Community Centre Car Park

There was a good turnout for a special meeting arranged to discuss progressing with the upgrade/ resurfacing of the community centre car park. The car park is an important facility for all large events in the village and is also shared with the National School.  A committee under the chairmanship of Tom Power has been established to deliver the project and an application for funding has been prepared and submitted to Waterford City and County Council. Some local fundraising activities will be arranged over the coming months and the committee would be delighted with any offers of assistance, monetary or otherwise.

Village Improvement

It's been another busy year for the Village Improvement volunteers and further progress made on a number of fronts. It's been 5 years since the group was set up and it's only when you look back at the village in 2011 that you appreciate how much work has been done.  This is actually possible thanks to the wonder that is Google streetview which shows how the village was in c2008.

Once of the main projects this year was the construction of the 3 new village entrance features and signs which were made possible by the group's fundraising efforts, donations and funding from the County Council.  The group are particularly grateful for the craftsmanship of stonemason Denis Hogan and the local workers who lent a hand in preparing the ground and preparing the flowers. The sign has again raised the matter of the different official spelling of “Tooraneena” and the common spelling - “Touraneena”.  It was decided to graciously accept the official signs but there might be a call for a plebiscite on whether to adjust the second “o” in due course. 

The Village Improvement group also managed to purchase a new tractor lawnmower which will ease the workload on the large open space area at Cois Broe which had been cut by our members Maurice and Ber.  The flowers on the school bank and the planters through the village been beautifully nurtured over the summer.  A big thanks to all those who helped this year and hopefully next year will see the same again.

The Village Improvement committee was well represented on the Sliabh gCua 1916 Commemoration Committee which arranged the 3 new flagpoles and a plaque in the village.

Saint Mary’s advance to Western Final for second year in a row

Saint Mary’s are through the Western Junior Hurling Final for the second year in a row after they overcame the challenge of Abbeyside at a wet Fraher Field this evening.

Eoin Kearns proved to be the hero for Saint Mary’s hitting 1-9, 1-2 of which came from play and also saved a fifty eight minute penalty from Eoin Kiely after he stood between the posts in place of John Patrick Fitzpatrick for the one on one strike from twenty one metres.

Saint Mary’s were on top throughout this game and were unlucky not to have hit a point from Kevin Sheehan inside the first minute of the game with an effort that went narrowly wide.

Saint Mary’s however were not long more waiting to get the scoreboard in operation as Eoin Kearns put over a brace of frees on two and six minutes.

Eoin Kiely pulled back a point for Abbeyside from a free on six minutes, but points from Aidan Fitzpatrick and Kevin Sheehan both on seven minutes had daylight between the sides on the score board.

Abbeyside hit the next two scores of the game, the first from Eoin Enright on ten minutes and Eoin Kiely put over his second free of the evening two minutes later.

A brace of Eoin Kearns points, the first from play, the second from a free gave Saint Mary’s a 0-6 to 0-3 lead with seventeen minutes gone and it was starting to look good for Saint Mary’s.

Eoin Kiely and Eoin Kearns swapped a brace of frees each to keep Saint Mary’s three in front with twenty two minutes played, but Abbeyside made it a two point game (0-8 to 0-6) six minutes from the break when Eoin Enright split the Saint Mary’s posts.

A minute later, Saint Mary’s opened up a substantial lead when the ball came in from the bank side of the field towards the country goal and Eoin Kearns collected and placed a bullet of a shot high into the roof of Seamus Ryan’s net.

The same player landed a sixty five for Saint Mary’s two minutes from the break to leave six between the sides, but that lead was halved in the first minute of added time when Tiernan Murray beat John Patrick Fitzpatrick from close range.

Leading 1-9 to 1-6 at the break, Saint Mary’s came out the stronger of the sides at the start of the second half as Eoin Kearns from a free on thirty two minutes and his brother Mike a minute later hit a second goal for Saint Mary’s to give the eventual winners a 2-10 to 1-6 lead.

Eoin Kiely landed a brace of placed balls for Abbeyside by the fortieth minute with Kevin Sheehan landing one for Saint Mary’s in between to leave the two goals from the Kearns brothers the difference between the sides.

In the next ten minutes Abbeyside were the most profitable with the chances they had in front of goal as Eoin Kiely landed a brace from play and Eoin Enright hit one to leave their side trailing 2-11 to 1-11 with fifty one minutes showing on the clock. During this time Abbeyside were somewhat unlucky not to have hit a second goal but David Sweeney saw his effort come crashing off the crossbar on forty four minutes and the ball was subsequently cleared by the Saint Mary’s defence.  

Eoin Kearns and Jason Sheehan opened another five point lead for Saint Mary’s which was cut by one when David Sweeney put over the Saint Mary’s crossbar with fifty four minutes played.

Owen Barron restored a five point lead for Saint Mary’s three minutes from time, but within seconds it looked as if Saint Mary’s were going to have to fight very hard to get something from the game as referee Tommy O’Sullivan awarded Abbeyside a penalty.

Eoin Kearns who won a Dr. Harty Cup Medal playing in goal for Colaiste na Déise some years back made the long track back the field to stand between the posts for the penalty which had some in the stand asking was it allowed, which of course it is, and he did brilliant to put Eoin Kiely’s strike from twenty metres which looked to be going into Eoin’s left hand corner of the goal out for a sixty-five which the Eoin Kiely made no mistake with in splitting the uprights.

No further scores were registered in the one added minute at the end of the half for stoppages and so Saint Mary’s advance to the Western Final for the second year in a row, where they will take on Tourin who will surly go into the final as favourites having played Intermediate last year, and who in the curtain raiser beat a fancied Colligan side in the first of the semi finals.

Saint Mary’s: John Patrick Fitzpatrick; Conor Tobin, Sean Fitzpatrick, Tom Tobin; Dermot Tobin, Denis Coffey, Owen Barron; Kevin Sheehan, Stephen Coffey; Brendan McGourty, Eoin Kearns, Jack Skehan; Aidan Fitzpatrick, Mike Kearns, Jason Sheehan. Subs: Kieran Barron for Aidan Fitzpatrick (27 minutes), Dean Cliffe for Jack Skehan (Half Time), John Ahearne for Denis Coffey (49 minutes).

Scorers: Eoin Kearns 1-9 (0-6 frees, 0-1 ’65), Mike Kearns 1-0, Kevin Sheehan 0-2, Aidan Fitzpatrick, Jason Sheehan, Owen Barron 0-1 each.

Abbeyside: Seamus Ryan; Stephen O’Connor, Gavin Breen, Mickey Coleman; Conor McCarthy, Patrick Lynch, Diarmuid Henley; John Elsted, David Sweeney; Richie Ryan, Eoin Enright, David Hickey; Eoin Kiely, Laurence Hurney, Tiernan Murray. Subs: Kevin Dwane for Laurence Hurney (43 Minutes).  

Scorers: Eoin Kiely 0-9 (0-5 frees, 0-2 ‘65s), Eoin Enright 0-3, Tiernan Murray 1-0, David Sweeney 0-1.

Referee: Tommy O’Sullivan (Cappoquin).

No joy for Na Déise in Co Final

There was no joy for the second year running for the Na Déise Ladies Football Club as they went under to Dungarvan in this years Junior ‘A’ County Final at Kilmacthomas on Sunday morning last.

Twelve months ago, Na Déise looked as if they were going to take the title against Comeragh Rangers second string team at Fraher Field, but the side from the East of the county struck for a number of late goals to deny the local side from playing in the Munster Club Championship.

Expectations were high for the Na Deise side heading into this game as they had many of the players that were involved twelve months ago and were also able to call on some exciting young prospects coming through from the area within the game.

But it was not to be, as the side in Green and Yellow went under to a very strong Dungarvan side on a score line of 4-4 to 2-10.

The Old Boro side who were beaten in a County Intermediate Camogie Final the previous day with some of the same players involved, started the game well and at the break lead 2-3 to 0-3, the goals for Dungarvan coming from two of their exciting young players, Dawn Power and Lauren McGregor.

Na Déise started the second half the better of the two sides and when Clodagh Ryan kicked an early 1-1 it left just two points between the sides.

Dungarvan however hit back with goals from Lucie O’Shea and another from Lauren McGregor who played senior football for Waterford this year and it looked as if they were going to win the game rather easily.

However, Na Déise refused to throw in the towel and hit 1-5, the goal coming from Abbie Dalton without response had Na Déise well in contention as they drew level (4-4 to 2-10) with just over five minutes to play, but Dungarvan converted two late frees to win the game by two points.  

But the third goal that Na Déise needed failed to arrive as time ran out. Na Déise for the second year running had to settle for second best, but this is an exciting young team with plenty of experience also in the team and they will be hoping to make it third time lucky in the championship this time next year.

Na Déise Panel of players was: Helen Walsh, Maria O’Donovan, Ann Marie O’Brien, Emily O’Mahony, Nicole O’Byrne, Katie Buckley, Linda Foley, Mary Kate Curran, Marguerite McCarthy, Bronagh Condon, Abbie Dalton, Trisha Kiely, Michelle Walsh, Clodagh Ryan, Mary Kate Morrissey, Emma O’Neill, Shauna Power, Sarah McCarthy, Kate Whelan, Hannah Burke, Aoife O’Byrne, Aoife O’Donovan, Catherine O’Brien, Mairead O’Brien, Anne McGrath.

Dungarvan Panel: Katie Ferncombe, Anne Marie Tutty, Emma Gildea, Louise Hyslop, Katie Hayes, Shauna Coakley, Aisling Baumann, Lauren McGregor, Dawn Power, Lucy O’Shea, Richael Hayes, Zoe Barry Ferncombe, Maura Gallagher, Clodagh Tutty, Clodagh Curran, Shanise McCarthy, Shauna Ferncombe, Ciara Hurley, Becky Hurley, Niamh McCombe, Aoife Nagle.

Olympian Seamus is honoured locally

Two nights to honour local Olympian Seamus Power were held last week.

The first night was held at the West Waterford Golf Club in Carriglea.

Kieran O’Connor was MC at the event held at the West Waterford Gold Club and guided those present through a series of interviews which highlighted the promise of an aspiring young sports man from an early age.

The talent that Seamus had was clearly see from a very young age. Like his father before him from a young age Seamus looked to have a promising future as a hurling goalkeeper and a forward of the class of his uncle Kieran Power in football.

He was also an outstanding racquetball player and represented Ireland in the sport and won many honours over a short few years. He was also a keen handball player but it was at golf that he would choose to try and leave his mark most.

While he was being interviewed by Kieran O’Connor, Seamus told those present that although he loved Gaelic Games and Racquetball, he knew that Golf was very different and that he loved it from an early age.

Seamus told Kieran O’Connor that “in golf it was me against the course and I played on many different courses and I loved plotting my way around them”. He recalled his days as a student at St. Augustine’s College and how the college at the time had a very good Golf team and was fortunate to win national honours with the college.

The following evening Seamus was a special guest to the Sliabh gCua/St. Mary’s G.A.A. Club grounds at Kirwan Park where he was honoured with a presentation on behalf of the Sliabh gCua/St. Mary’s G.A.A. Club and the Naomh Brid G.A.A. Club.

While on home from America recently for the wedding of his brother Willie, Seamus also returned to Saint Mary’s Touraneena National School which he attended for eight years winning honours playing Hurling, Football and Handball for the school.

Sliabh gCua Lotto reaches €1,400

The jackpot in this weeks Sliabh gCua Weekly Lotto is €1,400. Tickets costing €2 are available from committee members of the Sliabh gCua/St. Mary’s G.A.A. Club and the Sliabh gCua Community Centre. Tickets can also be got in Dunne’s and Hanrahan’s Bars as well as at Johnny McGrath’s Shop at Beary’s Cross and at the Post Office. Supporting the local lotto you are supporting both the local Sliabh gCua/St. Mary’s G.A.A. Club and the Sliabh gCua Community Centre.

Sliabh gCua Weekly Lotto

The Jackpot in the Sliabh gCua Weekly Lotto on Sunday night was not won. It means that this Sunday’s Lotto jackpot will €1,200. Tickets cost €2 and in playing you are supporting the Sliabh gCua Community Centre and the Sliabh gCua/Saint Mary’s G.A.A. Club. The draw will take place in Dunne’s Bar.