Minor Hurling Championship 2012

The Leinster MHC kicked off today. Wexford came back from 5 points down against Offaly to win by 2 in Tullamore. Laois defeated Westmeath in what would be a minor shock (no pun intended) by 4-12 to 2-16. Meath predictably beat Wicklow 2-13 to 2-09.

While in Newbridge there was a cracker between Carlow and Kildare. Kildare had the ball in the net inside 30 seconds and were 5 points to the good after 8 minutes. Kildare went in 2-09 to 1-08 ahead at half time lead by No.12 Gerry Keegan who cut open the Carlow defence. Carlow produced a determined 2nd half performance inspired by Senior star Marty Kavanagh (scored 1-14) and edged out our neighbours 1-19 to 2-13. The win came at a cost though as centre forward Andrew Beaton was given a straight red card for a clear striking offence when the game was in the balance with 8 minutes left. They now play Westmeath in Mullingar. The performance may be upped and problems in our full back line and midfield sorted out.

Results:
Offaly 3-08 Wexford 2-13
Westmeath 2-16 Laois 4-12
Wicklow 2-09 Meath 2-13
Kildare 2-13 Carlow 1-19

Next Round: 5/5/12:
Westmeath V Carlow
Offaly V Meath

Laois V Kilkenny
Wexford V Dublin

Clare are at home to Waterford on Wednesday night. Will be a tough game, injuries and the amount of draws in the 21's championship this year has affected preparation and they have struggled to get their full compliment of players together at any one point. Jamie Shanhan - wing forward on the 2010 side and centre back last year is out with a shoulder injury while Martin O'Leary, Shane Kelliher and Shane O'Donnell have both been struggling with injuries but may well figure. While the team has some nice hurlers on it they are probably lacking the quality of the last 2 years and I have the feeling they might struggle to win ball and compete in the middle third of the pitch. Clonlara's Shane O'Brien will captain the side.

Would expect a team along the following lines

Quilligan
Aiden McGuane-Brian Carey-Shane O'Brien
Gearoid Ryan-Mark McGuane-Cian Nolan
David Conroy-Alex Morey
Conor Cleary-Niall Deasy-Bobby Duggan
Conor Deasy-Shane O'Donnell-Shane Liddy

The number 13/15 must be good.

How come Liddy didn't make your original line-up and the number 13 was named twice?

It was a typo which was amended - would have thought that would have been obvious even to you

The Clare team to play Waterford is as follows -
1 Eibhear Quilligan Feakle
2 Shane O'Brien (Capt) Clonlara
3 Brian Carey Sixmilebridge
4 Geariod Ryan Clarecastle
5 Aidan McGuane Kilmaley
6 Conor Cleary Kilmaley
7 Eoin Quirke Whitegate
8 David Conroy St.Josephs/Doora/Barefield
9 Alex Morey Sixmilebridge
10 Brian Corry Sixmilebridge
11 Shane Liddy Newmarket
12 Shane Taylor Broadford
13 Shane O'Donnell Eire Og
14 Conor Deasy Sixmilebridge
15 Bobby Duggan Clarecastle
16 Keith Hogan Clooney/Quin
17 Stephen Ward Clarecastle
18 Aiden O'Gorman O'Callaghans Mills
19 Shane Gleeson Cratloe
20 Niall Bolton Tulla
21 Cian Nolan Smith O'Briens
22 Eoin Tuohy Feakle
23 Mark McGuane Clarecastle
24 Niall Deasy Ballyea
25 Oisin Pender Newmarket
26 Donal Whelan Broadford

Other Members of the Training Panel
Shane O'Leary Cratloe
Noel Bridgeman Parteen
Eoin McMahon Killanena
Michael O'Loughlinn Clonlara
Evan Keogh Newmarket
Dylan Broderick Clarecastle
Diarmuid Moloney Broadford
Colin Vaughan Crusheen
Jamie Shannahan Sixmilebridge
Martin O'Leary Ballyea
Aaron Greene Clarecastle
Conor Clancy Clarecastle

Manager; Eamon Fennessy Sixmilebridge
Selectors; Kenny Morrissey Clarecastle, Leo Doyle Bodyke
Trainer: John O'Meara Sixmilebridge
Medical: Dr.Paraic Quinn
Physio: Eoin Keating (Abbey Physio)
Maria Fennessy: Sixmilebridge
Kit Man: Donal O'Brien Clarecastle

You had two goes at guessing Deasy's position and both were wrong.

The Puke wrote:The Clare team to play Waterford is as follows -
Physio: Eoin Keating (Abbey Physio)
Maria Fennessy: Sixmilebridge

Big call by the Clare management opting for two physios.

The Puke wrote:The Clare team to play Waterford is as follows -
Kit Man: Donal O'Brien Clarecastle

Bright prospect Puke. I hear Davy might call him up to the senior ranks.

Loyal2TheRoyal wrote:Big call by the Clare management opting for two physios.

Physio killed the radio star .....

Tipp hammering Kerry, Limerick and Cork level at half time while Waterford lead Clare by 2 at half time although Clare have the breeze second half but have lost another key player in Shane Liddy with a key injury early in the first half

Limerick beat Cork by a point. Extra time in Ennis

Waterford win by 1, winning point coming in the 3rd minute of injury time in extra time. Very physical game by the sounds of it, Clare lost three players through injury in normal time including the centre back and centre forward.

Clare will more than like face Cork next Thursday in Ennis, barring Kerry causing a complete shock and beat Cork on Saturday

Loyal2TheRoyal wrote:

The Puke wrote:The Clare team to play Waterford is as follows -
Kit Man: Donal O'Brien Clarecastle

Bright prospect Puke. I hear Davy might call him up to the senior ranks.

Downn in Ennis tonight and what an honour it was to be there. I've not seen a set of jerseys ever looking as well. Washed, rinsed, dried and ironed to perfection. What detergent does he use Puke?

I wouldn't know. Great contribution as always though

What an absolute cracker of a game in Cusack Park Mullingar where Carlow defeated last year semi finalists Westmeath 1-14 to 1-12. Carlow came flying at the start and were 4-2 up after 8 min. That lead was stretched to 5 after 18 min thanks to Marty Kavanagh from frees and Pete Shaw from play. Both teams exchanged points, Westmeath relying on senior star Niall O'Brien. Half Time score Carlow 0-10 Westmeath 0-05.

Westmeath came out with something to prove in the second half and were back to within a point after 37 minutes but a Dion Wall goal a minute later stretched the Carlow lead to 4 but back came Westmeath with a goal from Ciaran Doyle and an excellent point from Luke Loughlin had the teams level. The last 15 minutes was edge of the seat stuff, Carlow stormed ahead with 4 quickfire points from Shaw and Kavanagh again to be leading by 4 with 10 to go. Westmeath reduced the lead to 2 points with 5 minutes to go and what a hectic 5 minutes. Brilliant defending from the scallion eaters including a goal line clearance and a magnificent block on Niall O'Brien ensured Carlow go through to the quarter finals with an intriguing game against the Dubs!!

Scores:
Carlow 1-14 Westmeath 1-12
Wexford 0-22 Dublin 1-17 AET
Offaly 2-13 Meath 1-14
Kilkenny 2-17 Laois 0-15

Clare take on Cork tonight in Cusack Park, Ennis. Should be a tight game, Clare missing 5 of their better lads like Clancy, O'Leary and Kelliher who would be starters and Liddy and Shanahan who would be as good as anything in the country at this level, will be a huge win if they can get it, would set up a home semi final against Limerick at the end of June and we would have 4 of the lads mentioned above back for the match.


Clare make two changes from the team that lost in extra time to Waterford - Deasy and Stephen Ward come into the half forward line ahead of Corry and the injured Liddy.

Could go either way, heard Limerick were a far superior team against Cork and should have won by a lot more but Cork have made a few changes since, very hard to gauge the form

Clare 0-07 Cork 0-07 at half time

Clare have hit 7 unanswered points at the beginning of the second half to lead 14 points to 7

Clare 0-18 Cork 1-09 full time

Cork hit brick wall as Clare step on gas in second half
Clare 0-18 Cork 1-9
By Fintan O’Toole

Friday, May 11, 2012

Clare’s ambitions to claim a third consecutive Munster minor hurling crown remain intact after they swept past Cork in last night’s play-off tie in Ennis to set up a semi-final date with Limerick on June 29.

A powerful second-half display by Clare ensured they recovered successfully from last week’s opening round reversal against Waterford. The match may have been delicately poised at the interval, with the teams locked at 0-7 apiece, but Clare took over in the third quarter to register nine consecutive points that killed this game as a contest.

Indeed, Clare’s dominance was all the more noteworthy considering they had trailed 0-4 to 0-0 after 14 minutes. But they turned the game around in staggering fashion thereafter as they outscored their opponents by 0-16 to 0-3 over the next 31 minutes.

Star of the show for Clare was corner-forward Bobby Duggan, who amassed 0-10. The Clarecastle player remarkably struck the first eight points of the second half and his marksmanship from placed balls was flawless. Centre-back Conor Cleary was immense for Clare, while captain Shane O’Brien, midfielder Alex Morey and wing-forward Shane Taylor were also highly influential.

It was a dejecting experience for Cork as they exited the provincial championship at an early stage. They had begun the game extremely brightly, with Paul Fitzgerald and Kevin O’Neill to the fore as they raced ahead. But Clare quickly got into their stride and after drawing level at 0-5 apiece by the 25th minute, they were firmly back in the hunt.

From there Clare took over, boosted by the introduction of fit again Jamie Shanahan.

Cork got off the mark for the first time in the second half courtesy of a Pa O’Callaghan free in the 46th minute. But they only managed one score from play after half-time, with O’Callaghan rifling to the net in the 55th minute after good work by Michael Cahalane. Yet Clare still ran out comfortable winners with a late Niall Deasy point underlining their class.

Scorers for Clare: B Duggan 0-10 (7f, 1 65), S Taylor 0-3, A Morey (0-1 sl), N Deasy 0-2 each, C Deasy 0-1.

Scorers for Cork: P O’Callaghan 1-6 (0-5f), M Cahalane 0-2 (1 65), J O’Brien 0-1.

CLARE: E Quilligan; S O’Brien, B Carey, G Ryan; A McGuane, C Cleary, E Quirke; D Conroy, A Morey; S Taylor, N Deasy, S Ward; S O’Donnell, C Deasy,

B Duggan.

Subs: J Shanahan for Ward (h-t), S Gleeson for Conroy (50), B Corry for O’Donnell (61).

CORK: P Collins; S Murphy, K O’Connor, A Dennehy; K McIntyre, P Fitzgerald, D Mangan; B O’Connell, K O’Neill; J Cashman, D Cahill, M Cahalane; J O’Brien, P O’Callaghan, A Spillane.

Subs: R Cahalane for Cashman (39), T Horgan for O’Brien (39), A Sheehan for O’Connell (52)

Referee: Paul Foley (Waterford).




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Big day for Carlow minor hurlers today. After much deliberation over the venue they have got home advantage and are quietly confident ahead of todays quarter final clash. The Dubs won't get it easy in Dr Cullen Park. Should be an absolute cracker.

Most likely Carlow team: Jack Barron, Michael Malone, James Cox, Paddy Doran, Barry Nolan, Diarmuid Byrne, Michael O'Grady, Conor Fenlon, Dion Wall, James Doyle, Pete Shaw, Marty Kavanagh, Michael Walsh, Ayrton Gleeson, Jack Kavanagh.

Trying to get my head around today, will post more in the morning.

hurlingguru wrote:Big day for Carlow minor hurlers today. After much deliberation over the venue they have got home advantage and are quietly confident ahead of todays quarter final clash. The Dubs won't get it easy in Dr Cullen Park. Should be an absolute cracker.

Sorry for your troubles hg! Dublin underage structures have NEVER been as strong - in both codes. Maybe the 'home' fixture thing motivated the lads. Our minors and U21s have been more than living with the Cats, Offaly and Wexford etc for a good few years now. The trick is taking it to senior which we (largely) have not managed ... yet.