Hurling training is underway at the moment. Teams of all grades are preparing for their respective competitions. The Senior team train on Tuesday and Friday evenings at 7:30pm. The Senior team are also playing challenge games and tournaments.
On Easter Monday they played in the Liam Mellows Hurling Tournament to the memory of Gerard Cameron. The four invited teams were Carnmore, Loughrea, Clarinbridge and Liam Mellows. Loughrea versus Liam Mellows and Carnmore versus Clarinbridge was the draw for the opening games. Loughrea had a six point win over Liam Mellows. Loughrea secured their win late in the game with two easy goals. Carnmore had a great game in their battle with Clarinbridge. Both teams were almost at full strength and it was played with a championship edge to it. Carnmore opened the scoring with a good point from Liam Fahy followed by a point from a 65 ‘y’ by Patrick Killilea. Clarinbridge replied with a point. Liam Fahy was on target again with another point and had a great effort for a goal saved. Michael Killilea scored two good points. Clarinbridge responded with two good points. Liam Fahy was on target with an excellent goal. Clarinbridge added another point before half-time to two from Carnmore, one from Declan Walsh and one from Damian Fahy, leaving the score at half-time Carnmore 1–7, Clarinbridge 4 points.
The second half was a tough affair with Carnmore playing against a strong breeze. Four points for Carnmore during this half, two from Michael Killilea, one from Liam Fahy and one from Tomas Grealish. Clarinbridge scored seven points during the second half and had two 21 yard frees well saved by the Carnmore defence. This was a good performance, some individuals played excellently, particularly goalie Shane Hynes and full forward Liam Fahy. Final score Carnmore 1–11 to 0–11 points. The final against Loughrea was played immediately after this tough game. This was a big disadvantage to Carnmore. They played very well in the first half leading by 1 goal 11 points to 5 points at half-time but playing with a strong breeze. Carnmore ran out of steam in the second-half and Loughrea won on a scoreline of 2 goals and sixteen points to 1 goal and fourteen points.
Scorers for Carnmore: Martin Connell 1 point, Tomas Grealish 3 points, Damian Fahy 5 points, Michael Killilea 3 points, Patrick Killlilea 1 point, Liam Fahy 1 goal and 1 point.
The Senior Hurling championship for 1997 commences on the weekend of the 19th and 20th April.
These are the groupings for the championship:
Group A: Portumna, Ballindereen, Kilconieron, St. Thomas’s, Abbydunirs.
Group B: Ardrahan, Killimordaly, Carnmore, Castlegar, Sarsfield.
Group C: Clarinbridge, Turloughmore, Kinvar, Pearses, Liam Mellows.
Group D: Gort, Abbeyknockmoy, Mullagh, Loughrea, Athenry.
The Junior A competitions are commencing and a strong panel of players are eligible and have been informed. Training will be with the Senior Team on Tuesday and Friday evenings. We can be very optimistic with the strong panel, we expect to have competitive games every weekend, already the city league competition has commenced. We had a great win over Castlegar on Easter Sunday in the first game of the City League. This was a fine team effort with great displayes from Kevin Moran, Padraic Connell, John Keogh and Michael Grealish. The final score was Carnmore 4 goals and 12 points to Castlegar 3 goals and 5 points.
So the message to the Junior A Panel is, we have a fine panel, if you put in the effort we can win this Championship. There are two groups in the Junior A championship. Our group is: Carnmore, Kilconieron, Spiddal, Sylane, Fomenagh, Ballindereen, and Ahascaragh.
The U21 team has four points from two games in their championship group games. The minor championship is just getting under way. The U14 team had a couple of good wins in the Turloughmore Tornament with wins over Abbeyknockmoy and Turloughmore.
At Carnmore Hurling pitch on Friday 11th April at 8:15pm, the pitch and grounds will be blessed by Fr Tommy Marrinan. This will be followed by Mass at 8:30 pm in the Community Centre. The Mass will be offered for deceased members and friends of the hurling clubs. Everybody is invited.
B. Linnane
