Hospital keeper which wasn’t easy as he was a contender for man of the match. Gary O’Connell got a great goal with super build up play from Conor Kirby and Shane O’Connell. Hospital stayed in touch with a goal and 2 points to leave the half time score 02:07 to 01:02 in favour of Kilpeacon.

The second half was a lot tighter affair with Hospital scoring 2 goals to bring them right back in it . Kilpeacon battled hard and scored great points from Damian,Shane Edwin and Barry Fitzgibbon after their keeper denied Kilpeacon 3 certain goals. Our backs were under savage pressure but stuck to their task with solid performances from Tomas Connolly, Paraic O’Neill and Stephen O’Donovan to give Kilpeacon a 3 point victory.

True team commitment shown by Conor Kirby who played on with a foot injury and to our youngest player Donacha Connolly who stepped up to the task and played well.

U-16 Football
U16 Football Championship Kilpeacon V Oola .
Venue Crecora, Date 28th July 2013 at 7:00pm. Result win for Oola
Kilpeacon Team: Paraic O’Neill , Tomas Connolly, Cian Leahy, Mark Shanahan,Edwin Wixted, , Richard Bateman, Michael Bateman , Garry O’Connell (capt), Jay Mccilligan, Evan Keogh, Donacha Connolly , Shane O’Connell, Jake Loughran, Conor Kirby,Cathal O’Neill and Mathew Stenson.

Kilpeacon did the best they could with the players available against an Oola team who are at the top of their game and really are way too good for this division.

We still had fine performances and scores from Jay Mccilligan 2pts Gary O’Connell 2pts and Donacha Connolly 1pt and indeed special mention must go both to Donacha and Cathal who worked nonstop with a great diehard attitude. Mathew Stenson also proved a very valuable addition to the team with a solid performance.

U16 Football Championship Kilpeacon V Bruff . Venue Bruff, Date 22nd July 2013 at 7:30pm. Full time Score Kilpeacon 01:07 Bruff 01:09

Kilpeacon Team: , Tomas Connolly, Stephen O’Donovan, Edwin Wixted, Paraic O’Neill, Richard Bateman, Barry Fitzgibbon (capt) , Michael Bateman, Damien Kearney, John Blake, Garry O’Connell, Jay McGilligan, Robert Sweeney, Shane O’Connell, Jake Loughran, Conor Kirby. (no subs)

This was Kilpeacon first football outing since late May and with a lot of players away at the Gaeltacht and on holidays it proved to be an uphill struggle for us in a game we could still have won.

Kilpeacon had a brilliant first half with super points from John Blake, Shane O’Connell and Jay Mc Gilligan. Then Damian Kearney collected a high ball in midfield, went on a solo run and drove the ball to the roof of the Bruff net. Meanwhile our defence was working well with fine performances from Michael Bateman, Stephen O’Donovan and Paraic O’Neill and a goal chance saved by Tomas Connolly.

Bruff did reply with a goal and a point but Robert Sweeney scored 3 fine frees to keep a good gap between the teams. So half time score was Kilpeacon 01:06 Bruff 01:02.

Second half was a different story Bruff aided by a strong breeze and a few substitutions scored 7points while Kilpeacon could only manage a pointed free from Robert to leave victory with Bruff by 2 points.

U-14 Football
Our U14 footballers played Ballybricken in a league game on Wed 10th July. Despite being competitive throughout we couldn’t convert possession to scores and ended up loosing this game with a final score of 5-4 to 2-3 to Ballybricken. Well done to Neil Heffernan who scored both goals on the night and was unfortunate not to get his hat trick. There is the makings of a great team here with a little bit more dedication and practice and playing more as a team.

Unfortunately we were unable to field a team for the final game in the first round of the league against Claughan due to too many players being on holidays.

U-12 Football & Hurling
Our U12 hurlers travelled to Cork on Wednesday 31st July and played 3 matches , winning 2 and drawing the third match . Firstly , thanks to all parents who travelled and made the effort to bring along players who did not have lifts. This effort is much appreciated

On Monday 1st August we travelled to Ahane for a football match and while we were missing a couple of players and ended up on the loosing end of an entertaining game , our guys who did turn up played their heart out and cannot be faulted for effort. We ultimately lost the game due to giving away some very cheap balls from the kickouts and this is definitely something that can be fixed at training sessions so no one should feel dis heartened by the result. There were some fins scores from Richard , Sam , Cathal , Sean etc and also some great off the ball running and support play from Ciaran plus the usual batteling performances from all other players so onwards and upwards from here. Its no harm to loose a game as both players and coaches learn more from these games than those we win easily .

We played our final game in this phase of the U12 Hurling League against St Patricks on Thursday 25th July and it is great to report that we ended the phase on a high . St Patricks came to Crecora and having played this outfit in our very first game of the 2013 campaign we knew that there was plenty of hurling talent visiting us . On the night however our players decided that they had a couple of points to prove to both themselves and us as coaches following a recent poor display against Murroe and we won the game tonight on a score line of 8:11 to 1:01 . The game was a 12 a side affair played from 21 to 21 on the main pitch and with Ciaran Muir opening the scoring for crecora with a great opportunists goal it led to our lads winning the first half of a good tough encounter . The second half of this game showed all who were watching exactly what this team is capable of when they put their minds to it . There were solid displays across the whole back line who kept the visitors at bay and our midfield and forward line came up with the goods on the scoring front. The scoreline might suggest a very one sided affair but that was purely down to the Crecora boys stepping up a level , winning most balls by being on their toes and being first to every ball. Well done to all players who battled hard and put their heart and soul into this game.

Earlier that week our U12’s visited the Gaelic Grounds , scene of Limericks epic win last Sunday week , and played 3 games against teams from Kerry , Clare and Waterford and came out on top in all 3 games. By all accounts the guys had a very enjoyable day and got to view and hold the Munster Cup .

It looks like the next round of the U12 hurling and football leagues will be on Thursday 22nd and Thursday 29th August (TBC) so please keep these dates in mind with the finals day in UL provisionally schedules for 7th and 14th Sept .

U8 & U10 Football
Crecora Manister GAA Club currently field underage football teams at all competitive levels from U12 to Minor. The club would like to ensure we continue to field football teams at all underage levels so we have commenced football training for U8 and U10s on Sundays from 6pm to 7pm.

We would also like to hear from anybody who would like to help out in any way, however small, with coaching football at this age group. For further details contact Noel Kennedy 086-1589256

Crecora / Manister GAA club would like to wish Brian Toomey a speedy and full recovery from his fall in a horse race in England last month. Brian played for many years at under age for Crecora / Manister before he took up his first love of sport, that of being a jockey. Brian’s family are great supporters of our gaa club and the community in general and our thoughts and prayers are with them at this time.