AHANE GAA CLUB NOTES

U8 Hurlers in County Board Blitz.

Our U8 Hurlers took to the field for the County Board Blitz on Friday night last and turned in some positive performances in the games. We had 3 teams taking part who competed very well in all their games, and the quality of hurling and results are very encouraging for an enjoyable summer of hurling ahead for all mentors, parents and all those who support the team. The players have made solid improvements in the hurling training for the last month and this showed on the field of play and more importantly in the faces of the players on Friday night. The teams played 3 games each against teams from Na Piarsaigh, Patrickswell, Monaleen, Adare, Ballybrown & Kildimo/Pallaskenry. Sincere thanks to the parents for bringing all the children to the games and to training each week and the players will have a bright future ahead for Ahane. Training continues Monday evening at 6:30pm in Mackey Park. New players are always welcome. U8 Mentors.

Bord na nÓg Games for this week

Wed 08th May : U14 Football v Kilpeacon – away to Kilpeacon (Ballybricken GAA pitch) – 1900 start

Thur 09th May : U12 Hurling : Ahane Green team v St. Patricks – in Mackey Park – 1845 start

Thur 09th May : U12 Hurling : Ahane Gold team v Claughan – away to Claughan – 1845 start.

All support for the players at the games is greatly appreciated

U16 A Ladies Football

Ahane 3-09 St. Brigids 2-07

Massive congratulations to the Ahane ladies who were last night crowned U16A Shield League County Champions.

Limerick U16 football league finals were held in LIT with Ahane and St. Brigids contesting the U16A shield final. It was a game that ebbed and flowed with both teams playing excellent football and giving total commitment throughout the game.

Ahane were captained to success by Fiona Herbert in front of a large gathering of super Ahane supporters who were treated to an exhibition of football from this fantastic group of players.

Well done to Breda, Maeve & Gearóid for guiding the girls to success with victories over Oola, St. Albies, Monaleen and Knockainey along the way.

Comhgairdeas to Fiona and her teammates as follows:

Kate Clohessy, Aoife Whelan, Lauren Magill, Aine Conway, Sarah Hogan, Aine Herbert, Ellen Tobin, Elé Madigan, Ella Ryan, Fiona Herbert, Rachael Donnellan, Molly Hussey, Emma Thomas, Ciara Keaveney, Sarah Cosgrove, Aobhin Hayes, Kate Foley, Roisin Flaherty, Niamh Brennan, Emma Cross, Abbi Reddan, Ciara Slattery Wright, Abby Murrihy.

Let’s hope winning ways continue for this group of players who are out again on Thursday next 9th May against Na Piarsaigh in Old Christians Rathbane in the U16B Camogie Cup final at 7pm. Best of luck girls.

Ahane senior camogie

Ahane took to the field in Croagh to play Newcastle West in the Senior League Semi Final on Sunday May 5th. With the conditions warm and both teams being very familiar with each other it had all the signs of being a great game and it ended up living up to these expectations. Both teams fought hard throughout both halves but Newcastle West came out on top on the scoreline of Ahane 1-11 Newcastle West 1-14.

Newcastle West were the first off the mark in the first half and they got their scoring off to a start in the first minute. Niamh Mulcahy got Ahane off the mark with a point from a free in the third minute. The Ahane defense were impressive and held the Newcastle West forwards back. Both teams fought hard in the middle of the field and there was hooks and blocks coming from both sides, along with some great passes into both forward lines. Newcastle West were dominant in the first fifteen minutes of the half and got four unanswered points. Newcastle West got a penalty in the tenth minute but Aoife Quinn stepped up once again in the Ahane goal and saved the ball and then cleared it out of her defense. From this Ahane got a boost and Niamh Mulcahy scored three points in quick succession. Newcastle West fired over three more points as the half was coming to the end which meant the teams went in at half time on a scoreline of Ahane 0-06 to Newcastle West 0-08.

The second half started and again Newcastle West started the quicker of the two teams and they slotted over a point in the first thirty seconds of the half, but from the puck out Judith Mulcahy won the ball and she slotted over her first point of the game. Niamh Mulcahy went on and added two more points which brought the game level and got the Ahane crowd excited. Twelve minutes into the half the Newcastle West wing forward penetrated the Ahane defense line and scored a rasper of a shot which hit the back of the Ahane net. Newcastle West added three points after the goal but Ahane never panicked and in the nineteenth minute of the half Niamh Mulcahy scored a great goal meaning the scoreline ten minutes from the end was Ahane 1-10 Newcastle West 1-13. Both teams scored one more point each and the game ended on a scoreline of Ahane 1-11 Newcastle West 1-14. Newcastle West now go forward to play the League Final next Sunday 12th May and all in Ahane camogie wish them the best of luck!

Big thank you to all the Ahane supporters who have supported the team throughout the league it is much appreciated! We are all very proud of the girls here in Ahane Camogie and we are looking forward to the Championship!

Ahane Team: Aoife Quinn; Caoimhe Hackett, Sarah Crotty, Niamh Power; Kate Herbert, Noreen Flanagan, Marguerita McCarthy; Roisin O’Mara, Judith Mulcahy; Niamh Mulcahy, Susie McGovern, Ailish Reynolds; Shauna D’Arcy, Margaret Meskell, Cliodhna Twomey.

Substitutes: Caoimhe Macken (On for Ailish Reynolds 21 minutes), Ciara Macken (On for Cliodhna Twomey 25 minutes), Aine O’Curry, Ciara Greaney.

Ahane minors draw with Kilpeacon

Ahane played out a massively high scoring draw against a combined team under the banner of Kilpeacon Gaels on Friday evening last in Caherelly.

While Ahane played some lovely hurling in the first half, scoring 1-12, they still managed to go in behind at the break as they conceded a 4-4 themselves! Having come flying out of the blocks after half time, Ahane soon found themselves 3 points to the good. It looked like they had weathered the storm, steadied the ship and were going cruise to victory – but Kilpeacon had other ideas. Both sides traded a succession of fine scores for the half as we entered the final few minutes with Ahane 2 points to the good, 2-22 to 4-14. Then, through a 21m free, Kilpeacon goaled and looked set for victory. Then it looked like Kilpeacon had put the final nail the Ahane coffin as they knocked over another point before Ahane showed immense resolve to dig deep and reply with two quick points of their own to steal a draw in what was a frantic finish to the game.

Those in attendance were certainly witness to a fine entertaining game of hurling comprising fine individual performances on both sides, excellent passages of creative play and a flurry of scores totalling 7 goals and 39 points between the sides. Well done to all involved.

Final score: Ahane 2:24 Kilpeacon 5-15

PHOTOGRAPH Ahane Under 8 Hurlers in County Board Blitz.

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