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Cardiff secure another win |
Rarely, have so few Colmcille players travelled so far in search of league points. At 9am on Saturday morning 11 players representing 10 of the 33 Irish counties headed south, along with the caravanning and camping brigade, for 160 miles to play Plymouth Parnells .
Despite glorious sunshine a dark cloud hung over the venue Parnells had worked so hard to arrange. The South coast side had hoped to host an exciting club day, where all Gloucester teams came together in a festival of football designed to encourage and support development and sportsmanship.
The Plymouth side are extremely isolated in the Gaelic Footballing world. Despite this they are working very hard. Their focus is not to build a team, but to build a club. Starting from the ground up with youth and by expanding into ladies football, Parnells are trying to develop a sustainable future of their club.
Here at St. Colmcilles Cardiff we remember only too well how difficult and how painful that process can be.
At this stage in their development Parnells need all the help and support they can get to fulfil the potential that is clearly there.
Credit goes to Gloucester County Board for developing and supporting Parnells’ club day. Strong leadership is needed from the County Board to ensure the Plymouth side get all the support and assistance they need and deserve.
As we move towards the ‘business end’ of the season we are well aware that clubs will contest, argue, dispute and fight every time the referee gives a line ball, a free or a decision in the other direction. Teams still harbour resentment for decisions and judgements that have been settled and resolved along time ago.
It is such a shame that this energy is not channelled in a more positive way. It is time that clubs in Gloucester stopped focussing on their ‘team’ and instead looked at the bigger picture. At most there are 75 players in this county who regularly train and play ball. We need to support each other, moving forward, our mantra must be ‘together we are stronger’.
Anyway… back to the game.
The first half was marred by an injury to Des Gillern, the manager / captain for the day. An injury that everyone had hoped had cleared up returned to fell the big full back. Gillerns knee gave way and he was forced to finish the game as goalkeeper.
Every cloud has a sliver lining and young Farrelly took full advantage of been freed from the shackles of the small square. After two or three gazelle like runs out of defence the Tipp man capped a great performance with a point.
Shane Galvin fresh from honeymoon did not look like a man who had feasted on fine food and Fanta for the last three weeks. Instead the veteran proved time and again that the first vital few yards are all in the head and not necessarily the legs.
For much of the pre match preparations Jimmy Knowles whinged about the lack of sun cream, concerned that his exposed head would get burnt. Instead the Laois man appeared to receive energy from his roof top solar panel as he worked tirelessly to tidy up breaking balls.
Ed Sullivan, representing the 33rd Irish County, Co. Cardiff, continued his recent impressive good form. Tough tackling, confident passing and excellent support play are becoming trademarks of Sullivans game.
In midfield Slug Harney danced a merry gig as he cut swathes through the Parnells defence on his way to a personal best tally of 6 points from play. At times Alan Rowley appeared distracted by one or two of the pitch side spectators, however, he did manage to maintain focus long enough off load three passes.
Scoring machine Mitizi at half forward must have been born kicking points as he added another 8 today and once again proved unmarkable.
Marty Dolan produced a typically energetic performance, probably spurred on by the defenders threat to attach hand cuffs and a shackle in an attempt to slow him down.
Up front Dave Griffin bobbed, weaved, shimmied, tricked and fluked his way free from tight marking to chalk up a number of great scores. While novice Alasdair O Callaghan, from the 33rd Irish County, continued his apprenticeship with another fine display capped by 2 well taken goals.
For Parnells, they have improved greatly from the first time we played them. They are more organised, more focussed and have a core of 5 or 6 players who would grace any team in this county. This team will continue to grow and improve, but only if the more established clubs give them the respect they deserve.
Thanks to Parnells for a great day out, for the food and the hospitality, we hope that the difficulties you encountered in arranging your Club Day will not deter you from continuing to develop. |
| Date Added: 25th July 2011 |
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St. Nicks take the win from Cardiff |
St. Colmcilles 0-11
St. Nicks 1 - 11
For most of the weekend in Cardiff, it was dull, dark and gloomy, however as St. Colmcilles and St. Nicks took to the field the clouds parted and the sun broke through.
Weddings and stag do’s took their toll on the Cardiff side who once again fielded a very inexperienced team. If anything this game demonstrated the strengthen and depth of the Cardiff side who despite missing 7 regular first team players were still able to provide a stiff test and ask many questions of the opposition.
For the most part, this game was played in good spirits, with both teams committed to attacking football. However, on occasion the game resembled Dunnes Stores on the first day of the January sales, as hand bags were exchanged in several quarters, nevertheless referee Paul Foley had a good game and allowed play to flow. As well as having to manage the players Foley also had to contend with some suspicious umpiring, knowing that the umpire for the day was related to infamous former player Ricky ‘Square Ball’ Doyler.
While St. Nicks thoroughly deserved their win, they were sharper, more hunger and played with greater intensity, two features of their game provided them with the platform for the win. Firstly, their goalkeeper was outstanding. He produced 4 or 5 top class saves which helped to preserve the St. Nicks lead. Secondly, their full back was able to land kick outs well into the Cardiff half, which constantly piled pressure on an overworked Colmcille defence.
Although St. Nicks had the better of the first half, Cardiff dominated proceedings in the second. Wave after wave of attack was launched out of defence in the second half, as Captain Mickey Brannigan and Des Gillern began to take control. Half backs Ronan Gregory and Ed Sullivan began to win more ball, while Jimmy Knowles at centre back battled all day long with Noel Roach. To complete the defensive unit St. Colmcilles welcomed back retired goalkeeping legend Fergus O’ Neill.
It is fair to say that St. Nicks dominated midfield, however the Colmcille midfield pairing of Mark O’Neill and Alan Rowley, who was making his first appearance of the year, won their fair share of ball.
In the second half Shane Highland was moved to centre forward, which allowed Mittizi greater freedom to wreak havoc amongst the St. Nicks defenders, while on the other wing Marty Dolan moved the ball well from defence to attack.
The Colmcilles full forward line was made in Wales, as novice James and debutant Alasdair O’ Callaghan battled hard to eke out hard won scores, infact O’Callaghan was unlucky not to cap an impressive debut with a goal.
As the game wore on the Cardiff side looked liked they might steal the win, however, St. Nicks held on well and probably deserved their win on the day. |
| Date Added: 18th July 2011 |
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A convincing win for St. Colmcilles |
On a night that resembled a cold and wet February evening St. Colmcilles travelled to Avonmouth for their biggest test of the year. Travelling with a team missing 7 players who started the 2010 Championship Final and which contained a number of debutants, the Cardiff team were seriously under strength and very inexperienced.
Under a gloomy sky Noel Roache threw the ball in and after the initial skirmishes it was Shane Hyland from Cardiff who registered the first score. Dave Griffin quickly doubled the lead for the Cardiff side who adapted much better to the slippery conditions underfoot.
While the Cardiff forwards kept the score board ticking over, the Colmcilles defence began to dominate proceedings. Mark O’ Neill, captain for the night marshalled defenders from his full back berth. While corner back Ronan Gregory, returning from semi retirement, rolled back the years to brilliantly snuff out attack after attack. The other corner back, Thomas Murtagh proved why he was voted as last year’s ‘Most Improved Player’ by producing an outstanding display of tight marking and hard tackling.
The Cardiff half back line containing hard working Jimmy Knowles and Marty Dolan had a familiar energetic look to it. While, Ed Sullivan, who probably had his best game in a Cardiff jersey completed the half back line up.
By half time the Bristol side were lucky to go in only a point down, thanks mainly to a goal that was as much a consequence of the conditions as sharp shooting from the lacklustre Western Gaels attack. Goalkeeper Aidan Farrelly deserves a great deal of credit for keeping Western Gael goal attempts at bay.
The second half started well for the Cardiff side. Barry Mc Donnell, ably assisted by debutant Conor from Meath, orchestrated proceedings from midfield and provided the ideal platform for the Cardiff forwards to spring into action.
Feeding on such a good service, semi retired Red Murphy made hay in the worsening conditions with a fine display of direct attacking football. Patrick Harney, at centre forward was far from sluggish as he took full advantage of the tiring Western Gaels defence. Another Colmcilles debutant Mitizi impressed with a ‘Gooch’ like performance.
Dave Griffin at corner forward proved unmarkable, while goal machine Shane Hyland racked up 1-3 with another fine shooting display. James, playing his first ever game of Gaelic football capped a brilliant debut with 2 excellent points.
As the game drew to an end, conditions worsened. However, Colmcilles, despite having no subs, finished the stronger. Thanks to a very high work rate, a good level of fitness, some intense football and better ball handling skills, Colmcilles overcame both atrocious conditions and difficult opponents to chalk up an impressive win that moved them to the top of the Gloucestershire league.
Two other Cardiff individuals played a key role in the game. Eoin Butler took on the managers role and made some excellent tactical calls throughout, while Martin Doyler gave a clear indication of what his future role with the club should be as his water bottle carrying skills and vocal encouragement helped to focus and refresh players.
Colmcilles Abu |
| Date Added: 9th July 2011 |
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1 wedding and 2 babies |
Conor and Ceire Mc Closkey
As well as been very generous sponsors for St. Colmcilles Cardiff, Conor and Ceire Mc Closkey have also given a major boost to the future of the teams playing side.
On 22nd June 2011, Ceire gave birth to Finn and Ryan Mc Closkey. Mum and boys are doing well, however, the same cant be said of Conor who is coming to terms with the prospect of having to change well over 12,000 nappies in the next three years.
No doubt the boys will have Francie Bellew and Oisin Mc Conville as role models, we just hope they turn out to be better footballers than their Da was.
We wish the proud parents and the two boys all the very best of happiness and luck in the future
Shane and Charlotte Galvin
Congratulations to Shane and Charlotte Galvin who got married in Las Vegas on 28th July 2011.
The wedding, attended by close family and friends was broadcast live across the internet and the St. Colmcilles team gathered to put aside their usual internet viewing habits to watch Shane and Charlotte become Mr and Mrs Galvin.
Much to the disappointment of the Colmcilles squad Shane did not bust into a rendition of ‘If I Was A Marrying Type’; however; this disappointment was short lived as Elvis arrived singing Viva La Vegas as the happy couple walked down the aisle.
We wish them both a long and happy life together
Viva Shane and Charlotte |
| Date Added: 9th July 2011 |
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