Naomh Eoin Hurling Club notes

Back 10/06/2019 @ 09:31 | clubnotes | Naomh Eoin Hurling Club notes
Feile weekend:
Our U14 hurlers made the long trip to West Cork for the Féile na nGael finals at the weekend. Placed in Division 5 of the ten division competition, it was always going to be a tough assignment for our lads. Although they didn't win any of their games, they certainly gave it their all against their more illustrious opponents Clonakilty (Cork), St Colums (Cork),  Ibane Gels (Cork) and O'Rahillys (Down). 

While it was a supreme team effort by all sixteen players on the travelling panel, some players deserve particular mention. Goalkeeper Thomas Hargadon made some wonderful saves and and his extremely accurate puck-outs set up many of our scores. Full-back Stefan Roche was magnificent, particularly in the two games on Saturday. Corey O'Dowd was a rock-solid centre-back throughout the weekend. Midfielder John Corcoran improved with every game and had a magnificent game in the shield quarter-final. Robert O'Kelly-Lynch was our scorer-in-chief with many wonderful goals and points to his name over the course of the weekend. In particular, his spectacular second goal in the game against our host club St Colums had both sets of supporters applauding.  

Many thanks to St Colums for their wonderful hospitality over the weekend and for making it such a memorable experience for the players and travelling supporters. The panel was Thomas Hargadon, Aodhán Shovelin, Stefan Roche,  Cameron McDaniel, Conor Golden, Corey O'Dowd, Harry Cawley, John Corcoran, Robert O'Kelly-Lynch, Rian O'Shea, Dara Mostyn, Matthew Mulholland, Tom Walsh, Colum McGonigle, Patrick Murphy and Liam Hargadon. 

County Hurlers:

Congratulations to the Sligo senor hurling team on their super Rackard Cup semi-final win over an experienced and talented Warwickshire team who play in AHL Division 2B, two divisions above Sligo, which demonstrates what a magnificent achievement their unbeaten run in the Rackard Cup of 3 wins and a draw has been.
We had three starting players on the 15 and another three on the extended panel. Brothers Gerard and Tony O'Kelly-Lynch scored 1-6 from play between them out of Sligo's big total of 2-21 v Warwickshire's 2-17.
Niall Feehily belied his youthful 19 years with a great game at full back against Limerick man Padraic Crehan.
Good luck to manager David Hand and his talented and determined team in Croke Park on Saturday 22nd June in the Rackard Cup Final v Armagh, who defeated Tyrone by two points in the other semi-final. Sligo beat Tyrone convincingly in the group stages, so another repeat (or higher) performance will be required. A big support from the club should contribute to helping to send the Sligo hurlers up the steps of Croke Park to collect an Ireland title for the second successive year.

The first two rounds of the county Senior Hurling Championship have now been postponed until 5th August and 7/8th September. Our first SHC game will be on 20/21 July away to Tourlestrane.

We express our sincere condolences to the family and friends of former club member and team manager Liam Maher, Thornhill, who sadly passed away last week. Ar dheis dé go raibh a anam dílis.