Naomh Eoin Hurling Club notes

Back 11/06/2018 @ 09:39 | clubnotes | Naomh Eoin Hurling Club notes
We hosted the Group D Division 7 games for the John West National Feile na nGael Hurling competition last weekend in glorious weather and conditions, with Round 1 and 2 games being played at Kent Park on Friday evening involving our guest club for the weekend Cootehill Celtic from Cavan, Castlebar Mitchels, Clara/Brosna Gaels from Offaly and our own U-14 hurlers. It turned out to be a great exhibition of hurling with the Offaly team proving to be a cut above the other three teams, who were all quite evenly matched, which made for some exciting contests.
This was borne out by the results with Cootehill Celtic peforming a fantastic comeback to pip Castlebar Mitchels in the opening game 0-6 to 1-2. In the next game the combined Offaly team of Clara and Brosna Gaels had too much for a gallant Naomh Eoin winning out in a high scoring game. 
This was followed by  the best game of the session with Naomh Eoin leading Castlebar Mitchels before their Mayo counterparts struck over a disputed free on the whistle to finish on a tie 2-3 to 1-6. Robert O'Kelly-Lynch wowed the big crowd with a fabulous solo run and strike which was then finished into the net by Cathal Shovelin with Naomh Eoin leading 2-3 to 1-3 with 10 minutes to go but Castlebar fought back with three points to give both teams a share of the points.
In the final game on Friday evening Clara/Brosna Gaels overcame our guest club Cootehill Celtic 4-5 to 1-3 to top the group and guarantee a place in the Cup quarter-final. 
The second Cup quarter-final spot was taken by Cootehill Celtic who overcome the host club in high scoring Round 3 game on Saturday morning at Kent Park by 6-10 to 3-3.
On Saturday afternoon we travelled up to the Connacht GAA Centre near Ballynhaunis to compete in the Shield quarter-finals and came up against a very accomplished Ennistymon team from Clare who went on to win the Shield final on Sunday. Our guest team Cootehill Celtic were also defeated in the Cup quarter-final by Roscommon Gaels who reached the Division 7 final only to lose to our group winners Clara/Brosna Gaels. So we can say we were put out by the two final winners for our division.
We escorted the Cootehill Celtic team and officials back to Kent Park and entertained the lads and their mentors with a quiz and refreshments.
We would like to thank all of our team mentors, club officials and members, St Mary's GAA club for the use of the clubhouse and for preparing the pitch and grounds so well, and all the referees who volunteered to ensure the weekend was a great success. A special thanks to our host families who provided board for our guest club players from Friday to Sunday. 
A special word goes out to club secretary and U-14 team coach Bill O'Kelly-Lynch and family, including our treasurer Attracta, who worked tirelessly over the past few weeks, and selflessly over the weekend to ensure the event and our visiting and guest clubs were treated to a great Sligo cead míle failte. Go raibh maith agat to St. Mary's club secretary Simon Buckley who provided great support organising the stewarding and helping to prepare the pitch, scoreboard and flags for the event. The pitch was in pristine condition.
Thanks also to everyone who donated and served sandwiches and refeshments for the hungry hurlers and supporters. We were very impressed with the behaviour and sportmanship of the visiting clubs players, mentors and supporters, and particularly Cootehill Celtic who we hosted for the weekend.

Naomh Eoin Feile panel: Shea O'Neill, Stefan Roche, James Hargadon, John Mackey, Corey O'Dowd, Oiléan Mulligan, Brendan Munnelly, Rory Kinane, John Corcoran, Dara Mostyn, Robert O'Kelly-Lynch, Conor Mostyn, Ronan Niland, Cathal Shovelin, Harry Cawley, Thomas Hargadon, Aodhán Shovelin, and Matthew Mullholand. Team Mentor: Bill O'Kelly-Lynch.