1996
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West league junior b hurling Final,1996,at tournafulla. Newcastle West.....................................................................................2-09 Feohanagh-Castlemahon.................................................................3-04 Unlike Boutros Boutros Ghali our man in charge, Mort O’ Connor, should have no difficulty in being returned to office! His well managed and his gutsy team copperfastened his reign and that of co-selectors Tommy Quinn and Mike Lane, when they had a deserved win over a strong, dogged, determined Feohanagh at scenic Tournafulla on Friday last, adding the B to the A title won a week earlier. It
was a teak tough game, true to the Guinness ad, and shirkers would have
been blushingly conspicuous had they been in action.
Tackling was relentless, mighty clashes were the order of the
evening and if you got away for a free puck you could count yourself
lucky. Overall it wasn’t
a classic, but a hard, dour, physical struggle demanding courage and
fitness in abundance. Feohanagh
started better. In the
opening 10 minutes they were well on top and led 1-1 to 0-0. We were
standing off, a bit tentative, gifting possession.
It was Joe Lee, excellent at centre back, who urged the team out
of the impasse with words and deeds.
He scored our first point, Diarmuid Cahill had a goal and we were
back in the game. It was 1-2 each at half time. The
rich vein which we had begun to mine in the second quarter, continued to
yield gold for the second half. Having
countered the Mahoonagh lads’ physical challenge, we now moved ahead
of them, enabled to do so by our superior fitness, skill and speed. Peter Curtin struck two points, the second a beauty, David
Hurley added four to his first half one with and with 10 minutes to go
we were pulling away. But
for some appalling misses we would have been futher ahead.
However, Feohanagh were remiss in the scoring area also, their
free taker having a nightmare outing, a selectorial masterstroke was the
introduction of Tony O’ Connor. Hardly
on the field he received a brilliant pass for David Hurley and stepped
away from the tackle to score a fine goal.
He followed this with point form 45 metres.
However, Feohanagh are famed battlers and true to character they
refused to capitulate. Sub
John Lynch initiated their revival, forcing our defence to foul.
The resultant free was blasted to the net and suddenly our
five-point lead was down to two, and we were feeling vulnerable.
However, the clock prevented any further play and Tony Joyce’s
whistle signalled an outbreak of magpie yahooing and backslapping as
players, mentors and supporters celebrated the completion of a deserved
and very welcome double. This
was a great win for our B’s. They
have built a reputation for spirit, grit, competitiveness and no little
skill and on Friday a shaky opening 10 minutes apart, they played very
well. They had to.
If they had faltered, Feohanagh would have blitzed them.
They all played well, with an extra star maybe for excellent
(capt) goalie Mike Sammon, defenders Joe Lee, Kenneth Mortell, Pa
O’Connor and forwards Peter Curtin, David Hurley and opportunist Tony
O’ Connor. Very well done
to all concerned. TEAM:Mike Sammon(Capt);Kenneth Mortell,Liam Keane,James Hennessy;Pa O'Connor,Joe Lee,Brian Hanley;Tony Ahern,Shane Kelly;Michael O'Connel,David Hurley(0-5),Diarmuid Cahill(1-0);Tommy Quinn,Joe McMahon,Peter Curtin(0-2).SUBS:Damien O'Connell,Tony O'Connor(1-1),Pa Meehan,Kevin Lyons,Mossie Dore,Gerald Sheehy,John Hurley,Brian McCarthy,Carl Lenehan. |
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Morts Magpies climb their everest!! county league junior b hurling Final replay,1996,at ballingarry. Newcastle West.....................................................................................1-05 bruree.........................................................................................................1-04 The B’s have made a habit of keeping their best wine until last. They were at their tricks again at Ballingarry on Thursday last, decoying all and sundry into the belief that they were beaten, then coming with a late, late flourish to snatch the victory. Lordly Knockfierna watched it drizzling as the game got underway. Soon there was a downpour, drenching the coatless and umbrellaless. We had a lot of the first-half play, but our forwards made no progress against the solid Bruree defence. Our backs were equally tight and for a long time on the scoreboard, it was zero a piece. The key score of the half was a goal to the Southerners almost on half time, and at this stage, Bruree were on top 0-3 to 1-2 and looking likely winners, while we had a crestfallen appearance. Defences continued to rule after half time, and if anything, our forwards were even more lethargic, well off the temper of the game, skipping around the periphery, not getting stuck in. With 12 minutes to go, and the score 0-4 to 1-2, Donal Horgan, 15 this month, was called into action. The precocious Donal was the medicine the doctor ordered, and his strong direct confident hurling roused our forwards. A decisive Shane Kelly, picked the sliothar, put his head down, headed the direct route for goal, determined, and was fouled. Free! Damian O’Connell found a gap in the decisive wall and buried it. Supersub, Mike Mulcahy, added a point and suddenly we were 0-3 ahead! The final five minutes were hectic. Bruree’s super accurate veteran, Danny Deady, converted two frees to leave but a point in it. By then the game was in injury time, but the drama hadn’t ended. A foul by an overanxious Magpie, brought Danny to the 80 metre line. His mighty puck sailed barely wide, and that was that. We were 1 point winners and the County B League title was ours, to compliment the A title already won. The drenched embraced the drenched! On the night, our stars were in defence, and none shone brighter than Kenneth Mortell, excellent at right full back and our man of the match. Damien O’Connell at midfield, Karl Lenihan at no. 7, and Tommy Quinn at half forward were outstanding also. But even if the others who played didn’t quite reach the standard of the above named five, they tried their hearts out nevertheless and no one can do more. Well done to all. TEAM:Mike Sammon(Capt);Kenneth Mortell,Diarmuid Cahill,James Hennessy;Michael O'Connell,Joe Lee,Carl Lenehan;Tony Ahern,Damien O'Connell(1-3);Tommy Quinn(0-1),Tony O'Connor,Shane Kelly;Kevin Lyons,John Hurley,Peter Curtin.SUBS:Donal Horgan,Mike Mulcahy(0-1),Brian Hanley,Neil McGowan,Derek Power,John O'Donoghue,Mossie Dore,Gerald Sheehy,Pa Meehan(inj.). |
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newcastle West complete west championship double West championshp junior b hurling Final,1996,at Tournafulla. Newcastle West.....................................................................................3-09 Kileedy........................................................................................................0-12 Newcastle West overcame old rivals Killeedy to complete the West Championship double in blustery Tournafulla on Sunday evening. The standard of hurling was exceptionally high and the sportsmanship exemplary, as the game was played in a fine sporting manner. A large crowd enjoyed every moment of this game. Newcastle West played with the advantage of the strong breeze in the opening half. Centre forward Damien O’Connell opened the scoring in the second minute with an opportunist point. A pointed 65 by the talented centre forward gave the Magpies a two point advantage in the sixth minute. A long range point from John Dore reduced the deficit to a solitary point 2 minutes later. Derek Power created the third point for Newcastle West which was finished by Damien O’Connell after a probing run in the tenth minute. Nelius Murphy and Oliver Kenny combined well before Mike Sammon brought off a great save in the fourteenth minute. Unfortunately he picked the ball off the ground which was spotted by the vigilant Jim Long. Robert Cunningham shot the resultant free straight between the posts. Newcastle West dominated proceedings from the sixteenth to the twenty seventh minute. A clever cross from the wing was flicked to the net by Tommy Quinn after Damien O’Connell instigated the score. Seconds later Shane Kelly and Peter Curtain combined before the clever corner forward shot straight between the posts. Damien O’Connell struck Newcastle West’s sixth point in the eighteenth minute after Tony O’Connor was fouled. The next two minutes saw the sliothar come off the post on 3 occasions before Damien O’Connell pointed a 65. Nelius Murphy scored Killeedy’s third point in the twenty fifth minute. Robert Cunningham scored the final point of the first half from a free after being fouled himself. Incessant rain made conditions very unpleasant during the interval. The first-half score read Newcastle West 1-7, Killeedy 0-4. Killeedy played with the advantage of the breeze in the second half and were quick into their stride. The legendary Paudie Fitzmaurice scored their opening point 17 seconds after the interval. A pointed 65 from the stick of Robert Cunningham reduced the deficit to four points in the fourth minute. A foul on the tenacious Gerard Kelly led to another pointed free from Robert Cunningham. A good pass by Tomás Kelly found Michéal Curtain who shot Killeedy’s eight minute. Teddy Murphy reduced the deficit to a solitary point in the eleventh minute with a well taken score. It seemed that victory was well within Killeedy’s reach at this stage. Derek Power had the opening point of the second half for the Magpies in the 12th minute. There was a ding dong struggle ‘till the 22nd minute. A pointed free by Robert Cunningham reduced the deficit to a solitary point again in the 16th minute. Damien O’Connell exchanged pointed frees with Robert Cunningham as the game entered the 22nd minute. At this stage the score read, Newcastle West 1-9, Killeedy 0-11. Lady luck smiled kindly on Newcastle West in the 23rd minute. A foul on the influential Donal Horgan saw Damien O’Connell strike a speculative shot from 61 metres. Quick as a flash Tony Ahern flicked the ball to the net. A good long distance point by Gerard Kelly reduced the deficit to a solitary goal with 6 minutes remaining. Tommy Quinn put the icing on the cake with a goal from a ground shot in the 28th minute to give Newcastle west a well deserved victory. Amidst scenes of unforeseen joy, popular West Board Secretary Michael O’Sullivan presented the cup to the amicable captain Mike Sammon.This was Newcastle's third B title of the year.Mike thanked Liam Murphy,Murty O'Connor,Mike Lane and Tommy Quinn for all the time thay have put into the team. TEAM:Mike Sammon(Capt);Kenneth Mortell,Diarmuid Cahill,James Hennessy;Michael O'Connell,Joe Lee,Brian Hanley;Tony Ahern,Carl Lenehan;Shane Kelly,Damien O'Connell,Derek Power;Tommy Quinn,Tony O'Connor,Peter Curtin.SUBS:Donal Horgan,Pat O'Connor. |