Our Intermediate hurlers gave a fine display in dreadful conditions in Camolin on Saturday evening last to guarantee a place in the last eight of the championship. Leading at half time by 1-8 to 0-8 having played with the strong wind in the first half with Padraig Flynn scoring 0-3  and Bertie Gahan scoring the goal.  The second half was all one way traffic as our lads upped their game to clinically pull away with James Gahan and John Ivory netting the goals and Bertie Gahan adding to his tally to finish with 1-7. With several players still to return from injury, honeymoon etc,  competition for places will be healthy and training matches should be lively. Best on the day were Sean Murphy in goal, who kept another clean sheet and Mick Sweeney, Patrick Breen and the outstanding Niall O Reilly in defence with Padraig Flynn and Shane Kehoe dominant in midfield, while up front Bertie Gahan and John Ivory and the hard working Brian O Loughlin were best.                                                  Team; Sean Murphy, Ray O Brien, Chris Daly, Mick Sweeney, Niall O Reilly Patrick Breen, Dean Fenlon, Padraig Flynn(0-3,1 free), Shane Kehoe(0-1), Colm O Loughlin(0-1), Brian O Loughlin, Bryan Dwyer(0-1), James Gahan(1-0), Bertie Gahan(1-7,3 frees), John Ivory(1-2).

Our Junior hurlers produced their best display of the championship in defeating Bannow/Ballymitty in St Patricks Park on Friday evening last to keep their hopes of a quarter final place alive. Defeat would have ended their championship hopes and a relegation battle was on the horizon. We showed great spirit all over the field and with led at half time by 1-5 to 0-4 with John O Loughlin getting a superb goal and Ed Rowesome and Mark Gahan accounting for the points. Bannow scored a goal at the start of the second half but our men scored the next 6 points to pull away and were never likely to be caught and were not flattered by their 5 point winning margin. A win in the final group game against Davidstown should ensure a place in the last 8.  Morgan Gahan was very sound in goal, while in a strong defence, Denis Walsh and Dean Fenlon and team captain Sean Doran excelled, Larry Murphy and Foster Lacey bossed midfield  with great help from James Sweeney who caused endless problems for Bannow in a third midfielder role. Up front John O Loughlin and in particular Mark Gahan tormented Bannow throughout.           Team,  Morgan Gahan, Sean Doran, Daire Turner, Declan Kelly, Denis Walsh, Dean Fenlon, Sean McCabe, Larry Murphy, Foster Lacey, Ed Rowesome(0-8 frees), David Breen, Patrick Walsh, Mark Gahan(0-3), John O Loughlin(1-1), James Sweeney.        Subs;  James Donohoe for P Walsh, Shane Gahan for J Sweeney, Niall Finn for J O Loughlin.

Our junior hurlers made the trip to Parc Charman on Sunday and were unlucky to suffer defeat in a well contested game. With wind advantage in the opening half we led at half time by 1-8 to 1-3  having dominated proceedings, with David Breen getting the goal. Our fowards also created another three clear goal chances but they were all missed and it left the Harriers in a game that should have been wrapped up. The second half proved more difficult against the strong wind and the Harriers eventually went ahead with 10 minutes left. Niall O’Loughlin then scored a great goal, but the Harriers went ahead again with time running out. David Breen won a free in with time up, but unfortunately Ed Rowesome’s could not find the range with the last puck of the game from 70 metres, for what would have been a deserved draw.  Best on the day were Conal Nolan, Sean McCabe, Paddy Walsh in defence,  Foster Lacey and Larry Murphy held sway in midfield and up front David Breen and Niall O’Loughlin were best.     Team; Morgan Gahan, Sean Doran, Daire Turner, Declan Kelly, Patrick Walsh, Conal Nolan, Sean McCabe, Larry Murphy(0-2), Foster Lacey(0-1), Ed Rowesome(0-5 frees), Brian O’Loughlin(0-1), Niall O’Loughlin(1-1), James Sweeney, David Breen(1-0), Niall Finn.     Subs; Denis Walsh for C Nolan, Sean Roche for J Sweeney, James Donohoe for N Finn, Niall finn for B O’Loughlin.

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

The minor hurlers played in the division 5 county semi final on saturday in St Patricks Park at 11.30 against Duffry Rovers

On probably the wettest morning of the year the minor hurlers lost out to the Duffry by 2-11 to 0-04. After making a bad start the lads responded well with some decent hurling at times but amid torrential downpours our lads found it difficult to get the scores needed to claw back the Duffry’s commanding lead. The half time score was 1-09 to 0-04. The Duffry found it difiicult to score in the second half and we didnt score at all which mean the the Duffry ran out comfortable and deserving winners on the above scoreline.

Team: Adam Dunne, Jamie O Brien, Padraig McCarthy, Ryan Breen, Graham O Reilly, Ben Doyle, James Walshe, Garry Ennett, Robbie Donnelly, Camen O Brien, Conor Doyle, Padraig Flynn, Mark Gahan. Subs: Peter Breen, Cathal Walsh, Shane Gahan, Cian Allen, Diarmaid Fenlon, William Murphy.

The intermediate hurlers played the Division 3 league final on Sunday at 11.30am in Oylegate against Crossabeg-Ballymurn and lost out by 2-16 to 1-09

Playing with the wind in the first half our lads had a terrible start with Ballymurn taking a commanding lead but due to indiscipline by the Ballymurn backs, frees from Peter Mernagh and a well taken goal by Niall O Loughlin, along with points from Damien Fenlon and Shane Kehoe meant that we went in at half time only a point behind 1-09 to 1-08. In a similar fashion to the county final and other games this year we completely fell asunder in the second half scoring only one point, which was a free. and despite some determined defending by Stephen Murphy we were comprehensively beaten

Team: Sean Murphy, Liam Gahan, Stephen Murphy, Graham O Reilly, Niall O Reilly, Paddy Breen, Mick Sweeney, Damien Fenlon, Laurence Murphy, Shane Kehoe, Conall Nolan, Matthew Dunne, Peter Mernagh, Niall O Loughlin, Bertie Gahan. Subs: Mark Gahan for Damien Fenlon, James Gahan for Conall Nolan, Chris Daly for Mick Sweeney, Aidan Gahan for Laurence Murphy and John O Loughlin for Niall O Loughlin

Scores: Peter Mernagh 0-07 frees, Niall O Loughlin 1-00, Shane Kehoe 0-01, Damien Fenlon 0-01