U-14
County Champions
On Saturday week last at Fraher Field our U-14 hurlers contested the
Div.4 County Final against a strong and committed St. Molleran’s side. The game
was in the balance for much of the fifty minutes but the young Abbeyside boys
showed true grit and determination to see off the challenge of the Eastern
country club with a margin of six points at the final whistle. Indeed it was
the ever evident team spirit which helped our boys to victory with a never say
die attitude.
Abbeyside started the game at a high tempo and soon saw themselves five
points clear albeit with the aid of a strong breeze. All five forwards linked
well together to create space and opportunities for scores and to their credit
each of them passed unselfishly to the player in the better position in order
to achieve those scores. Meanwhile at the other end our goalkeeper had to be on
his toes to prevent St. Molleran’s long range efforts from reaching the net.
Three great saves from just under the crossbar kept Abbeyside firmly in control
of the game. The fact that the Eastern side were reduced to long range shots
was largely due to the tight marking of all five Abbeyside defenders and our
midfield partnership duly worked tirelessly to link defence and attack in that
first half.
However, as the first half drew to a close both sides exchanged goals
and it became obvious that St. Molleran’s were going to fight all the way for
the title. Another goal towards the end of the first half brought St. Molleran’s
to within two points and so despite having the lion’s share of the position in
that half We found ourselves just two points ahead at the interval. Facing a
stiff breeze in the second half it was hard to see how the young men from
Abbeyside would hold on to their slender lead.
The second half took on a similar pattern to the first with Abbeyside
winning the battle in the early exchanges but gradually the boys from the East
began to pick off some long range scores with the aid of an ever stiffening
breeze. However, the true spirit of this team came to the fore when we fell
behind by two points midway through the second half. Where many a team would
have fallen into the trap of giving out to one another when things are not
going your way, it was fantastic to witness each and every player rally behind
one another with shouts of encouragement. The young boys got their just rewards
with ten minutes remaining when a move which began with a fine save from our
goalkeeper, worked its way from our backline, through midfield and into our
forwards and the ball was sweetly despatched to the back of the net.
Having gained the momentum our lads were determined not to relinquish
the lead again. With two points between the sides and just minutes remaining we
were awarded a free some 25m from the goal. In true ‘Brian Cody style no
instruction was given from the side-line – the player’s decision and the
correct one as the sliotar was expertly despatched the back of the net. Another
point scored on the call of full-time saw the Abbeyside boys run out deserving
winners on a score line of 4-11 to 4-5.
Straight after the game the team captain for the day, Tiernan Fagan,
accepted the trophy on behalf of the team and in his speech he thanked all
involved in this great achievement. He also paid tribute to the referee and his
officials and to Bord na n-Óg and all at Fraher Field. The boys enjoyed the
celebrations afterwards at McDonalds.
Panel: John Power, Jack Dwane, Paddy Dwane, Cian
Power, Meldan Dwyer, Jamie Walsh, Tommy
Walsh, Paul Wade, Michael O’Riordan, James Riordan, Daithi Brunnock, Johnny
Treen, Michael Kiely, Dean Beresford, Sean Kent, Jake O’Riordan, Tiernan Fagan,
Cian Fagan, Ruairi Cusack, Cian Fagan.
U-13
County Champions
On Saturday last at Fraher Field our U13 hurlers contested the Div.1
County Final against De La Salle, our conquerors in the U14 division. De La
Salle, playing with a strong breeze at their backs raced into an early lead
with a couple of good goals. Abbeyside then pulled a goal of their own back to
bring themselves back into the game. However, De La Salle went up the other end
and grabbed a couple of more goals. After a tough 25 minutes, the half time
score was 4-6 to 1-4 in favour of De La Salle. Abbeyside not playing as well as
they could and De La Salle were finding scores easier to come by. Game over
surely? Well if it was, no one told the Abbeyside boys.
Playing with the breeze was always going to be a big help but the lads
had an eleven point deficit to overturn. After a couple of substitutions and
some positional changes saw Abbeyside begin to play the way they know best. The
boys began eating into this lead with a couple of goals from Seán Crotty; who
would go on to finish with an incredible 4-3 from play. He certainly wasn’t outscored
by his marker today! The longer the game went on, the stronger Abbeyside got.
The defence was outstanding, limiting De La Salle to just two points in the
entire second half. Further goals from Seán Crotty and James Riordan finished
the game for Abbeyside and there were joyous scenes as the final whistle blew.
They had turned an eleven deficit at half time into a five point win. Abbeyside
5-10 De La Salle 4-8.
This was a magnificent team performance from 1-15 and all the subs
involved. With incredible scoring and some magnificent defending; Abbeyside
produced it all in the second half. Well done boys on an outstanding
performance overall. Well done also to the management team who have worked
tirelessly all year with this team and have got their rewards.
Straight after the game the team captain Bearach Moore, accepted the
trophy on behalf of the team and in his speech he thanked all involved in this
great achievement.
The
panel for the day was: Aaron
Beresford, Jack Kiely, Shane Ahearne, Padraig Moore, Bearach Moore, Gearoid
Hallinan, Tom Looby, Sean Whelan Barrett, Sean Crotty, David Montgomery, Mark
Twomey, Fionn Gibson Kiely, John Power, Meldan Dwyer, Jamie Walsh, Tommy Walsh,
James Riordan, Johnny Treen, Shane Kiely Michael Kiely.
 |
| U13 County Hurling Champions |
Schools
There were a number of school matches this past week involving many of
our club members. On Wednesday last, Coláistí na nDéise began the defence of
their crown with a win over Doon CBS on a scoreline of 3-13 to 1-13. It proved
to be tough game for Coláistí na nDéise, who despite having a nine point lead
at half time, needed a couple of late goals to ensure victory. Next up for Coláistí
na nDéise is St Caimins today at 1.30 in Tipp town.
Then on Friday last, St. Augustine’s College played Carrignavar from
Cork in the U16½ championship in Old Parish. The Friary were slow to start and
trailed at half time but produced an inspiring second half display to record a
two point win on a scoreline of 2-16 1-17.
Croke
Park
Sunday morning the 23rd of September was
a very memorable day for the People of Mayo and Donegal but it was an even more
memorable day for James O Riordan the young Abbeyside boy travelled to Croke Park
with his mun and dad to play on the hallowed turf at half time. Representing
his school Scoil Mhuire Abbeyside his club and his parish was surely a memory
that will live long in the memory of this young man. His mother a proud Kerry
woman watched on as her son lined out in the Donegal colours.
