UNDERAGE HURLING TRAINING
Training continues every Thurs evening in Pairc Phroinsias, for U6/U8/U10/U12 at 6.30 – 7.30 and 6.15 – 7.30 for U14 hurling training.
U14 HURLING
The U14 hurlers played their second championship match last Friday evening against Tullamore in Pairc Phrionsias, Clara on a very well prepared pitch for hurling. Clara had another good win with a great team effort and plenty of skill on show and a final scoreline of 3-06 to 1-06. U14 panel includes Gary Kelly, Mark Doorley, Thomas Guinan, Nathan Bracken, Conor Egan, Cathal O’Meara, Daryl O’Brien, Keiran Hartnett, Thomas Dolan, Mark Newman, Sean Fleming, Cameron Monaghan, Ruairi Dunne, Dean Larkin, Adam Owens and Ciaran Doyle.
INTERMEDIATE HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP
On Sunday last our intermediate hurlers travelled over to Moystown for the second round of the intermediate hurling championship against a strong Birr team. In a very entertaining game we gave a very committed and workman like display. We controlled the game from the throw in and led from start to finish. More than half the team are in their early twenties and this a great platform to keep adult hurling moving forward for the coming years. Darren Fleming was solid in goal and his puck outs were long and accurate. Alan Gavin and Shane Grennan were consistent and never gave much to the two Birr corner forwards. It has to be said that young Martin Fleming gave an exhibition when he was moved to full back. Half back lines win games and in this game ours certainly did Liam Monaghan, captain for the night Lorcan Hiney and Willy Fleming cleaned out the Birr half forward line winning break after break. Midfielders Pa Smith and Alan Cronin worked tirelessly covering a lot of ground in a big Moystown pitch. Joey Deehan was deadly on the long range frees and made it look easy. Barry Cushen and Stephen O Brien controlled the half forward line whilst the full forward line of Jonathan O Brien, David Ledwith and Darren Scanlon led by example tackling and chasing down every ball. Two valuable points were earned and more than that a great team performance was given by a team that has plenty more to give when they hurl like this.
The Clara team was: 1. Darren Fleming 2.Alan Gavin 3. Willy Fleming 4.Shane Grennan 5. Martin Fleming 6.Lorcan Hiney (Capt.) 7.Liam Monaghan 8.Alan Cronin 9. Pa Smith (0-01) 10. Joey Deehan (0-01 65, 0-05 frees, 0-01) 11. Stephen O Brien (0-02) 12.Barry Cushen 13. Jonathan O Brien 14. David Ledwith 15. Darren Scanlon (0-03 frees). Sean Nolan for Jonathan O Brien and Willy Byrne for David Ledwith.
Brother Urban League sponsored by St. Brigids Credit Union
A massive crowd descended to the boys school for the beginning of this years event. Over 200 boys and girls are registered to take part and huge excitement was evident when the team shirts where handed out. Each team captain led their teammates down town marching behind the Clara Town Band. A wonderful array of colours and kids from 4 to 11 proudly showing their love for the GAA. Both Clara GAA and Clara LGFC Chairs Michael Sheridan and Sandra Rock were on hand to throw in the first balls.
Junior Boys
The Town v The Green
A hugely competitive game of high quality set the tone for the evening with real end to end action. Lewis Kavanagh and Jack Devine traded early scores which sent the The Green in 4-1 to 2-2 up at the break. Outstanding defensive work from Bernard Ward and Flynn Morkam on The Green and Niall Clerkin and Eoin o’ Hara on the Town meant the second half was a tighter affair. However despite Dylan Minnocks best efforts the Green got a late score from an Aaron Kelly free deflected in from Greg Byrne which meant a final score of The Town 3-2 The Green 6-1.
Raheen v The Boers
A real game of 2 halves with Raheen starting the stronger with 3 great goals from Eoghan Cornally,Ciaran McKeon and Cian Molloy and it looked like they would run away with this but a brilliant point off his weaker foot from Ronan Touhey and a goal from Liam Flynn meant the game went in 3-0 to 1-1 at half time with the Boers finishing the stronger. The second half began as the first ended with The Boers on fire with 3 goals and a point from Keelyn Conroy. Raheen woke up and driven on by Conor Taylor they got back on top despite the defense of Myles Handy and Dylan Corrigan playing out of their skins. A final score of 7-1 to Raheen and 5-2 to The Boers reflected the quality on show.
Erry v Bogtown
Erry really started sharply in this one and had it not been for Jamie Regan in goal and the defense of Martin Lee Coughlan and Lorcan Dalton it would have been all over very quickly. But the game is not just about attack and Ben Kennedy kept the scoreboard ticking over for Bogtown. Conor Doyle and Brian Buckley were on fire and with the Erry defense of Brian Hogan and Alex Handy keeping Oisin o Meara and Callum Gorman quiet it gave the left foot of James Cullen the final say with the last point to finish Erry 6-3 to Bogtown 1-3.
Girls
Aughamore v Kilcoursey
The brilliant underage coaching of Christine Doorley was evident in the 2 girls games with foot passing and fine shooting throughout. Despite the efforts of Niamh Rooney in goal for Aughamore, Kilcoursey were just too strong with 8 different scorers throughout, Eve Kelly was excellent creating all the scores. There was plenty of positives for Aughamore who improved as the game wore on. Final Score Aughamore 0-0 Kilcoursey 7-1.
Woodfield v Kilbride
A much tighter affair this one with the result in the balance up to the final few minutes. Katie Taylor made a fine save early on which drove Woodfield on to score a great point from Aoife Dalton. Kilbride were not to be undone and a superb solo effort from Ciara Dolan had the teams level. Woodfield couldnt get up the field and Kilbride took advantage to win by 2-1 to 0-1. A great games entertainment.
Senior Boys
The Town v The Green
The Town got a great start when Neil Robbins scored a goal inside the first minute to put The Green on the back foot from the off. Lee Tierney and Marcus Dalton were working solidly in defense while Michael Daly and Barry Egan matched them every step. This was a tense affair with no team giving an inch. With 10 seconds left on the clock and The Green trailing by a score Adam Kelly deservedly won a free and drove the ball goalwards only for it to be deflected onto the post and away. Time was up with a final score of The Town 1-1 The Green 0-1. Both sides had players missing through injury and have no doubt they will be pushing to reach the A final in 5 weeks time.
Raheen v The Boers
In 20 years of the league im sure it would be impossible to remember a higher quality first round match with scores of the highest order for both sides. Conor Cushen made an outstanding save from Jack Reynolds, Adam McCloskey made 3 top class blocks in centre field, Stephen Roe played a crossfield ball that The Gooch would be proud of, Kai Dunne scored points off both feet on the run…i could go on and on and on. Absolutely outstanding game but there had to be a winner that was Raheen on a scoreline of 3-4 to 0-6. The future of Clara Gaa is safe in the hands of these boys.
Erry v Bogtown
Well did they save the best for last? If tension is anything to go by then the answer is yes. This was a real see-saw of a game with the lead changing hands on 6 occasions. Luke Kennedy for Erry was all over the field driving his team on and was matched step for step by Adam Carroll, while Sam Leech and Cormac Delaney battled hard in centre field for possession. At half-time Erry led by a point having been behind. The second half was real end to end stuff with Calvin Handy scoring a top corner classic to put Bogtown into a deserved lead but the quality of Jack Slammon and Calvin McCormack began to shine through and a late goal won the game for Erry on a scoreline of Erry 3-1 Bogtown 3-0.
If this is a taster for the next 5 weeks then get yourself down to the boys school next Tuesday and enjoy the future Clara Gaa and LGFC stars entertaining us.
Thanks to all the parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters for the support but most importantly to the kids for a brilliant evenings entertainment
