22nd February 2010

The Seniors started their 2010 campaign with a hard fought and exciting draw with Tubbercurry in the first round of the Kiernan Cup at Riverstown Park on Saturday last. This was a keenly contested affair throughout and both sides will perhaps feel that with more clinical finishing they could have won, however a draw was probably a fair result on the day. The teams were evenly matched for the first 20 minutes, following which the match was level on 2 points each, the
Gaels scores coming from Joe Quinn, one of them a free. Tubber took control and rattled over 5 points without reply before Paddy O'Grady got one back for the Gaels with a pointed free on 25 minutes. Tubber replied with a pointed free just before half-time to go into the break 5 points ahead on a scoreline of 0-8 to 0-3.

At this stage it was going to take a huge effort to haul the Gaels back into the game and on the re-start they did just that with Joe Quinn going on a scoring spree firing over 5 points without reply to level matters. Damien Lyons then stormed up the field from full-back to score a great point on 15 minutes to put the Gaels ahead for the first time since the first minutes of the game. This spurred Tubber into action and they hit back with two points to edge ahead again. John Paul Henry levelled matters again on 20 minutes with a nice point. As the exchanges became more intense, poor Gaels discipline led to a number of Tubber points over the next 10 minute period, during which they hit 4 points without reply, three of which came from frees and one from a 45.
This left the Gaels 4 points adrift as the game entered its final minutes and seemingly heading for defeat. To their credit however, they dug deep and Joe Quinn held his nerve to point a free on 29 minutes before Jarlath Lyons tore through the Tubber defence on the stroke of full time to drive an unstoppable shot low and hard to the back of the Tubber net to salvage a draw for the Gaels.

Final score, Shamrock Gaels 1-11, Tubbercurry 0-14. Team and scorers; Mark Tuohy, Liam O'Connell, Damien Lyons (0-1), Michael Hannon, Colin Harte, Paul Brennan, Johnny Burke, Eoin McDermott, Philip Murphy, John Paul Henry (0-1), Jarlath Lyons (1-0), Kevin Barry, Paddy O'Grady(0-1), Joe Quinn (0-8), Keith Mc Morrow. Subs; Paul Higgins for C Harte (inj), Conor Mullen for M Hannon, Frank Quinn for K Barry, Derrick Davey for P O'Grady.

The Gaels next game is against Easkey this Saturday in Riverstown Park at 4.00PM.

The minor team are away to Geevagh next Sunday morning at 11.00AM in the second round of the league.

Bord Ná Nóg will be holding a registration evening for all underage players on Saturday 6th March from 6.00PM to 7.30PM - registration is €10 per player or €20 per family.

The 2010 Dinner Dance takes place in Castledargan on Saturday 20th March. Tickets at €30 now available from Mary Quinn 086 3757626, Cormac Kearns 087 2358840 or any committee member.

There will be a club meeting next Monday March 1st at 8.00PM in the Clubhouse.

The club would like to express sympathy with the family and relatives of Mary Brennan, Tawnagh, Riverstown who died last week and Kathleen Horkin (formerly McCarrick, Coolbock, Riverstown) who died in England.