Minor Football
After a very segmented season which saw four games played over a six month period our minor hurlers were back in action this week with two games in the space of five days. First up was the City Final versus Cappamore. In the group phase earlier in the season, the corresponding tie ended all square and lighting stroke again as this final also finished in a draw. Despite the early setback of conceding an early goal, we regained composure and well taken scores by Liam Carey (1.2) and points by Craig McNamara,Micheál O’Neill and man of the match Damien Kearney left the sides level at half time. The second half was a tit-for-tat battle where we had great points from Liam Quirke and L.Carey and a brace from both M.O’Neill and Cormac Flanagan. Conor Burke also contributed two well struck points with the last crucial one from a 50 m. free to tie the match at 1.13 apiece. Overall it was an excellent team performance especially from our defense who limited Cappamore to 3 points from play. The fixture also marked the welcomed return in goal of the reliable Killian Rea.

The county semi-final proved a step too far for our minors hurlers who suffered a four point defeat to Tournafoula. The exertions of the previous week took their toll as we understandably could not reach the heights seen in the football county final and city hurling final just days before. We started brightly with a Cormac Flanagan point from play and despite conceding points we had a prompt response when Craig McNamara goaled and further points were added by Liam Quirke and two from Conor Burke leaving us trailing by two at the interval 1.4 to 0.9. Despite adding a further 1.3 in the second half through C.Burke, Liam Carey, Michaél O’Neill and a Damien Kearney goal we could not regain the lead. Two late goal attempts by Gary O’Connell and D.Kearney were not to be and we bowed out of the county championship.

As captain Nicky Morrissey declared after the game it has been a fantastic season for the minors with two football titles and a city hurling final replay to come. It has taken great commitment from basically the same cohort of players to achieve this success. Well done and thank you to all players involved from the coaching staff.

Panel: Killian Rea, Eoin Enright, Darragh Griffin,Seán Fitzgerald,Evan Moloney, Nicky Morrissey,Colm Carey,Tim Moloney, Cormac Flanagan, Conor Burke, Liam Quirke,Liam Carey,Damean Kearney,Craig McNamara,Micheál O’Neill,David Butler, Conor Griffin,Gary O’Connell, Tom Keogh,Dean Fanning.