Erins Own   0-12     Monageer/Boolavogue 1-9

Monageer/Boolavogue Intermediate hurlers made the trip to face the Carlow senior finalists of 2012 Erins Own in their home ground of McGrath park in Bagenalstown on Saturday and despite being short seven of our starting 2013 County final starting fifteen came away with a fully merited draw.    On a day when defences were generally on top, we were tied at 0-5 each at half time having played with a strong breeze in the first half. Our lads really dug in and took a grip on proceedings and grabbed the lead with ten minutes left when John O Loughlin was played in behind the home teams defence after great work by Mick Sweeney and David Breen to score with a screamer to the top corner. Two minutes later a ground delivery by Bertie Gahan was added to by James Gahan to send O’Loughlin racing clear again but somehow he lashed his shot over the bar with the goal at his mercy. Erins Own came back to regain the lead and it took a 60 yard free from accurate freetaker Bertie Gahan in the last minute to secure a well deserved draw in a very well contested game in front of a good attendance.   Niall finn gave a very assured display in goal, while in the full back line Liam Gahan and Graham O’Reilly were excellent. Mick Sweeney had a great game at wing back but Niall O’Reilly was man of the match as time after time he turned defence into attack with his well placed deliveries. Larry Murphy, who landed a great first half point and Damien Fenlon work tirelessly in midfield. Up front we struggled a bit against a big and robust home defence who took no prisoners but everyone battled really well. Colm O’Loughlin and Matty Dunne were best meanwhile John O’Loughlin made a hugh impact when brought in to the edge of the square.

Team; Niall Finn, Liam Gahan, Brian O’Loughlin, Graham O’Reilly, Niall O’Reilly, Dean Fenlon, Mick Sweeney, Damien Fenlon, Larry Murphy(0-1), Colm O’Loughlin, Bryan Dwyer, Matty Dunne, James Gahan, David Breen, Bertie Gahan.  Subs; Diarmuid Breen for B O’Loughlin, John O’Loughlin (1-1) for B Dwyer, Mark Walsh for J Gahan inj. Also Sean Doran, Declan Kelly, Foster Lacey.

Next Leinster League outing is Saturday next against top  Dublin outfit Na Fianna in Monageer at 4.00pm.          Also on Saturday  our Junior hurlers open their league campaign V Gusserane in Monageer at 2.30.           On Sunday our Intermediates have an away trip to St Patricks in Camolin at 2.00

Our intermediate hurlers returned to winning ways with an impressive display of aggression and craft to completely outplay a Fethard side whose  pre match form suggested otherwise. Early goals from Bertie Gahan and Colm O Loughlin set the tone in this at times over robust contest but our lads never yielded an inch and with our defence in superb form we led at half time by 2-8 to 0-6. Facing a strong wind in the second half, we comfortably dealt with the Fethard challenge, restricting them to 0-1 in the entire half while replying with 1-4 ourselves with Damien Fenlon grabbing the goal to finish the game as a contest.      On a day when there were many fine displays, we had exceptional displays from young Graham O Reilly who was making his debut at this level along with Tommy Breen, Mick Sweeney, Mark Walsh and Colm O Loughlin.                                                                        Team;   Sean Murphy, Liam Gahan, Steven Murphy, Graham O Reilly, Niall O Reilly, Tommy Breen(0-1), Mick Sweeney, Mark Walsh, Damien Fenlon(1-0), Colm O Loughlin(1-1), Matty Dunne(0-1), Shane Kehoe(0-1), Peter Mernagh(0-3 2 frees), Niall O Loughlin(0-3 2 frees), Bertie Gahan(1-1).

Our Junior hurlers continued their fine form on Thursday evening in round 3 of the championship with an impressive performance against Taghmon/Camross in windy Oylgate and booked their place in the quarter finals with two games to spare Leading by 2-5 to 0-5 at halftime with John

O’Loughlin scoring both goals in a man of the match display. We had to withstand a great come back from a strong Taghmon side who eventually closed to within a point with 12 minutes left and despite now playing into a stiffish wind we used all our experience to pull away again with points from O Loughlin and Ed Rowesome. Morgan Gahan in goal along with all of our defence were excellent, with Sean Doran and Sean McCabe exceptional, Larry Murphy at midfield and Johnno at full foward also excelled Team; Morgan Gahan, Declan Kelly, Daire Turner, Sean Doran, Graham O’Reilly(0-1), Chris Daly, Sean McCabe, Larry Murphy(0-1), Aidan Gahan, Ed Rowesome(0-5,0-4frees), Ger Daly(0-1), Adrian O Dowd(0-1), Bryan Dwyer, John O Loughlin(2-2), John Ivory(0-1). Subs; Conal Nolan for O Dowd, Mick Nolan for Ger Daly.

Our Intermediate hurlers made the long trip to Horeswood and came away with a valuable win on Friday evening last to keep their 100% record intact after round 4 of the all county league. Despite missing many chances they turned at half-time leading by 0-8 to 0-5 with David breen grabbing a brace and Niall O Loughlin adding 0-5. Horeswood got a grip on proceedings and narrowed

the gap to 0-10 to 0-8 with 15 minutes left. Colm O Loughlin then grabbed 1-3 and 0-2 points from long range frees by Tommy Breen gave Monageer a healthy 1-17 to 0-9 lead entering the closing stages. Some sloppy defending allowed Horeswood in for 2 late goals but in truth the win was never in doubt. Morgan Gahan in goal was very sound while Aidan Gahan, Chris Daly and Tommy Breen were best in defence. Mark Walsh worked hard in midfield while Niall and Colm O Loughlin were best of the fowards. Team; Morgan Gahan, Sean Doran, Aidan Gahan, Chris Daly, Graham O Reilly, Tommy Breen(0-2 2frees), Paul Gahan, Mick Sweeney, Mark Walsh, Colm O Loughlin(1-4), David Breen(0-2), Adrian O Dowd, Brian Dwyer, Niall O Loughlin(0-9 0-7 frees) Bertie Gahan. Subs; Ray O Brien for B Gahan, Paddy Breen for A O Dowd.

Our Junior hurlers played shower great determination and no little skill as they disposed of a strong Bannow side in round 2 of the championship on sunday afternoon in Hollymount.Starting slowly they fell three points in arrears early on. A goal from a free by Ed  Rowesome kept us well in the game. Bannow forged ahead again but John O Loughlin who tormented the opposition lashed to the net to tie up the game again. Bannow led at halftime 0-9 to 2-2. The second half follow the same pattern with Bannow forging ahead and Monageer clawing back the lead on several occasions. Bannow looked the likely winners when leading 0-15 to 2-7 with only 5 minutes remaining, but a great finish with points from John Ivory and the ever reliable Ed Rowesome delivered a fine victory to send them to the top of the table in their quest to qualify for the quarter finals. Score of the day was a point from Ed Rowesome from over 100 yards after he collected a reverse handpass from Joe Canning, sorry thats Dec Kelly to inspire the revival. Best on the day were Chris Daly and Graham O Reilly and Sean Doran in defence. Larry Murphy was in top form in midfield while up front, John O Loughlin and Ed Rowesome were best.                                            Team; Morgan Gahan, Declan Kelly, Daire Turner, Liam Gahan, Sean Doran, Chris Daly, Graham O Reilly, Larry Murphy, Diarmuid Breen, Ed Rowesome(1-7 1-6 frees), Ger Daly, Adrian O Dowd(0-2), Brian Dwyer, John O Loughlin(1-0), John Ivory(0-1).

Our Intermediate hurlers went down to a fired up Shamrocks in Blackwater on saturday afternoon. Little divided the sides for most of the first half with the bulk of the scores coming from placed balls. Shamrocks finished the half strongly to secure a 0-10 to 0-5 lead at halftime having had the advantage of the wind in the first half.                                We began the second half well and narrowed the gap to two points after five minutes, but the Shamrocks responded with four points to forge ahead again and despite a battling last quarter, the goal we badly needed did not arrive until injury time and proved to little too late.

Team; Sean Murphy, Ray O Brien, Brian O Loughlin, Paul Gahan, Niall O Reilly, Steven Murphy, Mick Sweeney, Damien Fenlon, Matty Dunne(0-2) Colm O Loughlin, David Breen, Tommy Breen, Peter Mernagh(0-9 frees), Niall O Loughlin(1-1 0-1free), Bertie Gahan.          Subs;   Mark Walsh for David Breen, James Sweeney for Bertie Gahan, Paddy Breen for Brian O Loughlin (inj).

Our newly promoted Junior hurlers sent pre match red hot favorites and serious championship contenders Faythe Harriers packing with a committed and determined display in Ballygarrett on sunday last. Despite being short several regulars due to exams and a long injury list, our boys put the Harriers to the sword and with Ed Rowesome at his deadly best from placed balls and Brian Dwyer and James Sweeney causing mayhem in our full foward line we led at half-time by 4-7 to 1-1. Paddy Breen was in top form at centre back and with Ger Daly and Diarmuid Breen outplaying the opposition midfield we turned to face the strong wind in the second half with great hope. Our boys battled manfully and with great skill to seal up our defence led by captain Daire Turner and Dec Kelly and with Morgan Gahan back to his best form in goal  the Harriers never really looked likely to get the goals which might turn the game. David Breen gave an exhibition of high fielding at centre foward and his intelligent deliveries to our foward line went a long way to break the hearts of the opposition. Next up is a trip to Hollymount to face Bannow/Ballymitty on Sunday next at 2.00.     Team; Morgan Gahan, Declan Kelly, Daire Turner, Chris Daly, Sean Doran, Patrick Breen, Sean McCabe, Ger Daly, Diarmuid Breen, Ed Rowesome(2-4frees), David Breen(0-2), Larry Murphy(0-1), Bryan Dwyer(0-1), John O’Loughlin, James Sweeney(2-0).       Subs; Graham O’Reilly for S McCabe(inj) Also Mark Gahan.

Our intermediate hurlers kicked off their championship with a good win over newly promoted Crossabeg/Ballymurn in Farmleigh on Saturday evening. We started well and led at halftime by 1-8 to 2-3 with Peter Mernagh scoring a fantastic goal and Bertie Gahan also to the fore with 3 fine points and really we should have been further ahead as we missed some gilt edge scoring opportunities. Facing the wind in the second half we started brightly and stretched the lead to 4 points after 45 minutes but Crossabeg goaled from a free and immediately levelled from another placed ball during their period of dominance. Our lads dug deep and scored two fine points to forge ahead again and despite a virtual onslaught for the final 3 minutes we defended heroically to fashion a crucial win in what promises to be a very difficult championship group. Liam Gahan, Mick Sweeney and Brian O’Loughlin defended well while Shane Kehoe and Damien Fenlon had the better of the midfield battle. Up front,Mernagh and Niall O’Loughlin were dangerous throughout.            Team; Sean Murphy, Liam Gahan, Brian O’Loughlin, Ray O’Brien, Niall O’Reilly, Steven Murphy(capt), Mick Sweeney, Shane Kehoe, Damien Fenlon(0-1), Colm O’Loughlin(0-1), Matty Dunne(0-1), Tommy Breen(0-1), Peter Mernagh(1-5,5frees), Niall O’Loughlin(0-1), Bertie Gahan(0-3).

Our junior hurlers went down to a strong Gusserane side in Div 4 of ACL on sunday evening. Short several regulars due to injuries and exams, we started poorly and trailed 1-13 to 0-4 at halftime. A great second half comeback came up just short as we were beaten by the last whistle as we poured forward in search of the winning scores.                      Team; Morgan Gahan, Sean Doran, Daire Turner, Declan Kelly, Sean McCabe, Chris Daly, Liam Gahan, Damien Fenlon, Paddy Breen, Ed Rowesome(0-8 frees), Shane Kehoe(0-1), Laurence Murphy(0-1), Bryan Dwyer(1-0), David Breen(0-2), James Sweeney.     Subs Mick Sweeney for S McCabe, Graham O’Reilly for S Doran, John O’Loughlin for S Kehoe.