U-21 Hurling Club Championship

[johntherobber]

Anyone have any reports or results from the games at the weekend??
Who hurled well?? Any upsets???

[Loughers]

I just saw that Coolderry were hammered by St. Malachy's???

[Loughers]

http://www.rte.ie/aertel/rte2/460-03.html

Could someone explain who the amalgamations are please.

[Lone Shark]

Here's what went into the paper last week.....obviously one of my predictions went west already!

Offaly Under 21 Hurling Championship Commences This Weekend

2007 will not go down as a good year for this competition. Assaulted referees and unplayed finals do not generally make a competition memorable, at least not for any of the right reasons, so anyone involved will be happy to draw a line under last year and look forward to this year's renewal.
For those supporters all across the county with nothing but county and club leagues to sate their appetite so far, this weekend offers a great opportunity to take in some real old fashioned do or die championship action. The four first round games are down for decision, with arguably the tie of the round taking place in Lusmagh where St. Cronan's play Kilcormac/Killoughey Gaels. In the other three matches Coolderry meet St. Malachy's, Kinnitty play St. Mary's and St. Rynagh's play Na Fianna. The first named team have home advantage in each of those three games and all four ties throw in at Noon on Sunday.
While forecasting U-21 teams without any form to go on is a tricky exercise at the best of times, the Offaly Independent laughs in the face of unpredictability and happily gives the following assessment of each team, hoping that no-one will remember this if (when!) we get it horribly wrong...

St. Cronan's Comprised of Lusmagh and Belmont hurling clubs, including Ferbane.
Known as St. Saran's last year, this outfit was unlucky to lose to a very good St. Mary's team but they seem up against it this year. Mark Egan will punish any infringements by opposing defenders, Eoin Kelly is a superb goalkeeper with a fine puck out and Colin Egan put in some fine performances for GMIT in the Fitzgibbon cup, but they look to have too much to do against Kilcormac/Killoughey Gaels in the first round. Worse teams than Cronan's will win matches in this competition, but it's hard to see them advancing.

Kilcormac/Killoughey Gaels Comprised of Kilcormac/Killoughey and Drumcullen Hurling Clubs Kilcormac Killoughey would have been a strong outfit at this level all by themselves, so the addition of players like John Cashin and Dermot Gath among others will give this combination an extra dimension that pushes them into the role of competition favourites. Conor Mahon, Brian Leonard, Derry Guinan, Joe Dunican and goalie Damien Kilmartin are among the top class performers available to backbone the team, with the added weapon of Daniel Currams due to return from injury for the later rounds.

Shamrocks Comprised of Rahan and Mucklagh

Another side that look a little light to make a real impact at this grade. Derek Molloy will obviously be their main weapon, while Nigel Dunne is capable of scores also but with their first match likely to be against a fired up Kilcormac/Killoughey Gaels side with a game under their belts, it's hard to predict a bright future for Shamrocks.

Coolderry Coolderry Hurling Club
Since their three in a row at minor level in 1999, 2000 and 2001 Coolderry went through a bit of a lull at that grade and have struggled to get players onto Offaly teams since then. They last won this competition in 2002, and though they've been favourably treated with a home draw against an unknown quantity, the fact that they had to compete at Minor “B” level last year (albeit very successfully) suggests that this generation is not of the standard required.

St. Malachy's Comprised of Clara, Ballinamere, and Brosna Gaels Hurling clubs, including Ballycumber parish, Durrow and Tubber

This large amalgamation of almost everything between Ferbane and Tullamore certainly won't lack for depth and if they can gel together they could cause an upset in Coolderry on Sunday. They played some flashes of good hurling last year against Kilcormac/Killoughey in the quarter final, but expect several new faces on the team this time around.

St. Brendan's Comprised of Birr, Crinkle and Carrig and Riverstown Hurling clubs
They won this grade last year, albeit under a cloud due to the conceded final, but they're genuine contenders again and are very well drawn. Irrespective of who wins between Coolderry and Malachys, St. Brendan's will be huge favourites to advance to a likely semi final meeting with K/K Gaels where sparks should fly. Brian Watkins, Mark Mulrooney and Aaron Whelahan are all likely to prove key players for this team.

Kinnitty Kinnitty Hurling Club

Last year Kinnitty amalgamated with Seir Kieran and if that were happening this year the resulting outfit would be a serious contender at this grade. As it is Kinnitty will be a steady outfit with Odhran Kealey their main attacking weapon but they meet St. Mary's this Sunday and look outgunned.

St. Mary's Comprised of Ballyskenach and Shinrone Hurling Clubs

With the events of last year barely resolved even now, one wonders how good preparations will have been but there is serious talent in the ranks nonetheless. Three years ago Shinrone reached a minor county final with a very talented bunch of players and with Mark and Damien Bevans still hurling very well and Derek Morkan one of Offaly's better minors from the last two years also in their ranks they look to be a very decent team, capable of one win at least and maybe more.

St. Rynagh's St. Rynagh's Hurling Club
They lead the roll of hour in this competition having lifted the PJ Teehan Cup on 14 separate occasions and look very strong again this year. The 2005 “Golden Generation” of minor hurlers, players like Jason Whelahan, Ciaran Flannery, Gary Kelly and of course county seniors Diarmuid Horan and Conor Hernon, are set to be joined by several of the 2007 minor winning team, including Stephen Wynne, Conor Duffy and Odhran McIntyre. They have star quality, depth and a relatively good draw in the first round against Na Fianna to get things in motion – expect them to set up a tense rematch with St. Mary's in the quarter finals and progress well from there.

Na Fianna Comprised of Killurin, Killeigh, Gracefield and Edenderry hurling clubs.

Largely made up of Killeigh parish players, Na Fianna don't contain any senior or intermediate club hurlers at adult level but nonetheless have a reasonable sprinkling of talent. Dwayne Dunne will leading the line up front after starring in the 2007 Junior Hurling Championship while Kevin Gorman and Nigel Cunningham are also hurlers capable enough to hold their own at any level. Even so it's hard to see them doing anything but losing heavily this weekend.

Tullamore Tullamore Hurling Club
It's been a long time since Tullamore looked outmatched by Seir Kieran in an underage match, but they will meet in the quarter final and Clareen appear to hold the favourites tag. Stephen Egan is a fine defender who will put the shackles on any forward player and Francis Kerrigan will offer an attacking threat but the town side have lost a lot of big names from last year when even then they were well off the pace.

Seir Kieran Seir Kieran Hurling Club

After competing well when combined with Kinnitty last year it will raise several eyebrows that the Clareen parish have chosen to go their own way this year. This bunch of players won the 2005 Minor “B” Hurling championship after a one sided final when Joe Bergin scored 5-10 and these young hurlers are as good as Seir Kieran have had since the days of the Dooleys. Eanna Murphy, Dara Coughlan and James Mulrooney are all excellent players and Seir Kieran will hold their own, but one wonders if the club's solo run may ultimately mean falling a little short.

[beirut]

From another Thread:

St. Malachy's - Ballinamere/Durrow/Clara/Brosna Gaels
St. Mary's - Shinrone, Ballyskenagh
Na Fianna - Killurn, Killeigh, Raheen
St. Cronin's - Lusmagh, Ferbane, Belmont
K/K Gaels - Kilcormac/Killoughey, Drumcullen
St. Brendan's - Birr, Crinkle, Carrig & Riverstown

[Bord na Mona man]

Why do most amalgamations seem to take the name of a saint or stick the word "gaels" after them?
Could we not use more imaginative names like slashers, savages, shapers and frog swallowers to better describe the character of the clubs involved?

[ballymanabroad]

slashers, savages, shapers and frog swallowers

Now that wouldn't be St Malachy's you are referring to, would it?

[Bord na Mona man]

slashers, savages, shapers and frog swallowers

Now that wouldn't be St Malachy's you are referring to, would it?

The merchandising possibilities would be great!

[johntherobber]

Any predcitions on the games at the weekend, some interesting matches

[johntherobber]

Predictions for game at weekend;
K/K gaels to beat Shamrocks
Rynaghs to beat Kinnitty
Clareen and Tullamore be close,dont really know too many of tullamore players so cant really comment but will be close id say
St malachys will come up well short against St brendans and i hope they do because its a gisgrace them havin about 16 clubs joined up,they probly dont even know one anothers names

[midfield]

st Malachys - its a lot of clubs together , but at least they are participating and competitive.

Birr and Ferbane joining up to form Wheery in the football u21 - now that was a disgrace.. A strong football area of ferbane belmont should be well capable of fielding their own team and if Birr can put out u21 hurling team , they surely should be able to find a football team also.

[the weasel]

I would expect Kilcormac, Rynaghs, St. Brendans and Clareen to go through to semis. Id say it will be a Kilcormac and Rynaghs final with Rynaghs lifting another u-21title.

[azoffaly]

st Malachys - its a lot of clubs together , but at least they are participating and competitive.

Birr and Ferbane joining up to form Wheery in the football u21 - now that was a disgrace.. A strong football area of ferbane belmont should be well capable of fielding their own team and if Birr can put out u21 hurling team , they surely should be able to find a football team also.

Exuse me. Wheery is the parish name of Ferbane and has been used at under 21 level loads of times. When the minor club 'Ferbane Belmont' was formed back in the late 80s, early 90s, the adult clubs were still playing as Ferbane and Belmont. At that stage the Under 21 fell between 2 stools, not a minor club, and not Ferbane OR Belmont, so Wheery, the traditional name for the parish was used for the Under 21.It may have reverted back to Ferbane at some stage after the two clubs in the Parish split the hurling and football between them, but I'm not aware of that. Wheery is certainly not a 'new' or made up term.

The Birr lads applied for, and were granted, permission to play with Wheery because they had no football at under 21 level. Ferbane did not 'Join' with Birr to create Wheery. In fact I remember an EGM was called to debate whether the Birr lads should be allowed play with Wheery, and there was opposition to the motion because people didn't like diluting the club. However, it was decided that in order to help Sean Ryan and Dylan Hayden, especially, who were seen as promising county standard footballers, they would be allowed in. (I don't believe anyone in Birr can play with Ferbane/Wheery. I think it was done on a case by case basis but I could be wrong about that). Of course Wheery benefited, but it was not an amalgamation to put out a club team, it was a request by the Birr lads to play with them.

Just for the record like.

[johntherobber]

u 21 HC Q/F`s
Shamrocks 0-10 K/K 2-20
St Brendans 0-16 St Malachys 0-17
Kinnitty 1-09 St Rynaghs 1-19
Tullamore 1-07 Seir Kieran 3-12

think semi-final pairings are
K/K v St Malachys
St Rynaghs v Seir Kieran

Anyone at the q/f`s??who played well?? any predictions for next weekends semi finals??

[Plain of the Herbs]

I see Clareen beat ’Rynagh’s by seven points in the semi-final last night. Now Clareen have had a bit of an Indian sign over ’Rynagh’s at senior level for some time now but a small parish beating a town side at an underage level is a major achievement.

Obviously Clareen are driven by Joseph Bergin. Can I take it that he is finding a vein of form at the moment?

They now hurl Kilcormac in the final on Sunday. T’would be great for hurling if they were to win the title for the first time.