Failte chuig Na Piarsaigh

Bride Rovers/Castlelyons v Blackrock

Carbery/Carrigdhoun v CIT/Muskerry

Sarsfields v Midleton/Ballinhassig

Na Piarsaigh v Bishopstown

Glen Rovers/Blarney v Killeagh

Newtownshandrum v UCC

Erins Own v Imokilly

St. Finbarrs v Cloyne/Carrigtowhill

Football

Na Piarsaigh v St. Finbarrs

Castlehaven v Carbery Rangers/Ballincollig

Nemo Rangers v Seandun

Carbery v St. Nicks

Douglas v Dohenys

Bishopstown v Imokilly

Duhallow v Naomh Aban

Clonakilty v Aghada

Ilen Rovers never recover from a poor start

By Cois Farraige Saturday May 23rd, 2009

Na Piarsaigh’s Steve Glasgow, at left, just catches the ball ahead of Kieran Daly, Ilen Rovers, during the county senior football championship game at Bandon on Saturday evening. (Photo: Denis Boyle)

Na Piarsaigh .......................2-4

Ilen Rovers ..........................0-6

ILEN Rovers may have entered this second round, losers’ group, county senior football championship game in Bandon on Saturday evening last as firm favourites but there was no disputing the better team at the end of an hour of football that was spoiled by a strong wind and too much physical contact which led to numerous stoppages and broken play.

While the first half contained some good football, particularly from the city men, the second half descended into a free-ridden, dour contest which reflected little good on senior football in Cork.

Na Piarsaigh won this game against the strong wind in the first half when their physical strength and fierce determination proved too much for an Ilen side that never got going in that first half hour. Statistics may sometimes hide the truth but the bare statistic that Ilen scored only two points, from frees, in the wind-assisted first half, tells how poor their form was in that first period. At the other end of the pitch Ilen were showing alarming gaps in defence and Na Piarsaigh availed of them to kick two first-half goals which were to sustain them all through the game.

Just as Na Piarsaigh were to produce their best form in the first half against the wind, Ilen reserved their form for the second half, also against the wind. Realising that the game was slipping away from them, trailing by those two goals at half-time, Ilen, with numerous changes and switches, finally got their game going in the second half.

However, the swirling wind and the tough, no-nonsense tackling of the city side ensured that the Ilen forwards never got the scope to really reduce the lead. Scores were scarce in a stop-start second period, Ilen never really looked like scoring the goal that might have saved the day. They never got nearer than four points to the winners, who themselves managed only four points with the wind in that second half.

It was hard to explain why Ilen were so flat in the first half, even with Kevin O’Sullivan back after injury, but Diarmuid Duggan was a tremendous loss to the defence. Ilen played as well as they were allowed by a Na Piarsaigh side that went out determined to win this one. Again, as is now common between Na Piarsaigh and West Cork teams, we had the inevitable free-for-all near the end of the game but it was quickly quelled, with numerous yellow cards being dispersed in the final quarter.

But full credit to the winners who showed treirit and played some fine football, especially in the first half against the wind. Man of the match was Cork hurler John Gardiner, who lined out at full forward and caused the Ilen defence all kinds of problems, kicking 1-3 on the day.

He got great assistance from corner forward Ger Noonan, very adept at winning possession against a hesitant Ilen rearguard. Na Piarsaigh’s fine first half display sprang mainly from the dominance of the Ó hAilpín brothers, Isaki and Teu, at midfield and it was only when Teu failed to appear for the second half that Ilen came to grips with their midfield problems.

David Gardiner and Shane O’Connor also did well in attack, while Darren Mannix, Alan Brady, Stephen O’Sullivan and Eoin McCarthy gave nothing soft away in defence.

Ilen were left to rue a first half when they never got to grips with their game and few of their players stood out. In the second half, when they shoved John Wycherley forward from his wing back position, they won a grip around the middle and with Liam O’Driscoll, Edward Sheehy and Shane Holland tightening up in defence, the winners were limited in their scoring, but it was too late by then.

Up front, Kieran Daly gave his all, Brian O’Sullivan kicked some fine frees, Conor O’Driscoll battled gamely and Alan Holland looked dangerous with limited possession, but Na Piarsaigh were taking no prisoners and their goalmouth was a well-protected area.

Referee, Ger McSweeney, over-dramatic with the hand signals, struggled to keep the lid on in a volcanic second half.

THE PLAY

Na Piarsaigh got off to the perfect start against the strong wind when Ger Noonan goaled in the sixth minute after his fisted effort had come back off the crossbar. With Ilen struggling to find their form and Na Piarsaigh content to play a holding game against the wind, scores were non-existent and it wasn’t until the 14th minute that struggling Ilen opened their account with a pointed free from Brian O’Sullivan. He added a second a minute later but that was to prove it for the first half as they failed to score again.

Na Piarsaigh were dominating midfield through the Ó hAilpíns and when John Gardiner finished a solo run along the end line with a shot to the Ilen net in the 17th minute, Ilen were in serious trouble. It got worse when Shane O’Connor and Gardiner, free, kicked two points to open up a six-point gap. Ilen had two goal chances before half-time but Kieran Daly and the off-form Kevin O’Sullivan failed to convert.

Ilen’s repeated failure to ‘go down on the ball’ when fighting for possession was exasperating for their supporters and the result was that Na Piarsaigh fully deserved their half-time lead of 2-2 to 0-2.

Ilen rang the changes at half time and the move of John Wycherley further out the field, where he began to dominate possession, saw Ilen finally beginning to find some form. With Wycherley, Conor O’Driscoll, Kieran Daly and Eddie Sheehy working hard Ilen got off to a good restart with points from Brian O’Sullivan, free, and Conor O’Driscoll, their first from play, in the 36th minute.

The wind had lessened somewhat and there was now an urgency about Ilen’s play. However, they found it hard to penetrate a solid city rearguard and were inclined to overplay the ball, which suited the hard-tackling Na Piarsaigh.

Play was of a terrible stop-start nature, with numerous hold-ups, before the spirited John Gardiner sent over a point to leave his side 2-3 to 0-4 in front entering the last quarter. Following a long hold up for injury, Brian O’Sullivan kicked his fourth free and following another long delay while the referee brandished yellow cards to various players, Gardiner pointed a free.

With only five minutes remaining it was looking desperate for Ilen who were running into a brick wall in front of the Piarsaigh goal. The almost inevitable free-for-all involving players, subs and mentors, did nothing to improve matters and Conor O’Driscoll’s point in the 63rd minute was much too little and much too late to change the outcome.

Few would have predicted that Ilen would find themselves in the losers’ group at this stage of the season but they will have to show much improved form if they wish to survive there and retain their senior status. Only two points from play won’t win too many matches for them. Na Piarsaigh were delighted with this win and will fear nobody from here on in, especially if the injured Seán Óg returns to football duty.

Scorers – Na Piarsaigh: John Gardiner 1-3, 0-2 frees, Ger Noonan 1-0, Shane O’Connor 0-1. Ilen Rovers: Brian O’Sullivan 0-4 frees, Conor O’ Driscoll 0-2.

Na Piarsaigh: Dave O’Keeffe, Darren Mannix, Derek McNamara, Mark Prendergast, Alan Brady, Stephen O’Sullivan, Eoin McCarthy, Teu Ó hAilpín, Isaki Ó hAilpín, Diarmuid McDonnell, Steve Glasgow, David Gardiner, Ger Noonan, John Gardiner, Shane O’Connor. Subs: Wayne Long and Ian McDonnell.

Ilen Rovers: Gary Coakley, Shane Holland, Liam O’Driscoll, Michael Hellen, Edward Sheehy, Finbarr O’Donovan, John Wycherley, Peadar O’Driscoll, David Coughlan, Kieran Daly, Conor O’Driscoll, Damien O’Sullivan, Kevin O’Sullivan, Alan Holland, Brian O’Sullivan. Subs: Danny O’Donovan, Donie Duggan, John Sheehy and Davin Whooley.

IT was a routine journey to success for Na Piarsaigh in yesterday’s Evening Echo Cork SHC first round tie at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

The city team established superiority early on, a blistering opening scoring drive propelling them into a commanding lead. By the interval they were nine points clear after benefiting from a strong breeze, and their passage to the third round never looked in jeopardy in the second-half.

The Piarsaigh defence was an impregnable unit, with their determined captain Mark Prendergast anchoring it at full-back and youngster Eoin Moynihan shining alongside him. Outside John Gardiner cleaned up in the aerial battles at centre-back and when presented with long-range placed ball point opportunities he arrowed four shots between the posts.

There was a great energy and work rate to Piarsaigh’s hurling as well, best epitomised by the dynamic Ronan McGregor at midfield and centre-forward Stephen Glasgow. Pádraig Gould also pitched in with a hefty 0-6 haul.

Injury robbed Na Piarsaigh of the presence of one O hAilpín in defence, but that loss was compensated in attack. Sean Óg was restricted to a sideline view but Aisake, back from his Aussie Rules days, made a serious impact at full-forward. There were snapshots throughout the first-half that illuminated his potential threat, as he caused discomfort for the Blarney backline in creating James Egan’s 8th minute goal and finishing to the net himself in the 28th minute.

Blarney battled admirably, with Darragh McSweeney strong in defence, Joe Jordan hurling a world of ball at wing-back and John Hurley giving a fine display of marksmanship up front. Their major glitch was in front of goal with only Hurley making incisions from open play and they hit a few good second-half point chances wide of goal.

Na Piarsaigh’s first goal prompted the scoring dam to burst. A McGregor sideline ball was caught by Aisake and he transferred to Egan whose shot just crept over the line. That put Na Piarsaigh 1-1 to 0-1 ahead and they kicked on with Gardiner, Gould, Stephen P O’Sullivan and Glasgow all helping to construct a point scoring spree. By the 20th minute they were 1-7 to 0-2 ahead. It got better in the 28th minute when an O’Sullivan point effort bounced off the post and the alert Aisake smashed the rebound to the net. Blarney retrieved two late points through Brian Deasy and Hurley, but still faced an ominous 2-9 to 0-4 deficit at the break.

Two rapid points after the break by Gould and Aisake illustrated Piarsaigh’s intention to maintain high standards, but despite being 11 points in arrears, Blarney stitched together a super scoring response. Eoin Hallahan, Hurley (2) and a Colin Murphy free trimmed it back to 2-9 to 0-8. Then the Mid-Cork men created a real goal opening in the 42nd minute, but Murphy’s strike was expertly hooked by Moynihan.

From there Na Piarsaigh reaffirmed their dominance. Gardiner and Gould converted two points apiece, and McGregor registered the point that his hard work deserved.

By the 58th minute they had steamed 2-14 to 0-9 in front but Blarney got a late lift when a high ball in from the wing by Hurley was touched to the net by substitute Ross McNamara.

Scorers for Na Piarsaigh: P Gould 0-6 (0-4f), J Gardiner 0-4 (0-3 ‘65, 0-1f), A O’hAilpín 1-1, J Egan 1-0, S Glasgow, SP O’Sullivan, R McGregor 0-1 each.

Blarney: J Hurley 0-4, R McNamara 1-0, M Cremin 0-2 (0-1f, 0-1 ‘65), B Deasy, E Hallahan, C Murphy (0-1f) 0-1 each.

NA PIARSAIGH: M O’Sullivan; E Moynihan, M Prendergast, D Mannix; D Gardiner, J Gardiner, M White; R McGregor, A Brady; P Gould, S Glasgow, T O’hAilpín; SP O’Sullivan, A O’hAilpín, J Egan. Subs: I McDonald for Glasgow (inj) (45).

BLARNEY: R Byrne; D McSweeney, P O’Leary, G Donovan; J Jordan, J Hughes, S O’Donoghue; M McCarthy, B Hurley; M Cremin, B Deasy, J Hurley; E Hallahan, P O’Sullivan, C Murphy. Subs: J Barrett for B Hurley (half-time), J O’Sullivan for O’Sullivan (40), R McNamara for McCarthy (50).
Referee: Cathal McAlistair (Aghada)

This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Monday, May 04, 2009

Our Senior Hurlers had another good win over Erins Own at the Club. Playing without the Cork players, both teams still featured strong lineups with both centre backs Mark Prendergast and Peter Kelly in particularly good form.

However it was Aisake O'hAilpin who stole the show, scoring 2-1 from play. His goals were top drawer and gave the otherwise excellent Shay Bowen in the Erins Own goal no chance. Others to impress were Padraig Gould, Ainle O'Cairealláin and James Egan.

Our Senior hurlers played Bishopstown under lights at the Club on Thursday night,

In a highly entertaining game, played in front of a large and appreciative attendance, there was never more than a score between the teams, until Eoin Moynihan goaled midway through the second half, to put Na Piarsaigh in control.

Our Senior footballers continued their early season good form with two wins in the past week, overcoming a lively Skibbereen team last Wednesday and accounting for Mallow on Sunday in the league.

A record 92 teams took part in the Poc Fada held on the back Blarney Road. The victors on this occasion were brothers Shane and Ken O'Sullivan

Club founding member Christy Twomey gave an emotional address after his election

Photo: Donnacha O'Leary, John O'Leary, Michael Higgins, Denis O'Neill and Bill Kelleher

As part of the golden jubilee celebrations of the Church of the Resurrection, Farranree two games were be played at the Club on Sunday 14th.

Our 1990 Club County winning team played Glen Rovers 1989 County winning team in the "curtain raiser" in a highly entertaining game which finished all square.

Our Senior hurlers played Glen Rovers in the second game and came out on top by a few points in a very competitive game.

Well done to the Church council and particularly Fr Kieran for organising the games played in front of a huge attendance at the Club. Afterwards Fr Kieran presented both Chairmen with commemorative Crystal to honour the event.

Lynch goal swings it Piarsaigh’s way

Na Piarsaigh 1-21 Carrigtwohill 0-12
By Brendan Larkin, Cork SHC

NA PIARSAIGH had no problems reaching round three of the Evening Echo Cork SHC with a 12-point win over Carrigtwohill at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday night.

Carrig, making their debut in the senior championship, were expected to find the going extremely difficult, but they put up a brave effort before running out of steam in the last. The sides were level twice inside the opening three minutes. Carrig played with two in the full-forward line, withdrawing Frank Flannery as an extra midfield. The ploy worked in that Flannery won a lot of possession, but the ball came out of the Piarsaigh defence as quickly as it went in as John Gardiner cleared his lines with ease.

Congratulations to John Gardiner who has been announced as Captain of the Cork senior hurling team for the 2008 season

His appointment as captain is a great honour for John, his parents John and Eleanor and for Na Piarsaigh and the members of the Club are delighted that he has been chosen to lead Cork in 2008.

Johns honours include a County Championship medal in 2004, three Munster titles,

The Annual Club Golf outing for the Tom Gardiner Memorial Trophy took place in Mahon Golf Club on Sunday 28th.

Here Club Secretary and winning captain Michael Higgins accepts the Trophy on behalf of his team from Brian and Thomas Gardiner jnr.

Ard Mhaor Corcaí Cllr Donal Counihan performed a tree planting ceremony at the Club as part of the Northside Environmental Enhancement Plan.

The presentation of medals to our Junior B Team, winners of the City Hurling Championship, Craobh Rua Cup and Football League took place in the Club

Well done to winning captain Patrick Horgan, who lead his team home in 38 shots,

Comhgairdeas to our Junior B team for picking up their third trophy on Sunday, when they defeated Delaneys in the Junior 3 Football Final. This finished off a great year for the team and selectors, having already won the Junior 2 Hurling Championship and the Craobh Rua Cup.

The Senior Section AGM was held on the 19th of November and was again very well attended.

Denis O'Neill was re-elected Chairman along with John O'Leary Vice-Chairman, Bill Kelleher Treasurer, Donnacha O'Leary PRO and Roy Cooke Registrar. They will be joined by Michael Higgins who takes over from Michael Connery as Secretary, who completed five years at officer level, the last two as Secretary.

Comhgairdeas to our Junior Hurlers for their well deserved win over Whitechurch in the Final of the Craobh Rua Cup on a scoreline of 2-15 to 1-5

Our Senior Footballers progressed to the 3rd round of the Championship with a 1-14 to 2-9 victory over Carbery Rangers after a cracking hours football in Cloughduv, where both teams played some excellent football.

Our Senior Footballers progressed to the quarter final of the Championship, where we'll face title favourites Nemo Rangers, after a 2-11 to 1-8 victory over Bishopstown in round 3.

Goals from Stephen Glasgow and Stephen O'Sullivan midway through the second half set up the victory in a tight game where goals were always going to be crucial.

Well done to our Senior Footballers for putting in a fine display in the Championship quarter final v Nemo, just coming up short on a scoreline of 0-11 to 0-13.

Na fault to our Senior Hurlers who went down to Newtownshandrum on a scoreline of 0-16 to 2-17 in round 3. The loss of Sean Óg before the game through injury had a big bearing on the team selection and we definitely missed his presence.

After an enthralling second half our fe 21 hurlers were more than unfortunate to lose out by one point to Bishopstown in the City Championship semi-final. Down on a scoreline of 1-5 to 0-3 at half time, they showed remarkable spirit and no little hurling to draw level with time up. However a 65 in the fifth minute of injury time converted by Pat Cronin denied us another outing, finishing on a final scoreline of 1-9 to 1-10.

Our under 21 hurlers had a well merited win in the Championship against Glen Rovers on a scoreline of 3-13 to 2-11. In what was seen as a major test for a young team our lads played with great skill and determination to fashion out a tremendous win.