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.