Watergrasshill Notes (3rd Dec)
- Dec 03,2024
Hill are Kings of Munster
AIB Munster Intermediate Club Championship Final
Watergrasshill 1-21 v 0-14 Cashel King Cormacs
On Saturday evening last, history was made in TUS Gaelic Grounds in Limerick, when Watergrasshill won the AIB Munster Intermediate Club championship for the first time. As the rain poured down, the men from the hill kept their nerve to power past Cashel King Cormacs from Tipperary, with Seán Desmond lifting the Hoare cup, the first Watergrasshill man to do so.
Before the game had started, rain continued to pour down throughout the game, whilst the 2,336 supporters in attendance were thankfully sheltered by the Mackey stand, both teams were braving the elements but thankfully the pitch held up throughout.
In stark contrast to their start in the semi-final, the hill got off to a great start with Adam Murphy registering the first score of the game after just 15 seconds. He added a second within a minute and the hill were off and running. Within 10 minutes, Brendan Lehane and Padraig O’Leary had also opened their accounts and the hill were 0-5 to 0-3 ahead. Eoin Connolly kept Cashel in touch with two superb points direct from sideline cuts on 14 and 16 minutes, however an obvious trend was emerging whereby all Cashel’s scores were coming from placed balls and the hill forwards were having a much more profitable evening. After 18 first half minutes, the game was delicately poised at 0-6 each, but scores from Adam Murphy, Brendan Lehane, Ciarán O’Leary put the hill 0-9 to 0-7 ahead. However, we lost Mick O’Driscoll on 20 minutes to a knee injury and hopefully Mick is back to full fitness soon. His replacement, Liam Foley, added a score just 15 seconds after coming on to the field with his first touch. With Cashel continuing to register scores from placed balls, the score at half-time was 0-10 to 0-8 in favour of the hill and whilst you never wanted to temp fate, the hill’s defence was solid, and the forwards were firing so the half-time message from Eddie Enright was surely one of continuing work-rate and increasing intensity.
The two-point gap was reduced and restored a couple of time in the opening exchanges of the second half before a 5-minute spell between the 5thand 10th minutes where the hill registered 1-03 to Cashel’s 0-1, this was the first major turning point in the game. Murphy’s goal on 17 minutes came as a result of long ball from defence by Shane Field, Brendan Lehane broke the ball to Anthony Cronin who had spotted a great run by Patrick Cronin who drove right at the heart of the Cashel defence – that run had attracted 3 Cashel defenders who were all taken out by a hand-pass to Adam Murphy who made no mistake, driving low past Johnny Walsh in the Cashel goal. That put the hill ahead 1-15 to 0-12 and it was the biggest margin of the game thus far and one which the hill had deserved. But the lads didn’t sit back, further scores by Shane O’Regan, Brendan Lehane and three more from Murphy, left us 1-20 to 0-12 ahead after 27 minutes and the deal was sealed. Two further scores from Cashel and one for good measure from Adam again, left the final score 1-21 to 0-14.
After the final whistle, there was jubilation, emotion and pride mixed with dis-belief. That our small club had just been crowned Munster Intermediate Club champions, that these lads had stuck together through thick and thin to be crowned Munster champions. A great display throughout from our lads, each and every one of whom we are so proud. They go about their business quietly and without too much fanfare, but a steely determination to be the best they can be. And they’re not done just yet, an All-Ireland Semi-Final is now on the cards against Carey Faughs from Antrim in two weeks time.
We wish the lads all the very best in the next step in their incredible season and we’ve no doubt, they’ll give it everything with a trip to Croke Park on the line.
Watergrasshill: Aiden Foley, Shane Field, Dylan McCarthy, Ian O’Callaghan, Mick O’Driscoll, Daire O’Leary, Kevin O’Neill, Ciarán O’Leary, Aaron Spriggs, Anthony Cronin, Seán Desmond, Shane O’Regan, Brendan Lehane, Adam Murphy, Padraig O’Leary.
Scorers for Watergrasshill: A Murphy 1-12 (0-7 f), B. Lehane 0-3, S. O’Regan, C. O’Leary, L. Foley & I. O’Callaghan, P. O’Leary, A. Cronin 0-1 each.
Lotto
There was no jackpot winner in the lotto this week. Numbers drawn were 5, 16, 22 & 30. Lucky dip winners, who each receive €30 are Shane O’Riordan (Dollar), Larry O’Connor, Josephine Byron and Eilish O’Neill. Congrats to you all. Next week's jackpot is a whopping €16,400 and draw will take place on 9th December in The Hut Bar.
Tickets are on sale in some of the village businesses like The Hut Bar, Johnny's Shop and our Lotto stand in Ross's Centra. Tickets can also be purchased on-line via our club website (www.watergrasshillgaa.ie). The Club would like to take this opportunity to thank all our members and supporters of the Watergrasshill GAA Club Lotto. The Club Lotto is a vital source of income for the running of all our teams within the Club and for future development of our facilities, so we ask you to please support it if you are in a position to do so. Remember, if you’re not in you can’t win.
Bumper Christmas Raffle
As we approach the festive season, Santa’s elves, under the watchful eye of Claire O’Leary, have been busy preparing for the Watergrasshill GAA Christmas raffle. Our top prize this year is €2,000 courtesy of our main club sponsor Ken Ross of Ross’s Centra, Watergrasshill. With lots of other prizes on offer, from nights away to air-fryers, there’s something for everyone. Tickets are available from any club member or through our social media pages, just reach out. Keep an eye out too for our pop-up shops in the village Christmas Market & in the Glenville Christmas Market where tickets will be on sale. Thank you to everyone who sponsored a prize again this year and we wish you all the very best of luck in the draw which will be held on Sunday 29th December in The Hut Bar.
Recent Results:
Saturday 30th November
AIB Munster Club Intermediate Hurling Championship FinalWatergrasshill 1-21 v 0-14 Cashel King Cormac’s
