MATCH REPORT 17th June 2007

Hurling League

Well, where do I start! The lads were under strict instructions that there was to be no drinking the night before the final, and most did comply, and those who didn’t we know who you are (Moroney wipe that smirk of your face!). Knowing that Sinn Fein would be putting up a strong team in opposition, this was going to be no easy game. For once Shamrocks started off strongly and managed to stay in front throughout. With captain Cathal leading by example, and Joe using the game plan he’s kept hush-hush all year, every one played their hearts out for a truly fantastic win. Everyone did their part on the day so I won’t single out anyone! Many thanks to all the lads who, having played with us all year, travelled back from interstate for the game (dodgy haircuts and all)! And thanks also to those that didn’t have an opportunity to tog out on the day but still helped out where needed. And then it was party time!! And that’s a whole other story (but the photos do tell the story) – although the lads did do their bit for drought ravaged Victoria by watering the grass at the MCG on the way to the pub!!!!

Team: Evan Mahoney (Galway), Joe Hogan (Tipperary), Frank Murphy (Carlow), JP Crowley (Cork), Joey McEvoy (Offaly), Conor Ryan (Mayo), Brian King (Offaly) , Cathal Crawford (C- Limerick), Damian Moroney (Clare), Vincent Long (Kilkenny), Liam Cahill (Clare), Martin Hickey (Waterford), Alan Doherty (VC – Limerick), Jimmy Whelan (Kilkenny), Donal Frawley (Tipperary), Ciaran Rabitte (Dublin), John Monaghan (Armagh), Eoin McGrath (Kilkenny), David O’Connell (Tipperary), Michael O’Connor (Tipperary), Geoff Daly (Offaly)

Scores: Alan Doherty (2-7), Martin Hickey (1-0), Michael O’Connor (1-0), Liam Cahill (1-0), Damian Moroney (0-2), Conor Ryan (0-1), Ciaran Rabitte (0-1).

MATCH REPORT 15th April 2007

Hurling League

After winning the first match of the season against Sinn Fein, the boys were confident that they could once again pull it off – How wrong they were. After the first 10 minutes it was clear that the shamrocks were going to have to dig deep! Shamrocks cause wasn’t helped by the withdrawal of full back Frank Murphy before the game due to an injury sustained at training. With Frank missing from the back-line, captain Cathal Crawford had a great game, ably supported by Conor and Joe. Karol Downes once again had a solid game when he came on. However as the first half went on the lads fought back, and found themselves going into the half-time break level. And then there was the second-half, in which only 1 goal was scored by the shamrocks against Sinn Feins second half score of 2-07. Despite numerous balls being driven down into the forward line by Vinnie Long, the boys let themselves down in front of goals, and numerous goal opportunities went begging. Maybe we should have togged out Deirdre, Sinead and Caroline – I suspect they might have played better than some of the lads! Once again it was back to the Drunken Poet after the game, but it was a slightly quieter shamrocks crowd compared to 3 weeks earlier. And just which player has managed to get himself into a little bit of trouble up in the Poet (hint – it works in his favour that’s it’s a fellow countywoman that owns the pub!).

Team: Evan Mahoney (Galway), Joey McEvoy (Offaly), Cathal Crawford (C- Limerick), Joe Hogan (Tipperary), Conor Hogan (Kilkenny), Damian Moroney (Clare), Karol Downes (Clare), Vincent Long (Kilkenny), Liam Cahill (Clare), Martin Hickey (Waterford), Ciaran O’Heighnigh (Down), Alan Doherty (VC – Limerick), Donal Frawley (Tipperary), Bobby Byrnes (Limerick), Brendan Nolan (Clare), Ciaran Rabitte (Dublin), John Monaghan (Armagh), Eoin McGrath (Kilkenny), James Dooley (Wexford), Shane Counihan (Clare).

Scores: Alan Doherty 1-02, Vincent Long 1-01, Donal Frawley 1-00

MATCH REPORT 25th March 2007

Hurling League

National day at Gaelic Park once again – and another meeting between the Shamrocks and Garryowen. With 1 win a piece and a draw over the last 3 National days, these 2 teams have always enjoyed closely fought contests on the biggest day of the year at Gaelic Park. We are noting if not consistent with our slow starts to all our matches! With Garryowen getting first touch of the ball more often than not in the first half, our delivery to each other was not great. Once again Martin Hickey was in flying form in his usual position at centre half-forward. With the Kilkenny boys controlling centrefield (and ‘Podge’ playing his last match with the shamrocks before heading home), the backs were as usual in the safe hands of captian Cathal and Frank Murphy (until he received a rather unfortunate injury!), and Karol who was his usual solid self on the half-back line. At least there is one Clare man who knows how to get to Gaelic Park (Liam and Damian – matches are in Gaelic Park and not Yarra Bend!). While Doherty did get scores on the board he didn’t exert the same influence on this game as he did in the previous match – maybe he was trying to work out what to wear home after busting the ass in his jeans before the match!! As for Stephen ‘I didn’t get into a fight in the Sinn Fein match’ Phelan, well he tried hard, and he did manage a good block in the first half. And he did kick the ball forward in the second half after losing his hurl. But apparently it’s hard for the little Carlow dynamo to play well when he’s left standing on the side-line (or so he says)! But he did ask Joe nicely if he could be put back on before the match was over! It was then back to “The Drunken Poet” for a very long night, to celebrate our perfect start to the season.

Best of luck to Padraig Power who is returning home, and Stephen Phelan who is moving on to Brisbane. Thanks for everything lads!

Team: Evan Mahoney (Galway), Joey McEvoy (Offaly), Cathal Crawford (C- Limerick), Frank Murphy (Carlow), Brian King (Offaly), Damian Moroney (Clare), Karol Downes (Clare), Vincent Long (Kilkenny), Padraig Power (Kilkenny), Liam Cahill (Clare), Martin Hickey (Waterford), Stephen Phelan (Carlow), Ciaran O’Heighnigh (Down), Alan Doherty (VC – Limerick), Donal Frawley (Tipperary), Donal O’Brien (Clare), Bobby Byrnes (Limerick), Brendan Nolan (Clare), Ciaran Rabitte (Dublin), John Monaghan (Armagh), Eoin McGrath (Kilkenny).

Scores: M Hickey (2-9), A Doherty (0-3), V Long (0-3), C Rabitte (0-1)

MATCH REPORT 4th March 2007

Hurling League

With 22 lads at training on Thursday night (plus some camogie players who showed them a thing or two) - everyone was going to have to fight for their place on the team. The lads knew we would be fielding one of the most evenly balanced teams since the inception of the club, and that we had yet to beat Sinn Fein since Shamrocks was founded. The first 10 minutes of the match was slow to get started with Shamrocks playing catch-up most of the time, with this being the first competitive match the lads had played as a team. With the back line and centre-field being very solid (welcome back Frank and Ciaran), the forwards were slow to settle down with most of the scoring coming from the stick of vice-captain Alan Doherty on the half-forward line. But enough said about that, as we don’t want to be encouraging Doherty’s ego!!! With only 1 point difference going into the break, Shamrocks would have the advantage of playing with the sun on their backs in the second half The second half proved to be interesting, with Cahill getting 2 goals, but Sinn Fein pegged back both of them. Once again Doherty was the danger man up forward scoring a further 5 points to add to his tally of 1-4 from the first half. Young Stephen Phelan decided to liven things up and get in the face of Michael Corkery! At the end, we should have won by a greater margin, but there were quite a few wides from the Shamrocks boys (possible cause – being in Pj’s til 4am I wonder). But a win is a win, and it’s a great start to the year. That night it was onto the Drunken Poet to celebrate, where Liam “young ned” Cahill displayed his vocal prowess!!! And, just which player was thrown out of PJ O’Briens later in the night???

Team: Liam Cahill (Clare), Padraig Power (Kilkenny), Alan Doherty Vice Captain (Limerick), Donal Frawley (Limerick), Stephen Phelan (Carlow), John Monaghan (Armagh), Brian King (Offaly), Geoff Daly (Offaly), Evan Mahoney (Galway), Connor Hogan (Kilkenny), Frank Murphy (Carlow), Cathal Crawford - Captain (Limerick), Damian Moroney (Clare), Vinny Long (Kilkenny), Ciaran Rabbitte (Dublin), Karol Downes (Clare), Ciaran O'Heighnigh (Down), Donal O'Brien (Clare), Bobby Byrnes (Limerick), Fergal Daly (Galway), Joe McEvoy (Offaly).

Scores: A Doherty (1-8), L Cahill (2-0), S Phelan (0-2), C Rabbitte (0-1).

MATCH REPORT 4th February 2007

7 Aside Competition

Team: Liam Cahill (Clare), Cathal Crawford (Limerick), Joe Hogan (Tipperary), Brian Rogers (Clare), Martin Hickey (Waterford), Padraig Power (Kilkenny), Vinny Long (Kilkenny), Alan Doherty (Limerick), Donal Frawley (Limerick), Stephen Phelan (Carlow), James Dooley (Wexford), John Monaghan (Armagh), Brian King (Offaly), Geoff Daly (Offaly).