Our Intermediate hurlers qualified for the Eastern final of the Gerry Kennedy Crash Repairs sponsored competition last Sunday afternoon with a late, late performance over a spirited Erin’s Own team at Walsh Park on a scoreline of 2-16 to 1-15. Trailing by three points with a minute of normal time remaining, a scoring burst of 1-04, saw the team back in our first Eastern final since 2016.
It was Erin’s Own who made the brighter start with 1-02 in the opening five minutes, before Mark O' Brien got the opening score for the team. Two further Erin’s Own points extended the lead out to six, as Ferrybank struggled to get into the game. Erin’s Own were almost in for a second goal, only for a last ditch block from Davy Atkins prevented a goal. Two further points from Mark O’ Brien seemed to settle the team. Following this, Ferrybank almost got a couple of goals of their own, as firstly Cormac Heffernan’s low shot just went narrowly wide, and Neil O’ Sullivan raced through on goal, and his goal-bound shot was deflected out for a '65, which was sent over by Mark O’ Brien.
However, just after the water break, Ferrybank did get a goal, as great play from Naoise MacCathmhaoil, who came out of defence, leaving an Erin’s Own player on the floor, and his long ball found Sam Lawless, who raced through and blasted the ball to the top corner of the net. From then on, until half time, both sides found it hard to take control of the game, with some unforced errors, with points being traded from placed balls, leaving Erin’s Own leading 1-09 to 1-07.
An early point from Mark O’ Brien reduced the gap to one, but Erin’s Own hit three unanswered points to extend the lead out to four. Neil O’ Sullivan got a badly needed score for Ferrybank to close the gap to three entering the final quarter. Ferrybank began to gain more possession, and points from substitute John Ahern and Mark O’ Brien kept the lads in the hunt. Despite surviving a close shave in their defence, we trailed by three points in the final minute. Two points from placed balls from Mark O’ Brien got it back to the minimum. With time ticking down, a long ball was gathered by Oisín MacCathmhaoil, who passed to Mark O’ Brien and goal-bound shot was saved by the goalie, but the ball went loose, and Sam Lawless was the quickest to react and put the ball to the net, to put Ferrybank a point up. Further late points deep into added time from Robbie Carew and Mark O’ Brien sealed the win.
Overall, this was a hard fought win, as it looked for long periods that it wasn’t going to be Ferrybank’s day, but the lads kept hanging in there, got a few breaks in the end, and crucially took them, which has now put them into the Eastern final against Dunhill next Sunday, September 26th, in Walsh Park at 4:30pm.
Thanks to all who came out and supported the team on the day, and best of luck to John, Jamie, Marty, Nicky, Shane and the panel next Sunday.
PANEL: Cian Martin, Davy Atkins, Naoise MacCathmhaoil, Ben Fitzpatrick, Ryan Tierney, Shane O’ Sullivan, MJ Sutton, Kevin Hurley, Seamus Burtchaell, Neil O’ Sullivan (0-01), Cormac Heffernan, Mark O' Brien (0-13), Robbie Carew (0-1), Sam Lawless (2-00), Oisín MacCathmhaoil, Luke Flynn, John Ahern (0-01), Damien Ahern, Shane Oates, Alex Kinsella, Graham Coady, Greg Murphy, Tom Burtchaell, Maciez Tomczuk, Tommy Carew, Lee Clarke.
INTERMEDIATE CAMOGIE:
Our Intermediate Camogie team played their opening game in the Hooper Doolan sponsored Competition last Saturday evening when they made the trip to play Butlerstown. Despite a brave second-half effort, the girls fell short at the final whistle on a scoreline of 3-13 to 3-10. A crucial spell from the homeside just before half-time, which yielded 2-03, proved the difference in the end.
Butlerstown made a quick start with a goal and a point in the opening five minutes, but Ferrybank replied with a goal through a Valerie O' Brien free, which sailed over the goalkeeper's head and into the net. This seemed to settle Ferrybank down, however Amy Boden in the Ferrybank goal was kept busy by pulling off a number of crucial saves. Both sides traded points with Niamh Ahearne, Helen Connolly and Valerie O’ Brien getting good scores. Despite trailing 1-06 to 1-03, the girls were well in the hunt approaching half-time. However, a mistake in the Ferrybank defence left Butlerstown in for a second goal, and moments later a third goal arrived, as the Butlerstown forward cut through the defence before slotting the sliothar to the net. A point from Niamh Ahearne left it 3-09 to 1-04 at the break.
Two quick points after the break from Valerie O’ Brien reduced the gap, but Butlerstown kept the scoreboard ticking over to remain in control. Credit to the team, as they kept battling away, and were rewarded with a second goal from Niamh Ahearne who went on a solo run, cut in from the by-line and scored from an acute angle. Another point from Valerie O’ Brien reduced the gap to six as the light began to fade, and with time almost up, a long range shot from Valerie O’ Brien ended up in the net, but the final whistle sounded, and Butlerstown held on for the win.
Despite this defeat, the girls can take heart from their second half performance.
PANEL: Amy Boden, Aisling Oates, Aisling Heffernan, Clodagh Whelan, Siobhan Heffernan, Iona Heffernan, Deirdre Heffernan, Lydia Grant, Helen Connolly (0-01), Grainne Heffernan, Valerie O' Brien (2-07), Niamh Ahearne (1-02), Eimear Larkin, Aoife Kearns, Mya O' Connor, Brid Coady, Martina O' Regan.
UNDER 7s:
Our U7 boys and girls made the trip to Gracedieu last Wednesday night to play in the De La Salle blitz, where over thirty players turned up, and produced some fine skills on the night, and competed very well. No doubt the Saturday morning training is beginning to pay dividends, and a special word of thanks to all the helpers and mentors for leading the way.
DÉISE DRAW:
The third Déise Draw will take place this coming Wednesday night, and hopefully we will have a couple of winners on the night. Congratulations to Donal Howard who was the confined winner from the club draw.
CLOTHES COLLECTION:
The clothing collection is continuing. If you have any of the following items, drop them down to the GAA grounds;
- Clothes
- Paired Shoes
- Belts
Please do NOT send down any DUVETS OR PILLOWS.
Bags can be left at the entrance to the club's grounds on a weeknight, or between 10 am and 11 am on Saturday mornings.
COVID-19:
Just a quick reminder to all Parents/Guardians that if any of their children are notified by their school to isolate for up to 10 days due to Covid or being a close contact, to notify Ferrybank GAA club Covid Officer Tony Power 086-4169215. All calls will be treated with the strictest level of confidentiality.
