AHANE GAA CLUB NOTES

Senior Hurling Club Championship

Well done to the senior hurlers who beat Murroe/Boher by 2-17 to 1-19 in Caherconlish on Sunday last to make the quarter finals for this year’s championship. They also have the added bonus of topping Group B meaning they gain promotion to Group A for next year’s championship.

Ahane knew a win would ensure they made the quarter finals at a minimum and they indeed started the game with great intent, rattling off four quick points through Tom Morrissey, Ronan Fox and Niall Moran (2). While the hurling was sharp and scores flowing during that early period, we unfortunately lost wing back Jeff Enright to injury after 15 mins and one of last year’s minors Conor Heffernan replaced him. Murroe reeled off a few good scores of their own before Ronan Fox was pulled down close to goal under a high ball winning a penalty for Ahane. Unfortunately Tom’s well struck penalty was equally well saved by the Murroe keeper, but Ahane still reacted on the rebound and Tom slotted over for a valuable point.

While Ahane’s defence and midfield were hurling well, the star man during the first half was centre forward Niall Moran who struck 5 superb points from a range of angles, causing havoc for his marker Seamus Hickey.

While we were now a point to the good, Dan Morrissey ghosted in down the left side of the attack to finish low to the corner of the net. When we followed up with another score on the puck-out right on the half time whistle, Ahane were leading comfortably by 1-12 to 0-10.

After scoring two early points in the second half, the game looked like only going one way until a Murroe goal brought the scored back to 1-16 to 1-12 ten minutes in. From here on, the Ahane scores dried up a little and Murroe continued in the ascendancy for much of the remainder of the game. On 24 minutes, the scores were level at 1-16 each and indeed Murroe took a two point lead with four minutes to go. Ahane’s only points in that second half came from three Tom Morrissey frees and two more from Niall Moran, taking him to a personal tally of 0-7 points on the day. With Ahane a point behind as we reached injury time, just as he had done two weeks previous against Knockainey, Dan proved to be the man again as he goaled to sneak Ahane into the lead at the death, 2-17 to 1-18. Again, the skilful finish from Morrissey belied thoughts of him as a defender, as he weaved around the last line of Murroe defence on the end-line to “bat” the ball the net from the tightest of angles to delight of the large Ahane following. Despite Murroe adding one final score to proceedings, the lads held out and secured the win and quarter final progress and due to Monaleen getting a trimming by Ballybrown in the other group game, promotion was also secured.

Well done to all involved. They now play the quarter final – opponent and date to be confirmed.

Team: A. O’Brien, M. Foley, E. Enright, P. Morrissey, J. Enright, C. Barry, M. O’Halloran, P. O’Halloran, P. Harnett, T. Morrissey, N. Moran, D. Morrissey, R. Fox, W. Brennan, C. O’Mara

Subs: A. Shanahan, D. Laing, A. Rowesome, C. Heffernan, D. Minihan, C. Carroll, C. Morrissey, T. Doheny, P. O’Grady, D. Madden, R. Reale, G. Harnett, P. Minihan, M. Power, K. Enright

Ahane Minor Hurlers

Ahane Minor hurlers played Mungret in their penultimate championship round on Tuesday evening last and knew that only a win would suffice to keep them in the hunt for a semi final spot.

Scores were hard to come by in the first half as conditions were damp but it was the Ahane lads that opened the scoring and kept in front for the opening half restricting Mungret to just 3 points with tenacious defending. Ahane would score 6 points in that opening half to go in 3 points up at the break.

On the resumption, Ahane started quickly again firing over the opening score after just 60 seconds. But from here, the home side took over for the next 15 mins scoring 6 unanswered points to lead by 2. Credit the Ahane boys who fought tooth and nail to claw back the lead and themselves score the next 4 points in succession to go from 2 down to 2 up. The final 10 minutes saw both sides trade frees and when the final whistle blew, the Ahane lads emerged victorious on a score line of Ahane 0-15 Mungret 0-12.

The lads play Ballybrown in the final group game on Wednesday Sept 4th in Clarina at 6.30pm so get out and support them as a win would see them qualify for a county semi-final.

Ahane panel was:

William O Leary, Shane O Grady, Andy Rowsome, Evan O Leary, Jack Barry, Peter O Grady, Mark Donnellan, Kevin Morrissey, Adam Murrihy, Cian Casey, Ronan Fox, Peter Donohoe, Andrew Shanahan, Mark Hickey, Ron Magill, Denis Hayes, David Brennan, Aiden Carroll, Glen Jones, Conor O Brien, Liam O Mara, Eddie Hartigan, Gavin Cole, Alex Holmes, Gavin Rowsome, Craig O Connell, Ciaran Coulter, Colm Slattery.

Arrabawn Shield Hurling Tournament Winners

Well done and congratulations to the Limerick U15 team who won the Arrabawn shield tournament, beating Wexford 4-14 to 3-12 in the final. Representing Ahane on the U15 Limerick “A” team was Gavin Rowesome. In their first game they overcame Offaly followed by the final against Wexford. Ahane Bord na nÓg extends its congratulations to Gavin, his team mates and all the U15 A management team.

Tony Forristal Inter-County Hurling Tournament

Well done from Ahane Bord na nÓg to our dual U14 county player Jack Butler as he lined out for club and county on Saturday last in the “A” panel for Tony Forristal Inter-County Hurling Tournament. This year’s Tony Forristal and Sonny Walsh U14 hurling tournaments were held in Mount Sion Waterford on Saturday, August 31. In the Tony Forristal competition Limerick were grouped with hosts Waterford and Offaly. Well done to Jack.

OsKaR’s Fundraiser Coffee Morning

“A Night at the OsKaR’s” Bridesmaids cast are holding a fundraising coffee morning in the Clubhouse on Sat 14th Sept.

Everyone is welcome to attend for a great morning of fun.

Jiving Classes in the clubhouse

Learn to Jive in step-by-step jiving lessons each and every Monday night in the clubhouse from 8-9pm with John O Halloran.

€10 per person and a great way to have fun and keep fit!