CITY JAHC ROUND 7
PALLASKENRY 1-06 OLD CHRISTIANS 1-15

We bowed out of this years' city junior a hurling c'ship last Saturday evening following a nine point defeat to Old Christians in a match played in Crecora under ideal conditions. The first halfwas a tight affair with the men from Rathbane edging ahead through frees from Pat Howard, as Kenny Rogers kept us in touch. Late on in the half a goal from Ian Gibbs, who had moved to full forward, put us ahead at half time by 1-3 to 0-5.

The second half was much different as Old Christians showed greater strength and determination to gain dominance and rattled off a succession of points before scoring a crucial goal that was scrambled home. Were it not for some fine saves from keeper Stephen Downey and good defending from the full back line of Eoin O'Brien, Adrian Guerin & Ray Nash the deficit would have been greater. Try as we might we could not get the scores to close the gap despite good performances from Simon Guerin, Kenny Rogers & Darren Walsh. With news coming through that Ballybrown were losing their last match the final semi final spot was there for the taking but it was Old Christians who pushed on for victory with our lads lamenting what could have been. Thanks to the management team and players for a tremendous year, our first at Junior A Level, and clearly the potential is there to push on next year and go a step further.

Team: Stephen Downey, Eoin O'Brien, Adrian Guerin, Ray Nash, Mossie Sheehan, Padraig O'Connell, Brendan O'Shea,Shane Loftus, Kenny Rogers, Emmett O'Brien, Ian Gibbs, Chris McMahon, Ollie O'Regan, Simon Guerin, Darren Walsh. Sub: Daniel Hannon.
Referee: Aidan Ryan (Na Piarsaigh).


CITY JAHC ROUND 5
PALLASKENRY 1-09 ST PATRICKS 1-21.

Qualification for the semi final stage of the City Junior A Hurling C’Ship remains in the balance for us after a disappointing loss to St. Patricks in the Gaelic Grounds last Saturday evening. We played well in the first half and only trailed by two points at half time, 0-9 to0-7 and were still in touch midway through the second half following a goal from full forward Ian Gibbs but St. Patricks scored 1-6 in the closing ten minutes to win out easily by 12 points. Five first half frees from midfielder Kenny Rogers and a point each from Ian Gibbs & Mossie Sheehan kept us in touch as Patrick Mullins hit seven points for St. Patricks from play and placed balls and was involved in everything they did well.

We returned for the second half ready to push on and get the right result but St. Patricks, with five points in consecutive minutes led by Mullins who hit 14 points in the hour, who pulled away to lead by eight midway through the second half. Points by Ciaran Ryan & Kenny Rogers (free) closed the gap before Ian Gibbs connected with a Rogers free and goaled to leave just three points between the sides entering the last ten minutes. But the effort required and the wide expanses of the large field took its toll and it was St. Patricks who finished much the better. While we were minus the services of several key players the result was disappointing and means a win in our last game against Old Christians is a must to have any chance of reaching the semi final stage.

Team: Stephen Downey, Mossie Sheehan(0-1) , Adrian Guerin, Eoin O'Brien, Daniel Hannon, Padraig O'Connell, Pauric Nash, Shane Loftus, Kenny Rogers (0-6), Ciaran Ryan(0-1), Emmett O'Brien, Darren Walsh, Kevin Taylor, Ian Gibbs (1-1), Brendan O'Shea. Subs: Mike Roche for Daniel Hannon, Ollie O’Regan for Kevin Taylor.

CITY JAHC ROUND 4
PALLASKENRY 0-03 CRECORA 4-08.

After recording two wins in the opening two rounds of the City C'Ship we suffered our second straight defeat when slumping to a 17 point loss to Crecora last Saturday evening. Scoring just three points in 60 minutes of hurling, two frees from Kenny Rogers and a close in effort from Ian Gibbs, was disappointing on what was a terrible night for hurling with persistent wind and rain. Crecora adapted best to the conditions and had they taken more of their chances the game could have been over before half time. As it was they led by 2-4 to 0-1 at half time and quickly pulled away on the resumption to remain unbeaten in this years' c'ship and head the table. We will be looking to put this result behind us and look to win our two remaining games against St. Patricks (Sept 5th) and Old Christians (Sept 12th) following a break this weekend.

Team: Stephen Downey, Maurice Sheehan, Adrian Guerin, Raymond Nash, Jerome O'Connell, Padraig O'Connell, Brian Howard, Kenny Rogers (0-2), Simon Guerin, Shane Loftus, Emmett O'Brien, Daniel Hannon, Oliver O'Regan, Ian Gibbs (0-1), Kevin Taylor. Subs: Ciaran Ryan, Gerry Lynch.


City Junior A Hurling C’Ship Round 3
Pallaskenry 1-07 Ballybrown 1-12.

After two excellent wins Pallaskenry suffered their first defeat in the City JAHC when losing out to Ballybrown last Saturday evening by five points in Mungret. The match started at a quick pace with both teams playing crisp, first time hurling in perfect conditions with Ballybrown going ahead early on. A fourth minute long range free from wing back was quickly cancelled out by a fine Ollie O’Regan effort before
Ballybrown pulled two clear with points from play either side of a yellow card for Ciaran Ryan. Midway through the half Ballybrown led by two but a wonderful sideline cut by midfielder Kenny Rogers was flicked to the net by full forward Ian Gibbs as Pallaskenry delivered on some promising play. Corner forward Kevin Taylor had a couple of chances to extend thelead as he got the better of some tight defending but his efforts just went wide. Once again we had a solid defensive performance with Keeper Stephen Downey in fine form and the full back line defending well as a unit. The sides went in level at half time thanks to a ’65m free in injury time for Ballybrown as the game remained tightly balanced.

Minor star Darren Walsh had the opening score of the second half straight from the throw in as he took on and beat the Ballybrown defence with ease and a shockseemed on the cards. A Kenny Rogers free kept the advantage in Pallaskenry’s favour but then Ballybrown hit a purple patch scoring 1-3 without reply in eight minutes. A couple of pointed frees and one from play edged Ballybrown ahead before a free travelled all the way to the net to open a five point lead. From here to the finish Ballybrown played a controlled game cutting out attacks by any means possible as referee Eamon Phelan was kept busy and Pallaskenry were continuously frustrated. Frees from Kenny Rogers & Simon Guerin were cancelled out on each occasion by similar efforts from Ballybrown as they got their first points of the c’ship. Training continues on Tuesday & Thursday with our next fixture against Crecora this Saturday evening in Mungret @7pm.

Team: Stephen Downey, Eoin O’Brien, Adrian Guerin, Ray Nash, Jerome O’Connell, Padraig O’Connell, Ian Mulcahy, Kenny Rogers (0-2f), Simon Guerin (0-2f), Shane Loftus, Emmett O’Brien (0-1), Ciaran Ryan, Ollie O’Regan (0-1), Ian Gibbs (1-0), Kevin Taylor. Subs: Darren Walsh (0-1) for Ryan, Chris McMahon for Taylor, Padraig O’Shea for Emmett O’Brien, Mossie Sheehan for McMahon.
Referee: Eamon Phelan (St. Patricks).


City Junior A Hurling C’Ship Round 2
Pallaskenry 1-15 Na Piarsaigh 1-14.

A last ditch save by ‘keeper Stephen Downey ensured Pallaskenry remained unbeaten in their maiden campaign at Junior A Level. A nip and tuck encounter played in Rathbane last Saturday evening was well marshalled by referee Trevor Mann with hardly a dirty stroke played throughout the hours’ play. Pallaskenry started well with three points in the opening six minutes to cancel the opening score of a point from Na Piarsaigh. Shane Loftus got the first and was quickly followed by efforts from Kenny Rogers and Emmett O’Brien as we gained supremacy around the middle through Simon Guerin & Padraig O’Connell. A mix up in the full back line though saw Na Piarsaigh edge ahead with a goal that gave Downey no chance. Na Piarsaigh hit two further points but Rogers, with the first of three 65s in the match, and O’Brien kept us in touch. Midway through the half full forward Ian Gibbs reacted quickest to a long ball from Simon Guerin to goal and hand the advantage back to Pallaskenry. Guerin pointed himself shortly afterwards following good work by Jerome O’Connell in the half back line to leave three points in the difference. In the closing ten minutes Na Piarsaigh narrowed the gap to one as their corner forwards found space and took their chances well. A second goal seemed on for Pallaskenry when Ollie O’Regan got in behind the Na Piarsaigh rearguard but his effort hit the crossbar and went over for a point. Kenny Rogers added two more points to leave Pallaskenry leading by one, 1-9 to 1-8 at half time.

One change at half time saw Kevin Taylor replace Daniel Hannon and he was quickly into action causing problems for the Na Piarsaigh defence. An early point by Na Piarsaigh levelled affairs before two points from Rogers and one by Shane Loftus saw us pull clear by three before Na Piarsaigh narrowed the margin again with a couple of frees. Emmett O’Brien made another of his bursting runs through the middle to point before Rogers left us two ahead as both teams made a number changes. Ian Mulcahy was introduced in defence and immediately made an impact blocking a certain score, breaking his hurley in the process. Some fine defending by Pallaskenry, led by Adrian Guerin & Ray Nash in the full back line, kept the Caherdavin lads at bay as they pushed on for the equaliser. Rogers third ’65 of the game gave us a two point lead with five minutes remaining but Na Piarsiagh pointed as the game entered injury time. Then came a wonderful save from keeper Downey who was at full stretch to deny a shot that seemed destined for the bottom corner. It would have been a cruel blow as Pallaskenry deserved something for their efforts an thanks to a fine team performance they came away with both points as the resulting ’65 was sent wide. Next up is a meeting with Ballybrown this Saturday @ 7:15pm in Mungret with training continuing on Tuesday & Thursday.

Team: Stephen Downey, David Keating, Adrian Guerin, Ray Nash, Jerome O’Connell, Padraig O’Connell, Brian Howard, Kenny Rogers (0-8 (0-2f, 0-3 ‘65s)), Simon Guerin (0-1), Shane Loftus (0-2), Emmett O’Brien (0-3), Christopher McMahon, Ollie O’Regan (0-1), Ian Gibbs (1-0), Daniel Hannon. Subs: Kevin Taylor for Hannon (Half Time), Ian Mulcahy for Keating, Darren Walsh for McMahon, Chris McMahon for Taylor (Temporary blood sub).


CITY JUNIOR A HURLING C’SHIP ROUND 1
PALLASKENRY 0-11 PATRICKSWELL 0-09

Well done to our Junior hurlers who defeated Patrickswell on Saturday evening in the first round of the City Junior A Hurling C’Ship by two points. Going into the match we were up against it with this being our first year entering this competition after winning the B Grade for the past three years and coming up against a Patrickswell side that had just come down from Intermediate Grade. Well done to all the players involved and the management team of Pat O’Connell, Paul Nunan, Damien O’Brien & Jerome O’Connell. We started the match slowly and found ourselves five points down at one stage but battled back to be only one point down at half time 0-7 to 0-6. In the first half we had some good points from Kenny Rogers who hit over two frees and a ’65. Both our midfielders chipped in with good scores with Simon Guerin hitting two points and Shane Loftus hitting one. Simon’s brother Adrian led the defence magnificently with only two of Patrickswell’s scores coming from frees in the first half.

The second half saw us build on the good work done in the first and push on to record an excellent two point victory to get the campaign off to the perfect start. We had excellent performances from our defence particularly young Eoin O’Brien at corner back and centre back Padraig O’Connell who kept Patrickswell scoreless from play in the second half. Gerry Lynch had an early chance to tie the scores but shot wide before Patrickswell extended their lead with a free. We hit a purple patch though which was capped with a wonderful strike from a sideline cut by Kenny Rogers. Firstly Ollie O’Regan shot a good point which was quickly followed by a similar effort from full forward Ian Gibbs before Rogers gave usthe lead at the midway point of the second half. Patrickswell once again tied up the scores with a free and there followed a lot of good play by both sides which wasn’t reflected in the scoreboard. As the match appeared to be heading for a draw Kenny Rogers stepped up once more to send a ’65 over the bar and in time added on he added a free to give us a magnificent two point win. Throughout the game Jerome O’Connell played a captains’ role from wing back with Simon Guerin leading the charge from midfieldand Emmett O’Brien proving an asset in the forward line.

Next up is a meeting with Na Piarsaigh on Saturday August 8th and training continues on Tuesdays & Thursdays.

Team; Stephen Downey, Eoin O’Brien, Adrian Guerin, Ray Nash, Jerome O’Connell, Padraig O’Connell, Brian Howard, Simon Guerin (0-2), Shane Loftus (0-1), Emmett O’Brien, Kenny Rogers (0-6; 3 frees, ’65, sideline), Christopher McMahon, Daniel Hannon, Ian Gibbs (0-1), Ollie O’Regan (0-1). Subs: Gerry Lynch for Chris McMahon.