Munster 3-11 v 2-13 Leinster (a.e.t.)
Drimnagh Castle, 21st November 2015 The annals of history are littered with these kinds of stories. A burgeoning nascent state, its independence finally recognised, self-detemination hard fought for, respect hard won. And then...descent in acerbic in-fighting and score-settling. Chaos....anarchy....Civil War. From Spartacus' attempt for basic human liberties to Bashar al-Assad's attempts to suppress them, these are always the bloodiest of battles. Former comrades, colleagues, friends who once stood shoulder to shoulder in challenge to a common adversary, now staring at each other with bayonets drawn. No quarter given or asked. Brothers in arms no more. As the opposing forces from Munster and Leinster took to the Drimnagh battle ground on a cold November morning, it was clear there was more at stake than a hurling match. One thousand years after similar forces faced each other on the shores of Clontarf, scores still needed to be settled. This was no mere game. Opposing generals bringing to mind legendary American commanders-in-chief of yesteryear. Dave Sheehan, like Franklin Roosevelt, crippled in his prime, but tactically astute and battle hardened nonetheless. Colm Gahan, inspiring by force of action rather than philosophical rhetoric, leading the cavalry charge from the front line. Unadulterated war - tremenjus fun for all the family. This was hurling at its most primal. Frantic, frenetic, fierce, ferocious....so many f words can be used to describe this match, and a lot of them were used in Drimnagh. The opening exchanges were a frenzy of energy-letting and scorched earth tactics unseen on these shores since Cromwell's razing of Drogheda. The current version of Leinster men were not as easily cowed though. Gahan himself, calling to mind his forebears, the precocious Wexford boys of '98 struck an early hammer blow. His battlefeld commander Shane Murphy following swiftly with another incendiary fired into the Munster rear-guard. Shell-shocked, overrun and retreating, Munster needed respite. The noose tightening, battle-lines had to be redrawn to break the encirclement. Guerilla tactics were required. Having served so well against marauders in many unyielding hinterlands, they needed to be adapted to deal with this new, familiar enemy on home soil. Cian Liddy led the flying column deep into enemy territory striking an immediate counter attack. Podge Buckley, who would later declare his phenomenal emotional, but not financial, attachment to this club, became his aide-de-camp. Together they led multiple sorties which took their toll on the Leinster cover. Two more majors were claimed - emphatic blows but not yet decisive. With Munster leading three artillery strikes to two, defensive warfare was required. The big guns would sound no more. Time to revert to street fighting and sniping to win the day. Conor Maharaj and Kevin Ryan, the Connacht mercenary, for Leinster and Martin Murphy and the enigmatic Conor O'Halloran, who was unknown in military circles until that day, for Munster, will enter forklore for their respective provinces. Their long range exploits were vital propaganda victories for their respective camps on that fateful day. Minstrels may well sing many songs of their achievements. While the heat and bluster of battle raged like a torment around them, they led the charts on confirmed targets hit with exceptional accuracy. With bodies spent and littering the battlefield, stalemate ensued. But this was civil war...there had to be a victor. Once more into no-mans land. Unchartered territory. Light fading, temperatures dropping, night closing in. Brian Boru's millennium-old score still unsettled. Spirits on either side never fading, energy never flagging in a desperate attempt to wrench the prize of victory from their unyielding foe. Cian Liddy nearly suffering a similar fate to Robespierre, being guillotined by his former comrades during the French Revolution. Old veterans Harry Stone and Ciaran Butler entering the fray to inspire and cajole war-weary troops. Unadulterated war we said - every man was required. In one way, in the end, hurling was the winner. Over 45 brave soldiers taking to the battlefield at Drimnagh Castle to give their all to represent their province with honour. However, in another more important way Munster were the winners. This battle is over but the war rumbles on. No doubt, there will be another chapter to this story. Munster: Cathal Mulkere, Mike Richardson, Derek McKenna, David O'Connell, Eoin O'Dwyer, Niall Mullane, Ronan Moloney, James Kenny (capt), Brian Gavin, Kieran Kelly, John Tarpey, Conor O'Halloran, Padraig Buckley, Martin Murphy, Cian Liddy Stephen Barry, Stephen Casey, Gavin O'Connell, Kevin Cormican, Gavin Deacon, Kevin McEvoy, Jack McNamara, Eoin O'Sullivan, Brad Harte, Ciaran Butler Leinster: Marc MacLiam, Kevin Deady, Eoin Fitzpatrick, Ultan Dillon, Barry Ruth, Cathal Hester, Tom Kehoe, Conor Maharaj, Kevin Ryan, Jamie O'Hara, Denis O'Sullivan, Eoin Ryan, Shane Murphy (capt), Colm Gahan, Martin Murphy Caomhin Concannon, Ger Kennedy, Cillian Thornton, Leon Flanagan, Kieran Parrock, Harry Stone
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Réalt Dearg 1-8 v 2-12 St. Sylvesters
Drimnagh Castle, 8 November 2015 Relentless, intense, fierce....all words that have been used to describe hurling matches throughout the ages. Unfortunately, these words are being used at the start of this piece to describe the weather conditions that presented themselves in Drimnagh at mid-day on Sunday. Hurling in November.... perhaps what those with sights on Croke Park for St. Patricks Day aspire to, but the cold reality of a shot at promotion to AHL5 was a sufficient enough carrot for the hardly souls from Réalt Dearg and Syls to face conditions Captain Ahab would have struggling to overcome in his pursuit of the Great White Whale. Ducks took shelter under the stones of Drimnagh Castle unwilling to take solace in the comfort of the carefully constructed protective moat. The euphemistic cats and dogs were being thrown biblically from the heavens...Twas fair feckin wet is essentially what I'm tryin to get across here. But there was hurling to be played. So with a sense of enthusiasm which belied the conditions, that could only come from not having taken to the field in the almost 8 weeks since the disappointment in O'Toole Park, the Stars men set immediately to the task at hand and notched the first score of the day with an excellent effort from new boy Jamie O'Hara making his debut for the A team. In fact, O'Hara notched the first three scores of the day is what hopefully is a portent for better days in the black and red jersey. Unfortunately, like the Great White Whale taking a chunk off Captain Ahab's leg, the Stars were dealt a significant blow early in the engagement when talismanic midfielder Paul Warren had to exit proceedings having suffered a nasty quad injury. Small in stature but a colossus in presence, we wish Paul well in his recovery. A re-organisation of the troops was required with Stephen Barry entering the fray but the battle, and the rain, continued unabated. More blows, two Syls goal, a scatter of points from a precocious corner-forward to put them well ahead on the scoreboard. Serious introspection required, the tempest raging on and off the field, pinned down in the trenches. Roy Batty's Tears in Rain speech from Blade Runner comes to mind... Time to Die??...Not a chance. The day may have brought the deluge but the men in black brought the thunder. Ferocious intensity in defence from the Stars, led by Colonel Gahan and his Lieutenant Maharaj caused the first seeds of doubt to enter Syls minds. Kev Ryan and O'Hara sniping in attack. John Tarpey, panzer-like, marshalling the Blitzkrieg. Chubba's speculative grenade made incendiary by Niall Mullane's goal-den touch. The tide turning, Syls needed respite. Their 8-point lead cut to 3. The shrill whistle halted the onslaught within sight of the target. Conditions becoming treacherous underfoot, the second barrage begun. Once more into the breach good fellows. On this Remembrance Sunday, remembering Passchendaele all those years ago, where the second battle was the more tactical, tiring effort but ultimately decisive, the Deluge of Drimnagh proved to be a similar affair. Facing into the gale, the Réalt Dearg men died with their boots on. No surrender, no backwards step taken. Scores were more difficult to come by as the weather worsened. Ultan Dillon completely negating their most destructive weapon - Medal of Honor territory. Wounded in battle - pick up the Purple Heart later...there's a job to be done. Cian Liddy continually raiding into No-Man's land bringing his embattled comrades with him to strike at the heart of the enemy. Mike Butler, the beleaguered old warrior entering the fray..generals on the front line. These are the men to have by your side when the enemy is at the gates. The result did not go our way but we can be proud of these young men. There will be other days, better days. We have come a long way. Dust ourselves down, re-group, re-assess. We will attack again in the new year... Réalt Dearg: Gary Thompson, Mike Richardson, Cathal Hester, Derek McKenna, Conor Maharaj, Colm Gahan, Brian Gavin, Eoin O'Dwyer, Paul Warren, Jamie O'Hara, Niall Mullane, Kevin Ryan, Cian Liddy, John Tarpey, Stephen Casey. Stephen Barry, Ultan Dillon, Conor O'Droma, David O'Connell, Mike Butler, Kevin Deady, Marc McLiam Theres one potential League fixture left for the C team and the details for the AHL6 playoff semi final have been announced, details of both below;
Sunday 8 November2015: Drimnagh Castle at 12pm AHL6 semi final playoff: Réalt Dearg 'A' v St Sylvesters Sunday 8 November2015: Fairview at 14.30pm AHL9 : St Josephs OCB v Réalt Dearg 'C' All support welcome |
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