Minor Football Championship

Lilliput Gaels 4-11 Mullingar Shamrocks 2-17

We travelled to Springfield on Wednesday evening to play the home side in our final group game in this years minor championship. This was an absorbing contest that saw our lads stage an incredible second half comeback to almost steal a late, late win but unfortunately we were denied by a pointed free in the last move of the game. We started well and with Conal Fagan playing effectively as a sweeper, we dominated the opening exchanges to open up a three point lead. The home side eventually settled and drew level. Both sides traded points in end to end play but it was wind assisted Mullingar Shamrocks who finished the half stronger with three late points to lead 0-09 to 0-05 at the break. Our lads had played well in the opening half and we were confident that we would push on, but it was the town side who stepped up from the start of the second half. They scored two quick points before we registered our sixth point. A Shamrocks goal and further points left us in real trouble as the home side looked rampant in attack. We had only registered one other point in this period of play and when Shamrocks tore through for their second goal, a rout looked on the cards at the midway point of the half. The score at this stage was 2-16 to 0-07. However what we witnessed from that stage until the finish will seldom be seen again. Our revival was kick-started when Fergal O'Brien was put through on goal by Darragh Seery. Fergal's goal bound shot was parried over the bar but in our next attack, Jack Gallagher finished cooly past Sean Hynes to lift us. The game had opened up well at this stage as defences tired and Darragh Seery was able to fit through a gap soon after to score our second goal. At this stage, we were still well behind but we were playing with renewed confidence. We began to dominate in the middle sector and were winning most of the breaks now. Soon after, Conor Murphy was put through on goal and he duly obliged to crash the ball past the Mullingar 'keeper. When Eoin Glennon scored our fourth goal in a crazy ten minute spell, we unbelievably found ourselves just two points adrift and our tails were well and truly up. Another Darragh Seery point followed and this was followed up by a Cody Finnane point to level the game as we headed towards injury time. It was all Lilliput Gaels at this stage and the one or two attacks Mullingar created were well dealt with by our defenders. In injury time, a patient build up saw Morgan Gavigan face an organised and packed Shamrocks defence. With the slight breeze on his back, Morgan curled a beautiful point over the bar from forty yards out to put us ahead. We needed to win the next kickout but, unfortunately for us, it was Mullingar who won the breaking ball and they pressed hard down the wing. The ball was worked in close to our goals and with a number of Lilliput Gaels players converging on the attacker, we conceded a free close in which was scored and this turned out to be the last piece of the games action as we ended up all square at the final whistle. With a win, a loss and a draw in our three games, unfortunately it wasn't enough to qualify us for the semi final. However our lads have a shield semi final to look forward to now and if Wednesday's performance is anything to go by, this dedicated panel will give it a really rattle. Well done to all! Finally, our minor team wore their new jerseys for their first time on Wednesday evening and they looked splendid. Our thanks to Conor Elliffe Domestic External Cleaning Services for sponsoring the new jerseys. Team: Jamie Keenan, Mark Killian, Cian Gavigan, Tiernan McMahon, Zach Wright, Paddy Doran, Fergal O'Brien, Morgan Gavigan, Darragh Seery, David Jackson, Eoin Glennon, Conor Murphy, Conal Fagan, Peter Reynolds, Jack Gallagher. Subs: Cody Finnane, Ryan Boyne, Barry Bolger, Lorcan Kiernan, Luke Seery, Peter Dalton.

 

U16 Division 1 Shield Semi-Final

Lilliput Gaels 4-09 Moate 3-11

Our U16's staged a dramatic comeback of their own on Monday evening last in Ballinagore to defeat Moate by a single point to reach the Division 1 Shield Final. This was yet another epic encounter but things didn't look good for Lilliput Gaels at half time as the visitors dominated for large spells in the opening half to lead comfortably by 2-07 to 0-05 at half time. To our lads credit, they played brilliantly in the second half and we scored four goals to gain the lead towards the end. There was some tigerish defending required as Moate battled back hard to level affairs but we finished the game a point up and have a final to prepare and look forward to now. Well done to all. The team wore their new jerseys, kindly sponsored by Club Activ Gym Mullingar, and we thank them for their generosity. Team: Sean Jackson, Cathal Kelly, Ryan Boyne, Odhran Gavigan, Shane Doran, Tiernan McMahon, David Maloney, Peter Dalton, Peter Reynolds, Cathal Elliffe), Luke Seery, Cody Finnane, Peter Murphy, Killian Bolger, Shane Corcoran, Jack Gannon, Sean Kincaid, Niall Claffey, Oisin Kiernan.

 

Rob Cornally U11 Memorial Blitz

Division 2 Final

Lilliput Gaels 0-25 St Sylvesters, Dublin 0-07

Our U11’s had a great win in the Div 2 final of the Rob Cornally blitz played in Springfield last Sunday. In the group stages that morning we lost our opening game to Oranmore from Galway (who went on to beat Fingallians of Dublin in the Div 1 Final) and we had to dig deep with two great nail biting wins first against The Downs and then against a strong St Lomans outfit. That qualified us for the Div 2 final against Dublin kingpins St Sylvester’s but our lads were not daunted and dominated the game from start to finish with some outstanding football. This win means we were the best Westmeath team on the day! There is brilliant determination, skill and heart in these young boys. A great achievement for Lilliput Gaels club to take on a big Dublin club and play so well. We would like to thank Mullingar Shamrocks GAA club for inviting us into this great tournament and for their hospitality on the day. Thanks also to all the parents for giving up their day to attend and support us. Team. Dylan Ward, Oisin McCabe, Fionn McKinley, Conor Robinson, Dara Mulligan, Sean Bolger, Cian Corcoran, Luke Robinson, Dara Fagan, Gavin Ennis, Fionn Jackson, Conor Corcoran, Ciaran Doran, Darren Corcoran, Tadhg Seery.

 

Fixtures

U12 League vs Tubberclair in Ballinagore on Wednesday 4th Sept at 18:30

U14 Championship vs Moate in Ballinagore on Thursday 5th Sept at 18:30

U17 Championship on Saturday 7th Sept, opponents and venues tbc following draw this week

U12 League vs St. Mary's Rochfortbridge in Rochfortbridge on Saturday 7th Sept at 11:30

U14 Championship vs St. Lomans in Ballinagore on Sunday 8th Sept at 11:30

Minor Shield Semi Final vs Garrycastle in Ballinagore on Wednesday 11th Sept at 18:30

 

Rounders Junior All Ireland

We travelled to Tymon Park, Dublin on Sunday 11th August to defend our Junior All Ireland title and with ten teams taking part and just seven players available, we had our work cut out for us. The first of two group games began at 9.30am when we took on Roscommon outfit, Michael Glavey's. Circadian rhythms were clearly upset on our side as we suffered a 16-4 defeat and all agreed it was time for a breakfast beverage.

We were a little more nourished at 11.30am when we faced Dublin side St Kevins and still at a numerical disadvantage we managed to win that one on a scoreline of Ballinagore 10, St Kevins 3. This victory left us second in the group and qualified us for the quarter finals where we faced Sean Connolly's of Longford. By this time we had gained an extra player in Enda Claffey who travelled up after playing Ballynacarrigy in the football championship. These games were played on a three innings basis but it took six innings and a minor miracle before the teams could be separated. The miracle happened in the last innings of normal play. With Sean Connolly's leading by six runs to four Ballinagore had two 'outs'. One more 'out' and we were 'out out'.  Michelle O' Sullivan stood up to bat and on her second good ball she pulled her calf muscle and could not run. What happened next was a battle of wits between Michelle and the Sean Connolly's Pitcher. The only way for Michelle to advance was to receive a 'walk-on' from the Pitcher by receiving three 'bad balls' as she couldn't be substituted until she made first base. It was a psychological battle which Michelle won and we were able to replace her with Tally Flynn, who played through the pain of an injured hand to help us score the two runs we required to bring the game to extra innings. It was only in the third extra innings that we managed to step clear of Sean Connollys and reach the semi-final on a scoreline of Ballinagore 12, Sean Connolly's 10. The semi-final was played at 7pm and we took on Na Fianna of Dublin where we managed to take the victory by four runs to one. Almost eleven hours after our first game with Michael Glavey's we faced them again in the final and having been through all that we were determined to make a game of it. We did more than that and despite fielding only eight players we entered the third and final innings of the match at one run each. The low scoring in the final was a combination of tired bodies and excellent fielding on both sides and in fairness to Michael Glavey's they showed the greater stamina to get that final score and bring the trophy back to Roscommon on a scoreline of Michael Glavey's 2, Ballinagore 1. Team vs Michael Glavey's: Declan Claffey (Pitcher), Martin Furey capt. (Catcher), Tally Flynn (1st Base), Aisling Heraty (2nd Base), Dympna Claffey (3rd Base), Enda Claffey (Left Outfield), David Langan (Centre Outfield), Shane Heraty (Right Outfield). Michelle O'Sullivan Inj.

 

All Ireland Fleadh Champion

Congratulations to Shane Heraty (singer) and Joe Kelly (songwriter) who won the All Ireland title in Drogheda recently for newly composed song. A great achievement for both but especially for Shane who puts in such great work locally with Scór and Comhaltas.

 

Leinster Scór Celebration

Well done to local representatives, Shane King and Jemma Seery, who took part in the 50 year celebration of Scór in Portlaoise at the weekend.

 

Club Lotto

Last weeks winning numbers were 8, 24, 26 and 29. There were no match three winners. Next weeks jackpot stands at €3100.

 

All Ireland Tickets Draw

Congratulations to Martin McCann who was drawn as the winner of two All Ireland Final tickets last week. What a game to have been at! Well done Martin.

 

CCÉ Music Classes

Registration takes place this Monday night 9th September from 6.30pm to 7.30pm in St Michael's National School, Castletown Geoghegan. Tuition is available for Whistle, Flute, Fiddle and Banjo.

 

CCÉ Sean Nos Dancing

Sean Nos Dancing classes return this September with dance tutor Laura Kelly. The classes return on Tuesday night 17th September in St Michaels Hall. Beginners class at 6.30pm and Improvers/Advanced at 7pm.

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