ADARE GAA CLUB NOTES
The Friday 6th of August Lotto draw numbers were: 16, 17, 18, 27. There was no winner which raises the Jackpot to €8,500. Remember you can now complete our weekly lotto online, Google ’Adare GAA Smart lotto’. The next draw takes place Friday 13th August at 9:30pm. Thank you for your con-tinued support and we wish you the very best of luck.
Congratulations to our Senior hurlers and management with their win over Ballybrown in the Senior County League Final last week in Askeaton on a scoreline of 2-20 to 2-10.
Both teams were delighted when referee, Timmy McGrath made the great call of delaying the match by fifteen minutes due to the torrential downpour of rain as they stood in under the Askeaton stand. The Adare team lined out with Bryan Curtin in goals, Sean O’Donoghue, John McSweeney, Frank Costello, Eoin Ryan, John Fitzgibbon, Eoin Ryan, Wayne McNamara, Joe Sweeney, Charlie McCarthy, James Gahan, Michael Keane, Brendan O’Connor, Willie Griffin and Mark Connolly. Adare were play-ing towards the town end in the first half, both teams exchanged some wides before Ballybrown got the first score on the board from play. Willie Griffin then begun his tally with a score from play fol-lowed by converting a free just outside the 21 after Brendan O’Connor’s hurley was held by the cor-ner back. Eoin Ryan won the puck out at half back, played a ball to Mike Keane in midfield and Griffin converted again when Keane was fouled running through. Griffin got his third and fourth score from frees shortly after when corner forward Mark Connolly got held around the neck twice just before the water break. Score now, 5 points to 1.
Shortly after the restart, a high ball was won on the edge of the square by O’Connor who found the onion bag. Ballybrown replied with a score 45 yards out from play and done so again moments later after O’Connor had a super score out on the far wing, David O’Mahony and Joe Sweeney taking big hits to get the ball out of defence for O’Connors score. John Fitz put over a free from Adare’s half to make it 1-7 to 3 points but not long after Ballybrown were awarded a penalty and put 4 between the teams. Joe Sweeney’s score from a support run down the centre, replied to a Ballybrown point not long after their goal. Willie Griffin widened the gap with two scores from play after getting on the end of hard fought battles in the middle third by both teams. Adare 1-10 by halftime to Ballybrown’s 1-4.
The rain had well and truly stopped by the start of the second half, Adare now defending the town end goal. Griffin opened up the scoreboard in the second half getting onto a break by Wayne Mc in-side the 21, after a high ball was sent from a John Fitz free. Joe Sweeney and Michael Keane showed great determination and strength around the middle third but unfortunately no tick on the score-board. A Ballybrown man was taken down from an attack down the middle, 40 yards out. Timmy McGrath pulled out a yellow for John Fitz and the free was converted. Willie converted a free soon after for Adare 30 out, Ballybrown made use of a similar opportunity moments later to make it 1-12 to 1-6. A nice brand of hurling was played by Adare over the next 10 minutes with great scores com-ing from play, 1-5 for Adare. James Gahan slipped through with a score from the centre, 50 out and Joe Sweeney from a similar distance out on the far wing, both off the left. Mark Connolly finally got his goal, beating his man out to the ball again but this time turning and being just beyond arms reach of getting held around the neck. Powering his legs he was one on one with the keeper who had no chance. The teams were now 10 points apart and the second water break was nearing but half-for-wards Mike Keane and Charlie McCarthy opened the gap to 12 after they both scored from play out on the far wing.
Ballybrown found another gear soon after the restart but never looked threatening. Wayne Mc re-ceived a yellow in midfield, Ballybrown converted the free and Mc was substituted for young Liam Dunne. Dunne’s first support run through centre forward got him on the end of a ball and he’s first touch got another point for Adare. Ballybrown landed a high ball into the square and as the group began to move away from the Adare goal the Adare net shook from a low ball along the ground. They rose the white flag soon after but this was to be their last score of the day. Mike Keane for Adare got his final score before being substituted for Jack English at half forward. Dave O’Mahony and Willie Griffin battled it out again in the middle third receiving a free which Griffin struck over. Brendan O’Connor got the last point and score of the day from a lovely ball worked through the Adare backs and delivered into the full forward line. At this stage there were 7 minutes left including injury. Adare made three substitutions with Mark Connolly being replaced by his understudy Rory O’Connor at corner forward, Cian Sparling in for Charlie McCarthy at half-forward and Sean O’Ma-hony replacing Eoin Ryan at midfield. Ballybrown attacked twice more in this period of time, both high balls dropped into the square but no joy on either occasion making Adare, County League Champions on a scoreline of 2-20 to 1-10.
Finally, huge congrats also to the Limerick team on their win in the semi-final over Waterford and we wish them and especially Declan, Ronan & Timmy the very best in their preparation for the All-Ire-land Hurling Final, from all of us at Adare GAA.