Our senior team take pride of place this week with a first ever championship win over defending champions Calry St Joseph's in the deferred semi-final of the senior hurling championship last Wednesday evening in Scarden. 

The semi-final had been postponed from last Sunday week as a mark of respect to Joe Davey, father of senior player Evan and underage players Keelan and Josh, who passed away suddenly last Saturday week. Our condolences and sympathies are extended from the club to the Davey family and all Joe's friends and colleagues. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

In the semi-final our youthful senior team worked tirelessly, limiting the Calry St Joseph's scoring and, in a tough contest, managed to hold on to a lead establised early in the second half to finish winners, to the delight of the team, management and supporters, on a scoreline of 2-9 to 1-10. Paul Kilcoyne and sub Roan Conneely were the goalscorers, and Gerard O'Kelly-Lynch top-scored with 9 points.

The club learned for the first time through the Sligo GAA website that the final v Coolera/Strandhill was fixed for Saturday at 4pm in Scarden.

This was despite the fact that Gerard O'Kelly-Lynch had been selected to represent his club, county and country in the Shinty/Hurling International v Scotland in Inverness that same day. Following discussion with the county board CCC the final was refixed for Sunday at 3pm.

Congratulations to Gerard O'Kelly-Lynch for the honour, which was earned through a series of trials, of playing in the annual Scotalnd v Ireland international which he attended and thanks to BBC Scotland he was able to travel straight after the game to Glasgow to fly back to Ireland for the SHC final on Sunday. This supreme effort by Gerard was testiment to his supreme dedication and loyalty to the club and his teammates.

The final was staged in breezy but dry conditions in Scarden last Sunday and we got over to a flying start, despite being depleted with the loss of Kevan Brennan and Colm Dolan in the forwards, leading 1-6 to 0-2 after 10 minutes with the breeze on our backs and some excellent scores from play by Paul Kilcoyne, Tony O'Kelly-Lynch, Donal Fidgeon (goal) and talisman Gerard O'Kelly-Lynch who attacked relentlessly. Unfortunately we didn't score again until the 22nd minute as a succession of wides and mistakes brought Coolera/Strandhill, who were building in confidences, back into the contest. At half-time we lead 2-9 to 1-11 thanks some superb scores from Gerrd and Tony O'Kelly-lYnch and a long-range goal from a free from centre-back Niall Feehily.

In the second half the wind picked up further and the Coolera forwards displayed their scoring prowess as we struggled to hold back the tidal surge of attacking play. A further goal and point from Gerard O'Kelly-Lynch from frees was our second half response though this was followed up by a penalty when the scores were 2-20 to 3-10 with 7 points the margin. Unfortunately the Coolera keeper saved brilliantly and the potential comeback was terminated. FT score Coolera/Strandhill 2-25 Naomh Eoin 3-10.

We have to congratulate our senior players and team management for a historic and record-breaking year which has shown great progress for this young and promising team, all of whom who started the final having come through the Naomh Eoin juvenile ranks. We finished with five championship wins ( a record for our club) beating all 6 teams bar desreved champions Coolera/Strandhill, and won a first senior title for many years, the Martin Brennan Cup, against city rivals Calry/St Joseph's. We also knocked the defending champions out of the cup but eventually came up against a more determined and experienced team in the final.

Our championship panel was as follows: 

Michael Healy; Tom O'Callaghan (Capt), Matt Davey, David Hickey; Ryan Feehily, Niall Feehily, Cathal Jordan; Gerard O'Kelly-Lynch, Tony O'Kelly-Lynch; Donal Fidgeon, Paul Kilcoyne, Stephen Henry; Niall Campbell, Liam Henry, Roan Conneely; Colm Dolan, Ger Leamy, Kevan Brennan, Evan Davey, Alan Kelly, Tom Armstrong, Conor McGovern, George Wall, Cian O'Rourke, Sean O'Connor, Kieran Donohue, and Joe Davey. 

Senior Team Management: Manager/coach: Michael Burke. Selectors; Bill O'Kelly-Lynch, Brian McCann, Pat Maguire and John Doyle. Physio: Ray Murtagh.