PATRICKSWELL GAA CLUB NOTES
SENIOR HURLERS: The Senior hurlers had mixed fortunes in the City Hurling League last week. In their opening fixture of the competition, Patrickswell travelled to Caherdavin to meet Na Piarsaigh. The opening stages were keenly contested as both sides scored two points within four minutes. Our hosts increased the tempo and accrued 1-3 without reply during a four-minute spell. Patrick Kirby stemmed the tide with a point, which was quickly followed by scores from Jason Gillane and Jack Kelleher. After fifteen minutes, the scoreline was 1-5 to 0-5 in favour of the Light Blues. While Na Piarsaigh stretched their lead to four points, Patrickswell notched four consecutive points in eight minutes to equalise at 0-9 to 1-6. Patrick Kirby and Jack Kelleher traded points with Na Piarsaigh, before Jack Kelleher gave Patrickswell a 0-12 to 1-8 lead. The home team responded with three points in stoppage time to lead by 1-11 to 0-12 at the interval.
The second half began with a surge of four points from Patrickswell (Jack Kelleher and Kevin O’Brien with two points each) and three points in response from Na Piarsaigh. Calvin Carroll and Darragh Ahern put the ‘Well ahead at 0-18 to 1-14; however Na Piarsaigh accrued two points to re-take the lead. There was another flurry of points as John Kirby and Jason Gillane cancelled out Na Piarsaigh. By the 45th minute, the score was 1-18 to 0-20. The hosts increased their intensity and scored two points to lead by a goal with ten minutes left. Darragh Ahern trimmed the lead to 1-20 to 0-21 but the game was decided by four straight Na Piarsaigh points to establish a 1-24 to 0-21 lead in the 56th minute. Due to injuries and stoppages, there was a substantial amount of injury time. Jack Kelleher was accurate from four frees, but Na Piarsaigh managed to hold off Patrickwell with a trio of points. The final score was a 1-27 to 0-25 reverse for Patrickswell.
Four days later, Patrickswell welcomed Mungret to Pairc Antoin O’Briain. The ‘Well made a rapid start and led by 0-5 to 0-2 by the eighth minute (Jack Kelleher 0-2, Josh Considine, Calvin Carroll and Darragh Ahern). Jack Kelleher claimed two more points, although Mungret responded with a score of their own. Jonathon McMahon’s goal was decisive and built a 1-7 to 0-3 margin by the 20th minute. While Mungret scored a fresh point, Darragh Ahern, Calvin Carroll and Cian Fitzgerald opened up a nine-point lead. Mungret’s next three points were interrupted by Jack Kelleher’s point to reduce their arrears to 1-11 to 0-7. Patrickswell’s path to victory was smoothed by Jack Kelleher’s goal and more points from Thomas O’Brien and Josh Considine. While Mungret notched the last point of the first half, Patrickswell were ahead by 2-13 to 0-8 at the interval.
The second half did not start favourably for the ‘Well. We failed to score for ten minutes and Mungret added four points to trim the deficit to 2-13 to 0-12. Thankfully Darragh Ahern, Josh Considine and Jack Kelleher were on hand to settle any nerves. There were ten minutes left and the buffer was 2-16 to 0-12. Jack Kelleher’s three frees were matched by Mungret’s four points and the gap hovered at nine points with seven minutes left. Mungret were left reeling by two goals in a minute from Jonathon McMahon and Calvin Carroll. When Thomas O’Brien scored a point, Patrickswell were 4-20 to 0-16 ahead. Mungret closed out the match with two points to ensure a 4-20 to 0-18 victory for John O’Meara’s men.
The Senior hurlers are slated to play Kildimo at home on Saturday June 26 at 7.30pm.
INTERMEDIATE HURLERS: Patrickswell edged out Na Piarsaigh in the City Intermediate League after a devastating late goal blitz decided a competitive match. Peter Harty registered the first point within a minute, however Na Piarsaigh produced three consecutive points to take the lead. Two Peter Harty points were sandwiched between opposition points to leave the 15th minute score at 0-5 to 0-3 for the Light Blues. Na Piarsaigh accrued two more points, but the ‘Well equalised through a Josh Carey goal and a Peter Harty free. Once again, Na Piarsaigh notched two additional points before Pa Kiely and Peter Harty restored parity. Na Piarsaigh had the final say in the first half with a closing point to lead by 0-10 to 1-6.
The start of the second half was a tense affair. In the space of thirteen minutes, both teams could only manage one point apiece. Peter Harty’s point equalised the match at 1-8 to 0-11 before another barren scoring spell of eight minutes. Cian Enright, Owen McNamara and Jamie Dillon produced more points, but they could not shake off Na Piarsaigh. The game was in the balance in the 56th minute as Patrickswell held a slender 1-11 to 0-13 lead in this exciting battle. There was a grandstand finale in store for the spectators. Amazingly, Pa Dundon’s men stunned Na Piarsaigh with three goals in just four minutes. The scoreline had shifted from a tight match to a seemingly easy win. However, the final score of 4-11 to 0-14 was not a fair reflection of the contest. The match had been in the balance throughout.
The Intermediate hurlers are scheduled to play Crecora away on Thursday June 24 at 8pm, before hosting Ballybrown on Sunday June 27 at 12 noon.
JUNIOR B HURLERS: In the West Junior B Hurling League, Patrickswell were narrowly defeated by Templeglantine by 1-16 to 2-12. Their next fixture is scheduled for Sunday June 27 against Castletown-Ballyagran.
CLUB MEMBERSHIP: Every player (whether child or adult) must be registered with the club to be covered by insurance. Membership can be paid online via our website at www.patrickswellgaa.com. You cannot train or play without insurance!
CLUB LIMERICK DRAW: The June Club Limerick Draw will take place this Saturday June 26 during the Live 95FM Sports Programme between 10am and 11am. If you would like to renew or update your membership, please follow the link www.clublimerick.ie/draw and select “Patrickswell” as the club you wish to support and the number of draws that you wish to sign up for (there are seven draws remaining). If you wish to renew through the club, please contact Seamus O’Riordan at 087-2869175.
June’s exclusive Star Prize is a fantastic 75-inch Smart TV in association with Jack Fitzgerald Electrical. As always, there is the monthly cash top prize of €10,000 and 28 more cash prizes.
CUL CAMP: The Patrickswell Cul Camp will take place between Monday August 16 and Friday August 20 from 10am to 2pm daily. Please register online at www.kelloggsculcamps.gaa.ie/