Sunday next 27th May is a big day for our senior hurlers when they open their championship encounter, facing near neighbours the Faythe Harriers in Wexford Park at 3-30 pm.
Sunday next is a big day for our senior hurlers when they open their championship encounter, facing near neighbours the Faythe Harriers in Wexford Park at 3-30 pm. We wish them every success on Sunday next and ask all supporters to go along to cheer on the team.
Our under 10 hurlers were in action last Thursday for their first competitive game of the season when playing a Go Games practice match against Crossabeg Ballymurn in Hollymount. Both the Shels teams in action on the night played great hurling with Craig Parker, Liam Rockett and Steven Rossiter best for the home team. Again we would like to invite children who wish to give hurling and football a Go to come to Hollymount Saturday 3pm to 4.15 pm. were they will receive excellent coaching from the team mentors.
We would again ask all team managers to have brief match reports emailed to the club PRO’s by 6pm on each Sunday evening to be included in the local press on the following Wednesday, reports should be emailed the shelmaliergaaclub@eircom.net. More extensive and detailed reports on these matches also should to email to the same address as soon as possible for inclusion on the new website which has a proposed starting date early next month. We are also appealing to club supporters who have photos of matches and teams over a number of years to email them to the same address for inclusion on the new site photo gallery.
It was a busy week for the under 14 hurlers who faced local rivals the Faythe Harriers in two important matches in the space of four days with the black and amber showing contrasting form in both games. In the Feile final on Saturday week in Wexford Park the boys tried their best but failed to produce their type of play we expect from this team. The Harriers got off to whirlwind start and were five points to the good before the Shelmaliers realised the game was on. From the off the Shels boys struggled to cope with the greater physical strength of the town men and it seemed that the occasion and the venue may have affected our boys as very few of them played to their potential. By half-time we trailed by eight points on a 2-5 to 1-0 score line having played with the wind, Shane Birney having scored a smashing goal just before the break. However in the second half the boys to their credit fought to the bitter end and never lay down. Seán Byrne in the goal was sound under pressure while Pádraic O’ Leary was heroic at full-back. Up front Shane Birney was a shining light and never stopped carrying the game to the opposition.
In their second encounter in Hollymount on Wednesday last the boys had a point to prove and they certainly did with a spirit and determination performance. Having quickly recovered from an early Harriers goal the Shels boys soon showed their mettle and a well-taken individual goal from Dean Corrigan laid down a marker and the Harriers knew they were in a game. Three tremendous long-range points from placed balls from Conor Tobin left us trailing by a goal at half-time on a 3-0 to 1-3 scoreline. The Shels dominated the second half. Pádraic O’ Leary excelled at full-back while Conor Tobin was outstanding at centre-back. Dean Corrigan and Craig McCabe drove us on from midfield, while Shane Birney and Glen Murphy were forceful upfront. Goals from Craig McCabe and the opportunistic Neil Rossiter left the issue in doubt until the end. Final score Harriers: 4-2; Shels: 3-3.
The minor hurler travelled to Rathangan on Sunday last and played to local side in the championship as part of the official opening of the magnificent new grounds and complex. The Shels team put on an excellent display of hurling winning by 7-15 to 0-3. In poor weather conditions the Shels played with the wind in the first half and goals from Chris Wall and Conor Walsh saw the visitors lead by 2-13 to 0-1 at half time. In the second half the visitors pushed home their advantage with Joe Kelly dictating a lot of the play and they had further goals from Brian Doyle, Chris Wall and Cieran O Shaughnessy. This leaves the team with two wins from two games before the break for the Leaving Certificate. We would like to wish a speedy recovery to James Doyle who suffered a nasty gash during the game. Scorers were Chris Wall 2-7, Brian Doyle 3-1, Conor Walsh 1-4, Conor Byrne 0-1, Ronan Kavanagh 0-1 and Shane Murphy 0-1.