Great squad for U12 Go Games.
St. Martins Under 12 panel completed their go-games fixtures in Erins Own (Castlecomer) last Saturday with two excellent displays against the home team and St.Patricks (Ballyragget). With a great turnout of 26 players including 4 Under 10’s we fielded two teams and after two absorbing clashes emerged victorious in both games. Great credit to the players who showed great qualities of skill, determination and teamwork not only today but all through the year. A big thank-you to all the parents for all their efforts and a mention must go to Tom Shore who repairs the lads hurls and who does such a great job on them. The lads were presented with medals by fellow clubman Sean Kelly to round off a great mornings hurling.
Panel: Thomas Lawlor, Jack Farrell, Sean Farrell, Josh Dempsey, Tristan Roche, Shane Fahey, Shane O Neill, Bill Dowling, Matthew Shortall, Mick Brennan, Joseph Reid, Oisin Kelly, Aidan Kelly, Rory Buggy, Aaron Meaney, Kyle Walshe, Lorcan Agar, Conor Egan, Luke Burke, Russell Kealy, Tommy Flynn, Patrick Brennan, Cillian Byran, Conor Dooley, Cathal Keagan, Killian Dowling and Tadhg Gill.
Field Day memories
A great big thank you for all your support to our recent Field Day. Thankfully the weather was very kind to our Club on Sunday and great fun was had by all on the family fun day.
Minors hang in for draw in League Semi final
A number of wides cost St Martins as they were unlucky to draw in this Minor League semi final.
Having played against the breeze the Saints would have being confident of turning things around trailing 0-6 to 0-4 at the break.
Instead Dunamaggin gained a 0-8 to 0-6 lead in the middle of the second half where ‘Martins shooting was an issue.
A number of switches saw St Martins take the lead which they held until the dying embers of the game when Dunamaggin fired over a disputed free.
Unfortunately the young saints were to suffer a further blow when Shane Dowlings injuries suffered on the field proved to be far more serious after being taken off.
Final score; St Martins 0-11 0-11 Dunamaggin
Team: Jason Shore, Loughlin Hogan, Richard Teehan, Eoin Murphy, Conor Dowling, David Walsh (Capt), Steven Walsh, Brian Cody, Brandon Sheehan, William Trousdell, Robert Reid, Colm O’Neill, Shane Dowling, Tommy Quirke, Mark Cody.
Subs: John Joe Kelly, Sean Maher, Jack Nolan (Used), Aidan Egan, Diarmuid Murtagh, Ronan Tynan, Ciaran Cody, Ciaran Brennan.
Under 8s play in Croke park for Leinster Go Games
On Tuesday 15th July st Martins under 8s had the honour of playing in Croke park , 30 of our boys took part. The boys got to visit the dressing rooms and warm up area before playing in 2 games and having their official photogaph taken. Both of our teams performed very well.
Getting ready for action
Afterwards we headed to the phoenix park for our lunch and a mighty kick around. A great day was had by all the parents and children, especially the children who this day was all about.
Thanks to the coaches who enjoyed it as much as the boys, thanks to our bus drivers and thanks to Croke park for inviting us.
St. Martin’s U13s show great hurling qualities
St Martins U13s performed exceptionally well at the Lisdowney 7s last Saturday. In an evenly contested 1st round against Danesfort the lads played to the final whistle and ran out winners by 2-11 to 3-4. Two opportunist goals from Jack Murphy and some good teamwork from Ronan Shore, Daragh Quinlan and Dan Doyle opened up the Danesfort on a number of occasions to score some good points. With Adam Agar and Justin Manning clearing a lot of ball the lads stayed on top to the end.
Our next match was against Graigue Ballycallan. The warm conditions ensured that the full ten man panel were needed and Tristan Roche, Paul Murphy, Tommy Butler and Harry Kealy all contributed to a great team effort. St Martins started strongly and went into a two goal lead after goals from Daragh Quinlan and Dan Doyle. Unfortunately, we missed some other chances when we were on top which was to prove costly in the end. A highlight again in this match was the point scoring and two wonderful sideline cuts for points by Dan Doyle. As the 2nd half wore on, Graigue fought hard and a penalty and a goal in the last minute of the match saw them run out winners on a scoreline if 4-3 to 2-7.
While the lads ( and selectors ! ) were devastated with the defeat, the quality of their hurling and effort in both matches augurs well for the future. In what has been a difficult year for them at U14 grade, the future looks bright for this group of players if they keep training and hurling.
St. Martins minors overcome Clogh Ballacolla
St Martins minors travelled to Laois on Thursday evening and produced a good performance to see off the tough challenge of the host side.
Martins lead at half time 0-10 to 0-9. In the third quarter they made a burst for home scoring 2-1 without reply which was to prove vital. A total of 17 wides would prove to be a concern but overall the saints were the deserved winners.
Final score; St Martins 2-18 1-19 Clogh Ballacolla
St Martins: Jason Shore, Diarmuid Murtagh, John Joe Kelly, Loughlin Hogan, Conor Dowling, Richard Teehan, Eoin Murphy, Brandon Sheehan, Brian Cody, Colm O’Neill, Tommy Quirke, Shane Dowling, Finn Dowling, Robert Reid, Mark Cody.
Subs: William Trousdell, Steven Walsh, Ronan Tynan & Ciaran Brennan.
Lisdowney 7’s
St. Martin’s u.13’s performed exceptionally well at the Lisdowney 7’s last Saturday. In an evenly contested 1st round against Danesfort the lads played to the final whistle and ran out winners by 2-11 to 3-4. Two opportunist goals from Jack Murphy and some good teamwork from Ronan Shore, Daragh Quinlan and Dan Doyle opened up the Danesfort on a number of occasions to score some good points. With Adam Agar and Justin Manning clearing a lot of ball the lads stayed on top to the end. Our next match was against Graigue Ballycallan. The warm conditions ensured that the full ten man panel were needed and Tristan Roche, Paul Murphy, Tommy Butler and Harry Kealy all contributed to a great team effort. St Martins started strongly and went into a two goal lead after goals from Daragh Quinlan and Dan Doyle. Unfortunately, we missed some other chances when we were on top which was to prove costly in the end. A highlight again in this match was the point scoring and two wonderful sideline cuts for points by Dan Doyle. As the 2nd half wore on, Graigue fought hard and a penalty and a goal in the last minute of the match saw them run out winners on a scoreline if 4-3 to 2-7. While the lads ( and selectors ! ) were devastated with the defeat, the quality of their hurling and effort in both matches augurs well for the future. In what has been a difficult year for them at U14 grade, the future looks bright for this group of players if they keep training and hurling.
New Date for Field Day………. 3rd August
Minor hurlers show signs of improvement
St Martins Minors began their championship preparations mixing the good & the bad in a 60 minute performance that was hard to asses.
For the first half they played against the wind and put together some smart moves that saw them lead 2-7 to 0-7 at the break.
After the break the home side seemed to be motoring when they tacked on a goal a few points but again they faded as is the norm with this team. After giving away numerous frees & showing some ill discipline they let the village back into the game with some sloppy defending leaking two goals.
On the plus side their attack looked much slicker than in previous matches but a lot of work needs to be done ahead of the first round of the championship on September 14th.
Final score; St Martins 3-18 2-8 James Stephens B
St Martins: Jason Shore (C), Diarmuid Murtagh, David Walsh, Loughlin Hogan, Conor Dowling, Richard Teehan, Eoin Murphy, John Joe Kelly, Brandon Sheehan, Mark Dowling, Robert Reid, Tommy Quirke, Shane Dowling, Mark Cody, Colm O’Neill.
Subs: Aidan Egan, Fionn Dowling, William Trousdell, Sean Maher, Conor Cody, Ciaran Fitzpatrick (All Used)
Ref: Podge Butler =
St. Martin’s GAA well represented in Dublin at the weekend.
Last Sunday was a great day in Croke Park for all in the County. St Martins played Fingallians in an U-12 challenge match in Swords before the bus headed for the Leinster Final. A superb day was had by all with two fine displays from both the Minors & Seniors. The club like heartily congratulate our own Sean Kelly who was a selector with the Kilkenny Minor team that won its 2nd Leinster Title in a row.
St Martins would like to thank St Fingallians for the hospitality afforded to them after the match.
