Week starting 11th September 2023
Social Night
We will be holding a social night this Saturday, 16th September in Maghera pub at 7pm. There will be sponsored presentation of gear on the night also. All members, parent, mentors, and supporters are welcome to attend what will be a great night!
U-17 Division 3 Championship Semi Final
Coralstown/Kinnegad 2-7 Esker Gaels 1-7
An injury time goal for Coralstown/Kinnegad proved the difference in last Monday’s semi final, as the home side edged out a gallant Esker Gaels in a pulsating game played under lights last Monday. A tit-for-tat game in which neither side were never more than three points ahead looked to be heading for extra time prior to the goal, but the Esker lads can hold their heads high after a disciplined performance.
The home team were first off the mark with an early point from Andrew Coyne before Daniel Taplin’s speculative shot ended up in the net to give Esker Gaels an early tonic. Ben Martin’s pointed free was sandwiched between home points from Dylan Flynn and Conor Callaghan in a game where defenders were increasingly getting on top. William Geraghty ended a scoring lull with an excellent point in the 20th minute after some neat interplay, but Flynn replied for Coralstown/Kinnegad to leave the interval score at 1-2 to 0-4.
Esker Gaels looked to have made a decisive push after the interval when they opened the lead out to 1-4 to 0-4 through points from Eoin Conlon and Eoghan Fallon. However, this lead was evaporated when Flynn pounced on a loose ball to finish first time to the net and level the game on the three-quarter mark. An Adam Smyth free steadied the ship for Esker before Callaghan replied in similar fashion for the home side.
Coyne managed to escape the clutches of Michael Commins (who had a fine game at full back) to give the home side the lead for first time with five minutes remaining. However, Smyth, now operating at midfield, scored a left footed point to level with the game entering injury time. Esker won the resulting kickout and almost fashioned a goal out of a long ball, with Ben Martin desperately unlucky not to get the ball under control in front of goal. To their credit, Coralstown/Kinnegad worked the next kickout short and transitioned up the field to score the winning goal through Steven Burbridge. There was one last attack which came to nothing and left the home side winners on 2-7 to 1-7.
Esker Gaels can be proud of their display on the night and the improvement they have shown throughout the championship. Having operated in Division Four of the league, to get so close to a Division Three Championship final is a strong indicator of progress. The lads will now play New Forest Gaels in the Division 3 Shield Final this coming weekend, with fixture details yet to be confirmed at the time of writing. Best wishes to Coralstown/Kinnegad in the Championship final with Milltownpass and thank also to referee Barry Pierce for officiating the game.
Panel: Sean Elliffe, Kyle McCormack, Michael Commins, Tristan Montgomery, Alex Johnston, Cathal Reilly, Adam Smyth (0-2, 0-1f), Keelan Blom, Daniel Taplin (1-0), Nathan Corcoran, Ben Martin (0-1f), Eoghan Fallon (0-1), Mark Seery, Nathan Downes, Eoin Conlon (0-1), William Geraghty (0-1), DJ Connaughton, Owen Blom, Rafael Barros, Gabriel Barros, Matthew Savage, Evan Maloney
U15 vs Kilbeggan Shamrocks
Our U15 team faced Kilbeggan Shamrocks on Wednesday evening last in the final round of group games. We turned in a good performance on the evening running up an impressive score and limiting the chances afforded to our opponents. With the group stage of the championship completed we now face an away quarter final at Tyrellspass. Panel
Rafa Barros Eoin Behan Diarmuid Savage Conor Murray Ciaran Connaughton Elliott Friel Ciaran Bannon Owen Blom DJ Connaughton William Geraghty Gabriel Barros Cian Moran David Temple Alex O’Toole Ruairí Connaughton Kevin Karagovik.
Fixture: We play Tyrellspass away this Wednesday at 6:45 in championship quarter final.
Congratulations to Fr Daltons U15 hurlers who claimed the Division 2 championship title on Saturday last defeating Southern Gaels. We had 6 members of our team on the squad, William Geraghty Diarmuid Savage Owen Blom DJ Connaughton Cian Moran and Ruairí Connaughton. Well done lads on a great win.
U9 Go Games
Our U9s travelled to Kilbeggan last Saturday morning for our 2nd last Gogames of the year. We had 2 very strong teams on the day and played some very impressive football against teams from CFCW, Kilbeggan and Castledaly. The dedication, work ethic, and skill level of this bunch of players is fantastic, please keep it up! Training continues on Friday evening at 6:30pm and our next round of gogames is fixed for Saturday 16th Sept, venue and time TBC.
Condolences
Maryland/Tang GAA wish to extend sympathy to the Galvin family on the passing of Ethna Daly. To her husband Kieran and family, her brothers sisters and extended families we offer our sincere sympathy.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam.
