Tuesday May 22nd at Shanbally, Junior Hurling training  at 7.30pm.

Wednesday May 23rd at Riverstick, JHL versus Ballymartle at 7.30pm.

Friday May 25th at Shanbally, Junior Hurling training at 7.30pm.

Monday May 28th at Shanbally, Junior Hurling training at 7.30pm.

Wednesday May 30th at Shanbally, Junior Hurling training at 7.30pm.

Friday June 1st at Shanbally Junior Hurling training. at 7.30pm.

In this period no players from the Hurling panel will be released for any scheduled Football sessions.

Once again Shamrocks suffered a severe beating in the u13 league. Its been a frustrating year for this group with low turnouts at training, having to pull out of the hurling league, all the excuses under the sun for not turning up for matches and severe beatings.

Once again Shamrocks were depleted for this fixture and in reality the game was over after a mere five minutes – Whitescross had scored 4-4 in that time to Shamrocks not even attacking. The halftime score read 5-6 to 1 goal, Shane Flavin having lobbed the visiting keeper.

The second half was much improved and Shamrocks were way more competitive. Next game is home to Carraig na bhFear next Wednesday at home.

Panel on duty: D. O’Mahony, C. Murphy, E. Seymour, S. Andrews, J. Lynam, S. Downey, C. Hayes, J. O’Keeffe, D. O’Flaherty, K. O’Mahony, D. Fox, S. Flavin, S. Geary

Despite the result this was a very encouraging display from the home side as they lost out to Valley Rovers by the odd point in a game played at Shanbally on Wednesday evening. The fact was that Rovers had a very strong team out on the night and indeed, after moving 0-7 to 0-1 ahead after 20 minutes looked like they were going to give Shamrocks a hurling lesson such was their speed, teamwork and dominance.

However, an understrenght Shamrocks kept themselves in touch with 3 unanswered points coming up to half time through Fergus O’Neill and Seanán Collins with 2.

The selectors asked the players for a committed display in the second half and that they got. Despite being down to 14 men for the last 25 minutes, Shamrocks fought tooth and nail for every ball, in particular the backs who were outstanding. The game was nip and tuck up until the very end but Shamrocks found the extra man down too much to contend with and couldnt quite bridge that gap in the last 5 minutes despite second half points from Barry Mulqueen, Michael O’Neill (who was safe throughout in goal and scored a long range free) and a lovely first time pull from Nicky Hayes which sailed over the bar from out on the wing.

So there is definetly something to work on there and training continues this Friday night with 2 games to follow next Sunday and Wednesday, away to Carrigaline and Ballymartle respectively.

Team: M. O’Neill, J. Tuohy, S. O’Reilly, J. Browne, D. O’Neill, B. Sweeney, A. McCarthy, M. Prout, F. O’Neill, B. Mulqueen, S. Collins, N. Hayes, S. Downey, D. Collins, B. Cusack. Subs used – P. Andrews, J. Shanahan

Shamrocks recorded their second win in a row to put themselves in contention for the playoff stages of the B Football league with a narrow victory over a tough Ballinhassig side in Shanbally on Tuesday evening last.

The first half was pretty even with Ballinhassig winning way more possession around the midfield sector, however some resolute defending from Shamrocks and bad shooting let them down. Shamrocks played down towards the clubhouse in that half and really should have been more than 1-2 to 0-1 ahead at half time considering the strength of the breeze.

But Shamrocks weren’t direct enough in their play and the one time they did, Joey Brady at full forward tipped home the half’s only goal. Jamie Sweeney, who threathened a goal early on when he rattled the post had earlier opened the scoring followed by a Stephen Keane point.

The second half was going to be a battle and it looked like a battle that Shamrocks were going to lose as Ballinhassig scored a goal from a penalty and then scored 3 points on the trot to open up a 1-4 to 1-2 lead with 15 minutes to go.

However, Shamrocks, now with a man advantage dug deep and showed lots of character throughout the pitch to fight their way back into contention. They got more competitive around the middle and first Tony O’Mahony and then Cian Ronayne got vital points to leave the game level. The key score followed soon after when Jason Browne, up from half back, finished a great team move to the back of the Ballinhassig net.

Shamrocks now led by a goal with 7 minutes to go; Ballinhasig threw everything at the Shamroxcks defence who were outstanding in that period in particular. They got one point but time ran out in the end for them and Shamrocks held on. Next game Tuesday June 12th away to Ballygarvan. We might try and organise a training session next week, depending on the hurling situation.

Team: J. Wilson, K. O’Mahony, P. Prout, A. Hickey, J. Browne, C. Brady, S. Hurley, T. O’Mahony, S. Keane, C. Ronayne, S. Jordan, B. Cusack, S. Downey, J. Brady, J. Sweeney. Subs used – N. Hayes, P. Andrews, P. Lordan.

So Shamrocks travelled to Grenagh on Monday with 9 available players and played the home side in  three 20 minute periods. The lads have not been exposed to enough games over the last few years and this was a satisfactory evenings work.

Players who took part were Daniel O’Mahony, Cathal Murphy, James Lynam, Evan Seymour, Joseph O’Keeffe, Cillian Hayes, Dylan O’Flaherty, Shane Flavin, Ruairí Meighan.

Kinsale ran out 6 point winners over Shamrocks in Kinsale on Sunday afternoon last. Both team had been concentrating on the big ball in recent weeks and there was a fair bit of rustiness on both sides, in particular early on. Kinsale played with the strong breeze in the first half and went into an early 0-2 to 0-0 lead before Stephen Keane got the first of his two goals for Shamrocks.

It was tight enough in that half with Kinsale, obviously with the aid of the wind, finding the scores that bit easier to come by. Their free taker was on form throughout and punished any silly Shamrocks fouls – he must have scored 1-8 from frees in total. Meanwhile, Kinsale had moved 0-9 to 2-1 ahead at the break after Stephen Keane had scored his second goal and Seanan Collins had struck over a free into the wind.

Kinsale stretched their lead to 0-10 to 2-1 early on in the second half and both teams traded points over the next 10 minutes, Alan McCarthy really coming into the game at left half back, from where he struck over 4 points from play in the second half alone. However, the inability to get any real scoring return from play from the forwards cost Shamrocks and after a golden opportunity of a goal was completely missed in front of the Kinsale goal when the sides were level with 10 minutes to go, the home side broke upfield and dominated the remainder of the game and scored 1-2 from frees and wrapped up things with a late goal.

Shamrocks played some nice hurling at times and the touch, while still needing lots of work, was vastly improved from earlier in the season. The concession of so many frees to such a good free taker was another noteworthy point. However, with plenty of games and hurling training sessions over the next 3 weeks, theses problems will hopefully be ironed out. Next outing is a home game against Valley Rovers on Wednesday night.

After the game the Kinsale Captain received the Jack Barrett Cup which is played annually between the two clubs.

Team: M. O’Neill, J. Tuohy, S. O’Reilly, J. Browne, A. McCarthy, D. O’Neill, C. Brady, F. O’Neill, M. Prout, N, Hayes, S. Collins, B. Mulqueen, B. Cusack, D. Collins, S. Keane. Sub used – J. Wilson.

What the mentors have decided to do is to try and play the original teams on the same original dates in 10 a side or whatever, in a kind of a blitz format, on as many Mondays as possible. This will enable the 12 or so players who are interested to get plenty of game time in a Shamrocks jersey.

The footballers have one game nest week and also need to play Carrig na bhFear at a later date

Shamrocks B team got their first league win of the season with a lucky one point win over Crosshaven on Tuesday evening at Shanbally.

Shamrocks started brighter and were 2 points to the good ahead after 10 minutes, Stephen Downey and Brian Cusack applying the finishing touches to some nice moves. Crosshaven eventually got into the game and after firing over 0-2 themselves to level it, they scored 2 goals in 5 minutes. And once again, and this has beena feature, the goals that Shamrocks conceded were of the very soft variety and should have never happened. Crosshaven led 2-3 to 0-2 at this stage but in fairness, and unlike the earlier games, Shamrocks didnt allow the concession of those goals to derail them this time.

Cian Ronayne, who was excellent throughout the game put over a lovely point and then Cian Ronayne and Darragh Collins scored quick Shamrocks goals and the game was back on. Half time score was Crosshaven 2-4, Shamrocks 2-3.

Shamrocks came out at the start of the second half and played brilliant football for the first 10-12 minutes. They drove at the Crosshaven defence and opened it up at will. Steve Downey finished off a full pitch length team move with as good a goal as you’d see anywhere all year and soon after Cian Ronayne (x2) and Darragh Collins had Shamrocks fully in the driving seat 3-7 to 2-4.

And once again, after Crosshaven had been reduced to 12 players, Shamrocks seemed to go to sleep and Crosshaven roared back into the game with some much needed scores. Despite Jamie Sweeney and Roy Twomey slotting over two Shamrocks points, Crosshaven brought the 7 point lead down to a point into injury time and can count themselves unlucky not to have snatched at least a draw.

For now though, from a Shamrocks point of view, a win is a win and goes somewhat towards justifying rentering a Junior B team after an absence of  years. Also, just 2 dayes after the A team put a reshaped team on the pitch in the championship, it was great to see 20 players togged out for the B’s and shows the interest is there amoung the lads. Next game next Tuesday at home to Ballinhassig, 7.15pm start. Looks like hurling training for the rest of the week.

Panel: J. Wilson, A. Hickey, K. O’Mahony, R. Murphy, P. Prout, J. Browne, S. Andrews, S. Keane, C. Ronayne, J. Brady, B. Cusack, D. Collins, S. Downey; R. Twomey, S. Hurley, J. Sweeney, J. Raleigh, T’O'Mahony, S. Jordan, P. Andrews.

Junior B V Crosshaven, 8/5/12

A 1pm throw-in, a new set of jerseys and a huge desire for a championship win all together provided a coctail to record a very merited three point victory over Valley Rovers in the opening round of the 2012 Junior A Football.

A very productive start saw Shamrocks run into a three point lead, but alas, a simple error saw the men from Innishannon respond with a cracking goal to quickly cancel the lead.  It was tit for tat with both sides playing entrprising football.

However, Shamrocks went on to score their own goal as a result of some great work by Canice Caffrey and team Captain Brian Sweeney finishing the ball to the Valley Rovers net. Shamrocks had a two point advantage at the break.

On the resmuption, Valley Rovers went up a gear and quickly picked of some fine points from some good direct play. The game was turned around and Rovers led 1-9 to 1-6 with fifteen minutes remaining. The Shamrock mentors made a few crucial positional changes and Shamrocks, now with a new spring in their step and the benefit of Declan Brays training telling, moved in to a winning gear.  Six unanswered points brought the final tally to 1-12 for Shamrocks and 1-9 for Valley Rovers.

It was a great win, well merited and fully deserved.  Barry Mulqueen gave a ‘Man of the Match’ display in the middle of the field and Philip Brady, when moved to centre forward was one of the main architects of the win.  All concerned must be congratulated. Shamrocks will now play Carrigaline in the Quarter Final later on in the summer.

Team: F. O’Neill, S. O’Reilly, S. Collins, J. Tuohy, M. O’Neill, A. McCarthy, M. Prout, B. Mulqueen, C. Kidney, C. Caffrey, E. O’Mahony, P. Brady, S. O’ Neill, B. Sweeney, D. O’Neill. Sub used – C. Brady

On Thursday evening last a very large crowd gathered at the Clubhouse in Shanbally to remember Kieran Hegarty R.I.P.

On May 3rd 2011 Kieran died suddenly after training, leaving his family and Club colleagues in shock and dismay. To mark the first anniversary of his death a Memorial Mass was celebrated by Rev. Fr. Pat O’Donovan C.C. on the Club’s premises.

The large attendance included his mother Mary, sisters Sinead and Susan, his girlfriend Rose, his Aunt Jennie, his Uncle Jim and extended family.

The Shamrock Club was led by its Chairman, Pat McCarthy, along with his Officers and the huge number of players who had played with and befriended Kieran since he joined the Club as a youngster. The Mass was a very simple and moving cermony.

Liam Shanahan, former Chairman of the Club did the first reading. Prayers of the faithful were read by Dave O’Neill, Bernard Hickey, Finbarr O’Flaherty and Patrick Andrews.  Fr. Pat delivered a very timely and moving homily. The final reflection was given by John Collins, a former Club Chairman and the delivery and rendition of his piece was truly very fitting for the occasion.

Immediately after the Mass a memorial plaque to Kieran was unveiled by his mother Mary. This simple tribute will be a lasting memorial to a true and sporting Shamrock.

The Chairman, in his address, welcomed Kierans family and the large gathering. He spoke in glowing terms of Kieran and his great loyalty and dedication to this Club since he first started as a young boy. Kieran loved playing our National games and once he was involved he was happy. He never sought the limelight but rather relished and enjoyed a simple role. He loved the games and he was a faithful follower of the Cork Hurling & Football teams. Kieran did a lot of good work with the under age teams, helping with the training and coaching. Pat added, that the Club will be organising an Under Age Summer camp in July and the camp will be known as ‘CAMP CIARAN’.

The Chairman concluded by thanking everybody who helped with the organisation of the cermonies. Again he thanked Fr. Pat, Patricia Howard and Ina Beale who helped with the preparation of the altar and the Mass cermony.

Afterwards the attendance were treated to refreshments upstairs. When all was said and done, the wash up was left to Pat McCarthy, Pat O’Neill, John Hanley and John Jordan – well done lads!

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Memorial to Kieran Hegarty RIP