MINOR HURLING
Warrenpoint defeat Ballygalget
Warrenpoint 2-18 Ballygalget 3-10
CountyMinor Hurling League, Division 1, Monday 27th August, Moygannon
Scorers:
M Cunningham 0-9
P Gartland 1-2
D Grant 1-1
C O’Neill 0-2
M Teague 0-2
C Teague 0-1
C Maxwell 0-1
Warrenpoint Man of the Match: Michael Cunningham
Warrenpoint minors took to the field missing a number of regulars due to championship football and work commitments. However the depth of this panel and their ability to focus on the job in hand enabled them to overcome a very good Ballygalget team. Warrenpoint started the stronger but failed to make it count and it was Ballygalget that registered the first 2 points. The point kept plugging away and when Chris Teague burst out of the half back line, surged forward and split the posts it was game on. This was followed by a fine display of point scoring by meatsy, 5 in all from every position on the field. The ards men responded with a brace of goals and tagged on a further 2 points. The point lads showed great guts, stuck to their task and it was the captain who finished of some superb link up play to crash the ball into the back of the net. A further point from the captain completed the 1st half all-square.
Half Time: 1-7 to 2-4
The Point scored 1-11 to Ballygalgets 1-5 in the second half but it was much tighter than the score implies. Aaron O’Hare & Conan O’Neill started to dominate midfield, well supported by the half backs, Mark Raferty and the terrible twins pushing forward, picking of long range points. Then disaster struck Mark Rafferty went down holding his hand, this turned out to be a broken finger and will put Mark out for the rest of the season. Brendan Murphy was sprung from the bench to shore up the defence along with Mark Murtagh and Ian Todd. Darren Doyle commanded the small rectangle with some fine fielding and great clearances. A number of excellent saves from M Fegan further frustrated the ards men who never gave up the ghost.
It was only in the last 10 minutes that Paddy G stepped up to the plate and totally blew the Ards men away with a personal contribution of 1-2. The standard of high fielding, soloing and scoring on the run was a pleasure to watch.
Man of the match has to go to Meatsy who yet again worked his heart out for the team.
Warrenpoint is once again sponsored by Patsy Clarke Construction and many thanks for their continued support and dedication throughout the year.
Full time: Warrenpoint 2-18 Ballygalget 3-10
- M Fegan
- M Murtagh
- M Raferty
- P Young
- M Teague
- D Doyle
- C Teague
- C O’Neil
- A O’Hare
- P Gartland
- N Dumigan
- M Cunningham
- Mark Cunningham
- Danny Grant(Captain)
- M Doran
- B Murphy
- Ian Todd
- Blaine Murphy
- Karl Maxwell
Good grief Warrenpoint minors kill Kilclief
Warrenpoint 6-31 Kilclief 0-2
Down Minor Hurling Championship 1st round, 22nd July 2007, St Malachys Park, Kilclief
Scorers:
Miceal Cunningham 2-6
Paddy Gartland 2-3
Matthew Teague 0-7
Carl Maxwell 0-4
Danny Taylor 1-1
Ian Todd 0-2
Conan O Neill 0-2
Chris Teague 0-1
Mark Cunningham 1-1
Mark Doran 0-1
Danny Grant 0-1
Allen Higgins 0-1
Blaine Murphy 0-1
Warrenpoint minor hurlers went to Kilclief on Sunday evening on their first outing in the Down championship. Right from the start Warrenpoint were on the front foot but they missed a number of good scoring chances early on.
But then a few points and a goal sent St Peter’s well on their way. After just 10 mins it was clear that there was only going to be one winner, as Warrenpoint started to take some quality scores.
At half time Warrenpoint were 4-17 to 0-2 to the good, and could of being forgiven for taking their foot off the gas, but with Kilclief, to their credit, still fighting for everything Warrenpoint kept taking their points and the odd goal chance was always going to fall their way will some balls dropping short they soon were out of sight.
The standard of hurling played by St Peter’s was at time’s a joy to watch. With some out standing fielding and link play between the mid field, halfbacks and half forward’s they over powered Kilclief. Some of the point’s taken by warrenpoint were of the highest standard and with everyone bar the full back line scoring it was a very impressive showing for St Peter’s and all should be looking forward to the next round, a semi final meeting with, the Ballela/ Ballyvarley amalgamation, St Patricks.
1 Daniel Marks |
11 Miceal Cunningham |
Warrenpoint minor’s sack the castle.
Warrenpoint 7-16 Castlewellen 0-4
Down League Section 2 Fixture 30th April 2007, Moygannon
Scorers:
Allen Higgins 3-3
Miceal Cunningham 2-5
Matthew Teague1-2
Mark Cunningham 1-1
Danny Grant 0-3
Paddy Gartland 1-0
The young hurler’s from Warrenpoint hammered Castlewellen to their biggest win this year. The score line let’s you think it was an easy win but that’s not the whole story. The Castlewellen lads never give up during the whole match and to their credit never dropped their head’s but the skill and character of the Seasiders was far too strong for them.
St Peter’s got of to a great start with a goal which was seen in by young “Jesus” Cunningham, and with Allen Higgins (3-3) moving in to full forward the score line wasn’t long growing, But it has to be said Warrenpoint had a strong wind behind them and Castlewellen were finding it hard to clear their line’s and St Peter’s had to take advantage of this.
As the half went on Meatsy (2-3) and Paddy G (1-0) started to show their class with clever run’s and good link play between themselves and the mid-field bossed the game. When Castlewellen did get pass mid-field they ran into, what must have felt like a brick wall, in the two twin’s Chris and Mathew (1-2) Teague and centre half back Darren (Doyler) Doyle who got Warrenpoint back on the attack immediately
The second half had to be a diffent game because of the strong wind and so it proved. With the wind behind Castlewellen, their puck out’s were now hitting mid-field and when the ball got to Warrenpoint’s back line the full back’s (Brendan Murphy, Mark (Raffo) Rafferty and Daniel Marks) stood up to them. With his debut in goal Chris (Cookie) Matthews was determined to keep a clean sheet and did with some great goalkeeping.
Aaron O’Hare was ruling mid-field with some very stylist hurling and his partner in crime Conan O’Neill was winning most of the battles with some hard (but fair) hitting and this took it told on Castlewellen as St Peter’s moved up a gear.
Some of Warrenpoint’s passing and link play was so good at times. Kilkenny, Cork and new league champs Waterford would have been very proud of it. Meatsy and Paddy G were at the centre of most of the good play and it was a coin toss for man of the match but Paddy G just shaded it.
St Peter’s showed a ruthless side to them as they kept going for scores and kept defending for their lives, they didn’t take their foot of the gas and ran in easy winners in the end.
This was the minor’s first game at home and all that showed up to watch the match must have been watering at the mouth to see them at home again, but this is their only home game of a league of 5 teams. But this team loves a good challenge and this will only spur the young hurler’s from Warrenpoint on.
- Chris (Cookie) Matthews
- Brendan Murphy
- Mark (Raffo) Rafferty
- Daniel Marks
- Matthew Teague (1-2)
- Darren (Doyler) Doyler
- Chris Teague
- Aaron O’Hare
- Connan O Neill
10 Meatsy (2-5)
11 Danny Grant (0-3) Capt
12 Paddy G (1-0)
13 Jesus (1-1)
14 Allien Higgins (3-3)
15 Michael Fegan
16 Blaine Murphy
17 Darren McGovern
18 Connor O’Hare
19 Mark Doran
20 Michael White
21 Paddy Young
Minors make it two out of two
Warrenpoint 4-6 Carryduff 1-6
Down League Section 2 Fixture 23rd April 2007, Carryduff
Scorers:
Danny Grant 2-1
Miceal Cunningham 1-2
Carl Maxwell 1-0
Paddy Gartland 0-2
M Fegan 0-1
From that point on, Carl Maxwell and Conan O’Neill took a grip of the game and started to dominate midfield. A great long pass was sent in for Danny Grant (Capt.) to score the first of his 2 goals and was quickly followed by 2 points, one from Meatsy and one from Paddy G.
As Carryduff tried to respond the Point back line (Brendan Murphy, Mark Rafferty and Conner O’Hare) stood up and kept Carryduff to just 2 points for the rest of the half and went in 2 points up.
From the start of the second half and with the wind behind Warrenpoint, Darren Doyle at centre half back stood out with a man of the match display to keep carryduff to 1 point for the whole second half, this gave space to the half forward line (Mark Doran, Paddy G and Meatsy) and they soon took control of the game.
After some wasted chances Paddy G settled the team down with a find point and from then on the Point were on top and with another goal from Danny Grant and a lovely hit free resulting in a goal from Carl Maxwell the game was settled.
To say this was Warrenpoint at their best would be untrue, but the boys in blue showed great character and inner belief and should take great confidence from this game into the rest of their campaign.
Minors shine true after long journey to Strangford
Warrenpoint 3-17 Kilclief 3-1
Down League Section 2 Fixture 16th April 2007, Kilclief
Scorers:
A Higgins
1-6
Danny Grant 2-0
Miceal Cunningham 0-5
C Teague 0-1
A O Hare 0-1
P Gartland 0-1
Mark Cunningham 0-1
Conor O Hare 0-1
After the first 10 minutes of being on the front foot St Peters wasted a number of good chances to score but failed.
But then after 3 unanswered point’s things started to look good until against the run of play Kilclief scored a goal to tie the game.
This only seemed to spur St Peter’s on and soon opened up a gap after Danny Grant (captain) got the first of his two goals and Mark “Jesus” Cunningham scored a wonderful point.
After a spell of good hurling from both teams Warrenpoint started to boss the game with Allen Higgins scoring 2 points (of his 1-6 total) from centre half back and his left half back Chris Teague also getting 1 point from play helping their half forwards Paddy “Paddy G” Gartland, Miceal “ meatsy “ Cunningham and Mark “ gooch” Doran st peter’s started to build a lead and went in at half time 2-8 to 2-0
Warrenpoint again started the better of the two teams with Conan O’Neill and Aaron O’Hare bossing the middle and Allen Higgins running from deep, soon put up a commanding score. Miceal “ meatsy “Cunningham’s speed and skill equalled with Paddy” Paddy G” Gartland soon took its toll on Kilclief.
The half backs have to have a special mention because of their endless running and Matthew Teague wasn’t going to be out done by his twin brother when he was almost in on goal and was cruelly pulled down by his face guard, but he wasn’t going back to half back without his score and bravely tried for goal with the free and was superbly saved and put over the bar.
All in all it was mostly a one sided game that St Peter’s deserved to win and went home satisfied and looking forward to their next game.
1 Michael Fegan
2 Brendan Murphy
3 Mark Rafferty
4 Daniel Marks
5 Matthew Teague (0-1)
6 Allen Higgins (1-6)
7 Chris Teague (0-1)
8 Conan O’Neill
9 Aaron O’Hare (0-1)
10 Paddy Gartland (0-1)
11Miceal Cunningham (0-5)
12 Mark Doran
13 Mark Cunningham (0-1)
14 Danny Grant (Captain) (2-0)
15 Mark Murtagh
16 Blaine Murphy
17 Darren Doyle
18 Connor O’Hare (0-1)
19 Cathal Doyle
20 Patrick Young
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