Intermediate Football
Our intermediate footballers got their first ever win in intermediate football championship with a stirring 0-13 to 0-10 win over a fancied Kildimo-Pallaskenry side last Thursday night.
After a disappointing result against Drom-Broadford in our opening game, our lads settled quickly into this game and some fine points from Micheal O’Neill, who was winning his battle in the full forward line and frees from Richard Murphy saw us take a 0-4 to 0-3 lead at the water break.
Our backs were doing trojan work defensively in turning over several Kildimo-Pallaskenry attacks and some superb points from Micheal O’Neill and Gary O’Connell left us with a two-point lead at the break 0-8 to 0-6.
We kicked the first two points of the second half to stretch the lead out to four but Kildimo-Pallas hit back with two points of their own to leave it at 0-11 to 0-9 at the second half water break.
With Karl Moloney, Cormac Flanagan and Sean Fitzgerald starting to dominate around the middle of the field, a superbly improvised fisted point from Shane O’Connell along with a Richard Murphy free got the gap out to four once more but try as they might, Kildimo-Pallas could not bridge that three point gap.
As Sean Fitzgerald fielded a dropping ball into our square, the referee blew the final whistle as it ended 0-13 to 0-10. Special mention must go to the full back line of Evan Moloney, Tim Moloney and Patrick Dolphin who completed multiple turnovers during the 6o minutes and it is testament to them that our goalkeeper Rob Sweeney hadn’t a save to make all game.
Team: Rob Sweeney; Evan Moloney, Tim Moloney, Patrick Dolphin; Cian Leahy, Sean Fitzgerald, Donnacha Connolly (0-1); Cormac Flanagan (0-1), Karl Moloney; Sam Riordan, Richard Murphy (0-4), Darach Skelly (0-1); Shane O’Connell (0-2), Micheal O’Neill (0-3), Gary O’Connell (0-1). Subs: Conor Kirby, Cathal O’Neill, John McManus, Dom O’Connor, Cian Donohue, Killian Scanlon, Rob Greer, Sean Keyes, Mike McCormack (inj.), Conor Burke (inj.), Eoghan O’Connor (inj.) Shane O’Connor (inj.), David Macken (inj.).
Despite this victory, we still go through to the relegation play-offs on scoring difference and this will be played on the weekend of the 25th September.
Junior A Hurling
Our junior A hurlers got their 2021 championship campaign off to a disappointing start with a 0-23 to 1-17 defeat to Drom-Broadford in Croagh last Sunday.
We got off to a bright start with some fine points from Cathal O’Neill and Conor Kirby but Drom-Broadford hit back and we were level at the time of the first half water break.
A fine goal from Niall Moloney after catching a high ball into the square gave us some breathing space and fine points from Cathal and Karl Moloney followed.
Our backs were getting on top with Rory Hannan, Jack Dalton and Evan Moloney doing well and a Michael Bateman point on the stroke of halftime left the score at 1-13 to 0-11 in favour of our lads. As Cathal continued to tack on frees, a fine effort from Karl Moloney left us six ahead at the second water break. Unfortunately we would score just once more in the game as our west Limerick counterparts took over.
They dominated our puck outs and had the greater legs in the closing stages as we struggled to make headway. They got a run of scores in the closing ten minutes to leave the final score at 0-23 to 1-17 in favour of Drom-Broadford as we were left to rue some missed chances and a tired last quarter. Attention switches quickly to Thursday night where we take on Templeglantine in the second round under lights in Mick Neville Park at 8pm.
Team: Ger Kennedy; Evan Moloney, Jack Dalton, Tom Shanahan; Cian Leahy, Richard Murphy, Rory Hannan; Cathal O’Neill (0-12), Cormac Flanagan (0-1); Karl Moloney (0-1), Darach Skelly (0-1), Michael Bateman (0-1); Brendan Power, Niall Moloney (1-0), Conor Kirby (0-1). Subs: Colm Carey, Micheal O’Neill, Tomas Connolly, Chris Shanahan, Padraig Byrnes, Edwin Wixted, Sean Keyes, Tim Moloney, Paraic O’Neill, Donnacha Connolly, Liam Quirke, Dom O’Connor, Damien Kearney, Ciaran Humphreys, Ciaran Heagney, Shane O’Connor, Fergal Carey (inj.), James Conheady (inj.).
Junior B Hurling
Our junior Bs start their championship campaign next Sunday 12th September against Na Piarsaigh in Caherdavin at 12noon.
Best of luck lads.
Under 19 Hurling
Our U19 hurling team which is an amalgamation of Crecora-Manister and South Liberties got their campaign got underway on Fri 27th away to Knockaderry which resulted in a 2-20 to 2-13 defeat.
The first half was even but Knockaderry scored a decisive goal before half time to give them a first half lead.
They continued their spell in the ascendency through the start of the second half. We fought back and 2 goals midway through the second half from Cathal O’Neill brought us back level.
However, Knockaderry finished the stronger to deservedly close out the game.
Our second game followed quickly on Mon 30th against Tournafulla/Killeedy at home in Crecora and this was effectively a knockout game with the winners to qualify for knock-out stages.
We started much sharper in this game and an early goal from Rory Hannan helped settle the team.
We continued to play well in the first half with Rory adding another goal and a point to stretch our lead. Points from Darragh Godfrey, Cathal O’Neill and Chris Shanahan put us in a good position at half time, leading by 2-6 to 0-4.
We conceded a goal in the third quarter which closed the margin but points from Chris, Sam Riordan, Alex Keyes and Ben Garry helped to maintain our lead.
Tournafulla/Killeedy made a valiant effort to close the gap and 2 goals in the last 10 minutes meant game was in the balance again.
However we reacted well to the setback and vital points in the closing stages from Chris and Joe Hegarty gave us a 2-18 to 3-10 victory.
Under 17 Hurling
Our under 17 hurlers lost out to Pallasgreen last Wednesday night on a 3-15 to 1-12 scoreline.
Next up for them is a meeting with our neighbours Ballybricken/Fedamore on Wednesday 8th September in Crecora at 7pm.
UNDER 13 HURLING
Our under 13 hurlers have been preparing for their upcoming shield final with wins over South Liberties and Cappamore recently.
They take on Dromin-Athlacca/Banogue next Saturday at 9.30am in MNP Rathkeale.
Upcoming Fixtures
Wednesday 8th September:
Under 17 hurling v Ballybricken/Fedamore
Venue: Crecora at 7pm.
Thursday 9th September
Junior hurling championship v Templeglantine
Venue: Mick Neville Park Rathkeale at 8pm
Saturday 11th September
Under 13 Shield Final v Dromin-Athlacca/Banogue
Venue: Mick Neville Park at 9.30am
Sunday 12th September
Junior B hurling v Na Piarsaigh
Venue: Caherdavin at 12noon
RECENT RESULTS:
Intermediate football: Crecora-Manister 0-13 Kildimo-Pallaskenry 0-10
Junior A hurling: Drom-Broadford 0-23 Crecora-Manister 1-17
Under 17 hurling: Pallasgreen 3-15 Crecora-Manister/Liberties 1-12
Under 13 hurling: Crecora-Manister 2-6 South Liberties 1-8
Under 13 hurling: Crecora-Manister 5-3 Cappamore 3-6
