MUNGRET ST PAUL’S
SENIOR HURLING
Mungret St. Pauls 1-16 Kildimo Pallaskenry 1-13
Limerick Motor Centre sponsored Mungret St Pauls Senior Hurling team made a triumphant return to senior championship hurling after a break of some 35 years. A strong local rivalry built up with Kildimo-Pallaskenry during the years in the Premier Intermediate grade. It was fitting that they would be the first opponents on Friday evening, 29 July 2022 at Clarina before a large attendance. The win tees up another local derby with Ballybrown this weekend in the second round. The remaining games will be against Blackrock, Garryspillane and South Liberties in September. The top two in the group go to the county senior quarter finals.
This was a tight contest in the first quarter as every ball was contested furiously and space was at a premium. The sides were level when Kildimo-Pallaskenry hit a number of points to lead by 7 to 4. A goal from Kyle Hayes followed quickly by a point saw the gap extend to 7 points, 1-8 to 0-4. Paul O’Brien had hit the opening four points and he now converted two more frees which were crucial in turning the momentum in our favour, to leave a gap of five points at the break.
It was tit-for-tat early in the second half until two defenders failed to deal with a ball out on the sideline. Paul O’Brien nipped in and took it all the way to the square where he buried the sliotar in the net. The game was now on in earnest and the Mungret St Pauls defence responded by taking control and shutting out their experienced opponents for the last quarter. A pair of points leveled the score at 1-10 apiece. A penalty awarded for a foul on Niall Mulcahy was well saved by the Kildimo-Pallaskenry keeper but our forwards scored an important point from the resulting play to deny them any benefit.
The surge continued as three more points for Mungret St Pauls built a lead of 1-13 to 1-11. A quick pair of scores levelled matter but a plentiful supply of ball to the forwards for the final 10 minutes led to the necessary scores being picked off for the win. The final margin of three points matched the total contributed late on by substitutes Conor O’Halloran and Cian O’Brien. All five substitutes used made a good impression and helped in no small way to win the game as management got the calls spot on.
For the record, the first club team to line out in senior championship hurling after too long a break was: Conor O’Brien, Liam Harrington, Ronan Kirby, Billy Molyneaux, Matt O’Sullivan, Pa Begley, Eoin O’Doherty, Barry Duff, Brian Barry, Conor Linehan, Brian O’Meara, Shane Barry, Paul O’Brien, Niall Mulcahy, Brendan Giltenane. Subs used: Jack McCarthy, Conor O’Halloran, Cillian Archer, Mike Mullins & Cian O’Brien.
Scores: Paul O’Brien 1-10 (0-8 frees), Conor O’Halloran 0-2, Brian Barry 0-1, Niall Mulcahy 0-1, Cian O’Brien 0-1, Brian O’Meara 0-1.
JUNIOR A HURLING
Mungret St. Pauls 1-8 Feenagh Kilmeedy 3-13
Our junior hurlers went to Rathkeale to face Feenagh-Kilmeedy on Saturday evening, 30 July 2022. Weather conditions were awful at Mick Neville Park for this first round of the County Junior Hurling Championship. Well done to all who braved the elements to attend the game.
Two goals for the opposition inside the first five minutes gave them a dream start. The teams traded points after that but another goal shortly before half-time saw the deficit at 10 points, as the score was 3-6 to 0-5 at the break.
Mungret-St Pauls restructured the lineout at the break. Feenagh-Kilmeedy did not get goalscoring opportunities in the second half as they took their points. The team in red had plenty of possession in this period. However, some bad point shooting and the need to chase goals saw them fail to achieve the expected score.
Ballybrown will provide the opposition for the second round on Sunday evening. The remaining rounds will be against Doon, Askeaton and St Kierans.
The final score was: Feenagh-Kilmeedy 3-13 Mungret 1-8
The team was: Rian Murphy, Sean Mullane, Stephen Dilworth, Darragh O’Connor, David Guilfoyle, Odhran O’Dwyer, Eamon Flahive, Eoghan Mulcahy, Mark Moroney, JJ Harrington, Richie Burke, Darragh O’Hagan, David Geary, Conor Garvey, Declan Browne. Subs: Aaron Hickey, Chams Jagana, Jason Hassett, Dermot Maloney
U-15 HURLING
Mungret St. Pauls 1-13 Killeedy Tournafulla Monagea 1-13
On Monday 1 August 2022 our U-15 division 1 hurlers lined out for the last of their group matches in Mungret St. Pauls Village pitch when they played Killeedy Tournafulla Monagea. This was a tightly contested match with both sides looking for the win. There was a great score built up from both sides with a lot of action seen in front of the goals. The game finished level, this left Mungret St. Pauls on 7 points and second place on the table with the other teams still with one more game to play. Mungret St. Pauls await the result of the top team Ahane playing third place Na Piarsaigh to see where they finish in the group.
LADIES FOOTBALL
Well done to our Club on achieving the One Good Club award at the weekend. The programme was spearheaded by Caitríona Rice. This was a five step mental health awareness programme aimed at building and encouraging positive mental health in the community. It was developed in partnership with the LGFA, Jigsaw and Lidl. The five steps were Connect, BeActive, TakeNotice, Give, KeepLearning. You may have noticed the several activities that the Ladies Football section organised over the last number of weeks, including a Tresure Hunt, Reeling in the Years, Guest Speakers, Giving Recognition, Wellness Walk etc.. Many, many thanks to those who contributed and supported this programme in any way. Caitríona represented the Club in Croke Park last Sunday to receive the Award, at the Ladies Football All Ireland Finals.
Well done to Cath Murphy who acted as Forth Official at the All Ireland Senior Ladies Football Final between Meath and Kerry.
U-17 HURLING
Mungret St Paul’s 1-19 Doon 4-7
On Wednesday 3 August there was a nice crowd in attendance in Doon as the U-17 Division 1 Hurling third round of games took place. This was a tight game for the most part but it was Mungret St. Pauls that held the lead for the majority of the match.
Doon got lucky in the first half with a goal after a fumble on the goal line but Mungret St. Pauls were on target for most of their shots which gave them a six point lead at half time 0-11 to 1-5.
The second half, Doon pulled out all the stops and hammered in goals to bring them level with Mungret St. Pauls. It took Mungret St. Pauls hitting the net themselves to urge them on and they went on a scoring spree to eventually go on and win the game. This is a clean sweep of wins for this team so far with another four to be played.
SENIOR HURLING
Mungret St. Pauls 1-14 Ballybrown 2-25
It was a very warm Saturday 6 August 2022 in Claughaun when the recently promoted to Senior B played the recently relegated to Senior B infront of a great crowd of supporters. Although little separated the sides early on there were some gaps in the Limerick Motor Centre sponsored Mungret St. Pauls Senior Hurling teams play as their mistake were highlighted by Ballybrown scoring from them.
Mungret St. Pauls started putting pressure on the backs early on but were blocked down resulting in a pointed 65. Both sides exchanged points before Ballybrown started to score from all over the pitch and going six points up. Another go to get the ball past the Ballybrown defence was deflected again but Mungret St. Pauls pointed twice more before Ballybrown showcased their scoring ability and in the dying minutes of extra time in the first half they struck hard at the score board getting the ball past and hitting the net. Half time Mungret St. Paul’s 0-6 Ballybrown 1-15.
With the addition of new players to the Mungret St. Pauls side we started out well getting much needed scores, these were quickly forgotten when Ballybrown hit the ball past our approaching goalie to score a second goal. Mungret St. Pauls stood confident over the ball and regained position and after putting in some hard work they were rewarded with a much needed and looked for goal. This still left a divide between the two sides and as Mungret St. Pauls progressed on narrowing the gap, Ballybrown turned the play and undid the good work Mungret St. Pauls put in. Ballybrown finished out the game with a bag of points added on to confirm their win.
Mungret St. Pauls still have another three games to play and have a chance to regroup before they meet Garryspillane in September.
Team; Conor O’Brien, Liam Harrington, Ronan Kirby, Billy Molyneaux, Matt O’Sullivan, Pa Begley, Eoin O’Doherty, Barry Duff, Brian Barry, Conor Linehan, Brian O’Meara, Shane Barry, Paul O’Brien, Niall Mulcahy, Brendan Giltenane. Subs used: Jack McCarthy, Conor O’Halloran, Cillian Archer, Mike Mullins & Cian O’Brien.
Scores: Paul O’Brien 0-9 (0-5 frees), Niall Mulcahy 1-1, Brian Barry 0-1, Cian O’Brien 0-1, Conor Lenihan 0-1, Barry Duff 0-1.