• Eddie O'Donnell Monumental Works East U-21 Hurling Final

De La Salle 1-16 Ballygunner 1-14

A brilliant late fightback by our U-21 hurlers saw us win the Liam O’Donnell Memorial cup for the fourth year in a row in what was the last playing of this championship. Great credit to both teams for a stirring and sporting contest which kept the crowd enthralled to the final whistle. Given that we trailed by seven points after twenty minutes and still trailed by four with ten minutes left it was a comeback that led to great scenes of excitement at the end.

After the game Mikey Costigan received the man of the match award and the Liam O’Donnell Memorial cup was then presented to team captain Eddie Meaney by both board chairman Michael Wadding and Eddie O’Donnell.

Congratulations and well done to the panel and team mentors of Bryan Phelan, Ian Flynn, Stevie Brenner, Barry Murphy and Martin Doyle with thanks also to Joe Kenny and Micko Casey who were on first aid duty. Commiserations also to a gallant Ballygunner side.

As last week we started slowly and Ballygunner had five points on the board before Thomas Douglas opened our account from a free in the 10th minute. Ballygunner added two more points before Eddie Meaney and Sam Flynn combined for Cormac McCann to finish low to the net. However, we were rocked when Ballygunner came straight up the field and goaled themselves. They followed with a point to lead 1-8 to 1-1 with twenty minutes played. Just when it was looking like the game was going away from us our lads staged a revival and points from Thomas Douglas (3), one a superb effort on the run and one from Eddie Meaney brought us back into the game before two late Ballygunner points saw them lead 1-10 to 1-5 at the break.

We began the second half with points from a Mikey Costigan sixty five and a free from Thomas Douglas to reduce the gap to three. A double exchange of points involving frees from Mikey Costigan and Thomas Douglas saw us trailing 1-12 to 1-9 midway through the half. The introduction of Dylan Finn and Luke Flynn added new life to the team and Dylan pointed in the 17th minute to reduce the margin to two points. Ballygunner hit back with two points to lead 1-14 to 1-10 with ten minutes left. Cormac McCann pointed in the 21st minute and Dylan Finn did likewise a minute later after a fine run by Luke Flynn. Mikey Costigan reduced the margin to the minimum with a long range free in the 23rd minute and we were level three minutes later when Thomas Douglas pointed after a foul on Ryan Duke. We took the lead for the first time in the 29th minute when after a run by Mikey Costigan he found Gavin Coppinger who sent over. Cormac McCann extended the lead in injury time and our defence, in which Conor Giles Doran, Darren Kenneally and goalkeeper Shaun O’Brien were prominent, held off any late Ballygunner attempts.

The final against Abbeyside is expected to take place next Saturday at 2pm in Fraher Field.

Scorers: Thomas Douglas 0-7 (0-5 frees), Cormac McCann 1-2, Mikey Costigan 0-3 (0-2 frees, 0-1 ‘65), Dylan Finn 0-2, Eddie Meaney and Gavin Coppinger 0-1 each.

Panel: Shaun O'Brien, Lorcan Dwyer, Conor Giles-Doran, Darren Kenneally, Ryan Duke Gavin Coppinger, Lee Wall, Mikey Costigan, Sean Carton, Sam Flynn, Thomas Douglas, Evan Whelan, Eddie Meaney (captain), Michael Roche, Cormac McCann, Luke Flynn, Dylan Finn, Aidan Gannon, James Stone, Jack Hannon, Sean Power, Tom Crotty, Jeff Cahill, Seaghan Walsh.

• Bord na nOg Awards

It was a great honour for our club to host the annual Bord na nOg awards in Gracedieu last Saturday night where the man of the match trophies for all county finals were presented. MC on the night was board secretary and WLR fm sports correspondent Gavin Whelan who thanked the club and Paudie Brosnan in particular for hosting the event. The football trophies were presented by county footballer Tommy Prendergast and the hurling trophies by new senior county manager Paraic Fanning. Club recipients were U-13 hurling Division I winner Jack Twomey, U-16 Division 2 hurling winner Alex Keane and U-16 Division 2 runners-up Ruben Halloran.

• John Mullane

Congratulations to John Mullane who was honoured in Carrick on Suir this weekend when he was presented with the Maurice Davin trophy by former GAA President Sean Kelly.

• Lotto

There was no winner of our Lotto jackpot last Monday night and it now stands at €5,250. The next draw takes place on Monday 3rd December. Numbers drawn were 1, 13, 20, 30. There were five winners of €20 each.

Rachel Phelan c/o seller Dean Twomey, Michael Healy c/o seller Derek Healy, Ann O’Donnell c/o seller Yvonne Kearney, Willie Ryan c/o seller Willie Stephens, David Duggan c/o seller Davy Duggan.  

• Annual General Meeting

Please note that the Annual General Meeting will take place in Gracedieu on Friday 7th December at 7pm. All members and intending members are invited to attend.