Week starting 21st August 2023
U17 Division 3 Championship
Esker Gaels 3-19 St. Michaels 1-10
Esker Gaels chalked up a second win in the division 3 championship group stage last Monday in Tang against an understrength St. Michaels. The wind assisted home side got off to a slow start before early points from William Geraghty (three) and Nathan Corcoran (two) settled them into their stride. St. Michaels interspersed these scores with two pointed frees before further points from Ben Martin, Corcoran and Geraghty followed. Adam Smyth soon placed Geraghty behind the cover to coolly finish left-footed to the net and there was now real daylight between the sides at 1-8 to 0-2.
The away side responded immediately with a goal of their own, despite Sean Elliffe keeping the initial effort out, and soon added two points to leave the gap at four points after twenty minutes. Perhaps sensing the need to build up a lead with the wind, Esker upped the ante coming into half time, notching five points through Keelan Blom, Eoghan Fallon, Smyth (a ’45), Corcoran (a free) and Geraghty again. Michaels responded with a solitary point, leaving the score at 1-13 to 1-5 at half time.
A more efficient Esker outfit pushed for home soon after the restart. Martin added a free in the first attack and this was followed by two quickfire goals. Geraghty brought his tally to 2-5 with another neat finish and Corcoran finished in style after a strong run. Both sides notched five points each over the remaining twenty minutes, with the home side getting scores through substitute Eoin Conlon (two), Corcoran, Smyth and Blom. Esker restricted Michaels to one goal chance, which Elliffe got down smartly to save. Eoin Jordan’s (who did a fine job refereeing the game) final whistle blew leaving the final scoreline at 3-19 to 1-10.
Team: Sean Elliffe, Michael Cummins, Cathal Reilly, Tristan Montgomery, Kyle McCormack, Adam Smyth (0-2, 0-1 ’45), DJ Connaughton, Daniel Taplin, Keelan Blom (Capt) (0-2), Eoghan Fallon (0-1), Ben Martin (0-2, 0-1f), William Geraghty (2-5), Nathan Corcoran (1-5, 0-1f)), Nathan Downes, Mark Seery, Eoin Conlon (0-2), Evan Maloney, Owen Blom, Gabriel Barros, Rafael Barros
Esker Gaels’ last group game will be away to Multyfarnham on Monday 28th August. Currently sitting second in the group (by virtue of their head to head record over Delvin/St. Pauls), Esker will qualify for a division 3 semi final should they hold their second place spot after the final round.
U19 Championship
Maryland/Tang 4-12 Inny Shamrocks 0-10
Our u19’s put in an excellent performance to qualify for the Championship semi final on Thursday evening last. Shane Keenan got us off the mark with a lovely right footed score from 30 yards out. This was quickly followed by a goal where Ben Martin slapped the ball over the goalkeepers head to put us 4 points up within 5 minutes. Inny Shamrocks battled hard, however Maryland/Tang managed to keep a comfortable lead of 4/5 points until half time with points from Cian Rainey, Adam Smith and another soccer style goal, this time from Shane Keenan. The second half started with much the same way as the first half. Maryland/Tang added some nice points through Keelan Blom and Kyle Moran before Shane Keenan added his second goal of the night with a lovely side footed finish in to the top corner. Strong performances at the back from Daniel Taplin, Cathal Reilly and Bobby Fox added to the victory along with a clean sheet from Nathan Downes. The lads are awaiting the fixture for the semi final. Team lined out as follows; Nathan Downes, Cathal Reilly, Colm Seery, Davy Marlow, Senan McKiernan, Daniel Taplin, Bobby Fox, Kristers Vargovcik Jonass, Shane Keenan, Oisin McDermott, Ben Martin, Adam Smith, Kyle Moran, Keelan Blom, Cian Rainey, Mark Seery, Alex Johnson.
u15 Championship vs Milmore Gaels
Our U15 team faced Millmore Gaels on Wednesday evening last in Ballymore, needing a win to have a chance to get a home quarter final in the concluding stages of the championship. While the game started evenly and both teams created numerous scoring chances, in the end Millmore’s greater physical presence and running power proved too much for our lads as they ran out winners on a 3-18 to 4-05 score line. Our final game in the group stage will be home to Kilbeggan Shamrocks on Wednesday next August 29th. Panel v Millmore:
Rafa Barros Ruairí Connaughton Diarmuid Savage Ciaran Bannon Ciaran Connaughton Elliott Friel James Cahill DJ Connaughton Owen Blom Gabriel Barros William Geraghty Kevin Karagovik Cian Moran David Temple Alex O’Toole Eoin Behan Redmond McHugh.
Training continues each Monday and Wednesday at 8pm for this group.
Condolences
All associated with Maryland/Tang GAA Club are saddened to hear the news of the passing of Liam Allen. Liam was a great GAA man who was heavily involved with Maryland GAA over the years and was always a great supporter of Maryland/Tang. May he rest in peace.
