Busy May ahead for Hurling

Post date: May 7, 2013 6:01:27 PM

All eyes are on Kenny Park this Saturday for the next phase of the Senior Championship. Máigh Cuilinn drew the short straw in being drawn in the preliminary round where they face Ardrahan. A win will not guarantee access to the group stages of the Championship nor will it secure Senior status as the winner must face a further round against Tynagh/Abbey/Duniry to earn that. The loser, however, goes automatically to the relegation play-offs.

The Ardrahan game is fixed for Kenny Park, Athenry for 5pm this Saturday. The double fixture will be followed by the Round 2 game between Carnmore and Tommie Larkins (6.30pm). The following day sees the remaining Round 2 fixtures played with Athenry host to another double header on Sunday with Kinvara versus Sarsfields (12.30pm) followed by Beagh playing Liam Mellowes at 2pm. Craughwell meet Athenry in Loughrea at 4pm. For the avid follower of the Senior Hurling Championship, it is possible to attend all five games this weekend.

The following weekend is pencilled in for the Round 2 game proper against Tynagh Abbey Duniry and here's hoping we are involved. If we are it will be a busy weekend as the Junior B make their Championship debut against Gort away. Which day of the weekend may well depend on what is happening in the Senior Championship.

The Minor team completed the pre Exam section of the campaign with a fine win against Michael Cusack's in Baile Doite on the Bank Holiday Monday. With Anraoi Whyte and Caleb McGuinness returning to the lineup and Conor Kyne making his season debut, the team had a stronger look about it. So it proved as within seconds Kyne fed Whyte for the opening goal. Jack Kelly and Conor Noone tacked on points before Cusack's were able to respond. Eanna Kelleghan put Jack Kelly through for a goal and then received a similar pass from Kyne to goal himself. Ryan Fox, Kyne, Noone, Whyte and Kelly were all on the scoresheet again before halftime, including a sideline cut from Kelly. Mágh Cuilinn had a commanding halftime score of 3-11 to 0-04. In the second half the intensity faltered a little, Carl McDonagh came on to score two points and Keleghan, Kyne, Kelly and Fox all added to their tallies. Michael Cusack's did muster a fortuitous goal leaving the final score as 3-19 to 1-05.

The early promise of the under 14A1 team faltered a little as they endured their second consecutive defeat in Loughrea. They were undone by the concession of some early goals and although they did make a recovery they were unable to claw back the deficit. They now advance to the Shield competion.

Following the postponement of last weeks game, our U16B1 team travel away to Ahascragh on Thursday evening to play Ahascragh/Fohenagh (7pm). With three fairly comprehensive wins from three games already, it is hoped that the loss of the fixture has not interrupted the momentum. Little can be judged from previous fixtures as neither team has yet played the same team, however form would suggest the this could be the toughest assignment yet for Mágh Cuilinn.

Also on a busy May Bank Holiday there was an under 11 Festival of Hurling in Pearse Stadium which featured two teams from the club. Both teams performed well in all their games.