FEILE NA NGAEL 2014 (Justin Cheevers Cup)

Post date: Apr 28, 2014 5:38:51 PM

This year’s tournament is being hosted by Ulster.

The Clubs representing Galway in the National tournament are the finalists of the Justin Cheever’s Cup. The Justin Cheever’s tournament consists of Divisions B & B1 teams from this years U14 championship. With Moycullen placed in the top 3 of Division B of the Championship there was great optimism in the camp.

Group D: Ballinasloe, Killimor, Moycullen & Mullagh (Games 20min per half)

MATCH REPORTS

Round 1: Venue - Moycullen at 6:30pm 25 April 2014

Moycullen 2:09 – Mullagh 0:02

Moycullen are determined to secure victory at home to set a solid platform for the weekend fixtures. With strong cross field winds and the constant treat of rain Moycullen knew that scores would be difficult to master but 5min after the throw in Moycullen opened the scoring with a pointed free from Alan Carr. A minute later Cian Folan scored a point from 30m to put the home side 2 points up. Mullagh responded with a point from a free on 7minutes but the next 3 points came from Niall Fitzgerald, Folan and Sean O’Seoige to leave Moycullen 5points to 1 point up at the half. 4min after the restart Moycullen goaled with Carr blasting to the Mullagh net. The next 2 scores were points from Folan and a 40m free from Carr. With Mullagh now trailing by 9 points they struggled to penetrate the Connemara defence. The visiting team finally broke past the half back line only to be fouled and pointed the resulting free. Moycullen responded with a point from Carr, Goal from Fionn McDonagh and point from Owen Hester. The final score was a fair reflection on Moycullen dominance of the opening round.

Round 2: Venue – Ballinasloe at 11:20am 26 April 2014

Moycullen 4:04 – Killimor 2:03

Round 2 became the battle for top of Group D. After a wet morning and a strong wind down field, conditions were difficult for both sides. Moycullen played against the elements in the first half and after just 2min found themselves trailing after Killmor crashed a 20m free to the net. Moycullen responded on 4min with a point from Fitzgerald. On 7min Killimor scored a point and their No.11 was proving a handful for our defence. Evan Kenny moved into centre back and preformed a man marking job on the Killimor marksman. On 9min McDonagh scored a point but Killmor responded with a point 4min later. A minute later Cillian Clancy saved well and found Tom O’Connor who cleared up the left wing. Moycullen held possession and pressed forward and were rewarded with a goal from O’Seoige on 15min. 1min later Folan scored a point and 3min before the end of the first half Moycullen scored last with a clever flick from Hester finding the net at close range. The half time score of 3:02 to 1:02 in favour of Moycullen put the westerns in a strong position. With the aid of strong wind in the second half Moycullen expected to rally up scores and after 2min of the restart Folan blasted home for a goal. 1min later Killimor scored a point and then followed with a goal. Moycullen steadied the ship and finished the game with a point each from Carr and McDonagh.

Round 3: Venue – Ballinasloe at 12:10am 26 April 2014

Moycullen 5:01 – Ballinasloe 3:04

With literally only 15min break the Moycullen lads had to turn around and face the home team. Ballinasloe were only narrowly defeated by Killimor in their opening match. Moycullen were now top of the table with max 4pts, Killimor & Ballinasloe on 2pts and Mullagh on 0pts. If Ballinasloe defeated Moycullen and Mullagh defeated Killimor then Moycullen would be out. However if Ballinasloe defeated Moycullen and Killmor defeated Mullagh then a 3 way playoff was on the cards. Moycullen couldn’t take any risks and needed the win to secure a semi final spot

Ballinasloe were aided by the strong wind in the first half and hit the back of the Moycullen net within 1min of the throw in. Moycullen responded immediately with a goal from Folan. Ballinasloe took advantage of the tired legs of the visitors and dominated the next 10min. During this period they pointed 3 times (1point was a deflection over the crossbar from a save from Clancy), they hit the Moycullen crossbar and also scored a goal. On 12min Folan scored a point to bring the half time score Moycullen trailing 2:03 – 1:01.

Moycullen needed to get to grips with the game but 1min after the restart Ballinasloe scored a goal. 3min later Moycullen found the net from McDonagh and on 27min the home side scored a point from a 20m free. The game was drifting from Moycullen but they never gave up the belief but trailing by 6 points and only 4min to go it was hard to see where the scores would come from but they did. Folan gaoled on 36min then 1min later Hester found Folan who goaled again to equalise. The game was in the melting pot and Ballinasloe were in full defensive mode. One more score would secure the win for Moycullen and McDonagh found the net in the last minute to win by 3points. The Moycullen panel and supports went delirious as they celebrated qualifying for the last 4 for the Cup.

A big thanks to the Ballinasloe Hurling Club who provided great facilities, tea & sandwiches for everyone and a goodies pack for every player.

With time to kill the Moycullen panel stopped off at Cigna Lakeside Park Loughrea for some light exercise and healthy refreshments.

Semi Final: Venue – Craughwell at 6:30pm 26 April 2014

Moycullen 2:07 – Tommy Larkin’s 3:05

With the Moycullen Intermediate team opening their 2014 Championship vs. Kilbeacanty in Clarenbridge support was expected to be diluted but this wasn’t the case. A strong support from the Connemara faithful came out in full voice to support the Moycullen lads.

Killimordaly overcame Gort in the proceeding semi final as Moycullen faced a fancied Tommy Larkin’s side. The pitch was in perfect condition with the wind blowing down towards the town end. Tommy Larkin’s opened the scoring with a point on 7min. Carr scored a free close to the sideline and 40m out against the elements 2min later. Then inside 2min Tommy Larkin’s hit the Moycullen net to take a 6point lead. Moycullen dug deep and won 2 frees 45m from the opposition goal and Carr pointed both to reduce the deficit. On 17min Cillian Davoren found McDonagh who pointed well. With less than 2mins of normal time left and only 3 points separating the sides Moycullen pushed forward but a mistimed pass on the opponents 40m was intercepted and delivered over the Moycullen half backline and Larkin’s blasted another goal to increase their lead to 6points again. 1min later then extended their lead to 7 points. Just before half time McDonagh collected on the 40m and took on the defence only to be taking to the ground inside the 20m. Carr pointed the resulting free to bring the first half proceedings to an end. Moycullen trailed at the half by 3:02 – 0:05. With the aid of the wind Moycullen needed to notch up scores to recover the match. 2 min after the restart Tommy Larkin’s were first to score with a point. 2min later Moycullen won a 20m free and Folan stepped up to blast to the roof of the Larkin’s net. A min later Fitzgerald scored out on the left wing to bring the match to 3points. Larkin’s worked up the pitch to win a free which scored them a crucial point on the 40m line. 8minutes then passed without any scores and with only 6min to the final whistle and trailing by 4 points Moycullen had it all to do. Moycullen attacked on the right wing and won a free on the 40m. Carr struck the free and the sliotar dipped under the crossbar to put Moycullen 1 point behind, game on! On the 36min Carr stood over a free from 55m and nailed it between the posts to even the spoils. The final few minutes saw scoring opportunities squandered by the Moycullen lads. What appeared a definite point from Colm Cunningham on the left was flagged wide and an obvious foul on Carr was not deemed to be by the referee. On the final whistle both sides were all square and were faced with a 5min a side extra time period.

2min into the first half of extra time Larkin’s landed a point. At the half time whistle Larkin’s lead by 1point. With Moycullen now having the wind to their backs all they needed was to secure a point to level but there were no scores from either side as the match ended with a solitary point in favour of the South East Galway Club.

The Moycullen panel, Management & Supporters were devastated with the outcome but are extremely proud of wonderful and honest hurling over the 2 days. The Moycullen U14s now refocus on the Championship with an away fixture to Carnmore on Monday 5 May.

Moycullen players for the Feile na nGael 2014 were;

Cillian Clancy, Shane Kyne, Keith Carter, Glen Pagett, Jamie Cox, Tom O’Connor, Robert Previte, Alan Carr, Evan Kenny, Cillian Davoren, Fionn McDonagh, Sean O’Seoige, Cian Folan, Niall Fitzgerald, Jack Osborne, Owen Hester, Jack Brennan, Shain Sutton, Aaron Barrett & Colm Cunningham.

Players unavailable through injury or holidays: Oran McLaughlin, Andrew Power, Dean Greally, Cathal Boyce, Sofian Elhemer, Ethan O'Brien, Jack O'Toole & Danny McDonagh.