Harsh decisions to drive U16 on to greater victories!

Our U16 team suffered disappointment when losing by a point to Thomastown in the hurling championship.

For two teams who had played well in the league this was always going to be a close game. With both defences in good form, scoring chances were hard to take with conditions very greasy due to heavy rain as the match started. We went in at half time three points behind. A big effort in the last quarter saw our lads turn the game in our favour, from being five points down to score one goal and four points without reply to lead by two points deep into injury time. With five minutes of injury time played a free was awarded to Thomastown in front of the goal, which was converted to a goal and we lost the game on a score line of 3-8 to 2-10.

U16 Panel:

Ciarán Brennan

Loughlin Hogan John Joe Kelly Tommy Downey

Conor Dowling Robert Reid Eoin Murphy

Brandon Sheehan Brian Coady

Finn Dowling Paddy Heffernan Jack Manning

Tommy Quirke Colm O’Neill Sean Maher

Adam Kelly, Ciarán Coady, Evan Stapleton, Padraig Buggy, Jack Nolan, Adam Comerford.

U14 Hurling update.

Kevin Kealy Memorial Cup Final

After a draw in the final three weeks ago, St Martin’s went into battle against Cloneen in Muckalee. With a full panel to pick from this time and a good work rate, the St. Martin’s boys took some nice scores to lead at half time 1 : 4 to 0 : 1. In the second half with our backs well on top, our centre field lads gave a good supply of ball to our forwards who took nice scores from frees & play to win on a scoreline of 2 : 12 to 1 : 2. Special thanks to Imelda & the Kealy family for presenting the trophy & to the parents who provided refreshments on the day. Well done to all !

Panel : Robin Smith, Conor Moloney, Patrick Darcy, Liam Brennan, Jason Comerford, Jack Nolan, Ciaran Fitzpatrick, Dean Farrell, Adam Comerford, Robert Dowling, Matthew Cullen, Richard O’Shea, Colm Kealy, Ciaran Brennan, John Murphy, Harry Kealy, Shane Brennan, Darragh O’Shea, Marcus Smith, Darragh Coughlan, Donal Coughlan, Darragh Quinlan, Ronan Shore, Daniel Comerford, Adam Agar.

U14 lose out in close game : St. Martin’s played St. Fiacre’s in Roinn B shield in Muckalee. With two evenly matched teams , scores were hard to get and we went in at half time 7 points to 4 points down. A great battle took place in the second half with some great scores. Our players worked hard to the finish but ended up behind on a scoreline of 3 : 12 to 3 : 6. Well done to all involved.

Martin’s fail to get going.

On a glorious evening in St. Lachtain’s Park, St. Martin’s, who really failed to get going, took on James Stephen’s in the Quarter final of the Junior Championship. After just half a minute, Shane Kinsella got the Martin’s men off the mark with a pointed free. However, that was to be the last score for 10 minutes. In the mean-time, James Stephen’s were on a roll and had notched up 4 points before Tom Morrissey who made a run from midfield slotted over a fine point with Paul Maher adding another seconds later. Shane Kinsella added another 4 points from frees before half time. James Stephen’s were on top of their game capitalising on their scoring chances and pulled away with two goals in quick succession to leave the half time score at St. Martin’s 0-7 to James 2-12. The second half was damage control for St. Martin’s as they plugged away with scores came from Shane Kinsella, Kieran Kelly and David Breen. The Northern men were unlucky with efforts to convert chances to goals but James Stephen’s were the stronger team on the day as they ran out winners on a scoreline of 2-22 to St. Martin’s 0-11.

Team: Jason Shore, Aidan Murphy, Brendan Maher, Brian Cadigan, Paddy Dowling, Noel D’arcy, Michael Morrissey, Luke Maher, Michael Mulhall, Tom Morrissey (0-1), David Breen (0-1), Shane Kinsella (0-7), Kieran Kelly (0-1), Paul Maher (0-1), Donal Shore.

Subs: Martin Dowling, Eugene Maher, Jack Dowling, Shane Egan, Conor Kinsella, James Kelly, David Walsh, Conor Dowling, Thomas Walsh

Team Management: Anthony Maher, Aidan Lawlor, Nicholas Purcell.

Referee: John Guinan

21st September 2013

St. Martin’s help spread hurling gospel

St Martins Bord Na n’Og are in the unique position of helping to spread the hurling gospel to Kilkenny Minnesota USA.

Patrick O’Flynn Chairman of St Martins Bord Na n’Og presented local Photographer Eoin Hennessy with hurls and sliothars for his trip to Kilkenny where Mayor Martin Brett will join him. Part of their trip will be to show their American colleagues the the ancient game.

Eoin also hopes that by leaving them the equipment it will help develop a team in Minnesota.

Who knows some day St Martins might get the call for a challenge match in, Kilkenny,Minnesota, USA!

Martin’s secure Quarter Final place

St. Martin’s progressed to the Quarter Final of the St. Canice’s Credit Union Hurling Championship as they overcame Danesfort this afternoon in Jenkinstown. St. Martin’s went ahead with points from Canice Maher, Eoin McGrath and James Dowling with John Maher been accurate on frees as they went 0-8 to 0-3 ahead. However, just before half time, Danesfort rallied with points from Richie Hogan and Cathal O’Neill as they whittled the deficit down to a single point to leave the half time score St. Martin’s 0-9 Danesfort 0-8. St. Martin’s came out in the second half with a sense of urgency and determination. Within the first minute of the restart, a long range free from Colin McGrath, taken from his own half, landed in the square. The alert Robert Shore got a flick on it and ensured it sailed to the back of the net. A minute after that welcome boost, Colin McGrath put 4 points between the sides when he landed another huge free from his own half. From there, the Northerners kept on the pressure and further scores from John Mulhall, Thomas Breen, John Maher and Robert Shore maintained their lead. All the while, the strong wall of defence with Ollie Walsh, Niall Moran and Shane Cadigan, guarded by the half back line of Bryan Byrne, Paddy Nolan and James Maher ensured that Danesfort didn’t breach enemy lines as both Richie Hogan and Oisín Daly tried for goals. The towering Brian Mulhall was instrumental in creating goal chances but could not shake off the Danesfort defenders to advance on goal. St. Martin’s ran out convincing winners on a scoreline of 1-18 to Danesfort 0-12. With this needed boost of confidence, St. Martin’s now march on to the Quarter finals of the Championship.

Scorers: John Maher 0-8, Robert Shore 1-1, Canice Maher 0-2, Eoin McGrath 0-2, John Mulhall 0-2, Thomas Breen 0-1, James Dowling 0-1, Colin McGrath 0-1.

Team: Colin McGrath, Niall Moran, Ollie Walsh, Shane Cadigan, Bryan Byrne, Paddy Nolan, James Maher, Canice Maher, James Dowling, Thomas Breen, Brian Mulhall, John Mulhall, Eoin McGrath, John Maher, Robert Shore.

Subs: Jason Shore, Paul Maher, Michael Morrissey, Brendan Maher, Noel D’arcy, Aidan Murphy, Brian Cadigan, Paddy Dowling, David Breen, Shane Kinsella, Luke Maher, Donal Shore, Thomas Walsh, Eugene Maher, Jack Dowling, Joe Maher (inj) Ronan Maher (inj)

Team Management: Charlie Carter, Aidan Lawlor, Richie McCarthy.

Referee: Eugene Ryan

14th September 2013

St. Martin’s minors struggle in championship.

St Martins crashed out of the minor hurling championship on a night where they never really fired.

They led at the break 1-7 to 1-5 but missed a number of chances and it finished level in normal time.

Despite leading in extra time they got caught in the dying embers of the game.

Minors in championship action against Clara

St Martins: Jason Shore, Conor Dowling, Robert Reid, Alan Kelly, Richard Teehan, Patrick Brennan, Steven Walsh, Shane Kinsella, Donal Shore, Mark Cody, Brandon Sheehan, Brian Cody, Mark Dowling, Adrian Farrell & Shane Dowling.

Subs: John Joe Kelly, Colm O’Neill, David Walsh & Jack Manning (all used) Damien Egan, Paddy Heffernan, Aidan Egan, William Trousdell, Conor Dowling, Eoin Murphy, Tommy Quirke, Ciaran Cody.

Ronan Tynan(inj), Finn Dowling (inj), David Healy (inj)

Cyril Farrell coaches St. Martin’s U16 & U18 for one night only.

Thursday night 5th September saw the appearance of a special coach coming through the gate in the Muckalee Field to give the St. Martins U16 and U18 a very special training session. On the inviatation of our Bord na nÓg chairman Patrick O’Flynn, Cyril Farrell who was the manager of the Galway senior hurling team in the 1980s and 1990s that led Galway to four consecutive All Ireland finals appearances from 1985 through 1988 made himself available to give our players a very unique, insightful and encouraging night of hurling excellence.

A big thank you to Cyril for the night and also to all involved in arranging the night which turned out to be a great success indeed. The field was in excellent condition and was extremely well turned out as commented on by Cyril and he also praised the great work being done in the Club and the excellent quality of the lights.

Well done to all involved.

Cyril getting some pointers from Patrick

Scratch to match goal time results.

The 2013 all Ireland Hurling final goal times are as follows;

First Goal 39:35.

Last Goal 63:08.

You have until midnight Monday 15th September 2013 next to contact the claim number and present your winning ticket.

Claims Contact: 087-9558578

Martin’s shade tight battle.

A second half goal for Fenian’s in this St. Canice’s Credit Union league tie looked like as if this game had slipped from St. Martin’s grasp as they came under pressure from a gallant Fenian’s side. Played in a cold St. Lachtain’s Park, both sides went out to secure another two badly needed points. John Maher opened proceedings for the winners with a fine point from a pass by Canice Maher. However, that was to be their only score for 13 minutes while the Johnstown men notched up 4 points of their own from Kieran Grehan, Kevin Power and Mark Webster. The men from the hills did not let Fenian’s get too far ahead however and replied with scores from James Dowling and John Maher from frees with Robert Shore putting the Martin’s side up by a point. Just before half time, Conor Tobin pointed for the Fenian’s to leave the sides level at half time on 0-6 a piece. With the assistance of the wind, Martin’s men Thomas Breen, Canice Maher and John Maher came flying out of the traps after half time to put the side two up as they traded points with Fenian’s corner forward, Mark Webster. In the 37th minute, St. Martin’s lost the hard working Paul Maher to injury but the leader of the pack John Maher and John Mulhall increased the lead even further to put four between the sides. With a sense of urgency, Fenian’s upped the gears and mid way through the half, Johnstown’s Full forward Kevin Power found the back of the net to leave just the bare minimum between the sides. Carter’s men had it all to do but fine points from James Dowling, Thomas Breen, John Maher and Eoin McGrath ensured that Martin’s retained the lead. The Johnstown men went on the offensive continuously putting the ball in around the square trying to find the net but with the half back line of Bryan Byrne, Paddy Nolan and Michael Morrissey hitting a lot of ball during the hour and impressive full back Ollie Walsh with Niall Moran and Shane Cadigan and the ever alert Colin McGrath as the last line in the defence ensured the Fenian’s were kept at bay. With just 3 points between the sides, and time nearly up, Robert Shore fielded a pass from Thomas Breen and pointed to insure the Fenian’s men couldn’t take the lead as they ran out winners on a score line of St. Martin’s 0-18 Fenian’s 1-11.

Scorers: John Maher 0-7, Thomas Breen 0-3, James Dowling 0-3, Robert Shore 0-2, Canice Maher 0-1, John Mulhall 0-1, Eoin McGrath 0-1.

Team: Colin McGrath, Niall Moran, Ollie Walsh, Shane Cadigan, Bryan Byrne, Paddy Nolan, Michael Morrissey, Canice Maher, James Dowling, Thomas Breen, Paul Maher, John Mulhall, Eoin McGrath, John Maher, Robert Shore.

Subs: Jason Shore, James Maher, Brian Mulhall, Joe Maher, Noel D’arcy, Aidan Murphy, Shane Kinsella (used), Brian Cadigan, Paddy Dowling, Luke Maher, Brendan Maher, Donal Shore, Eugene Maher, Jack Dowling, David Breen, Thomas Walsh, Ronan Maher.

Team Management: Charlie Carter, Richie McCarthy, Aidan Lawlor.

Referee: John Guinan

7th September 2013