Analog Devices HE League Division 2B
Training
has been going well this year with team mentors Brian McCann and Ger Reilly assisted
by new addition Jimmy O’Brien from Cork. Jimmy who hails from Ballyhea trained
Cork IT teams in Fitzgibbon competitions in recent years. The team has been
availing of the new astro-turf pitch at the Regional Sports Centre on Tuesday
evenings, with additional training on Thursday nights at the IT.
The IT Sligo senior hurling team started this season
with two big wins in their opening league fixtures. Last year’s Ryan Cup
finalists defeated old rivals UU Coleraine 2-14 to 0-3 in a one-sided fixture at
Oxfield two weeks ago. Former Galway minor Donal Moore (brother of senior star
Cathal) was the star of the show scoring an exceptional 2-8 (2-6 from play)
against disappointing opposition. The half back line of Carlow senior Edward
Coady, team captain Niall Sheil from Abbey-Duniry, and former Clare minor John
O’Gorman were commanding and set up numerous scoring chances for the Sligo
forwards. A number of wides resulted from the difficult weather conditions and
some poor finishing. Last year’s captain Padraic Walsh and a number of other
panellists have left, giving the team a new look , which took time to gel until
the last ten minutes when the Sligo hurlers pointed seven times without reply.
The tally included two long range scores from former captain Michael Finn from
Erin’s Own and Sligo senior David Collery made an impressive debut when
introduced in midfield.
Team and scorers: Gareth Halpin (Westmeath); Paul Townsend (Carlow), Paul Langan (Galway), Anthony Clune (Westmeath); Edward Coady (Carlow), Niall Sheil (Galway), John O’Gorman (Clare); John Coleman (Galway) 0-1, Kieran Conroy (Mayo); Niall O’Callaghan (Limerick), PJ Moloney (Tipperary), John Maher (Westmeath) 0-1; Eoghan Mannion (Clare), Donal Moore (Galway)2-8 (0-2 frees), Vincent O’Flaherty (Wicklow) 0-2.
Substitutes used: David Collery (Sligo), Michael Finn (Cork) 0-2, Declan Ruane (Galway), Paul Hession (Galway), Colm Salmon (Galway).
The senior hurlers’ second league
fixture took place last Thursday in Dundalk where ITS defeated Dundalk IT 5-16
to 0-3. The Sligo team were missing a number of regulars due to club commitments and injury. The Dundalk students
battled throughout and the tally was mostly due to an excellent performance by
the Sligo lads. In particular, midfielder John Coleman from Abbeyknockmoy,
sharpshooting full-forward Donal Moore, stylish centre-forward Donal Morrissey
from Cork and local senior player Richard Mannion were impressive. Indeed
Mannion bagged two well-taken goals and contributed to some very stylish
interplay with Moore, Morrissey and Maher. Towering full-back James Durkin was
solid throughout in a stingy full-back line. Moore outclassed the Dundalk backs
throughout.
Team and scorers: Alan Wade (Galway); JP Halloran (Galway), James Durkin (Roscommon),Anthony Clune (Westmeath); Edward Coady (Carlow), Niall Sheil (Galway) 0-3 frees, John O’Gorman (Clare); John Coleman (Galway), PJ Moloney (Tipperary); John Maher (Westmeath) 0-2, Donal Morrissey (Cork) 0-2, Niall O’Callaghan (Limerick); Richard Mannion (Sligo) 2-0, Donal Moore (Galway) 3-8 (1-2 frees), Declan Ruane (Galway) 0-1.
Substitutes used: Eoin Browne
(Roscommon), Ian Murphy (Galway), Derek O’Neill (Galway), Trevor Grant
(Kilkenny).
The senior hurlers play St. Patrick’s Teacher Training College, Drumcondra at home on the new IT Sligo pitch next Wednesday. Team Manager Brian McCann expects this to a much stiffer test as the team aims to overturn last year’s league defeat at St Pat’s. Games away to Letterkenny IT and GMIT Castlebar will complete the league campaign with the top two playing two southern qualifiers in a League semi-final in the new year. The Fresher hurling team commence their campaign with a home fixture against UUJ on Tuesday week, followed by QUB and Dundalk IT.
St. Pat's teachers fail to strike against battling IT Sligo.
Division 2 SHL Round 4
IT
Sligo 1-9 St. Pat's 0-7
The senior hurlers played St.
Patrick’s College of Education, Drumcondra at home on the new IT Sligo pitch
last Thursday (9th Nov). Apart from a stiff breeze, conditions were
perfect for hurling. However the IT team failed to fully capitalise on a wind
advantage in the first half and lead only by 0-7 to 0-5 at half-time. Apart from
former Galway minor star Donal Moore and Sligo's Richard Mannion the Sligo
forwards played second fiddle to the tight-marking and determined St. Pat's
backs. At the same time a great performance by the Sligo backs restricted the
student teachers to two scores from play, both from elusive Dublin senior corner
forward Fintan Clandillon. Edward Coady and John O' Gorman from Cratloe in Clare
were particularly impressive.
St. Pat's hit the Sligo team
cold with two scores from a free by O'Meara and a super point from the speedy
Clandillon. Donal Moore replied with a pointed free on 5 mins., following an
exciting build-up centred around the Sligo full-forward. Richard Mannion pointed
from 25 metres to level the game. It was nip and tuck
for the rest of the half, including two stylish scores from Moore from
play and frees from Moore and captain Niall Shiel. Donal Morrissey from Cork
scored a great point from a tight angle to leave the Sligo students with a two
point advantage at half-time. Roscommon senior James Durkin was introduced at
midfield to limit the effect of the St. Pat's pairing of O'Meara and former
Kilkenny minor Robbie Byrne.
In the first ten minutes of
the second half St. Pat's pressurised the IT Sligo goal, and put a number of
scorable chances wide. However corner-back Anthony Clune had a great second half
on the nippy Clandillon and restricted him to one point from play. Indeed St.
Pat's added only one other point, a long-range free from O' Meara, as the full
and half back line raised their game to stifle any threat. Against the wind the
Sligo forwards created a number of chances, resulting in an excellent point from
play from the skilful Sligo county player Richard Mannion following some good
work from Coleman, a free from 50 metres from the inspirational Niall Shiel, and
a well-taken goal from Moore on the 55 minute which clinched the match for IT
Sligo.
While some of the forwards
under-performed and the influential Michael Finn from Cork missed the game
through illness, it was an important win against a tough and experienced St.
Pat's side, which could have a major influence on who qualifies for the league
semi-finals.
The Round 3 game due have been
played last Wed. 15th away to Letterkenny IT was postponed.
The next fixture is the
opening freshers hurling game at home to UUJ on Tuesday next (21st).
The freshers boast a number of the senior panel including Durkin, O' Gorman,
Moore, and Sligo's David Collery, in what should be a close encounter.
IT Sligo Team and scorers: Alan Wade (Galway); JP Halloran (Galway), Paul Langan (Galway) ,Anthony Clune (Westmeath); Edward Coady (Carlow), Niall Sheil (Galway) 0-2 frees, John O’Gorman (Clare); John Coleman (Galway), Declan Ruane (Galway); John Maher (Westmeath), Donal Morrissey (Cork) 0-1, Niall O’Callaghan (Limerick); Richard Mannion (Sligo) 0-2, Donal Moore (Galway) 1-4 (0-2 frees), Vinnie O'Flaherty (Wicklow).
Substitutes used: James Durkin (Roscommon), PJ Moloney (Tipperary), Eoghan Mannion (Clare).
Division 2 League Semi-final: Athlone 28th Feb 2001
IT Sligo 2-13 TI (Tipp. Institute) 2-6
Best for IT Sligo were James Durkin and Cathal Griffin in the backs, midfielder Michael Finn from Cork, and forwards
Seamus Carroll and Michael O Regan. IT Sligo recovered from a 2-6 to 1-8 deficit with 15 minutes to go to win by 7 points.
Team and scorers: David Hession (Turloughmore, Galway); Damian Cassidy (Kilcormac, Offaly), James Durkin (Roscommon Gaels) 0-2, Cathal Griffin (Kilnamona, Clare); Edward Coady (Mt. Leinster Rgrs., Carlow), Niall Sheil (Liam Mellowes, Galway) capt., Kieran Conroy (Belmullet, Mayo); Michael Finn (Erin's Own, Cork) 0-6 (0-3 frees), David Collery (Sligo); John Maher (Castletowngeoghegan, Westmeath) 0-1, Colin Brouder (Murroe-Boher, Limerick) 0-1, Adrian Chaplin (Sixmilebridge, Clare) 0-1, Ronan Duhan (Sarsfields, Galway), Seamus Carroll (Lough Lene Gaels, Westmeath) 1-1, Michael O'Regan (Kilnadeema/Leitrim, Galway) 0-1.
Subs Used: PJ Moloney (Ballingarry, Tipperary) 1-0.
Subs. not used: Alan Wade (Loughrea, Galway), John Curley (Kilbeacanty, Galway), Ken Kennedy (Sixmilebridge, Clare), Niall O' Callaghan (Fedamore, Limerick), Kenny Robinson (Tooreen, Mayo), Damien Kelly (St. Thomas' Galway), Brendan Shinnors (Portroe, Tipp), Colm Salmon (Ballinasloe, Galway), Barry Colleran.
At the end of February on the day of the FMD outbreak the IT Sligo hurlers defeated Tipperary Institute 2-13 to 2-6 in the league Division 2 semi-final and on Thursday last (5th April) they had the confidence and ability to outplay Munster opposition for a second time.
The IT Sligo senior hurling team convincingly beat a game and talented UCC team to win the Division 2 title for the second time in three years. Last year the Cork university outplayed a distraught IT Sligo team at the semi-final stages. This time it was very different. Star of the show was Michael Finn from Erin’s Own in Cork who dominated midfield with able support from Sligo county star David Collery and substitute John Coleman.
The Sligo students defended like terriers throughout the game in poor underfoot conditions limiting the Cork college forwards to a handful of chances, and the ITS forwards took their chances efficiently in the wet, wind-assisted first half to lead 3-7 to 2-2 at half-time. The Institute got off to a flying start with a super fist minute point from Michael Finn from distance and another from the Cork dynamo from a 3rd minute free. IT Sligo added a goal after 6minutes following a robust run and strike from Sixmilebridge senior Wayne Kennedy, playing in an unaccustomed wing forward role. Nippy corner forward Michael O’Regan from Galway added a super point from a tight angle before UCC got on the scoresheet in the 8th from a free.
The Sligo students continued to battle for every ball with the half –back line of Senior county players Edward Coady (Carlow), James Durkin (Roscommon) and Kieran Conroy (Mayo) dominating to great effect. Adrian Chaplin of Sixmilebrdge finished off two great moves involving Finn, Maher, and Carroll to score two well-taken points. And after John Maher of Westmeath goaled in the 15th minute the Sligo team lead 1-5 to 0-1. UCC never gave up to their credit and in the 23rd minute goaled from a 21 metre free, and followed it up with a scrambled goal following a defence lapse in the 26th minute, during a spell of intense pressure. However Cassidy, Shiel and Griffin and keeper Hession made some great stops in the last ten minuets of the 1st half. However a pointed free from Finn on 24 minutes and a fantastic goal from the same player following good work from Kennedy and centre-forward former Limerick U-21 star Colin Brouder, and a further point from play by the midfield maestro Michael Finn gave IT Sligo renewed resurgence. UCC pointed from a free on half-time to reduce the gap to 8 points. Donal Moore and John Coleman of Galway replaced a tiring David Collery and John Maher at half-time.
In the second half the pitch started to cut-up badly and scoring became more elusive as legs tired. However the Sligo hurlers got off to a great start with a lovely point on the run from Michael O’Regan, who was the pick of the forwards. Seamus Carroll of Westmeath and O’Regan got further scores on 40 and 46 minutes following good work from Galway U-21 panellist Moore and Clare’s Wayne Kennedy.
UCC managed another goal after 52 minutes following a foul on the ball from ‘keeper David Hession of Turloughmore . Hession and his full-back line withstood some intensive pressure during the second half, and Hession and full-back Niall Shiel pulled off some great saves during this period. However the goal was to be last score for UCC as the Sligo students, urged on by mentors Brian McCann and Ger Reilly, defended stoutly to resist further UCC attacks. Indeed centre-back Durkin, substitute Coleman and Donal Moore combined to create a well-taken goal by Moore on 58 minutes to wrap up the game for IT Sligo.
The whole team performed well on the day with Chaplin and O’Regan excelling in the forwards and Shiel and Coady sound in defence, but Michael Finn of Cork stood out as the inspirational man of the match.
IT Sligo Team and Scorers: David Hession (Galway); Damien Cassidy (Offaly), Niall Shiel (Galway), Cathal Griffin (Clare); Edward Coady (Carlow), James Durkin (Roscommon), Kieran Conroy (Mayo); Michael Finn (Cork) 1-4, David Collery (Sligo); Wayne Kennedy (Clare) 1-0, Colin Brouder (Limerick), Adrian Chaplin (Clare) 0-2, John Maher (Westmeath) 1-0, Seamus Carroll (Westmeath) 0-1, Michael O’Regan (Galway) 0-3.
Subs Used: Donal Moore (Galway) 1-0, John Coleman (Galway), PJ Moloney (Tipperary).
Subs. not used: Alan Wade (Galway ), Richard Mannion (Sligo), Vinnie O’Flaherty (Wicklow), Niall O’ Callaghan (Limerick), Ken Robinson (Mayo), Colm Sammon (Galway), Brendan Shinnors (Tipperary), John O’Gorman (Clare).