Monaleen Juvenile GAA Club

U14 Hurling

Monaleen Under 14 hurlers enjoyed a very successful week on the playing field.

In Ballyagran on Sunday, after a great overall team performance, they beat Newcastlewest on a score line of 1.19 to 0.2 points to reach the club first Feile Hurling Final in a number of years.

Scorers Edward Doyle, 1.9, John Nicholas 0.4, Jamie Porter 0.2, Andrew La Touche Cosgrave 0.4. In a fine team performance others to play well were Lorcan Lyons, Cian O’Brien, Thomas Holmes, Brian Donovan, Domhnaill Dooley, Colm O’Kane, Leo Morrison and jack Cleary.

On Wednesday night, in front of a large crowd, Monaleen visited our local rivals, Mungret in the All County Hurling League. In a very competitive first half, Monaleen turned 1.9 to 0.2 points in front, with some great performances, led by Ronan Murphy at full back and Rory Cunningham in mid-field.

The second half turned very much in Monaleen’s favour, following an early goal from Edward Doyle and Monaleen ran out convincing winners on a 4.15 to 0.3 points scoreline. Scorers were Edward Doyle, 1.7, John Nicholas 0.5, Jamie Porter 2.2, Andrew La Touche Cosgrave 0.1 point, Alan Nicholas 1.00. Others to shine on the nights in a great team performance, included Darragh Murphy, Reiss Connolly, Shane Doyle, Daniel Power, Sean Gleeson and Kevin Gleeson. Also wishing our Under 14’s the very best in the football and hurling Feile finals.

U14 Hurling Final

Our U14 Hurlers line out for the final of the Feile on Bank Holiday Monday next 3rd of May. The match will be played at 7.00pm in Bruff and we are hoping for a big turnout to show lots of support for the boys.

U14 Football Feile Final

Our U14 footballers retained the County Feile na nÓg title with a good win over Galbally in the final played at Hospital on Sunday. With the wind behind them Monaleen stared strongly and early points from Edward Doyle and Andrew La Touche Cosgrave settled their nerves before goals from Cian O’Brien and Ronan Murphy put them well ahead. At half-time Monaleen led 2-6 to 1-1. Galbally came fighting back in the second half but Monaleen’s half-back line of Oisin Kelly, Niall O’Shea and Brian O’Donovan kept them at bay and in the end Monaleen ran out worthy winners on a score of 4-9 to 2-1. Retaining an under-age title at this level is very rare but this is an exceptional bunch of players most of whom will be trying to make it a double when they play in the Feile hurling final on Bank Holiday Monday in Bruff at 7pm. Monaleen lined out as follows Leo Morrison, Conor Allen, Jack Cleary, Daniel Power, Oisin Kelly, Niall O’Shea, Brian O’Donovan, John Nicholas (capt), Stuart Hoare, Lorcan Lyons, Edward Doyle, Andrew La Touche Cosgrave, Ronan Murphy, Cian O’Brien, Evan O’Connor. Subs: Kevin Gleeson, Patrick Humphries, Shane Doyle, Brian Tiernan, Eoghan Whittle, Domhnall Dooley, Ciaran Martin, Niall Sheehan, Conor Nelson.

U11 Footballers in the Gaelic Grounds

Monaleen footballers took part in an exhibition match on Sunday last ,at the interval of the senior football match between Limerick and Leitrim. Both Mungret and Monaleen boys played some excellent football during this short game. Monaleen came out on top on this occasion winning by three points to one. The following boys played for Monaleen C Mulcahy, J Magner Regan, D Moloney, D Mc Crann, S Burns, J Halas, C Quilter, C Carew, S Donegan, N O Brien, C Nicholas, P Griffin, D Stritch, A O Donoghue, T Flaherty.

Girls U16 Football

Monaleen U16 girls had a great win over St Patricks during the week with a six point margin 2:08 to 1:05. A repeat of last years final with great performances all round.

U21 Hurling

Our Under -21 hurlers earned a semi-final place in the county championships having completed the league section of the competition. It was a battling performance against a skilful Glenroe side in coming back from a seven point half-time deficit that helped them maintain their unbeaten record. They earned their a share of the points in a high-scoring game in which they scored 5 goals and 10 points to the Southern side’s 2-19 in a fast moving match played in the New Field.

Whilst this was an all-round team performance John O’ Dwyer at mid-field was outstanding as was Michael Doyle until his injury. Peter Griffin and Stephen Murphy both had a brace of goals to earn the draw as Monaleen played with a strong wind in the second half. Sterling performances by David Haugh in goals, Alex de Souza in defence and Luke Murphy in the forwards deserve mention.

The team lined out as follows: David Haugh, Alex de Souza, Darragh Madden, Mike Doyle, David Mulhall, John Griffin, John O’Dwyer, Luke Murphy, Podge Pond, Darragh Bonfil, Peter Griffin, and Stephen Murphy. Sub: David Pond for David Mulhall.

Unfortunately, Monegea conceded a walkover in the final Under-21 hurling game on Sunday morning and so our side remains unbeaten and hopefully can emerge from the semi-final in July to a county final- a great achievement given our inability to field a team at this grade for some years.

Junior Hurling

Again the strength of our hurling teams and their unbeaten runs continue with the Junior Hurling team drawing to a fancied Patrickswell side in the City League on Sunday. Having taken the scalps of Crecora and Abbey Sarsfields already in this league this game was a step-up in standard but one that the mentors and players will rue with disappointment as it was there for the taking.

Having started in a shaky manner it was the sterling play of Julian Burke, Alex de Souza, Pa Ryan and John Griffin in defence that steadied the ship. On finding the pace of the game the home side then took over and more than made their presence felt in matching the visitors point for point. The performances of Dermot Foley and Noel Madden at mid-field helped to turn the game in our favour and when Peter Griffin got the only goal of the game the scene brightened and the points were almost seized but for a wide on the stroke of full time.

The side lined out as follows: Gordon Larkin, Julian Burke, Alex de Souza, Noel Brosnan, Ger Maughan, Pa Ryan, John Griffin, Noel Madden, Dermot Foley, Podge Pond, Cian O’Brien, Pat Mc Carthy, Eddie Cosgrave, Paul Coleman, Peter Griffin. Subs: Robert McNamara for Paul Coleman; Luke Murphy for Eddie Cosgrave; Eoin O’Brien for Podge Pond.

The last Junior league game is against Claughan on Sunday next with the semi-finals scheduled for the following Sunday. Given the fact that this team is unbeaten a semi-final spot awaits them on the 9th May.

Lotto Draw

The Monaleen GAA Lotto draw had the following numbers drawn: 5, 6, 15, 25 but there was no winner and the jackpot now increases to €13,900. The numbers of the €1,000 draw were 15, 19, 21 and 24 but again there was no winner. The following are the lucky dip winners: Letty Cosgrave, Mulcair Drive; Maurice Lenihan, 13 Caisleán Nua, Kevin Ashworth, Monaleen Road and Keith Redmond, 10 Elm Road River Bank.