Clonakilty GAA

It was a mixed week for Clonakilty GAA club on the playing field. The big game of the past week was the first round of the junior B football championship, played in Rosscarbery on Sunday afternoon last. Kilmeen provided the opposition, as they did in the first round last year. Clon had a stronger team on duty on this occasion. The game was close for forty minutes, with Clon actually leading by five points to four early in the second half. It would have been a brave man who would have predicted the outcome at that stage. However, the game turned in an instant when a quick kick out by the Kilmeen men was not intercepted, as it could easily have been, resulted in an attack which saw a fine goal being registered. Kilmeen were inspired by this score and took over around the middle of the field and added some fine points. Though the Clon defence tried valiantly to the end there was no stopping the rampant Kilmeen men now. The final score was 1-14 to 0-8, after a half time score of 0-3 each. Clon's best performer on the day was the evergreen Jimmy Forristal who was outstanding at centre back. Apart from him it was left to the younger players to make an impression. Liam Cahill had an outstanding game and was well supported by minor players, Eoin Downey, Steven O Connell and Sub. Gearoid Calnan. A disappointing feature of the Clon performance was the failure of players with experience of playing at a higher level to make an impression. It is hardly satisfactory that one club's third team is graded with the first team of another club, as happened here for the second year in a row.

The junior A football championship clash with Dohenys did not go ahead due to poor weather conditions on Saturday last. It will go ahead this coming week-end and details will be posted on the website and Notice board.

The under 16 hurlers finally got their season off the mark on Sunday morning last with a good win over Kilbree on a score of 5-12 to 4-7. With a stronger team on duty and the benefit of more training the side looked better than in the earlier games. The under 14 footballers also returned to winning ways in the league with a fine win over Newcestown at the home venue on Thursday last. Clon were in control from start to finish and ran out winners on a score of 1-14 to 1-6. The under 12 footballers have also been impressive and on Friday last two different teams were fielded in order to cater for the huge numbers available. The 12 year olds took on Eire Og in Ovens and ran out impressive winners. The 11 year olds player Bandon's under 12 side at home and put up a very good performance against a strong visiting team, Those players also played the Skibbereen under 12 side on Monday last and did well to run their older and stronger opponents close in an entertaining game that was of great benefit to both teams. The first round of the under 12 football championship against Bantry has been fixed for Skibbereen on Monday May 11th at 7pm. This is actually a semi-final and if Clon win they will be playing in the final the following week-end, probably on the Sunday night. Bantry will be a major obstacle however.

There was no winner of the jackpot in the club lotto on Saturday last when the numbers drawn were 4, 12, 20 and 26. Winners of the lucky dips were, Kevin Mc Evoy, Desert; Mick Keohane, Mc Curtain Hill; Willie John Madden, Lislevane; Donal O Callaghan, The Miles; John Lane, Park View and Betty O Keeffe, Casement Park. Next week's jackpot will be 3800 Euro