MUNGRET ST PAUL’S GAA CLUB NOTES

NEW GAA GUIDELINES

The relevant updated Government advice on Sport, issued on Tuesday August 18th 2020, is as follows:

Games behind closed doors As games must now be played “behind closed doors”, this means only essential personnel should be in attendance. No more than 40 persons per team should be allowed access to games for the moment. This figure should include all players, management, coaches, ancillary backroom personnel and officials.

Underage games Consistent with our advice of Wednesday, August 19th, the Government have now confirmed Parents/Guardians attending training or games in a safeguarding /supervisory capacity are not classified as spectators; however strict social distancing and public health guidelines should be adhered to at all times. In that context, one parent/guardian per child is permitted to attend at a sporting event, including a game or training session, should they consider it necessary.

Meetings Indoor club or committee meetings should be avoided where possible but when they must take place, should involve no more than 6 people and should adhere to the guidelines outlined previously by the GAA’s Health and Safety Committee, including the need for 2m social distancing

Travel to training / matches with members of own household only.

Continue to submit Health Questionnaires ahead of training and games

Do not attend training or games if feeling unwell

Continue to record attendances at training to facilitate contact tracing

Members who arrive back in Ireland from a country not on the government’s green travel list should follow Government advice in this context (i.e. restrict their movements for 14 days) and are not permitted to present for Gaelic games activities until the 14 days has elapsed.

U-16 HURLING

We had both our teams out on Monday 17 August 2020. Our Division 1 team traveled to Doon where they came up against a slightly stronger side with Doon seeing them off with a 2 goal win. Mungret St. Pauls had a good start going in at half time with a one point lead but it was Doon that broke through a tight Mungret St. Pauls defence to win.

Mungret St. Pauls 0-16 Doon 2-16

Our U-16 Division 3 team traveled to the Bog garden to play Croagh, Kilfinny, Rathkeale. This is Mungret St. Pauls second team in this age group so know they would be up against bigger opposition, not letting this bother them they pulled together and worked at their score while holding back Croagh, Kilfinny, Rathkeale from scoring more.

Mungret St. Pauls 1-4 Croagh, Kilfinny, Rathkeale 4-14

JUNIOR B HURLING

Mungret St. Pauls 1-10 Ballybrown 1-10

With the sun shining and the housekeeping done to the goal, Mungret was ready to witness the battle of the neighbours as our Junior B Hurlers set themselves up to play against local rivals Ballybrown in what was more a game of guts and determination rather than a showcase of skill on Tuesday 18 August 2020.

Having not seen a pitch or even a hurley for a while some of our brave players lined out and gave a brilliant first half as we settled in well into the match we were 4 points up on Ballybrowns 3 by the first quarter. A powerful strike from a 20 yard line saw the sliotar being tipped into the back of the Ballybrown net. There was great shouts of celebration from the Mungret St. Pauls players and supporters but this may have left their guard down as Ballybrown quickly sent the ball to the other end of the pitch and after a tussle in the square the ball went over the line to equal our goal. Mungret St. Pauls went on to score another two points to Ballybrowns three making the half time score Mungret St. Pauls 1-9 Ballybrown 1-6.

The second half was more Ballybrowns game as it ended up coming down to endurance. Ballybrown had leveled the score by the second water break making Mungret St. Pauls dig deep to bring themselves to holding Ballybrown back from trying to hit the net a second time and getting the ball into the forwards to do some damage. There was only one more point for each side before the final whistle to bring the drama to a stop with both teams on the same score.

The Junior B Hurlers still have Claughaun to play next Tuesday which should bring the same amount of entertainment as this game unfortunately it will be behind closed doors.

Team; Darragh O’Grady, Donal Browne, Johnny Kenny, Brian Mullane, Padraig McGuinness, Killian Stockill (0-4, 0-4 from frees), Patrick Dwane, Mikey Drane, Mark Patterson, Mark Boyle, Aaron Hickey (1-2), Tim Lehane (0-3), Mikey Barrons, Denis O’Connor (0-1), Thiago Silva, John Roche, David Keogh, Joe Browne.

Management; Niall Long, Donie Browne, John McKeogh, John Moriarty.

MINOR CAMOGIE

Mungret St. Pauls 2-8 Blackrock Effin 9-8

This was the Plate Final on Wednesday 19 August 2020 with Mungret St. Pauls lucky to host it against a very strong Blackrock Effin team who became deserving winners in the end.

Mungret St. Pauls started out strong keeping the ball with their forwards and midfield they had 4 points up before Blackrock Effin emerged and started to dominate. Blackrock Effin began with a goal but did not leave it at that, they put a lot of pressure on our players as they continued to hail the sliotar at the goal posts going 3-5 up before Mungret St. Pauls clocked up another two points. Going into half time Blackrock Effin added another 2-1 to their tally.

Mungret St. Pauls reset the pitch and prepared for another battle, both sides hit the net within minutes of each other and also scored a point each. A point for Mungret St. Pauls was replied with the Blackrock Effin team having to work harder to get their scores but they managed another 3 goals and a point. Mungret St. Pauls kept on trying to get their scores but the Blackrock Effin backs seemed to know what our players were doing and kept blocking them down. Not giving up, one of the many runs up the pitch and pasted some of the Blackrock Effin players the ball was seen flying through the air and past the goalie, this unfortunately was the last score of the game as Blackrock Effin were presented with the plaque.

Well done to our players who never gave up and worked very hard.

Team; Amy O’Halloran, Jenny Lynch, Sophie O’Brien, Molly MacMahon, Fiona Meehan, Eimear O’Keeffe, Aisling McGuinness, Ailbhe Larkin (0-2, 0-2 from frees), Fiona O’Brien, Aoife Morrissey (2-4), Tara Neilan, Bronagh Byrne, Aine Joyce, Jenny Ryan (0-1), Amy Connolly, Alannah McDonagh, Caoimhe Holmes, Ciara Brennan, Ciara Flahive Ella Mason, Ellie Mulqueen, Emma Fitzgerald, Niamh Browne, Zoe Page.

Management Mike Lynch, Sinead Hickey, John MacMahon, Dermot Morrissey, Brian O’Halloran

U-14 HURLING

Mungret St. Pauls 2-8 Monaleen 5-9

With Storm Ellen threatening this game was moved to an earlier slot and to the Mungret Village pitch on Wednesday 19 August 2020. This team always put in 110% into their games and in both their matches this year have put up a generous score to their name. Mungret St. Pauls managed to keep Monaleen from taking over the game. While Mungret St. Pauls did not win this game they gave a fantastic account of themselves. They have one more game to play in the group against Muroe Boher in September.

PREMIER MINOR HURLING

Mungret St. Pauls 1-16 Ballybrown 2-19

When the groups were drawn this was the match that was highlighted as the one to watch as the 2 neighbours went shoulder to shoulder. Mungret St. Pauls got home advantage on Friday 21 August 2020 and with the sun shining the stage was set.

Mungret St. Pauls started out with a strong first half performance, the first 3 minutes saw Mungret St. Pauls score 3 points. It took another 3 minutes before Ballybrown opened their score with 2 points from frees. At the first water break Mungret St. Pauls had added to their lead with another 3 points to Ballybrowns two. Straight back to the game and Mungret St. Pauls expanded by another 2 points. Ballybrown were never going to sit back and they finished out the half stronger with five unanswered points and taking the lead. Mungret St. Pauls 0-8 Ballybrown 0-9.

Mungret St. Pauls regained the lead in the opening minutes of the second half but not for long as Ballybrown struck back with a goal and 3 points, it was this score that Mungret St. Pauls chased for the rest of the game and were unsuccessful in their attempt to over power Ballybrown enough to to regain the lead. Mungret St. Pauls kept the pressure on the Ballybrown defense with many attempts just barely staying out of the goal. Mungret St. Pauls took what score they could from frees while the Ballybrown midfield were placing scores on the run. There were a few more exchanges of scores on both sides and with time running out there was a bit of urgency in the Mungret St. Pauls players seeking a goal to help the score along they eventually managed to squeeze the ball past the goalie. It was Ballybrown that was last to score and take the game.

This result left Mungret St. Pauls in second place in the group and in a quarter final while Ballybrown go straight into the Semi Final stage.

Team; Rian Murphy, Ciaran Kenny, Odhran O’Dwyer, David Hassett, Billy Molyneaux, Dermot Moloney, Eamonn Flahive, Barry Duff (0-1), Brian O’Meara (0-3), Conor Galvin (1-0), Conor O’Malley, Killian Archer (0-1) Conor O’Halloran (0-1), Darragh O’Hagan (0-2), Liam Lynch (0-8, 0-7 from Frees), Jack McCarthy, Cillian O’Gorman, Conor White, Darragh Bridgeman, Mark Moroney, Tom Morrison, Colin Rochford, Darragh O’Connor, Harry Page.

Management; Justin O’Meara, Brian Lynch, Colin Kenny, Brian O’Halloran, Cian O’Brien, Dec Browne

PHOTOGRAPH : Mungret St. Paul’s Junior ‘B’ Hurling team