Senior

Well done to our Senior hurlers who recorded a fine victory over Drom & Inch in the County Hurling League on Friday evening. The final score was 1-17 to 0-17, with Jamie Cottrell raising the green flag for Nenagh.

Junior A

Congratulations to our Junior A hurlers who secured a narrow win over Toomevara in the North Hurling League on Saturday. Final score: 1-18 to 1-17.

Junior B

Best of luck to our Junior B team who travel to Roscrea on Thursday evening to take on Roscrea in the league. Throw-in is at 7pm.

Tipperary

We extend our best wishes to all of our Tipperary representatives in their upcoming fixtures this week.

Jake Donellan Houlihan and the Tipperary Under 20 side face Clare in the Munster Final on Wednesday evening in the Gaelic Grounds, with throw-in at 7.35pm.

Éanna Tucker and the Tipperary Minor team take on Limerick in the Munster Minor Final on Friday evening. At the time of writing, the venue has yet to be confirmed.

On Saturday evening, Jake Morris, Josh Keller and Sam O’Farrell will line out for the Tipperary senior team as they welcome Clare to Semple Stadium in Round 4 of the Munster Championship. Throw-in is at 7pm.

Camogie News

County Action

Well done to Lilly Morris who lined out for Tipperary in the Under 17 Shield Final against Galway on Tuesday, 5th May. It was a highly competitive contest, with Tipperary battling hard throughout, but Galway emerged victorious on the evening.

Under-10s

Our Under 10 girls took part in a blitz on Thursday evening, 7th May. The girls enjoyed a great evening of camogie, playing Toomevara across three well-contested games.

Training continues this week on Monday and Wednesday evenings at 6.00pm.

Under-12s

The Under 12 Navy team played out a hugely competitive game against Roscrea on Monday evening. Great skill, determination and character were shown by all the players throughout the match.

The Navy team are away to Ballina on Wednesday, 13th May at 6.15pm.

The Blue team’s next fixture takes place on Monday, 18th May against Newport/Ballinahinch in Newport at 6.45pm.

Under-14s

Our Under 14 girls travelled to Annacarty on Sunday evening, 10th May. After a closely contested opening half, Annacarty pulled away strongly in the second half to claim victory.

Despite the result, the girls performed very well throughout and showed tremendous skill, determination and commitment right to the final whistle.

Juvenile Notes

Under-8

Our Under 8 boys hosted a blitz on home soil last Saturday morning. The boys performed very well and continue to show great improvement. Training continues on Saturday mornings. For more information or to get involved, please contact John on +353 87 136 5053.

Under-10

The Under 10 boys are currently preparing for a major blitz in MacDonagh Park next Saturday, with teams travelling from near and far to take part. Best wishes to the players and to everyone involved in organising the event. Training continues on Wednesday evenings. To join, please contact Mike on +353 87 632 4202.

Under-12

Our Under 12 boys played Kilruane last Thursday, fielding two teams and delivering strong performances across both games. This week the boys take on Toomevara. Anyone interested in joining the Under 12 group and trying hurling or Gaelic football can contact Greg on +353 85 170 8133.

Under-14

The Under 14 C team enjoyed a victory over Kilruane last week. Attention now turns to upcoming fixtures against JK Brackens in Templemore on Thursday evening and Clonmel Commercials in Clonmel on Sunday morning. Best of luck to the players and management.

Under-17

Our Under 17 boys travelled to Templemore on Wednesday evening to face JK Brackens in the football league. After a thrilling contest, Brackens struck for a late goal to edge victory in the closing moments. This result concludes the team’s involvement in the competition, with focus now switching back to hurling for the remainder of the season.

Tipperary

Congratulations to Éanna Tucker and the Tipperary Minor hurling team on reaching the Munster Final. Best wishes to the team in the decider.

Congratulations also to Rhys Cottrell, James Heffernan and the Tipperary Celtic Challenge team on qualifying for the semi-final of the Corn Michael Hogan.

Lovely local link to Féile and its founding in 1971.

Behind the founding of Féile na nGael & supporting Tommy Barrett, Seamus O Riain & Eamonn De Stafford was a lady who fulfilled the role of Secretary and her name was Juliana O’Brien, who was the great aunt of Ruaidhri O’Brien from this panel.

In addition to that, the very first Division 1 Féile na nGael final was played in Semple Stadium and was refereed by Michael O’Brien, grandfather of Ruaidhri.

Congratulations Counsellor Ryan

We send our huge congratulations to our own Paul Ryan on his election as a Green Party councillor in Kilburn and Brent in last week’s London elections.

Paul hurled for many years with Nenagh and is now continuing to ply his trade across the water with Fr. Murphy’s. This is a fantastic achievement for the talented law student and everyone here in the club is immensely proud of his success.

Congratulations Paul and best wishes for the future in your new role.

Darkness into Light

Congratulations to everyone who took part in Darkness Into Light at the weekend. A special word of thanks to the Nenagh Éire Óg stewards who volunteered on the night and helped make the event such a fantastic success.

Lotto

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

Alan Kelly, online.

Martin Furlong, c/o Andy’s

Mike Sheehy, Ballina

Next weeks lotto jackpot is €5,900. If you would like to play our club lotto online you can do so here.

The club would like to sincerely thank Tom McAuliffe and Barry Grace for kindly felting the roof on the outside dressing room on Saturday morning.

Pictured above is Tom demonstrating his well-known expertise in delegation and critical analyisis, while Barry bravely battles both the workload and the scorching sunshine to get the job completed.

THE NIGHT OF THE FOUR WARRIORS: ASTRO CLASH FIT FOR CÚ CHULAINN

Beneath the cold glare of the Astro lights last Wednesday night four warriors strode into battle for a savage 40-minute clash of 2 v 2 Social Ground Hurling. In one corner stood the bibs brigade of John Phelan and Jamie Kennedy, swift as the hounds of Fionn Mac Cumhaill. Facing them were the iron-hearted pairing of Martin Gleeson and Martin Hogan — the two Martins, grim as sentries at the gates of Tír na nÓg. It was a duel fit for the annals of old Éire, where ash clashed against sliotar like swords upon the Hill of Tara.

The opening rites began with a punishing wall-striking drill, each man alone with his thoughts and his touch, driving ball after ball against the unforgiving stone like Cú Chulainn testing his spear before war. Then came the end-to-end doubling drill, the sliotar skimming low and wicked across the turf as each hurler hurled himself into the fray with fearless abandon. Breath steamed in the night air and the rhythm of striking ash echoed like bodhráns in a battle march.

Then the real storm broke. Across half the Astro the four men tore into one another with ferocious pace and devilment. Scores flew over and back like ravens across a battlefield. One moment the two J’s surged ahead with the fury of Celtic gods, the next the Martins answered with the cold certainty of ancient kings. By half-time the Martins held the narrowest of leads at 9-8, though every man on that pitch looked as though he had crossed the plains of Moytura itself.

The warriors dragged themselves to the sideline for water and breath, lungs burning and legs heavy as iron. Yet there was no surrender in any eye. The second half exploded into life with the Martins striking early and hard, stretching their advantage to three goals and leading 12-9 as the night wind whistled through the cage like the banshee’s cry. Victory seemed within their grasp.

But legends are not forged in comfort. With the clock dying and the shadows lengthening the bibs side rose again from the ashes like the children of Lir returning from the sea. Phelan and Kennedy found a rhythm touched by magic, carving through the defence with savage precision and relentless heart. Goal by goal they reeled the Martins back in before surging clear in a breathtaking finale to claim victory by 16-13.

Four men entered the Astro and four men left every ounce of sweat and spirit upon it. A mighty workout, a mighty contest and another tale for the firesides of Irish hurling folklore. The next gathering of warriors awaits next Wednesday at 8.15pm beneath the lights once more.