Under14’s through to County Semi Final

Watergrasshill 4-13 (25) Ballinhassig 6-03 (21). A great win by our U14s in Mayfield last Sunday against a strong Ballinhassig team, saw The Hill book their place in the U14 County Semi-final against Cobh on Saturday next, Sept 28.The Hill opened strongly, scoring 1-3 before Ballinhassig opened their account with a goal. The Hill responded with a further 1-4 before Ballinhassig put their second score, a point, on the board. The Hill scored another 1-2 with Ballinhassig getting their second goal just before half-time to see the score at half-time Watergrasshill 3-09 to Ballinhassig's 2-01. The 11-point lead was quickly reigned in by Ballinhassig with an immediate goal on the start of the second-half. Both teams traded scores with the margin hovering between eight and eleven points before Ballinhassig trailing by 9 points with 10 minutes to go, scored two goals in a row to make it a three-point game. With four minutes to go, Liam Foley scored a superb point to make it a four-point game and this was enough to see the Hill win the game. Scorers: Liam Foley 2-4; Billy Ryan 2-0; Michael O'Driscoll 0-4; Ciarán O'Leary 0-3; Sam Dennehy 0-1 and Cian Cronin-O'Neill 0-1.
Squad: Fionn Fitzgerald, Rory Leahy, Cian Cronin-O'Neill, Coran O'Neill, Conor Hurley, Sam Dennehy, Conor Krol, Ryan Loftus, Michael O'Driscoll, Ciarán O'Riordan, Liam Foley, Shane O'Callaghan, Ciarán Linehan, Bobby Kelleher, Ciarán O'Leary, Cathal O'Brien, Liam Casey, Rory Leahy, Donnagh Burke, David Moore, Darragh Ó Bric, Darragh Collins, Donnacha Forde, Conor O'Mahony, Dean Field, Ethan Bowman, Billy Ryan and Mike O'Riordan.

Picture: Billy Ryan about to rattle the net 

Picture: Goalkeeper Fionn Fitzgerald anticipating danger

Narrow defeat for U21’s but still alive in Championship

Carrigtwohill 0-20, Watergrasshill 2-13. Our Under 21’s just came up short last Sunday evening, losing out by a point in a pulsating U21 Championship game against Carrigtwohill. Leading by two points in the 34th minute of the second half, it looked like our lads had done enough but a late rally from Carrig and three points (2f) swung the game agonisingly in their favour. Carrig got off to the better start on the night registering 3 points to no score before we got off the mark, hitting them for 1-3, the goal coming from the industrious Sean Desmond. We were working hard for these scores and missed a few score able chances inside the opening quarter, and these missed chances it felt, could be costly as Carrig hit a higher gear in the second quarter. From the 16th minute to the 31st minute the scoreboard belonged to Carrig as they hit six points without reply, four coming from frees which was a concern in terms of the discipline of our lads in the tackle. As the game moved deep into injury time in the first half there was green shoots for the Hill. Firstly Sean Desmond with a taste for goal already got, was unlucky with another effort before two frees converted by Shane O Regan narrowed the gap and kept us in the game, going in at halftime 1-5 to 9pts. The second half began much like the first with Carrig first onto the scoreboard, firstly a terrific point from play by the impressive Captain Liam Gosnell and another scrappy score picked up shortly after. Cillian Roche took over the free taking duties in the 4th minute of the second half and converted his first to narrow the gap 1-6 to 11pts, this would be the start of an impressive run by Cillian. Carrig and the Hill would trade two points, Cillian proving deadly from placed ball and Daire O Leary, now operating in midfield landing a great score from just inside halfway off his left side, to leave the score 1-8 to 13pts. Carrig would get the next two scores again from frees, the game very start stop at times as both teams didn’t give an inch. With the game moving into the final quarter and Carrig leading by 4, the Hill struck for their second goal and once again it was Sean Desmond. On 18 minutes, a quick free from Cillian to Colin Cronin, landed into the square and Paudie O Leary making a nuisance of himself inside the Carrig square managed to pull on the sliotar, which was blocked but it dropped for Sean Desmond to pull and rattle the back of the net. This tightened the game up and brought us back to within one point. From here our lads really drove on. Shane O Regan came close to a goal but hit the side netting, Cillian on fire from dead balls landed another lovely strike and Sean Desmond knocked over a lovely point after great individual work and solo with the sliotar. On 26 minutes Carrig converted a free to level the game with four minutes of normal time to go. Then a potential match winning moment was thwarted when Shane O Regan bearing down on goal and getting a way a great strike, saw the sliotar ricochet of a Carrig back and out for a 65. Cillian converted the 65 to put us a point in front two minutes from time but this was quickly cancelled out by Carrig to level the game as the clicked ticked into extra time. Another goal chance from Sean Desmond, narrowly skirting the post, going out for a 65 and converted by Cillian gave us a point lead, which we extended to two once again courtesy of Cillian. This left the score 2-13 to 17pts in our favour with 33minutes played. However the referee would play another 5 minutes within which Carrig would fire over three points, two from frees to narrowly shade the encounter. This was a pulsating and high intensity game and our lads despite missing a lot of score able chances still put in a great shift for 80 odd minutes of hurling. Our discipline in the tackle was costly with over 50% of our opponents scores coming from frees, something to work on for sure. All in all disappointing to lose the game but a lot of positives to be taken and as this competition is group based it now means a win over Youghal in our final game would see us progress into the semi-finals from the group along with Carrigtwohill. Hard luck tonight lads but still a lot to play for.

Upcoming Fixtures

East Cork Junior Hurling League Div 1, Thursday 26^th, versus Russell Rovers, in Killeagh @ 8.15pm

Under 14 Rebel Og D1 County Semi Final, Saturday 28^th, versus Cobh, in Lisgoold @ 3pm

Under 9’s: Saturday 28^th, versus Castlemartyr, in Castlemartyr @ 11am

Under 11’s: Saturday 28^th, versus Blackrock, in Blackrock @ 12pm

Under 10’s: Saturday 28^th, versus Ballincollig, in the Hill @ 10am

Hard luck

Hard luck to the Watergrasshill U12 girls in the Camogie County Final last Saturday, losing out to a very good Killeagh side. The girls gave it everything and were unlucky to lose but the future is certainly bright for the club and all these talented girls. 

Lotto

There was no winner of the Lotto Jackpot this week. Numbers drawn were 5, 11, 19 & 20. €30 lucky dip winners are Noreen O Riordan, Liam Foley, Neilus McHugh & Christina Goldsmith. Congrats to you all. Next week's jackpot is €17,200 and draw will take place in The Hut Bar. Tickets (€2) available to purchase locally at The Hut Bar, O'Mahonys Bar, The Fir Tree, Johnny's Shop and Restaurant and Ross’s Centra. You can also play on-line via our website at www.watergrasshillgaa.ie. The club lotto is an important revenue stream for the club and all monies collected get put straight back into the club. Please support if you can and remember, if you’re not in you can’t win.

Club Shop

If you would like any club crested gear you can order anytime by contacting Adrienne on 087-7589139. Team jerseys, training tops, shorts, socks and tracksuit bottoms, for adults and juveniles in various sizes. Hurling helmets also available to buy through the club. If you need anything or would like to speak to someone about what is available and sizes, contact Adrienne. Also keep an eye on our club Facebook page where new club gear can be seen.

Clothes Collection

This Saturday 28^th September, Watergrasshill Ladies Football & Camogie Club are hosting a Clothes Collection at the GAA pitch from 10am to 12pm. So a perfect time to clear out the wardrobes and drawers of unwanted clothing as you take back out the winter gear.