JJ KAVANAGH AND SONS COUNTY SENIOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP Ballygunner Finish Strongly and Win Again. Ballygunner 1-18 Dungarvan 0-14 Waterford and Munster senior hurling champions Ballygunner continued on their winning ways last Sunday when they survived a strong challenge from Dungarvan for three quarters of this second round County championship match in Walsh Park before easing to victory in the final ten minutes. Dungarvan were well in the hunt up to the 50th minute mark when the score read Ballygunner 1-12 Dungarvan 0-14 but a number of factors dramatically changed the trend of the play. The Gunners introduced JJ Hutchinson and he scored three points from play. Dungarvan, themselves, shot four crucial wides, which, at the end of the day, meant that their final score in this hard fought encounter came as early as the 43rd minute. Ballygunner won the toss and elected to play into the wind. It took the Blues some time to adjust to the pace of the Ballygunner play and inside ten minutes they had picked up three yellow cards. This, of course, was fodder for Pauric Mahony’s excellent freetaking skills and by half time he had secured five pointed frees for the champions. The first one came as early as the 1st minute but Ryan Donnolly settled Dungarvan with a similar score one minute later. Mahony was on target again in the 5th minute but parity was again restored when Michael Kiely, who had a great game here for the Blues, placed Sean Ryan for the first point of the hour from play. The key score in this game came as early as the 6th minute when Tim O Sullivan finished a Conor Power cross to the net and it seemed then that the Gunners would build on this major score. Credit Dungarvan, though, they played their best hurling for the remainder of a half that they won by 0-7 to 0-4. Tigris in the tackle, Dungarvan ate into Ballygunner’s lead starting with a Kieran Power point from a distance in the 7th minute. By the end of the first quarter, there was just 0-1 the difference at 1-4 to 0-6 after Ballygunner scores by Mahony(f) and Peter Hogan, the latter’s 12th minute score being the winners last minor from play in the first half and Dungarvan replies by Donnolly 0-2(1f) and Cathal Curran. An under pressure Ballygunner coughed up two pointed frees to an inform striking Ryan Donnolly and it took another Pauric Mahony point to keep Ballygunner’s nose in front by 1-5 to 0-7 come the 20th minute. A major point in the game was played out in the 24th minute when Gavin Crotty, in possession from a Michael Kiely delivery and heading for goal, was stopped in his tracks by Barry Coughlan with a penalty resulting. Patrick Curran struck the ball very well towards the corner but Stephen O Keeffe got down brilliantly to save excellently with a ‘65’ resulting. This was a major happening in the match as the Blues required one goal at least to threaten Ballygunner to the very end of the game. Ryan Donnolly pointed the resultant ‘65’ to level proceedings at 1-5 o 0-8 and two minutes later, Dungarvan had another opportunity to goal but Joe Allen’s attempt went across the face of the goal. The Blues’achilles heel of not scoring a goal since the championship began continued but they shot into the lead for the first time in the 28th minute when a Ryan Donnolly pointed free edged them ahead. The teams looked as if they would go in as they had come out 30 minutes earlier when Pauric Mahony pointed a 29th minute free but Donnolly had the final say in the third and final minute of added time when he popped over his seventh score of the half to leave the Blues ahead by 0-10 to 1-6. Dungarvan maintained their challenge for the third quarter and having been brought level by the 37th minute, they took the lead on two more occasions which lasted until the 47th minute. The half started with Pauric Mahony off target from a 33rd minute ‘65’ before Patrick Curran placed Michael Kiely for a neat score from play. Mahony and Peter Hogan brought the match back level for the 5th time at 1-8 to 0-11 before Ryan Donnolly struck over another free. The Gunners key player, as always, Pauric Mahony, levelled again at 1-9 to 0-12 before Donnolly placed Patrick Curran for a super score and then pointed yet another free himself. Ahead by 0-2 and 43 minutes played, little did the attendance know that this was to be Dungarvan’s final score for all of twenty minutes. They led by 0-14 to 1-9 just as JJ Hutchinson was being introduced. Hutchinson pointed on his arrival and Pauric Mahony(f) had the sides level for the 7th and final time in the 47th minute at 0-14 to 1-11. The Blues sought to take the lead again but two crucial wides by Gavin Crotty and Ryan Donnolly by the 52nd minute prevented this. Pauric Mahony(f) gave Ballygunner a permanent lead after which they completely took over proceedings. Whether the result of this was Dungarvan tiring against the wind or Ballygunner using their greater experience and upping their pace is a matter for one’s opinion, 1-12 to 0-14. As it was a fresh JJ Hutchinson scored twice either side of a Pauric Mahony pointed free and the champions were in full flight. Peter Hogan made the scoreline 1-16 to 0-14 in the 55th minute followed by two further Dungarvan wides. The contest was decided at this stage but the Gunners weren’t finished yet and further scores by Barry O Sullivan and Mahony(f) finished off a second half win for the Champions by 0-12 to 0-4. The champions prevailed without the services of a number of key players and it shows the depth in strength of their squad. They have Tallow to play in their final Group game and are likely to win this game as well. Dungarvan will be happy with their performance for over 50 minutes here and this game, despite the defeat, will have brought them on. They have put the dismal defeat to Passage last year behind them and the aim must now be to keep their name in the pot and defeat a capable Clonea side in the next round. Ballygunner’s Top Three : Pauric Mahony, Dessie Hutchinson, Peter Hogan. Dungarvan’s Top Three : Ryan Donnolly, Michael Kiely, Conor Sheridan. Observer’s Man of the Match : Pauric Mahony. Number of Scorers : Ballygunner : 5. Dungarvan : 6. Scores From Play : Ballygunner : 1-8. Dungarvan : 0-6. Frees For : Ballygunner : 13. Dungarvan : 11. Wides : Ballygunner : 4. Dungarvan : 10. Score of the Match : Dungarvan’s 33rd minute point engineered by Patrick Curran and scored by Michael Kiely. Scorers : Ballygunner : Pauric Mahony 0-11(9f), Tim O Sullivan 1-0, Peter Hogan and JJ Hutchnson 0-3 each, Barry O Sullivan 0-1. Dungarvan : Ryan Donnolly 0-8(6f, 1’65’), Sean Ryan, Kieran Power, Cathal Curran, Michael Kiely and Patrick Curran 0-1 each. Teams : Ballygunner : Stephen O Keeffe; Tadhg Foley, Barry Coughlan, Barry Power; Conor Sheahan, Shane O Sullivan, Tom Gallagher; Paddy Leavey, Harley Barnes;Peter Hogan, Pauric Mahony, Barry O Sullivan; Tim O Sullivan, Conor Power, Dessie Hutchinson. Subs : Eddie Hayden for Conor Sheehan (43), JJ Hutchinson for Conor Power (45), Conor Sheehan for Tom Gallagher (63, inj.). Dungarvan : Gavin Power; Aaron Donnolly, John Curran, Sean Ryan; Jamie Nagle, Kieran Power, Darragh Lyons; Joe Duggan, Michael Kiely; Patrick Curran, Kevin Daly, Conor Sheridan; Cathal Curran, Gavin Crotty, Ryan Donnolly. Subs : Joe Allen for Kevin Daly (25), Luke O Callaghan for Darragh Lyons (46), Kealan Daly for Joe Duggan (55). Referee : Nicky O Toole (St. Pauls).

DUNGARVAN 3-11 CLASHMORE/ KINSALEBEG 2-7

Congratulations to our young under 14 hurlers on their great win over Clashmore/ Kinsalebeg in the Western Division 3 final in Bushy Park on Thursday June 19th.

In a high scoring game, the boys prevailed by 0-6 and it is a just reward for all of them and for their mentors as the work to regroup in under age competition in the club continues.

The numbers available to us at present are small but successes such as this one may encourage others to join the club and play hurling and football with Dungarvan.

 Panel: James Maye, Robbie Wall,Luke Irwin,Brandon Dillon,Camello Crivello,Matthew Coles,Eddie Burke,Daryl Harty,Billy Hickey,Brian Curran,John Meehan,Luke Power,Darragh Healy,Tony O’Donnell,Will Healy, Callum Daly.

                        Dungarvan 1-17 Abbeyside 0-7

The Dungarvan and Abbeyside clubs raised £1,000 for St. Johns School and Heart Bypass Rehab at the final of the John A Murphy senior hurling tournament at the Dungarvan club grounds last Friday evening. Despite the threatening rain, a good sized attendance gathered to see this latest local derby contest which also doubled as a County senior hurling league game.

Because of their win, the Blues will join Tallow in the semi finals of this competition along with Ballygunner and either De La Salle or Passage, the latter two teams yet to play each other. The scoreline suggests that Abbeyside were short some players for this game and such was the case with Stphen Enright, Brian Looby, James Beresford, Neil Montgomery, John Elstead, Darragh McGrath and Richie Foley unavailable while Dungarvan fielded as near to full strength as possible with just Patrick Curran an absentee due to injury.

Abbeyside’s Shane O Donovan solos clear of Dungarvan’s Conor Sheridan.

The home side led from the off and indiscipline in the Abbeyside team cost them dearly in a first half that the Blues won by 1-8 to 0-5. The Villagers also shot six wides, which if converted, would have kept this derby game in the melting pot. Top scorer Ryan Donnelly, he finished the hour with 0-12(8f), opened the scoring with a brace from play and from a placed ball while wing forward Mark Twomey replied for Abbeyside. Donnolly fired over another two points from frees followed by a contender for score of the match by Conor Prunty off his left side near the far wing, Prunty the County player starting at mid field here.

Dermot O Callaghan on left and Mac Dara Mac Donnacha enjoying this local derby.

However Ryan Donnolly was to Dungarvan in attack as was Kieran Power in defence and his knowledge of the positioning of the home posts yielded him three more scores in the far off goal to leave the winners 0-7 to 0-2 in front come the 20th minute. As expected, Abbeyside came back at their opponents during the next five minutes and fine scores by Sean Whelan Barrett and and Tiernan Murray left just one puck of the ball the difference after all of Dungarvan’s out field dominance on a score board reading 0-7 to 0-4.

Yet, the match swung back the Blues way in the latter minutes of the half, Gavin Crotty pointed from play replied to by Mark Fwrncombe and when Joe Duggan and Sean Ryan combined to send Crotty in for the only goal of the match in the 28th minute, Dungarvan had one hand on the Johnny Murphy Cup at the break on a score of 1-8 to 0-5.

Two wise students of the game, studying the form ahead of the next round of the senior hurling championship

Though it was in mid June, the lights had to be switched on at half time due to the overcast weather for a second moiety that Dungarvan won by 0-9 to 0-2. As in the first half, Ryan Donnolly opened the scoring before Mark Ferncombe scored what was to be Abbeyside’s only point for twenty minutes. The locals hit seven unanswered scores via Ryan Donnolly 0-5(4f), Kevin Daly and Cathal Curran. Abbeyside added four wides to their first half tally of eight as both goalies were also called into action. Laurence Power made a great save from Cathal Curran at the end of the third quarter while at the other end of the field Gavin Power denied Mark Twomey.

Abbeyside’s Tiernan Murray holds possession ahead of Dungarvan’s Jamie Nagle.

With the score standing at 1-14 to 0-6, Mark Ferncombe went low with a close in free but Kieran Power was up to the task on the line. Abbeyside’s only other second half point was attributed to a Michael O Halloran pointed free while Dungarvan sub Joe Allen finished off the scoring as the town team ran out deserving winners.

A selection of the large attendance at the club grounds last Friday.

PRESENTATION

Eileen Murphy presented joint captains Ryan Donnolly and John Curran with the winning trophy and the referee and his umpires chose Dungarvan number 6 Kieran Power as the Johnny Murphy Man of the Match. Dungarvan club chairman David Kiely presided over the presentations.

 Scorers :

Dungarvan : Ryan Donnolly 0-12(8f), Gavin Crotty 1-1, Cathal Curran 0-2, Kevin Daly and Joe Allen 0-1 each.

Abbeyside : Mark Ferncombe 0-2(1f), Mark Twomey, Conor Prunty, Sean Whelan Barrett and Tiernan Murray 0-1 each, Michael O Halloran 0-1f.

Eileen Murphy presents the cup to winning captains, Ryan Donnolly on left and John Curran.

Teams :

Dungarvan : Gavin Power; Aaron Donnolly, John Curran, Sean Ryan; Jamie Nagle, Kieran Power, Darragh Lyons; Joe Duggan, Mike Kiely; Luke O Callaghan, Kevin Daly, Conor Sheridan; Cathal Curran, Gavin Crotty, Ryan Donnolly. Subs : Luke Egan, Kealan Daly, Cormac Curran, Joe Allen, Conor Duggan, Seanie McGrath, Kenny Moore and James Kiely.

Abbeyside : Laurence Power; Tom Looby, Evan Collins, David Collins; Shane O Donovan, John Hurney, Patrick Hurney; Conor Prunty, Maurice Power; Sean Whelan Barrett, Tiernan Murray, Mark Twomey; Michael O Halloran, Mark Ferncombe, Shane Ahearne. Subs : Stephen Cliffe, Eoin Kiely, Stephen O Connor, Oisin Hallahan.

Referee : Alan Kissane (Dunhill).

JOHN A MURPHY SENIOR HURLING TOURNAMENT FINAL ABBEYSIDE V DUNGARVAN IN Dungarvan Club Grounds Friday June 14th at 7.30pm. Abbeyside and Dungarvan Renew Hurling Rivalry All roads lead to the Dungarvan club grounds this Friday evening for the John A Murphy senior hurling tournament final between local rivals Dungarvan and Abbeyside.

With a skeleton fixture list on the club scene in the direct aftermath of our exit from both the inter County hurling and football championships, local gaels are being given the opportunity to taste some club action once again in advance of the commencement of the senior championship the following week.

This game doubles up as an important league game for both clubs. A win or a draw will see Abbeyside qualify for the league semi finals along with Tallow while the home side will have to win if they are to progress. This is an ideal game for both teams and the game will benefit two local organisations, St. John’s School and Heart By-Pass Rehab. Entry fee to the match, with the co operation and good will of both clubs is a modest £5.

There will be two entrances in operation at the venue. The usual entrance at the main gates will be open with parking available in the field and the new pedestrian entrance at the other end of the grounds will also facilitate patrons who can park in the old Century Homes car park.

Johnny Murphy was the life and the soul of Dungarvan GAA in years gone by and this will be the third staging of his memorial game, the previous two seeing Midleton and Wexford side Shelmaliers participating. Johnny was chairman of both the Western and County Boards in his day . A native of Cashel in Tipperary, he gave great service to the GAA in the Deise County as an administrator and a highly respected journalist since he arrived in the town in the late 1950’s.

The organisers are delighted that his cup will be presented by his wife Eileen and that other family members will be present. With club hurling forced to take a back seat to the inter County championships, the local scene requires games such as this and this should be a hour’s hurling worth seeing which, as a local derby, should tell us the current standing of both teams. Previously both clubs organised similar games which benefitted Dungarvan Hospital and the Sesame School in Whitestrand in the Village. As with the inter County games in Walsh Park, the stand will be unreserved. Refreshments will be served after the match.

There is no direct form between both teams recently ahead of this eagerly awaited game. The fact that Abbeyside contested the County final last year has them in a good place in the pecking order in the County while Dungarvan will be hoping to erase the memory of their disappointing exit to Passage in the 2018 quarter final sooner rather than later.

DUNGARVAN GAA JUNIOR FOOTBALL VICTORY SOCIAL IN 1973. Back Row : left to right : Noel Sheehan, Eddie Shehan, David Dwyer, John Meehan, Paul Lannon, John Fennell, Liam Simms, Liam Sandford, Jim Mullins, Bro. Cleary. Front Row : Left to right : Brighdin Ni Chriostoir, Michael Curran, John A.. Murphy, Mickey Tobin, Pat McGrath, Collette Simms.

WATERFORD COUNTY JUNIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS 1973.

The club has learned with deep regret the death of former player Anthony ‘Dinny’ Dalton this week.

From Caseyville, Dinny was a larger than life character in the town and in the club in years gone by and he played for many years with us in the 1970’s as well as being a staunch clubman.

Some years back, Dinny went to live in Donegal and that is where his death took place this week. Sincere sympathy is extended to Dinny’s family on their sad loss.

CLUB PLAYERS JOHNNY BURKE AND TRISTAN LOFTUS IMPRESS.

In Walsh Park last Sunday in Round 3 of the Munster Minor Hurling Championship, It finished Limerick 0-11, Waterford 0-11.

This was Waterford’s first championship point earned after previous narrow defeats to both Clare and Tipperary.

Club players Johnny Burke and Tristam loftus lined out for the Deise and both impressed with excellent match long performances.

Johnny scored 0-3 from play while Tristan justified his return to the starting fifteen with an impressive workmanlike display throughout. 

  Waterford Scorers :: Reuban Halloran 0-4 (2frees), Johnny Burke 0-3, Sean Burke, Jake Foley, Mark Fitzgerald and Michael Cummins 0-1 each. 

WATERFORD Team : : Rian Hogan (Kilrossanty); Caoimhín Walsh (Kilrossanty), Sean O’Neill (Ballygunner), Jack Ó Floinn (An Rinn); Cathrach Daly (Lismore), Rory Furlong (Roanmore), Triston Loftus (Ballysaggart); Sean Burke (Roanmore), Joe Booth (Colligan); Mark Fitzgerald (Passage), Aaron Ryan (Fourmilewater), Johnny Burke (Dungarvan); Reuben Halloran (De La Salle), Caolan MacCraith (An Rinn), Jake Foley (Ballygunner). Subs: Cian Rellis (Tramore) for Jake Foley (46mins), Jamie Gleeson (Mount Sion) for Triston Loftus (51mins), Michael Cummins (Passage) for Joe Booth (53mins). 

Abbeyside v Dungarvan SH Tournament Final

The Dungarvan club stages the John A. Murphy senior hurling tournament final on Friday June 14th at 7.30pm in a game that will also double up as an important league game for both clubs. Johnny Murphy was the life and the soul of Dungarvan GAA in years gone by and this will be the third staging of his memorial game, the previous two seeing Midleton and Wexford side Shelmaliers participating.

A win or a draw will see Abbeyside qualify for the league semi finals along with Tallow while the home side will have to win if they are to progress. This is an ideal game for both teams ahead of the anticipated return of the senior hurling championship ten days later and the game will benefit two local organisations, St. John’s School and Heart By-Pass Rehab. Entry fee to the match, with the co operation and good will of both clubs is a modest £5.

With club hurling forced to take a back seat to the inter County championships, the local scene requires games such as this and this should be a hour’s hurling worth seeing which, as a local derby, should tell us the current standing of both teams. Previously both clubs organised similar games which benefitted Dungarvan Hospital and the Sesame School in Whitestrand in the Village. As with the inter County games in Walsh Park, the stand will be unreserved.

 League Table Co. Senior Hurling League Group B

Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts

Tallow 4 3 1 0 85 67 18 7

Abbeyside 4 3 0 1 93 73 20 6

Dungarvan 4 2 1 1 99 76 23 5

Ballyduff Upper 4 1 0 3 78 73 5 2

Lismore 4 1 0 3 72 86 -14 2

Fourmilewater 4 1 0 3 40 92 -52 2