MATCH REPORT 6th August 2006

Victorian Hurling League Final

With no rain clouds and no breeze, finally there were perfect hurling conditions in Gaelic Park this year. As has always been the case, it was once again a closely fought contest between these 2 teams. Once the match was under way, some of the old reliables once again stamped their authority on the match, Mark Lennon down the back, through Fitzy in midfield and onto Martin Hickey up forward. The first half saw what was arguably one of the finer goals score in Victorian hurling when Mark Lennon’s sideline ball dropped into the back of the net. With goalie Evan Mahoney making some great saves, he was ably assisted by Ryan and Murphy (from those hurling powerhouses Mayo and Carlow respectively!!). With Crawford escaping serious injury after being struck while on the ground, Gahan and Duggan were seeing who could annoy the ref the most (Gahan won with a yellow card!!). The lads managed to hold it together in the final minutes of the match (despite Duggan having a goal disallowed) to grind out a well deserved victory. That well deserved victory then saw us all entertained with Fitzys captain’s speech, starting off in irish no less (who knew he had it in him). It was then onto Father Flanagan’s to fill the cup (a few times!!!) and drink the night away (Conor Hogan takes the award for the merriest person in the pub – read into that what you will!!!!). As they say, it’s always the quiet ones you have to watch out for…….and did we mention Fitzy then taking to the stage to give us an auld song!!!!!!! Thanks to Garryowen on providing tough competition throughout the year, and with only a few points separating the teams in matches this year, we look forward to the next encounter. And the survival of hurling in Victoria….

Team: Evan Mahoney (Galway) Conor Hogan (Kilkenny) Frank Murphy (Carlow) (Vice-captain) Cathal Crawford (Limerick) Conor Ryan (Mayo) Mark Lennon (Clare) Karol Downes (Clare) Conor Fitzgerald (Cork) (Captain) Ciaran Rabbitte (Dublin) Derek Gahan (Waterford) Danny Duggan (Cork) Donnacha Howard (Cork) Ian Collins (Kilkenny) Martin Hickey (Waterford) Joe Hogan (Tipperary) Donal O’Brien (Clare) Darren Ryan (Clare) John Griffin (Clare)

Scores: M Hickey (0-5), I Collins (0-1), C Fitzgerald (0-3), M Lennon (1-2), C Rabbitte (0-1) D Duggan (0-1), John Griffin (0-1)

MATCH REPORT 28th May 2006

With the rain clouds once again threatening, both sides had to cool their heels while a referee was located! Once the match was under way, Martin Hickey once again stamped his authority on the match from the centre-half forward position. With captain Conor Fitz once more leading by example from midfield with fellow Corkman Danny Duggan, the players soon settled down to an entertaining and closely fought contest. With stand-out performances from Hickey, Lennon, Fitzy, Murphy and Gahan the match was anyones until the final whistle went. The lads were quick in departing the field – could it have anything to do with the irish brown bread and scones Pauline Mc has been feeding them!!

Team: Evan Mahoney (Galway), Joe Hogan (Tipperary), Frank Murphy (Carlow), Conor Hogan (Kilkenny), Cathal Crawford (Limerick), Mark Lennon (Clare), Chris Molloy (Offaly), Conor Fitzgerald (Cork), Danny Duggan (Cork), Tim Bradley (Dublin), Martin Hickey (Waterford), Derek Gahan (Waterford), Ciaran Rabbitt (Dublin), Ian Collins (Kilkenny), Geoff Daly (Offaly), Donal O’Brien (Clare).

All the best to Tim, who played his last match with Shamrocks and is now blazing a path through Sydney.