Congratulations Paul

Congratulations to former Nenagh Éire Óg hurler Paul Ryan, who helped Fr. Murphy’s secure the London Intermediate Hurling Championship title on Sunday with a 1-15 to 1-13 victory over Fulham Irish in Ruislip. Paul started the game at corner back before moving to full back early in the first half, where he delivered a sterling performance. Well done Paul.

Juvenile News

 

Under-8 Boys

Our Under-8 boys welcomed Kilruane to MacDonagh Park last Saturday morning for a series of hurling and football games. A fantastic morning was enjoyed by all, with plenty of skill, effort and fun on display. Next Saturday will be the group’s final session of the year.

Under-10 Boys

Our Under-10 boys travelled to Newmarket-on-Fergus last weekend to take part in an excellent blitz, with two Nenagh Éire Óg teams in action. Following a series of group games against Newmarket-on-Fergus, Mungret, Clooney-Quin and Broadford, one of our teams progressed to the semi-final, where they narrowly lost out to Broadford.

Our second team reached the final and, in heartbreaking fashion, were denied victory by the same Broadford side. Leading by two points as the final puck of the game approached, the boys were caught by a late Broadford goal, which secured the title for their opponents.

While the result was disappointing, the boys can be incredibly proud of their performances throughout the day. They represented the club superbly once again, showcasing their skill, determination and teamwork.

A sincere thank you to all the parents who travelled and spent much of their Sunday supporting the boys.

Under-14 Boys

The Under-14A panel contested the North Under-14A Hurling Plate Final against Kilruane last weekend but, unfortunately, came up short on the day. Thank you to everyone who travelled to support and encourage the boys.

This result brings the season to a close for this group. There has been significant improvement across the panel throughout the year, and all players are encouraged to keep their hurleys in hand and continue practising during the off-season.

A sincere thank you is extended to the coaching and management team for their tremendous commitment throughout the year. While supporters see the work that takes place at training sessions and on match days, these represent only a small portion of the time and effort invested behind the scenes. The dedication shown by the coaches in developing and supporting the boys is greatly appreciated by all parents and guardians.

Thanks also to our Juvenile Committee for its ongoing support and to all those who work tirelessly to maintain our excellent facilities and pitches.

Finally, thank you to our parents, guardians and supporters. The strong support network behind this group has been a key factor throughout the season and will continue to play an important role in the years ahead.

Under-16 Boys

The Under-16 boys continue their preparations for the upcoming Football Championship. Their opening fixture takes place on 1 November, when they travel to Toomevara to take on the hosts. We wish the panel and management team every success as their championship campaign gets underway.

Camogie News

Under-11/Under-12

To round off the year’s matches, our Under-11 Blue Team played a challenge game against Kiladangan on Saturday. It was a great game of camogie on the new field, played in fine weather.

Well done to all our Under-11 and Under-12 players for their commitment and effort throughout the year. There has been great improvement across the group, with plenty of potential for the future.

While training will continue on Saturdays, everyone is encouraged to keep picking up their hurleys between sessions, talk about the game at home and watch matches as often as possible.

A sincere thank you to the entire Under-12 coaching and management team for dedicating so much time to the group. Thanks also to our committee for its work behind the scenes and ongoing support, and to everyone who helps maintain our excellent facilities and pitches.

Thank you to our parents, guardians and supporters. We are fortunate to have such a committed and supportive group behind the players, which will be hugely important to the team’s future success. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Training will continue throughout the winter on Saturdays at 4pm, with a focus on skills development and fun.

Under-15

Our Under-15 team played their opening game against Kiladangan in Puckane on Wednesday night. After falling behind early, the boys produced a terrific performance to fight their way back into the game, narrowly losing by a single point after coming close to snatching victory at the end.

Their next game is against Burgess next week.

Club Lotto

There was no winner of this weeks lotto jackpot. The three €50 lucky dip winners are:

John Hayes, online

Diarmuid Kinnane, Borrisoleigh

John O’Brien, Newport

Next weeks jackpot is €3,400 and you can play it here. 

Nenagh Run Club

Nenagh Run Club continues training every Wednesday evening at 7pm and Sunday morning at 10am in MacDonagh Park. This is an ideal running group for those interested in taking up jogging or for those looking to improve their running in a fun and social setting.

For more information, search for Nenagh Run Club on Instagram or join their WhatsApp Group by clicking here.

HIGH NOON AT THE ASTRO! RYAN AND KENNEDY RIDE INTO THE SUNSET AFTER WILD WEST SHOOTOUT!

There was gunpowder in the air, reputations on the line and enough firepower to make the fastest gunslingers west of the Mississippi think twice as a humdinger of a 40-minute 2 v 2 Social ‘ground’ Hurling showdown erupted on the Astro last evening. In one corner stood the notorious non-bibs outlaws, Ger Ryan and Jamie Kennedy, seasoned desperados who have seen more shootouts than most sheriffs have had hot dinners. Facing them across the dusty plains were their bib-wearing adversaries, Eamon Moylan and Conor O’Donovan, a pair of veteran gunslingers whose combined experience could fill a wanted poster the length of Main Street.

Before the bullets began flying, the four combatants completed two 10-minute warm-up drills of end-to-end alternate ball striking, ensuring that every trigger finger was primed and every weapon suitably warmed up for the main event: two 10-minute periods of full-blooded ground hurling action. There would be no room for faint hearts, slow draw speeds or misplaced shots in this particular frontier town.

When the first-half dust settled, the bibs had edged into a 4-3 lead, with Conor drawing twice, Eamon finding the target once and Jamie obligingly providing a rare own goal, apparently confusing his own territory with enemy land. The non-bibs were far from holstering their weapons, however, with Ger firing twice and Jamie adding another for the outlaw outfit. The stage was set for a second-half showdown of epic proportions.

And then, just as the bibs were beginning to admire their handiwork, the non-bibs came charging over the horizon like a posse of enraged cowboys. Deploying a high-press tactic that would have had the local sheriff reaching for reinforcements, Ryan and Kennedy rattled off three lightning-fast goals before Moylan and O’Donovan had properly realised that the second half was underway. The scoreboard swung, the atmosphere crackled and suddenly the bibs found themselves staring down the barrel of a very different shootout.

As the clock ticked towards the final reckoning, the non-bibs held a precarious 11-10 advantage. The bibs mounted one last desperate assault in search of an equaliser, with Conor unleashing a shot that thundered off the butt of the goalpost. It was a cruel ricochet for the chasing gunslinger, and before the smoke had cleared, the non-bibs were galloping in the opposite direction. Eamon gave furious chase, but Jamie had already drawn his weapon, taken aim and slotted home to establish a two-goal cushion.

There was still time for one final twist in this frontier thriller, as Conor converted from a penalty corner with the very last puck of the game. It was a fine parting shot, but the damage had been done. The final whistle rang out like the courthouse bell, confirming a 12-11 victory for the non-bibs in a finish that left the losers licking their wounds and the winners dancing a jig on the main street.

The individual honours were hotly contested. Eamon emerged as the night’s deadliest marksman, blasting home seven goals for the bibs, while Ger and Jamie shared the sharpshooter award for the victorious non-bibs with six apiece. These were men who clearly hadn’t come to town to discuss cattle prices.

SHOT OF THE NIGHT went to Conor, whose delicate nutmeg of Ger for the opening score was a piece of frontier trickery worthy of a cardsharp operating in the back room of the saloon. Ger, however, was having none of it. RIPOSTE OF THE NIGHT belonged to the wily non-bibs veteran, who promptly intercepted an intended Conor pass to Eamon and buried the equaliser. It was the hurling equivalent of robbing a bandit at gunpoint and leaving him to explain the matter to the sheriff.

THE WANTED POSTER AWARD for the night’s most notorious act of friendly fire went to Jamie, whose attempt to tackle Eamon ended with the ball being flicked into his own net. There are outlaws who rob banks, outlaws who steal horses and then there is Jamie Kennedy, a man who apparently prefers to plunder his own camp.

Meanwhile, Eamon’s exploits were not confined to the scoring charts. The prolific Moylan also topped the standings for goal-scoring opportunities squandered, with the final tally still awaiting an official investigation. Local authorities are believed to be examining the evidence, although witnesses suggest the inquiry could run well into next week.

With the dust finally settling, the victorious Ryan and Kennedy holstered their hurls, puffed out their chests and swaggered proudly towards their cars, delivering a triumphant rendition of Queen’s immortal anthem, We Are the Champions. It was a performance of such unbridled confidence that even the horses tied up outside the saloon might have raised an eyebrow.

All four gunslingers deserve credit for a tremendous workout and a fiercely contested evening of social hurling. The Astro may have survived this latest frontier skirmish, but the score has been settled only temporarily. There are reputations to restore, scores to avenge and plenty more ammunition waiting to be fired.

NEXT WEDNESDAY, 8.15PM: THE ASTRO FRONTIER REOPENS! Will the bibs return with vengeance in their hearts, or will Ryan and Kennedy continue their reign of terror across the plains of MacDonagh Park? Be there for the next instalment of this Wild West saga, where the hurls are wooden, the shooting is deadly and nobody is safe from friendly fire.