Team Information 2010: U21 Hurling Management 2010 Jimmy Hickey, Shane Horgan Competition: East Cork U21 B Championship. First Round: A: Carraig na bhFear V Killeagh

Under 21's late rally not enough

East Cork Under 21 B Hurling Championship Sunday, 1st August Venue: Lisgoold Killeagh 0-15 Carraig na bhFear 2-08 For the second year in a row Carraig suffered defeat to Killeagh in the East Cork Under 21 Hurling Championship by a solitary point. in 09 both teams competed at A grade but 2010 saw both clubs regrade to B, with Killeagh again emerging by the narrowest of margins. Carraig entered the game missing five key players but the performance by those who played on the night bodes well for the future, as eight minors featured throughout the game, with many of that eight under 17. It was Killeagh who started the better, with a point from a free early on. Cian Dorgan pointed a free to open Carraigs account before Killeagh raced into a 0-05 to 0-01 lead. Dorgan points another free before Paul O'Keeffe found the target with a well taken point before Killeagh raced further ahead with four well taken scores from play to leave them 0-09 to 0-03 ahead on 20 minutes. Carraig came back into the game and the defence tightened up considerably, Jason Noonan and Eanna Clifford grew in confidence while John Walsh and Paul Geaney got on top in the half back line. Further points from O'Keeffe and Dorgan cut the lead before Killeagh had their final point of the half from a 65. Dorgan reduced the margin to four points at the interval with another well struck free as Carraig worked hard to keep themselves in contention. On the resumption Aaron Dorgan scored a point to cut the margin to three points, but as the game wore on both defences got on top and the scores began to dry up. Two points for Killeagh and a reply from Padraig O'Sullivan left four in it midway through the half. In the next ten minutes Killeagh added two more points as Carraig worked hard but were unable to make it show on the board. But the hard work was rewarded when a Cian Dorgan free landed in the square and in the chaos that followed, ended up in the back of the net for a goal. The margin was now down to three and Carraig were re-energised as they pushed forward for more. Killeagh countered with a point to extend the lead to four. From the puck out, came the score of the game. The puckout was claimed by Paul O'Keeffe who took off on one of his mazy runs, through the Killeagh defence for well over 50 yards before finishing to the net for a second goal. The margin was now down to a point and despite the best efforts of the Carraig attack, Killeagh hung on for the win. Well done to all the team on their performance. Attention now turns to the Junior B and Minor hurlers to fly the flag for the club for the remainder of the season, with many of those on show sure to have an impact on both these teams. Team: Anthony McGinty Eanna Clifford, Jason Noonan, John Mullins Noel Mullins, John Walsh, Paul Geaney Aaron Dorgan, John O'Sullivan Paul O'Keeffe, Cian Dorgan, Padraig Dunne Padraig O'Sullivan, Joseph Murphy, Jamie Fouhy Subs: Brian Twomey for Jamie Fouhy John Healy for Padraig Dunne Padraig Dineen for Brian Twomey

Killeagh edge out Carraig by narrowest of Margins

02/09/2009 East Cork Under 21 A Hurling Championship Quarter Final Venue: Lisgoold Killeagh 0-13 Carraig na bhFear 0-12 Killeagh emerged victorious after an excellent match in the Under 21 Hurling Championship played in Lisgoold on Tuesday night. Carraig got off to a slow start but pulled back their opponents in the second half and only for some high quality goalkeeping, nearly won the game in the closing stages. Killeagh were fatest out of the clocks and after two points from play in the opening five minutes, they had extended their lead to 0-04 to 0-0 after ten minutes with two pointed frees. Playing against the wind, Carraig were finding it difficult to get the ball into the full forward line, but slowly began to get into the game around the half back and midfield areas. Martin Hickey had Carraigs first point from a long range free, which was cancelled out shortly afterwards by a pointed free for Killeagh. Timmy Geaney was well on top at centre back, while Darren Noonan, John O'Sullivan and Daniel Foley were taking the game to Killeagh in attack. Foley in particular was causing the Killeagh defence problems with his play, and he won a free which Gavin Webb pointed to close the gap to three points. Webb pointed another free shortly afterwards to cut the margin to two points just past the midway point of the half. Daniel Foley was on target for Carraig as he collected a long ball before turning and splitting the posts. Killeagh responded again, adding three points in quick succession, one from a free, one from play and one from a 65, to leave the score 0-09 to 0-04. Indeed, Killeagh threatened to put the game out of sight at this point, when their full forward got in behind the Carraig defence only to see his shot brilliantly saved low down by Cian Dorgan in the Carraig goal, as good a save as was seen all year. A 21 free in resulted after this save, Killeagh opting to go for goal, but the attempt was stopped, ball cleared and Carraigs heads were visibly lifted by the sequence of events. Darren Noonan scored a fine point from 45 yards shortly afterwards, Daniel Foley was unlucky to see a close range shot saved by the Killeagh goalkeeper, before some more good running by the forwards lead to another free, which Gavin converted to leave the half time score Carraig 0-06 Killeagh 0-09. The second half saw Carraig get off to a good start, two more pointed frees from Webb in the early stages reduced the gap to the minimum. Killeagh responded well though, attacking with great pressure from the next ten minutes, however the Carraig defence were now winning most of the battles, Timmy Geaney producing a fantastic display at centre back, while his brother Paul, Noel Mullins and Daniel Coleman were excellent in the full back line. Killeagh did extend their lead, with another three point burst, making it 0-12 to 0-08. Geaney was leading by example and a well struck effort on the run from midfield closed the margin again. John O'Sullivan was unlucky to see a goal chance saved at the near post by the Killeagh keeper, before another Webb free, after great work by Foley, reduced the gap to two points again. Carraig brought Ronan Spillane out to wing forward for the closing stages and after winning a puck out, his shot from the left touchline rebounded off the upright to the feet of a Killeagh defender, who cleared to avert a certain goal chance for Webb. Killeagh briefly managed to stem the tide and went on the attack again. A long range free was fielded under the crossbar by Cian Dorgan who cleared his lines well. Soon afterwards they extended the lead to three again with their last point of the night, an excellent effort from the left touchline. Carraig kept pressing, winning a 65 which Hickey converted and the gap was down to two with five minutes remaining. Once again, Timmy Geaney was prominent, a surging run into the Killeagh attack saw him unleash a blistering shot from 30 yards, which the goalkeeper did brilliantly to hold under the crossbar. Gavin Webb weaved through the defence only to see his shot saved. Man of the match Geaney found the target for Carraig with a minute remaining, collecting a handpass from Hickey and splitting the posts from his own half.  Killeagh won the resulting puck out however and forced a 65 at the other end, depriving Carraig of possession and a chance to grab the equaliser. The 65 sailed wide, but from Cians puckout, referee Aidan Barry blew the full time whistle and Killeagh had the win. A fine performance by both teams, which was enjoyed by the good crowd in attendance. Carraig gave their all and battled to the very end, well done lads, keep the heads up. Killeagh now advance to the semi final, where they face either Carrigtwohill or Midleton for a place in the decider. Team: Cian Dorgan, Daniel Coleman, Noel Mullins, Paul Geaney Barrie Casey, Timmy Geaney, John Walsh Martin Hickey, Tyrone Kennedy Paul O'Keeffe, Darren Noonan, John O'Sullivan Daniel Foley, Ronan Spillane, Gavin Webb Subs: Richard Mullins for Tyrone Kennedy Scorers: G.Webb 0-06 frees, M.Hickey 0-02 frees, T.Geaney 0-02, D.Foley, D.Noonan 0-01 each.

East Cork Under 21 A Hurling Quarter Final 23/08/08 Venue: Castlelyons East Cork Under 21 A Hurling Championship Quarter Final: Midleton 2-08 Carraig na bhFear 2-07 An excellent second half performance was not enough for Carraig to overcome Midleton in the Under 21 Championship at a wet and dark Castlelyons on Saturday night. Midleton went into the game as raging hot favourites, having won the Championship last year and having had much success at underage level in recent years. But Carraig nearly pulled off a massive upset, only a point seperating the teams at the end of a the match. The game started in heavy rain and Midleton were first off the mark with a pointed free from Luke O'Farrell. Midletons ball control and handling in general was sharper in the opening stages and they dominated these early exchanges, putting the Carraig defence under alot of pressure. O'Farrell had his second point for Midleton after five minutes, as Carraig stuggled to get to grips with the conditions. When Carraig did get forward, their shooting let them down and the first half wides total of 8 was to prove costly in the end. Our opponents were able to pick off scores more easily than we were in this period, a key difference between the sides in the first half. This was due mainly to the dominance of Midletons half back line, with little or no ball getting into our full forward line of Daniel Foley, Ronan Spillane and John O'Sullivan. Midleton attacked the Carraig defence with quick ball and some lovely ground hurling, but they were finding the Carraig defence difficult to break down. Richard Mullins was in great form at right half back all night, Stephen Casey on top at full back and Timmy Geaney getting in some good clearances too. Two more points from play midway through the low scoring half put Midleton four points up, with Carraig still misfiring in front of goal. Carraig made some positional switches, bringing Aidan Hegarty from centre forward to midfield and moving Martin Hickey to centre forward to try curb the influence of Midleton centre back Pádraig O'Shea. Two more frees from O'Farrell, followed by a point from play, finished out the scoring for the first half, with Carraig again failing to find the target from scoreable positions, leaving Midleton 0-7 to 0-0 in front at the break. The second half started with Darren Noonan, who had been introduced before half time as a blood sub, coming in at centre forward for Carraig and he made an immediate impact. He caused Midletons half back line alot of problems, adding a big physical presence, hassling their defenders and keeping the ball moving to the inside forwards. Despite the scoreline, Carraig were now having the better of the play, but it was eight minutes before Carraig finally broke their duck. Good work by Noonan and Ronan Spillane resulted in a free for Carraig in front of goal, which Spillane duly converted. The score instilled confidence and belief into Carraigs play, and a minute later, Aidan Hegarty landed a shot from 70 yards just over the cross bar to a massive roar from the Carraig crowd. Carraig won another free soon after, Spillane pointed and the gap was now down to four, with the best part of 20 minutes still to play. Hegarty was having a fantastic second half, driving the team forward and he picked off his second point of the night 12 minutes into the half to cut the lead to three, with Midleton visibly on the back foot. The major improvement in Carraigs play around midfield and the half forward line in particular was paying dividends, Martin Hickey and Tyrone Kennedy were first to the breaks and the ball was kept moving into the forwards far more often than we saw in the first half. Paul O'Keeffe won a free after a good run on the left wing and Spillane pointed again to leave the margin at two points. Midleton meanwhile, were only managing to hit wides under pressure from the defence and they created few clear chances in the early stages of the half. With 10 minutes to go, the game took on a life of its own. A long ball in fell to Darren Noonan 20 yards out, who picked quickly but did not have room for the shot. Instead, he passed the ball to his right, shipping a heavy knock in the process, but the pass was perfect, finding an unmarked Daniel Foley, who shot low to the net to put Carraig into the lead for the first time. From the next puckout, Aidan Hegarty pointed from distance again, his third of the half and now we were two points to the good. But Champions die hard as they say, and Midleton showed their mettle. They finally broke through the Carraig rearguard, a long ball beating the full back line and finding the Midleton full forward in on goal. Stephen Casey made a great attempt to block his shot, Cian Dorgan saved it in goal, but the ball came across to the left of the goal and Jason Noonan could not prevent the Midleton corner forward finding the back of the net with his pull on the ball. Midleton heads were up again, and another free carelessly conceeded by Carraig was punished by O'Farrell to extend the lead to two again. With five minutes to go, Midleton got in behind the Carraig defence again, and a good shot from 13 yards found its way to the top of the Carraig net to put Midleton back into a commanding 2-8 to 1-6 lead. At this point, you would have been forgiven for thinking it was game over, but Carraig were not going down without a fight. The ball was won again in midfield, sent long into the goalmouth, and Daniel Foley diverted the ball clinically to the back of the net, game on again and still three minutes remaining. Midleton sought to get the insurance score, but Carraig cleared the ball from defence time after time, and when Ronan Spillane was hauled back on his way towards goal 30 yards out, a free was awarded which he pointed himself to cut the gap to one going into injury time. Midleton pressed again and won a  free 65 yards out. This effort fell short however and was cleared by Richard Mullins out to the wing. A crossfield ball found Aidan Hegarty, who was fouled 70 yards from goal. This was the last chance and Aidan himself took the free, which unfortunately dropped just to the right and wide. From the puck out, Referee Edward Sheehan blew the final whistle and Carraig were defeated. After the effort the team put into this game, defeat was hard to take, but the team did themselves and the club proud on the night and in the end, they can consider themselves unfortunate to be on the wrong end of the scoreline. This was only our second year competing at A grade level, and the improvement in the standard of hurling is there for all to see. Hard luck lads, beidh lá eile againn! Team: Cian Dorgan Noel Mullins, Stephen Casey, Daniel Coleman Richard Mullins, Diarmuid O'Driscoll, Timmy Geaney Martin Hickey, Tyrone Kennedy Barrie Casey, Aidan Hegarty, Paul O'Keeffe Daniel Foley, Ronan Spillane, John OSullivan Subs: Jason Noonan for Noel Mullins Darren Noonan for John O'Sullivan (Blood sub) Darren Noonan for Barrie Casey Scorers: D.Foley 2-0, R.Spillane 0-4 frees, A.Hegarty 0-3