U15 Football V St. Marys

Well done to the u15 footballers who had a very good win against St. Marys of Maudlintown on a scoreline of 4.09 to 2.09.This was a good hard game of football and the Shels boys had a great team performance and continue to improve with every outing. The boys showed good character and stood up to what our opponents threw at them; they were defiant and finished the game out strongly. The link up play was very good and the most pleasing thing was the work rate. The next game for these boys is away to St. Anne’s in hurling on Thursday night.

U15 Football result

Well done to the u15 footballers who had a great win tonight on a scoreline of Shels 4.10 to St.  James 1.09.This was a great team performance. The team had some great leaders and it keeps the winning run going. The boys now face St. Marys away in football on Monday night and away to St. Anne’s in hurling on Thursday night; the games are going to come thick and fast.

U15 V Oylegate

Well done to the u15 boys who had a good win against Oylegate on a scoreline of 4.14 to 2.06.
The boys had a slow start and were 1.03 down after 15 minutes, by half time the boys had worked their way back to 1.05 to 0.05. The team had a higher intensity and better work-rate, in the second half and this laid the platform for some good defending and good scores.

U16 Football Qtr Final

Shels U16 boys travelled to Patricks Park for their 1/4 final against Sarsfields.

The boys played against the wind in first half and got some great scores. This was a very fast flowing game with great passes, blocks and tackles. The boys gave it their all, but were beaten by the stronger team on the night. We suffered a few injuries and wish them a speedy recovery Nathan, Mossy, Dylan and Aodhan. Well done boys you gave it your all but wasn’t your night. Final score shelmalier 2-8 sarsfields 1-18

Juveniles are Co. Champs

Our U16 Footballers beat Bunclody 2-11 to 2-10  in St. Patrick’s Park and are deserved Co. champions. Read more for report.

Shelmaliers u 16’s were crowned premier football champions in St Patrick’s park on Friday night when they overcame the  brave challenge of Bunclody on a scoreline of 2-11 to 2-10.
On a calm evening Bunclody made the better start with an early point followed by a couple of wides. This score was then cancelled out with a neat finish for a point for Ross Banville following good work by Dan Campbell. Bunclody had the bulk of the play and added 2 further points and indeed but for some very poor finishing could have had a few more.
The Shels however managed to stay with them courtesy of 2 points from Craig Parker – one a cracking one from play. Bunclody then finished the half with 3 more points to lead by just 3 at the break – when it probably could have been more. Shels also lost both Sean Keane Carroll and James Doyle to injury – replaced by Jamie Larkin Furlong (who played his part in defence) and Niall Hearne. Mentors James Murphy, Stanley O’Leary and Jimmy Doyle certainly had their work cut out for them at the break to motivate a team who were clearly under performing as well as reorganizing to cope with the injuries.
On the resumption, after another early wide by Bunclody, Shels really upped their game and rattled off 3 points from Chris Cowman, the speedy Nathan Ferguson Murphy and another Parker free to draw level. Then they  seized the initiative completely to forge 2 ahead courtesy of another free and a point from Kyle Roche. It was then that big Niall Hearne put his stamp on the game with 2 quick fire goals. Now operating in a 2 man full forward line in a switch that also saw Ross Banville operate as a sweeper at the back – he got on the end of a long delivery from a free by Craig Parker to fist to the net. And that score was scarcely in the referee’s notebook when he did it again , this time collecting possession outside the small square and cleverly finishing to the net with his left foot. Amazingly Shels had turned a 3 point deficit into an 8 point lead in less than 12 minutes! However, the clock soon became their enemy as Bunclody set about a brave comeback. They eventually found their scoring boots and reduced the margin with a succession of points and a well finished goal to reduce the lead to 3 with plenty of time remaining. It was during this period that the Shels really earned their victory as the crowded defence meant that Bunclody had to work hard for their scores and often ended up frustrated when they couldn’t find space to shoot. Not only that but they were also able to beak upfield to telling effect and pick off some crucial points to keep daylight between the sides- Michael O’Rourke and Dan Campbell being the providers. With the margin at 4 and time running out a low strike shaved the upright to find the net for Bunclody to leave the minimum between the sides. A draw and extra time was now on the cards but the Shels held their composure to finish the job and record a famous 1 point victory.
The defence was well organized in the second half by Adam Howlin in the goal and some great work by Mark Power, Kevin Harte, Aaron O’Neill and James Doyle. Conor Hearne did Trojan work at midfield especially in the second half while Liam Rocket was also immense when the pressure was on. All the forwards managed to get on the scoresheet in what was a truly team performance.Bunclody also contributed to a great contest and one had to admire the dignified manner in which they accepted a tough defeat – applauding Craig Parker as he received the cup from the county chairman Bobby Goff.
Team: Adam Howlin, Mark Power, Kevin Harte, James Doyle,  Craig Parker (Captain), Aaron O’Neill, Nathan Ferguson Murphy, Conor Hearne, Sean Keane Carroll, Chris Cowman, Liam Rocket, Michael O’Rourke, Dan Campbell, Ross Banville, Kyle Roche, Jamie Larkin Furlong, Niall Hearne, Cillian Tobin, Adam Hearne, Mossey Scallan, Aaron Doyle, Mark Doyle, Tiernan Neville.

U16 Football Report

Well done to our u16 footballers who gave an efficient display to account for St. Martins in the semi-final of the u16 premier football championship.

Shels opened the scoring with a long range point but the Martins then took over and raced into a 5pts to 1 lead thanks to some fine scores from Barry O’Connor. And it could have been more but for a great save from Adam Howlin from a piledriver from Rory O’Connor. However, then Shels roared into the game with a brilliant goal, finished to the net by Dan Campbell who was also narrowly wide with another goal attempt. Shels then got another point to move closer before Conor Hearne finished the first half scoring with an outrageous point from somewhere way beyond hill 16 on the touchline! Half time score 1-3 to 0-6. A St. Martins early free gave them the lead in the second half before a lovely move ended with Liam Rockett finishing to the net for the Shels to put them in front for the first time. However the lead was short lived as the Martins responded with a goal to take the lead again. A Shels point from a free by Craig put the Shels up again before Martins registered some bad wides due to some excellent defending by our defence. More frees were exchanged before a lightening move upfield by the Shels resulted in the ball reaching the inrushing Jamie Larkin Furlong who was hauled down as he was about to pull the trigger. Craig converted the penalty and Ross Banville finished the scoring for Shels with a neat point. St. Martins then threw everything at the Shels but all they could manage was a point that skimmed the crossbar just before the final whistle. So a great semi-final win for the boys who now face Bunclody who will be out for more revenge in the final as they accounted for Gorey in the other semi-final. Mark Power, Nathan Ferguson Murphy and Aaron O’Neill did some great work in defence while Dan  and  Rocky did great work up front. A mention also to the managers who had the team well prepared and they will have even more work now to prepare to face a Bunclody team on a mission in the final.