Category: Hurling

Our last game in the league section of the championship against Templeglantine was played last Sunday night in Tour. We had already qualified for the quarter finals and the automatic semi-final spot was between ourselves and Tour, as we both entered our last game equal on points.

We elected to play against the fresh breeze in the first half and started reasonably well, winning ball in most areas of the field. Scoring opportunities were limited for both sides as the backs dominated the proceedings. Templeglantine got the first scores but Jason got us back on level terms. It was score for score over the next fifteen minutes and then we had a let off as a shot from a Templeglantine forward hit the post and went wide. Shortly afterwards we got our first goal courtesy of a ground shot from Noel. The half time score was Monagea 1-6 Templeglantine 0-6.

The second half started at a slow pace and we added a point to our score. Then Templeglantine struck for their goal with a good overhead pull. For the next ten minutes the game was evenly poised but we gradually increased our lead to three points. With ten minutes to go, Shane got the vital second goal and we held this advantage until the finish.

The final score was Monagea 2-13 Templeglantine 1-11. With Tour winning their game against Adare by twenty-nine points, they finished on a slightly better scoring difference than us and took the automatic semi-final spot. We now play Feenagh on the weekend of the 12th August.

This game versus Stakers Wallace was played in Martinstown on Saturday afternoon. This was the last game in the league and a very worthwhile effort. Thanks to all for getting to Martinstown early on a Saturday. Playing against a stiff breeze we were under pressure from the start as Stakers moved the ball quickly and shot some good scores. After ten minutes, we were at the pitch of the game and responded with some excellent points. For the second quarter, we were in control and continued our good work, dominating in the backs and midfield and forwards scoring. The halftime score was Monagea 1-16 Stakers 0-9. Stakers started the better team and shot a couple of good points against the breeze. From there the game flowed with lots of loose hurling and long distance scoring on both sides. The final score was Monagea 2-26 Stakers 0-19. We have now completed our seven games in the league and have finished in joint second place. A couple of narrow defeats to Newcastle West and Drom, in games that could have been won, proved costly, but that is it for another year.

This game versus Newcastle West was played in Monagea on Friday night. The minor A championship this year is a lowkey affair with only three teams and so this was just the first game in the championship. Monagea are joined with Feohanagh and Knockaderry in the minor competitions. Both teams looked rusty which was partly understandable given the long layoff and the recent exams. After some tit for tat exchanges Clan na Gael started to open an advantage which was added to by a good goal.  The second half saw Clan na Gael get on top in most areas and soon the difference was reflected in the scoreboard. Some good goals added to the tally and with the selectors giving all the substitutes a run, we continued to ratchet up the scores. The final score was Clan na Gael 5-11 Newcastle West 1-09. We now play Rathkeale\Croagh in the next round in a couple of weeks.

This game was played in Newcastle West and as always there was not much between these two sides. At no point did more than three points separate the teams. Ardagh looked to be holding the advantage entering the last ten minutes but we struck for a late goal to take the win. The final score was Monagea 1-12 Ardagh 1-11. We now play Feohanagh- Castlemahon in the semi-final at a date to be decided.

We played Askeaton in the third round of the West junior hurling championship in Knockaderry on Sunday night. After picking up a draw and a win in the first two rounds we needed a good result to guarantee our participation in the knock out stages.

Askeaton, with the benefit of the slight breeze, started the game in a flourish with a couple of well struck points and were moving the ball at speed from defence to their forwards, who appeared to be very sharp. We were struggling to keep pace and were fortunate with a couple of frees to keep in touch. A very well struck goal from Willie O’Meara for Askeaton opened a sizeable gap and we know knew we were in for a serious challenge. After a bout of pressure, Jason got a goal back for us and this closed the gap to two points. After this it was score for score over the remainder of the half and it finished Askeaton 1-12 Monagea 1-10

After conceding a soft free at the start of the second half, we immediately got control of the game and slowly picked off some nice points. The benefit of the breeze certainly helped us improve our clearances and get faster ball to the forwards. Half way through the half we took the lead for the first time and shortly later Noel struck a good goal to take our lead out to 6 points. From there to the finish, each side scored some fine long distance points in a game that had a lot of excitement and some serious scores from both teams. Both teams can be happy with a very decent effort on the night and the game finished on a score of Monagea 2-23 Askeaton 1-19.

We now have a bye in the next round and our final game is against Templeglantine at the end of July.

We played Adare in the second round of the West Junior Hurling Championship on Sunday night in the Bog Garden. On the night Adare were missing a number of players for different reasons, so well done to them for fielding. The night itself was dry but a strong wind blew into the town goals. We played against it, but from the off we dominated proceedings and in the first couple of attacks picked up a goal and a point. This trend continued for the first fifteen minutes and we continued to score freely. Adare got back into the game in the last ten minutes of the half but our backs were working well and limited the damage to points. The half time score was Monagea 5-7 Adare 0-6.

With the benefit of the wind in the second half we continued to control the game and concentrated on scoring points. We picked off some good scores but were also guilty of over elaboration and some bad scoring attempts. The final score was Monagea 6-19 Adare 0-8.

We played Tournafulla in the first round of this year’s championship on Sunday in Coolryoe.  On a blustery day that made life difficult for scorers, the conditions were excellent with a quick and even surface.

We started poorly and after losing a number of possessions, conceded a soft goal. We continued to play second fiddle for the first quarter and could have been farther behind except for a little good fortune and some good pressure on the Tour shooters. Mainly through the conversion of frees, we played our way back into the game and were unlucky not to score a goal when Shane’s effort was turned out for a sixty five. We finished the first half a goal in arrears on a score of 1-6 to 0-6.

We made a good start to the second half, winning a deal of possession but missed a number of chances to reduce the deficit. We continued to gain a lot of possession and slowly reduced the gap. Midway way through the half we took the lead and we were in a strong position to go further ahead but that did not happen for a number of reasons. Tour fought their way back into the game and finished strongly. The game finished all-square on a score of Tour 1-10 Monagea 0-13. Both teams will be content with a point and so look forward to the remaining three games in the championship. Considering the poor start that we made to the game, we relied on our work-rate to drag us back into it and can be happy that the new players from last year are blending into the team.

Monagea junior hurlers played their first home game of the All County Hurling League yesterday evening, following a win away to Feenagh Kilmeedy a week earlier. Pleasant weather brought out a strong Monagea following, with conditions almost ideal for hurling bar a strong breeze coming down from the hill.

Monagea played against this breeze in the first half. Monagea started well with some well worked scores leading to a well taken goal by Jason Brouder. However, a number of frees in the Monagea half allowed Knockaderry back into the game and the scoreline read Monagea 1-8 Knockaderry 9 points at the break. Following the half-time break Monagea moved 5 points clear and remained in control for much of the second half. Monagea made it two wins from two with a final scoreline of 1-17 to 13 points.

Well done to the three minor’s Michael Bourke, Shane Normoyle and Eamonn Browne who have shown a promising start since joining the Junior panel this year.