Monagea GAA - - Page 2

JAHC v Templeglantine

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.

JAFC v Newcastle West

We played Newcastle West in the third and final game of the football championship in Knockaderry on Friday night. A key game, with the winner going directly to the West final, everyone was expecting a good game. On a night for the ducks, conditions were difficult for both teams as the ball handling was extremely difficult, but both teams tried hard.

With the aid of the wind we started very promising and dominated possession for the first quarter. Our backs and midfield were in control and held the Newcastle West attacks comfortably. We were struggling to create clear scoring chances and so the scoreboard remained bare for some time. Eventually we found our scoring range and tacked on a few nice points. With a couple of minutes to go in the half we had a hard earned 3 point advantage. However, Newcastle West then struck for a goal which tied the game at half time on a score of Monagea 0-4 Newcastle West 1-1.

The third quarter was dominated by Newcastle West, who backed by the wind dominated the play and created some good opportunities. We also contributed to our downfall in this quarter by giving away possession in key areas of the field and gave up some soft goals. The net result was that Newcastle West struck four goals in this period and the game was effectively over. To our credit we persisted and over the remaining quarter, we dominated the play and scored six points. The final score was Monagea 0-10 Newcastle West 5-3. Overall it was a strange game with Monagea having a large share of the possession but Newcastle West getting the vital big scores and on that basis, Newcastle West more than deserved their win.

We now play Fr. Caseys in the semi-final of the West championship. After our narrow one point win over them in the second round, they will be gunning for revenge and a tough battle is to be expected.

ACHL v Staker Wallace

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.

West Minor A Hurling v Newcastle West

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.

WIHC v St. Kierans

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.

JAFC v Fr. Caseys

We played Fr Caseys in the second round of the west junior football championship in Mick Neville Park on Friday evening. After a convincing win against Cappagh in the first round, confidence was high of a solid performance, even though we were short a number of regulars. The night was very blustery and so the game was going to be the classic “game of two halves”.

We took the advantage of the wind in the first half and after a slightly slow start began to dominate possession but were struggling to create scoring chances. Fr Caseys, whose team were very young and lively, began to run with the ball and carve out some decent chances but were also struggling with scoring in the conditions. Slowly we came more into the game and got the first score of the night. From this we dominated the play but continued to struggle to create chances. Eventually we scored a fortuitous goal from Sean and followed it up with a couple of points. Fr Caseys created a couple of scoring chances but Mark was very alert and made good saves on both occasions. The half time score was Monagea 1-3 Fr Caseys 0-0.

Fr Caseys were expected to dominate the second half but it was Monagea who started best. However, we again failed to score and Fr Caseys grew into the game. Fr Caseys eventually found their range and started to pick off some good points. We continued to take the battle to Fr Caseys and kicked a couple of vital points. Eventually Fr Caseys took the lead after a number of good points and with only three minutes to go, defeat appeared to be our lot. But the high level of confidence from recent wins, kept the team spirits high and they continued to attack. Eventually with only two minutes to go, after some good combination work, Tom went on a mazy run and unleashed an un-stoppable shot to the top left corner. We defended well over the remaining few minutes and scored another point in injury time to seal the win. The final score was Monagea 2-6 Fr Caseys 0-9.

We now play Newcastle west in the final round on the weekend of the 23rd July, but at this point we have guaranteed a place in the west semi-final.

JAHC v Askeaton

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.

JAFC v Cappagh

We started our junior football campaign on Friday night with a game against Cappagh in the Bog Garden. Cappagh won the West – beat us in the final – and County junior championship in 2015 but are back playing in the junior championship again this year. This years championship in the west only includes four teams as Ballyhahill were promoted and other teams have reverted back to junior b.

On Friday night we had a very youthful team in action and from the throw in they played to their strengths and moved the ball quickly. This was matched by the Cappagh players who also opted to kick pass a little more often. Initially our rustiness was shown and we struggled for scores but after some poor efforts Ciaran got us off the mark with a couple of well struck frees. The work-rate of our players in the middle lines was impressive and we turned over the ball on a number of occasions. Eventually our pressure payed off and Evan, Michael and Shane were rewarded with goals. Cappagh pulled one goal back from a penalty before the break. The half time score was Monagea 3-5 Cappagh 1-3.

Facing a slight breeze, we were glad of the lead but the boys continued their high work-rate and created a number of very good opportunities, most of which fell to Jason, who scored some nice points. We contained the Cappagh forwards until the mid-point of the half when they struck for their second goal. Over the remainder of the half, both sides scored some nice points but the win was ours and the final score finished Monagea 3-14 Cappagh 2-9

JAHC v Adare

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.

JAHC v Tournafulla

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.