Notes 26/3/13

The u21 footballers took centre stage this weekend when they took on near neighbours and great rivals Tadgh MacCarthaigh in the semi final of the Clona Milk u21 B Football Championship played at a wet and wind Rossa Park, Skibbereen last Saturday evening. After a thrilling hour of football, where no quarter was asked or given by both sides it was the Kilmac lads who emerged victorious on a score-line of Kilmacabea 0-11 Tadgh MacCarthaigh 0-10.

The Kilmac lads settled to their task well and with the aid of a strong breeze took an early 0-2 to 0-0 lead after ten minutes. But this Tadgh MacCarthaigh team are nothing but tigerish and lead by Cork u21 player Brian O Driscoll levelled the scores after 15 minutes. With very little between the sides the lead swapped hands again before Diarmuid O Callaghan gave the Kilmacs the lead in the 29^th minute, to give the Kilmacs a slender one point advantage at the interval, Kilmacabea 0-5  Tadgh MacCarthaigh 0-4. The second half continued in much the same vain as the first, with both sides trading scores to leave the tie finally balanced heading into the final quarter. The switch of Patrick Kirby to full forward helped the Caheragh lads open up a one point lead before Padraig Burke, the every reliable Kilmac custodian, pulled off a great penalty save which left the gap at two points with little time remaining. But one final effort from the Kilmac lads managed to level the tie going into injury time and a little bit of good fortune gave Diarmuid O Callaghan the opportunity to win the game for the Kilmacs. Wild celebrations followed the final whistle by referee David Whyte and meant the Kilmacs were back in the final of this competition for the first time since 2008, where they will take on Clann Na Gael.

That u21 final vs Clann Na Gael is provisionally fixed for Easter Sunday 31^st March in Aughaville with a 3pm throw in. A large crowd will be expected on the day so make any extra special effort to come out and cheer the lads onto victory.

After the excitement of Saturday, it was back to league action on Sunday, when the junior footballers entertained Bandon in Section 1 of the football league in Leap. Minus the u21 contingent the team, the team competed well with a physical strong Bandon side and were unlucky to be behind at the short whistle, Kilmacabea 0-4 Bandon 0-6. Playing some nice football but guilty of overplaying the ball at times the Kilmac lads found hitting the target a struggle and Bandon, who were more economical with the ball, managed to grind out a  victory on the score-line  of Kilmacabea 0-6  Bandon 0-10. Although it is early in their season, this game gave the team much food for thought and will help them build for their 1^st round championship encounter against Gabriel Rangers on April 28^th in Baltimore at 3pm.

The u16 footballers were also in league action on Sunday morning when they travelled to Clonaklity to take on the home side. Playing some excellent football they were unlucky to come out the wrong side of the score-line, Kilmacabea 5-9 Clonaklity ‘B’ 8-5. The game was also notable for a nasty injury to young Eoin O Sullivan, who is only after resuming playing after a year out of football. All within the club would like to wish Eoin all the best with his recovery from this injury.

As part of the schools coaching program, 80 boys and girls from 3^rd to 6^th class from Maultrahane, Leap and Glandore NS assembled in the GAA pitch for a school blitz on Wednesday 20^th. Four teams of 10 boys played three 20 minute games and four teams of girls also played three 20 minute games. The Kilmacabea club would like to thank the three schools for taking part in the program and would also like to thank Kevin Whooley and Shane McDermott for referring the games.

The club would also like to congratulate the Instrumental group who finished 2^nd at the County Scor Na bPaisti finals held at the GAA Pavilion in Ovens over the weekend. The group consisting of Chantelle and Katelyn French, Saoirse and Davina Connolly and Clara Dineen put in a great display of traditional Irish music. Great credit must go to their mentor, Martina French for putting in great work with this group for the past number of months.

Fixtures for the coming week: U21 B Football Championship final vs Clann Na Gael on Easter Sunday 31^st of March in Aughaville at 3pm. The junior football league game against Tadgh MacCarthaigh due to be played on Easter Sunday has now been re-fixed for the 2^nd June.

Please check locally as fixtures are subject to change and don’t forget you can keep up to date with all club activities and events by logging on www.facebook.com/Official Kilmacabea GAA Club or www.twitter.com/KilmacabeaGAA.

Notes 18/3/13

The U 14 footballers played in the County Feile competition on Saturday 16^th March. The competition was run off as a series of blitzes with games of 12minute halves. Kilmacabea were part of a group which played  at Ballygarvan.

The Kilmacs drew the short straw in that their first game was against the home team and eventual group winners and they were slow to start.  By half time they had found their feet and were back in the game behind  1- 2 to 0-3. For the third quarter playing some excellent football they put themselves in a good position and had edged two point s ahead. Unfortunately they got caught on the break for a couple of key scores which were their undoing. Final result was Kilmacabea 0-7 Ballygarvan 3-3. The second game was a titanic battle between two evenly matched sides. Whitechuch got the lead score but play was up and down and the Kilmacs equalised before half time. The Kilmacs got the key score mid-way through the second half and while both sides had chances the Kilmacs held out for a morale boosting victory on the score 1-1 to 0-1. In the next game they played Naomh Aban. The team was now playing  good football with confidence and a better balance to the side and were able to win the game on the score 1-6 to 0-4. In the final game they had too much for the St Finbarrs “B” team and went on to win 2-8 to 0-1. All in it was a super experience for the players and the team and players learned a lot from it. The team played some fine football throughout with a great effort, attitude and commitment from all who took part. Team Conor Nash, Mikey O’Mahony, Adrian  Gore, Odran Kerrisk, Ian Jennings, Jamie O’Donoghue, Jamie Ronan, Ashley Deane, Damien Gore, David Whelton, Myles Tobin, Dara Tobin, Oisin O’Driscoll, Ellis Wilson, Christy Wilson, Ciaran Hernon. The competition was run off efficently and with great hospitality by the home club

U21 B Football c'ship semi final vs Tadgh MacCarthaigh Saturday 23rd at 5:00pm in Skibbereen

Club Notes 6/3/13

The U21 footballers stepped out in the heat of championship football last Sunday afternoon in Rossmore, when they took on Ballinascarthy in the Quarter final of the Clona Milk u21 B football championship. After a titanic battle in which the Kilmacs looked dead and buried midway through the second half and strong final quarter, coupled with superior fitness helped the Kilmacs come out on top after extra time, on a score line of Kilmacabea 1-12 Ballinascarthy 0-14.

On a dry cold day, on a decent sod both sides played out a marvellous game of attacking football under the watchful eye of referee, David Whyte (St.Marys). It was the eastern men who started quicker and had five points on the board in the opening quarter of an hour, before the Kilmacs raised their first white flag with a Richie O Sullivan free in the 18th minute. With the full back line of Martin Collins, Kieran O Sullivan and Thomas Jennings having a torrid time keeping the Bal full forward line and especially corner forward Aidan O Donovan at bay, it looked like Bal would cut loose and end the Kilmacs charge before it even begun. But credit to the Kilmac lads they dug in and with captain Joe Collins a power house at midfield, reduced the deficit at half time to four points, thanks to a second point from Declan O Sullivan leaving the score Kilmacabea 0-2 Ballinascarthy 0-6 at the short whistle. If the first half belonged to Bal, the second belonged to the Kilmacs lads. Trailing by seven points with fifteen minutes to go, it looked all but lost, but with some reshuffling of the pack most notably the redeployment of Martin Collins to the midfield sector the Kilmacs began to claw their way back into the game. Four quick points from Declan O Sullivan (2), Oisin O Sullivan and Kevin Whooley cut the gap to three points and when Oisin O Sullivan poked home for the only goal of the game in the 59^th minute the momentum was well and truly with the Kilmacs. Even with a player being dismissed, the Kilmacs hung on and managed to force extra time. In the additional two periods the Kilmacs dominated and despite a missed penalty managed to eke out a one point win.

While it was a great victory, the team will know that a much improved overall display will be needed if they want to advance further in the competition. The team that defeated Ballinascarthy was: Padraig Burke, Kieran O Sullivan, Martin Collins (0-1), Thomas Jennings, Sean O Regan, Niall Hayes, Liam Thompson, John O Sullivan, Joseph Collins, Aidan Williamson, Declan O Sullivan (0-3), Diarmuid O Callaghan (0-1), Kevin Whooley (0-2), Richie O Sullivan (0-4, 0-2 from frees), Oisin O Sullivan (1-1). Subs: Shane McDermott, Padraig McCarthy, Odhran Connolly.

The u14 footballers also had a victory on Sunday, when they defeated O Donovan Rossa in their first league game of their season, on a score line of Kilmacabea 4-18 O Donovan Rossa 7-7. This was a game that at times the Kilmacs were well on top and at other times in serious trouble. For a first outing it was good performance and all the more satisfying with the win at the end. It was close but would have been disappointing to lose. Team Conor Nash, Mikey OMahony, Adrian Gore, Jamiee Ronan, Orahan Kerrisk, Jamie O’Donoghue, Myles Tobin, Ashley Deane, Damian Gore, Gareth Whooley, Ian Jennings, Dara Tobin, Oisin O’Driscoll, Ellis Wilson, Ciaran Hernon, David Whelton, Christy Wilson, Eoin Burns

In the Scor Na bPaisti West Cork finals last Friday night in Rossmore, the music group consisting of Chantelle and Katelyn French, Saoirse and Davina Connolly and Clara Dineen won their catergory, Kate O Donovan came 2^nd in the recitation, and Chantelle French came 2^nd in the Solo Dancing. The other performers on the night were Olivia O Sullivan in Solo Singing and the Novelty Act of Aoife Hernan, Kate O Donovan, Ben Christie, Chantelle French, Clara Dineen and Dara Tobin. Congratulations to all those involved on the night.

The club would like to extend thanks to all those who helped out at the U21 game on Saturday last. Without these volunteers who give up their time to help park cars, sell tickets, prepare the pitch, hosting these games would not be possible.

All Club Members are also reminded that the Sports Prophet deadline is Friday 8^th March, so get your entries in ASAP, either online at www.sportsprophet.ie or contact Dan Hourihane for a paper entry form.

Fixtures for the coming week: 

Football League vs. Castletownbere in Leap on Sunday 10^th at 11:30am

Check locally before travelling as fixtures dates and times are liable to change.

There is hurling training for the new group of teams comprising St Patricks on Monday evening in Abbeystrewery National School all weather facilities, Skibbereen. 7pm for U14's and 8pm for U16/18. It is important that everyone interested coes along as matches will be starting in a few weeks time.

U21 Footballers Sunday 3/3/13 v Ballinascarthy