Unfortunate defeat

DIVISION 3 FOOTBALL LEAGUE Glanworth 0-4 Knocknagree 1-12

Last Sunday in Glanworth we battled it out with Knocknagree in the 3rd round of the Football League. The opposition was once again playing at the Senior level so we knew it was going to be a tough ask.

The first half was very tight and I thought we played well. From 1 to 15 we were working our socks off and that is all you can ask. Their goal was the first score of the game and it came from a 45 that dropped short and was punched into the net. The lads didn’t let this deter them and came back with a very good point from Stephen Condon. Our second point was a well taken free from Marc Moloney to leave it after fifteen mins 1-1 to 0-2. We got our third point on the 20th min when after some great link play Ger O’Neill kicked a great point. At half-time it was 1-3 to 0-3.

Now 9 that started this game had played for the Juniors the evening before and full credit to these lads for the commitment they showed. But I think it did play a part in the control Knocknagree had in the second half. The lads’ effort was still top notch but they are a very good side and they were always going to have a run. This performance from us was much better than the last day and hopefully this is a sign of the upward progress we want to make. We were very unlucky not to get a goal late on as twice it was cleared off the line but they held firm. Those breaks just aren’t going our way right now but hopefully in time they will come.

Team: Ciaran Cotter, John Blackburn, Phillip Blackburn, Colm Whelton, Jamie Fogarty, Ger O’Neill, Damian Curran, Jack Blackburn, Podge Hannon, Marc Moloney, Jesse Welsh, Thomas Condon, Tom McGrath, Stephen Condon and Scott Sheehan. Subs Mikie Sheehan and Ian Dwyer.

DIVISION 2 FOOTBALL LEAGUE Glanworth 1-13 Doneraile 3-8

Our junior footballers were desperately unlucky not to come away with a result after losing out by a single point last Saturday in Doneraile. For large parts of the game I felt we were the better side but we never punished them enough. Goals win games and they took their chances. They kicked the first point of the day which we replied to when Aaron Noonan kicked a lovely point. They kicked another point and then on seven minutes Emmett Sheehan found Aaron Noonan who slotted it coolly into the back of the net. We added two more points after this from Peter Condon with a great score and a free from Emmett. They responded with two points but we put the gap to three after eighteen mins with a lovely point from Tom McGrath.

We got on a roll and had two more points from Emmett and one from Tom to go six clear with 26 mins played. It was the next few minutes before and after half-time where we lost this game. For whatever reason we let them back into the game. They kicked 2-1 before the break to somehow lead at halftime. The scoreline read 2-5 to 1-7.

We did start the second half with the first score of the half from Tom McGrath to level it up but they responded with 1-1 in the next few mins to go four clear. They outscored us 3-2 to 0-1 in this ten minute period and it is very hard to win a game when you do that. But full credit to the boys they never gave up and kept coming at Doneraile. Jack Blackburn kicked a superb point on the 41st minute to reduce the arrears to three.

The next ten minute period was very tight as both sides struggled to unlock the defence. The next score was vital and it was Michael Blackburn who showed superb leadership in kicking a great point. A minute later Emmett kicked a free and it was down to one with eight minutes to go. The gap was two when they kicked a free, we replied with another Jack Blackburn point. They kicked a free but we responded with a free of our own from Emmett to reduce it to one with a minute of normal time to play. But for the last five minutes despite several opportunities we could not get level and at the final whistle we once again were defeated by a point.

It was a tough one to take but there is a lesson in this. Even at this level you have to be more clinical with your chances. It’s not all negative. I thought at times we played some very good football. Maybe we need a bit of the luck and the results will turn.

Team: Shay Coleman, Colm Clancy, Michael Blackburn, Colm Whelton, Damien Curran, Jamie Fogarty, Marc Moloney, Jesse Welsh, Jack Blackburn, Peter Condon, Emmett Sheehan, Tom McGrath, Aaron Noonan, Podge Hannon and Scott Sheehan. Unused subs: Darragh Hannon, John Gallagher and Ian Dwyer.

LOTTO

27/03 jackpot €8,800. Numbers drawn 02, 09, 26 and 29. No winner. 4 x €25 prizes - Pauline O’Dwyer c/o O’Donnells; Fergal and Lorraine Whelton c/o Liam Cotter; Edel Linehan c/o Ted Linehan/Bill Allen; Arthur O’Keeffe c/o Arthur O’Keeffe.

Next jackpot €8,900 10th April at Roche’s Bar.

FIXTURES

Division One Hurling v Shanballymore Sunday, April 2nd in Glanworth at 2.30pm.

GLANFEST 2023

Glanfest 2023 is fast approaching and the excitement it building. It takes place between April 28th – 30th and it promises to be a great weekend. There will be fun bingo, a live panel chat with Briege Corkery, John Mullane and Donal óg Cusack, The Owen McAullife Sevens, a family fun day, a game for James Meaney between Glanworth GAA and Mitchelstown Rugby, Mother and Others match between Glanworth and Kildorrery not to mention music from Ciaran O’Gorman, The Fogues, Kevin O’Brien and Deuces Wild and there is so much more! \To get tickets they will be on sale at Flynn’s shop or online at Eventbrite.ie so get them as soon as you can as it will be an unmissable weekend!