Watergrasshill Notes (17th Dec)
- Dec 17,2024
Hill are Croke Park Bound
AIB GAA Hurling All-Ireland Intermediate Club Championship
Watergrasshill 1-21 v 0-08 Carey Faugh’s (Antrim)
Last Sunday afternoon, in a cold and windy Páirc Tailteann in Navan, history was made when Watergrasshill Hurling Club secured their place in the All-Ireland Intermediate Club Championship final, to be played in Croke Park on January 12th.
The exodus from Watergrasshill had begun from 8am onwards, with busses & cars joining the M8 for the journey north to Navan. After numerous tolls and a few pit-stops, a warm welcome awaited in the Navan O’Malley’s clubhouse, adjacent to Páirc Tailteann, where a cup (or glass) of whatever you needed to combat the cold was available.
Into the ground and we took our loft perch behind the hill dug out. Confirmation that Dylan Roche returned to the side replacing Mick O’Driscoll and we were ready to go.
With a strong breeze favouring Carey Faugh’s in the first half, the opening period was a very nervous and scrappy affair. The Antrim men registered the first score of the game on 5 minutes from a place ball and added a second free on 9 minutes to led by 2. However, on the 10-minute mark, in the blink of an eye Captain Fantastic Seán Desmond rocketed a goal and Brendan Lehane added a point in the space of 2 minutes and the game had burst into life. A further free from Adam Murphy following a Carey’s point left it 1-02 to 0-4 after 15 minutes and the lads had finally settled and were now motoring well. Carey’s narrowed the gap to 1, before the hill added 8 points without reply in 10 minutes from Lehane, Desmond (x2), Murphy (x3), P. O’Leary and O’Regan. Carey’s got one back before Lehane added another for the hill, but that 10-minute period appeared to be decisive. Carey’s also lost James Black, who appeared to have dislocated his shoulder in a collision with Kevin O’Neill, and we wish him a speedy recovery. As Conor Daly blew for half-time, we were up 1-11 to 0-5 and with the wind t our advantage in the second half, it looked like the game was won. However, the game is never over until it’s over and given Eddie Enright and his management team stayed out on the pitch a good 5 minutes after his team had gone to the changing rooms and from our vantage point – a good robust conversation was ongoing.
If this game was going to be turned around, Carey Faugh’s needed a good start to the second half, to lift their spirits, however it was the hill who came out firing. Quick points from Desmond (x2), O’Callaghan & Murphy before Carey’s had opened their second half account left it 1-15 to 0-6 and it was job done. Enright now switched to preservation mode as the last thing they needed was an injury or a red card, so a raft of second half changes followed, Jason Foley for Aiden Foley (8 mins), Liam Foley for Ciarán O’Leary (11 mins), James Gowen for Aaron Spriggs (17 mins), Pa Cronin for Ian O’Callaghan (18 mins) and James McCarthy for Adam Murphy (24 mins). All the changes made for a stop start second half, but in between all the changes, the hill were still pushing on with Anthony Cronin, Adam Murphy (x3), Seán Desmand and Daire O’Leary adding further scores.
It finished out 1-21 to 0-8 and whilst the second half made for muted celebrations on the pitch, there was jubilation in the stands when the players emerged from their huddle to return to the dressing rooms. It was very surreal, our small village, going to Croke park to contest an All-Ireland club final. In the stands there was jubilation mixed with disbelief, a few tears both of joy and relief, but the over-riding emotion was pride. Pride in our parish & pride in our lads, who are doing it not for themselves but for their families, their neighbours and the hundreds of kids who idolise them.
And on we go, one final day out and the biggest them all. An All-Ireland final on January 12th against Tynagh Abbey Duniry from Galway, on the biggest stage of them all, Croke Park.
Watergrasshill: Aiden Foley (Jason Foley, 38), Shane Field, Dylan McCarthy, Ian O’Callaghan (Patrick Cronin, 48), Dylan Roche, Daire O’Leary, Kevin O’Neill, Aaron Spriggs (James Gowen, 47), Anthony Cronin, Shane O’Regan, Adam Murphy (James McCarthy 54), Ciarán O’Leary (Liam foley, 42), Brendan Lehane, Seán Desmond, Padraig O’Leary.
Scorers for Watergrasshill: S Desmond 1-05, A Murphy 0-08 (0-7 f), B. Lehane 0-3, S. O’Regan, I. O’Callaghan, P. O’Leary, O’Leary, A. Cronin 0-1 each.
GAA Sports Star Award
Congrats also to Adam Murphy who was awarded the Cork's 96FM , Rochestown Park Hotel Sports Star award for November.
Adam picked up Premier Senior & Premier Intermediate County medals as well as a Munster Intermediate club title with an All-Ireland club final to go in January.
This is great recognition of a super player and a well-deserved reward for the tremendous work he puts in.
Lotto
There was no jackpot winner in the lotto this week. Numbers drawn were 12, 20, 23 & 28. Lucky dip winners, who each receive €30 are Ciarán Moroney, Jerome Buttimer, Mags Ryan & Pat Moynihan. Christmas spot prize winners were Denis Crowley and Mark Sheehan. Congrats to you all. Next week's jackpot is a whopping €16,700 and draw will take place on 23rd 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 29thDecember in The Hut Bar.
Recent Results:
Saturday 14th December
Rebel Óg East, Fé18 D2 League Final
Watergrasshill 0-16 v 0-17 Cobh
Sunday 15th December
AIB GAA Hurling All-Ireland Intermediate Club Championship
Watergrasshill 1-21 v 0-08 Carey Faugh’s (Antrim)
