MFL V Kinsale – 30/3
Published March 31, 2017
Kinsale 3-16, Shamrocks 0-4
Kinsale proved too strong for Shamrocks in the league at a wet Shanbally. Kinsale played with the strong breeze in the first half and effectively finished off the game as they led 1-12 to 0-1 at HT withtheir forwards scoring from all angles. Shamrocks improved in the second half but the damage was done and it was way too late for a comeback of any kind.
U14 F Challenge V Mayfield – 27/3
Published March 28, 2017
Shamrocks 5-11, Mayfield 3-5
A good run out for both teams ahead of the Féile as Shamrocks played some good football at times to take the win against B1 team Mayfield in Mayfield. Well done to all
JFL V Valley Rovers – 19/4
Published March 27, 2017
Shamrocks 2 – 10 Valley Rovers 1 – 9
U21 FC V Courcey Rovers – 25/4
Published March 27, 2017Courcey Rovers 3-15 , Shamrocks 2-10
Shamrock suffered defeat in this first round tie at sunny Belgooly against a physically strong Courcey Rovers outfit. Shamrocks were slow out of the blocks in the first ten minutes and gave Courceys a head start of 2-2 to 0-0 before Shamrocks came up the field against the wind to register their first point. The first score settled the Shamrocks nerves and we began to play some decent football to pull the deficit back. Dave Barry was tasked with picking up Courceys danger man for the remainder of the hour and he did so with great endeavour and proved once again how good of a man marker he is. Shamrocks created three good goal chances in the last 15 minutes of the half but the Courceys defence stood firm and kept each one out. The teams traded points up until Shamrocks were rewarded for sticking to the task when Shane Downey blasted to the back of the Courceys net to get Shamrocks back in contention. Half time Score Courceys 2-9 Shamrock 1-6.
Shamrocks turned to play with the wind in the second half and needed a good start to eat into the Courceys lead. In the first minute, a long high ball into the square was fumbled by the Courceys keeper into the net to give Shamrocks the bit of luck that went against them in the first half. The scoreboard read 2-9 to 2-6, game on! Shamrock plugged away for the next 5 mins and needed a few points to keep momentum going but the Courceys defence again applied the pressure to limit Shamrocks to wayward shots. When Shamrocks had their luck at one end Courceys found it at the other end when a misplaced pass from a Courceys forward rebounded off his teammate into the path of the onrushing mid fielder who made no mistake in dispatching to the net. This was a hammer blow to Shamrocks who had done so well to get back in the game. Courceys tacked on a further two points to leave the score board reading 3-11 to 2-6. From then on Shamrocks were forced to create goal chances in a packed Courceys defence. Coby and Andy O Grady along with Cillian Hayes, Dave Andrews, Daragh Scriven and Shane Downey did their best to create opportunities but again the solid Courceys defence stood firm. We did manage to tack on a few points which is testament to the good attitude in this group of players who never threw in the towel.
Team (13 aside) Crisotoir Corkery, David Barry, Sean Kidney (Captain) Shane Kelleher, Mark Hitchmough, Joesph O Keeffe, Andrew O Grady, Coby O Grady, Cillian Hayes, Daragh Scriven, Daniel O Mahony, Davis Andrews and Shane Downey. Subs Ruairi Meighan, David O Sullivan, Shane Flavin, Cathal Murphy, Brendan Crowley and Damien Allen.
JFL Shamrocks v Tracton – 26/3
Published March 27, 2017
U10 HL V Mayfield – 25/3
Published March 26, 2017
U12 FL V Tracton – 18/3
Published March 18, 2017
Shamrocks 5-15, Tracton 1-3
U16 FL V Ballinora -18/3
Published March 18, 2017
Ballinora 4-6, Shamrocks 3-4
U21 BFC V Valley Rovers – 18/3
Published March 18, 2017
Shamrocks 2-9, Valley Rovers 1-11
Shamrocks came out on the right side of a bruising first round U21 football championship tie at wind swept Riverstick on Saturday afternoon. Our opposition was the formidable Valley Rovers who have a pick of 40+ players for U21 competitions, versus Shamrocks 19. Nevertheless Shamrocks led by outstanding captain Sean Kidney stood up to the task and played some outstanding football at times and defended with great determination when required. Shamrocks played with the gale force wind in the first half up the hill at Ballymartles splendid 2nd pitch. We needed to build a big lead going in at half time and Andrew O Grady led the way with the first score after 25 seconds. As the backs stood up well to limit Valleys to wayward shots, the forwards responded at the other end with the first major marked by Brendan Crowley, a poachers goal from inside the small rectangle. The second major was a splendid one, Mark Hitchmough released Shane Downey with a 40 yard pass in behind the defence. Downey who looked dangerous all day, collected the ball inside the 45 yard line, bore down on goal and fired a rocket to the roof of the net. Further scores were added by the impressive Cillan Hayes, Andrew O Grady, David Andrews and Downey to leave Shamrocks with a half time lead of 2-7 to 3 points.
It was always going to be a game of two halfs and script read that way in the 2nd half. When skill and invention was required in the first half, work rate, determination and heart was required in the second. The Valleys onslaught began in the second half and it was backs to the wall for this young Shamrocks side. Led by the acrobatic Criostoir Corkery who pulled off some great saves and the steely characters of Kidney and Dave Barry, Shamrocks stood up when needed. The half back line of Joesph O Keeffe, Hitchmough and Shane Kelleher carried ball forward when required. The O Grady cousins at midfield, Andy and Coby, compliment each other well. Andy the scoring chief coupled with Cobys outstanding work rate helped Shamrocks get a foot hold around the middle. Dave Andrews led the attack with intelligent running aided by two young minors Cillan Hayes and Daniel O Mahoney. Hayes popped up with an important score in the 2nd half one of two we managed to manufacture. The second was an unorthodox effort from Hitchmough but they all count at this level. Downey and Crowley were limited in terms of possession but they were not found wanting in terms of work rate. Shamrocks held out to record a one point victory and now move on to face the winners of Courcey Rovers and Crosshven next Saturday afternoon. The absent Darragh Scriven and the returning from injury of Ruairi Meghian, Damien Allen and David O Sullivan along with young Cathal Murphy and Shane Flavin will strengthen Shamrocks for the next round. The future is bright with this young Shamrocks squad. Shamrocks Abu ☘
U14 FL V Tracton – 14/3
Published March 14, 2017
Shamrocks 7-12, Tracton 1-5
Shamrocks got their season off to a winning start in Moinane Bridge with a big win over Tracton. Shamrocks got off to a great start and scored 4 goals in the first 7 minutes to give themselves a comfortable cushion. The rest of the half was more even as Tracton grew into the game. At halftime, Shamrocks led 6-5 to 1-4.
Both teams found time to get on the scoresheet in the second half but once Shamrocks opened the scoring, they never looked back. All 17 players played and made good valuable contributions and while the forwards did the majority of the scoring (all scored from play), it was a whole team effort from no 1 all the way to no 17.
Team: D. O’Brien, M. Foy. J. Coleman, P. Dorney, A. McSweeney, T. Sheehan, M. Sisk, S. Darcy, A. Maye, H. Andrews, D. Howard, E. O’Flynn, C. O’Flaherty, R. Barrett, F. Hayes, A. Brady, J. Bartlett