Naomh Eoin Hurling Club notes

Back 25/07/2016 @ 09:31 | clubnotes | Naomh Eoin Hurling Club notes

Tough luck for our U-12 hurling team who were narrowly edged out by Benbulben Gaels in the U-12 A1 Final in Markievicz Park last Tuesday evening. The team had an unbeaten run through the group stages to qualify for the final but were unlucky to lose out in an exciting and entertaining final by 12 scores to 11. Midfielder Robert O'Kelly-Lynch was highly impressive throughout amassing a total of ten super scores from frees and open play, and was supported ably by the likes of keeper Shea O'Neill, Adam Connolly and Brendan Munnelly in defence, midfield partner Ben O'Brien, who also struck over a fine point, and forwards Oilean Mulligan and Treasa O'Kelly-Lynch. Both teams were rarely separated by more than one point and at the end of the 2nd quarter we were 7 to 6 up. However the north Sligo amalgamation had a strong panel, and with some excellent scores from Paul O'Brien and Danny O'Connor they matched the exploits of our team and finished slightly stronger in the closing stages. Many thanks to the players and coach/mentor Bill O'Kelly-Lynch for their hard work and efforts throughout the campaign.

The U-12 panel for the final was Shea O'Neill, Ross Clifford, Brendan Munnelly, James Hargadon, Dara Mostyn, Adam Connolly, John Corcoran, Ben O'Brien, Robert O'Kelly-Lynch, Oilean Mulligan, Conor Mostyn, James Golden, Conor Golden, Treasa O'Kelly-Lynch, and Patrick Murray.

Our minor hurlers suffered a narrow defeat against Tubbercurry in Round 3 of the MHC in Kent Park on Thursday. Tubbercury lead 1-4 to 0-4 at the break, our scores coming from Tony O'Kelly-Lynch (3) and Fergal O'Kelly-Lynch (1). In the second half, points by Niall Feehily and Tony O'Kelly-Lynch either side of a Tubbercurry goal kept us in the running. However Tubbercurry scored a further 1-2 to establish a nine point lead with 10 minutes remaining.  A point and a goal direct from a 30m free by Tony O'Kelly-Lynch reduced the deficit to five points. Inspired by Tom Gavin, Niall Campbell, Michael Kilcoyne and Niall Feehily, we kept the pressure on Tubbercurry and a second goal via Fergal O'Kelly-Lynch further reduced the margin to just two points. With the last puck of the game, Tony O'Kelly-Lynch was unfortunate to see his pile driver from a 20m free pass over the cross-bar. Final score Naomh Eoin 2-8, Tubbercurry 3-6. 

Our u10s travelled to Easkey  for a blitz on Wednesday and enjoyed a win against the home team and a draw against Coolera/Strandhill. Dara Mostyn and Thomas Hargadon were both magnificent over the course of the two games. There were good performances also from Harry Cawley, Patrick Brady, Conor Golden and Ewan Boland. Goalkeeper Conor Murray was also impressive.  

Our senior team performed admirably away to Tourlestrane in our second group senior hurling championship game last Sunday evening, but despite dominating play, working hard as a team and defending solidly for long periods we were outscored by the home team 1-16 to 0-14. Following our impressive first championship group game, which resulted in a 4-12 to 1-13 win over Western Gaels, confidence was high but the first half was a close affair with Tourlestrane having the advantage at half-time 0-9 to 0-7. In the second half some good goal and point chances went begging and Tourlestrane finished strongly adding a goal from the impressive Eoin McDonagh. However our centre field partnership of Tony O'Kelly-Lynch and Paul Kilcoyne were excellent throughout and contributed all of our scores, with the younger of the two O'Kelly-Lynch brothers hitting over 10 points from both frees and play. Apart from our talented midfield duo, best for Naomh Eoin were keeper Tom O'Callaghan, backs David Hickey, Ger Leamy, Cathal Jordan, Sean Heaney, and Matt Davey, and forwards Stephen and Liam Henry, Gerard O'Kelly-Lynch, and Geoff Corcoran. Next up is a home game v Coolera/Strandhill on the weekend of 20/21 August. Senior training resumes on Wednesday at 8pm in Kevinsfort with the lads aiming to prepare well for this key game that could confirm a semi-final spot with a win against our local rivals.