Local Notes: Memorial games, playground support and mountain challenges
: Roanmore's Sam Pender in possession, supported by Paul Hayes with St. Mary's Brendan McGourty in pursuit
Two of the late Albert Burke’s clubs, his home team, St. Mary’s, and city side Roanmore, with which he won two senior hurling titles, came together recently in Kirwan Park, Touraneena, to pay tribute to one of the great characters of the GAA scene in Waterford, in the 1980’s and 90’s. Many members of Albert’s family were present to witness the first game for his perpetual shield and what a high scoring encounter it turned out to be with the sod in brilliant condition and both sets of players up for the challenge.
The difference overall was the range of scorers Roanmore possessed, eleven compared to three by their hosts, who were depending on ace marksman Eoin Kearns, for much of their tally. He finished with 2-10 (1-9f) to his name. Roanmore were the faster, fitter and more rounded side but St. Mary’s answered this with their usual fierce determination and fighting spirit to keep the issue open until the final minutes.
The home team started the better and no more so than their wing back, Dermot Tobin who slotted a sideline cut and a point from play over the bar inside two minutes. It was all St. Mary’s at this stage as Roanmore were acclimatising to a venue that most of their team never played at before. Eoin Kearns had St. Mary’s 0-4 to the good by the sixth minute with a brace of pointed frees before seasoned campaigner, Emmet O'Toole pounced for a timely major for the winners at the dressing room end goal. The same player followed up from play with a point one minute later and despite the Touraneena’s side electric beginning, the teams were level at 1-1 to 0-4.
St. Mary’s replied with further scores by Dermot Tobin and Eoin Keans (f) but the teams were back on level terms by the 10th minute courtesy of scores by Ian Chester, a great effort, and Man of the Match, Lee Hearne. The evenness of proceedings continued up to the end of the first quarter with Sean Roche and Kearns (f) trading scores before Roanmore Captain, David Barrett and Hearne edged the visitors in front on a scoreboard reading 1-6 to 0-7.
Roanmore assumed control at the start of the second quarter and by the 21st minute had shot into a 0-8 lead thanks to their second goal by Lee Hearne and minors from play by Emmet O'Toole and Hearne, again, 2-8 to 0-6. Many of the Roanmore points were out of the top drawer while St. Mary’s goalie Jack Power, prevented a third goal by the winners from Sam Pender. Three pointed frees by Eoin Kearns, as against one score by Sam Pender, kept the locals somewhat in touch and in the 28th minute, when Kearns took a quick free to Jason Sheehan, the latter rattled the net to reduce their deficit to 2-9 to 1-10.
Roanmore finished the half strongly with more spectacular scores from play by Paul Hayes and Ian Chester to leave a 0-4 difference at the break. Roanmore shot three first half wides to St. Mary’s two and they conceded 10 frees, double that of their opponents.
In the second half Lee Hearne and Jason Sheehan traded early scores before Roanmore sub, Eddie Nolan made his presence felt with a 33rd minute minor. Another Roanmore replacement, Sean Barrett, younger brother of David, gave his team a firm grip with a fine 37th minute goal but, credit St. Mary’s, they replied similarly and immediately, from a close in Eoin Kearns free. The same player goaled one minute later, following a fine delivery by wing back Sean Condon, 3-13 to 3-11.
This left just 0-2 the difference with 40 minutes on the clock. Jack Power denied the younger Barrett a second major in the 42nd minute before St. Mary’s had the opportunity to take the lead but Eoin Kearns’ penalty strike after Jason Sheehan was upended, came back off the upright. Roanmore were forced to react to this St. Mary’s comeback and they scored the next three minors via Sam Pender (2) and David Barrett (f) making it 0-5 in arrears. St. Mary’s claimed three of the next four points via Eoin Kearns, the final one, in the 55th minute, a magnificent effort from an acute angle, 3-17 to 3-14. However, that were the home side’s final visit to the scoreboard as Roanmore finished very strongly. David Barrett added two more pointed frees, sub Adam Crowley, son of the legendary Noelie, pointed from play, as did corner back Eoghan Barry on the call of normal time.
Roanmore’s 0-7 win was deserved overall while St. Mary’s contested all of the way. The game doubled as an all-county league game with Roanmore now sitting on top of the table. Heartfelt tributes were paid by the Chairmen of the two clubs to Albert, John Ryan of Roanmore, and JP Fitzpatrick of St. Mary’s, with pledges made that the tournament in his name will continue annually. Albert’s daughter, Emily, also spoke and said her dad would have been pleased with the fare provided by both teams. She then presented the tournament shield to Roanmore Captain David Barrett, himself a main contributor to Roanmore’s win both from play and from placed balls.
After the presentation David Barrett said a few words where he also expressed gratitude to Albert for being the person who gave him his first run-out on a competitive hurling pitch at adult level. The Burke Family sincerely thanked the Sliabh gCua/St.Mary's GAA club for hosting the inaugural Albert Burke Memorial Tournament and also thanked the Roanmore GAA club for travelling up to Touraneena. Both teams provided a well spirited, high scoring, great game of hurling.
Roanmore’s top three were: Lee Hearne, Ian Chester, Ethan Flynn and for St Mary's it was: Eoin Kearns, Demot Tobin, Cillian Tobin. The Man of the Match was Lee Hearne while Roanmore had 11 scorers to St Mary's three.
The scores from play were Roanmore (3-16) and St Mary's (2-4) and Roanmore had 10 frees to St Mary's 20 while the wides totalled six, for Roanmore and four for St Mary's.
The Score of the Match went to Eoin Kearns for his 55th minute point from play, for St. Mary’s. The scorers were composed of: Roanmore: Lee Hearne 1-4(1f), Emmet O Toole 1-2, David Barrett 0-5(4f), Sean Barrett 1-0, Sam Pender 0-3, Ian Chester 0-2, Sean Roche, Paul Hayes, Eddie Nolan, Adam Crowley and Eoghan Barry one point each; St Mary's: Eoin Kearns 2-10 (1-9f), Jason Sheehan 1-1, Dermot Tobin 0-3 (1sl).
The teams were: Roanmore: Tadhg Ryan, Eoghan Barry, Cian Carroll, Darragh Power; Paul Hayes, Sean Burke, Ian Chester, Conor Fanning, Ethan Flynn, Sean Roche, David Barrett, Emmet O Toole, Sam Pender, Callum Carroll, Lee Hearne. Subs: Eddie Nolan, Sean Barrett, Adam Crowley; St Mary's: Jack Power, Willie Power, Denis Coffey, Daniel Flynn, Dermot Tobin, Brendan McGourty, Sean Condon, Cillian Tobin, PJ McGrath, Jason Sheehan, Mike Kearns, Gearoid Hallinan, Conor Tobin, Eoin Kearns, Darragh Gleeson. Sub: Stephen Coffey. The referee was Timmy Organ (Abbeyside/Ballinacourty). The final score was Roanmore (3-21) and St Mary's Touraneena (3-14).
The winning numbers for last week's lotto were 4, 22, 23 and there was once again, no winner. The 5 x €20 winners were Tom Queally, Marian and Dermot, Pat Walsh, Angela Mell and Paddy Joe Ryan. The promoter's prize of €20 was won by Kay Ware. The Jackpot amount for next week is €2,900.
The Playground Committee are astounded by the generous amount of donations after coming in reserving a permanent feature forevermore in our community playground. Individuals, families, clubs and businesses have shown their loyalty through and through. We would sincerely like to thank all whom have donated from the bottom of our hearts.
The closing date has since passed, however, if there are any last minute donations to be made please transfer to Sliabh gCua Community Centre Playground Account: IE70 AIBK 9340 7021804120. Please contact Julie if you are making a donation to confirm the name you would like engraved on the feature. If you would like any further information, you can contact Julie on 087 9907589, or any member of the committee. Alternatively contact us through our social account @sliabhgcuacommunitycentre.
We extend our sympathy to the Morrissey family on the recent passing of Cian Morrissey, Knockacoola. We extend our sincere sympathy to his heartbroken parents Martin and Catherine, brothers Derek, Evan, Niall and Darragh, and cousin Ian, sisters-in-law, Grace, Eithne and Caroline, nephews, nieces, aunts, uncles, extended family, neighbours and a wide circle of friends. Funeral mass was in St. Laurence's Church, Fourmilewater, followed by burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery. May Cian rest in peace.
The Comeragh and Knockmealdown Challenge is being organised by a group of Dungarvan Cycling Club members. This leisure cycle event is part of Cycling Munster Leisure Series and will be held on July 14, starting at 10am from the Ballymacarbry Community Centre (E91 T6X8). It will consist of two routes: 50km and 110km. Open to all cycling enthusiasts and leisure cyclists. You can register for the event through the following link online: https://eventmaster.ie/event/OdlBtpmH0Z
This event will require a significant amount of marshals, so if you don't feel like cycling and would like to help out as a marshal, please contact one of the Ballymacarbry Community Centre committee members. We would really appreciate your support. All proceeds from the Comeragh and Knockmealdown Challenge will go towards the Ballymacarbry Panda Playground Development.
Last week's riddle was: What has many needles but doesn't sew?
Answer: A Christmas Tree.
This week's riddle is: When things go wrong, what can you always count on?
Answer in this column next week.
