De La Salle GAA Live

• Annual General Meeting

The AGM took place last Friday in Gracedieu as we looked back on 2018 and planned for next year.

It was a year in which the highlight was the retention of the Liam O’Donnell memorial cup for the Eastern U-21 A hurling championship.

At under-age it was a reasonable year in which we won county titles in U-16 B and U-13 A hurling. Our U-14 footballers also took part in Peil na nOg in County Meath.

In his address as Chairman Seamus Quirke spoke about the need to get more people actively involved in the club at various levels and the continuing need to remain financially viable. He thanked the various management teams for their efforts this year and he complimented all the players and mentors who had represented Waterford at various levels. He thanked Alan Duke and John Sheehan, who were stepping down as Vice Chairman and P.R.O., for their efforts and he also paid special tribute to Eamonn Fitzgerald, who is retiring shortly, for his work in St. Declan’s school.

The secretary and treasurer’s reports were discussed and they were complimented on a job well done.

The following officers were re-elected, President Br. Killian, Chairman: Seamus Quirke, Vice-Chairman Thomas Kearney, Secretary: Eoin Casey, Assistant Secretary: Ellen Doyle, Treasurer: Tom O’Leary, P.R.O: TBC, Field Committee: Billy O’Neill, Players Representative: Ian Flynn, County Board Delegate: Seamus Quirke, East Board Delegate: Billy O‘Neill, Juvenile Chairman: Paudie Brosnan, Camogie Club Chairman: Joey Carton, Children’s Welfare Officer: Brendan Lawton, Insurance Officer: Leanne Sheehan, Health and Wellbeing Officer: Lorraine Duke, Irish Officer: Megan Duke, Social Committee Chairman: TBC.

• Condolences

Last week we lost another great clubman when Richie Power passed away. Richie was a long standing servant of the club as a player, selector and was also a trustee. Richie had playing success at U-16 and minor level with the club and he had the distinction of marking Christy Ring one time in a tournament game. He was a selector on our county intermediate hurling championship winning side in 1990 and our senior hurling Sargent cup winning team in 1991. He was a committee member for many years and he also served as an Eastern board delegate to the county board. Many club members, old and young, formed a guard of honour at his removal and funeral.

The death also occurred last week of Kathleen Lalor mother of our current junior hurler Luke Lalor, former player Donnie Lalor and grandmother to our U-13 county medallist Daniel Lalor.

We extend our deepest sympathy to both the Power and Lalor families on their loss. Ar dheis Dé go raibh said.

• Lotto

There was no winner of our Lotto jackpot last Monday night and it now stands at €5,500. The next draw, which is the Christmas draw, takes place on Monday 17th December. Numbers drawn were 18, 20, 24, 30. There were five winners of €20 each.

Rachel Phelan c/o seller Allen Dillon, Donal Kenneally c/o seller John Sheehan, Lorraine Duke, Freddie Robinson c/o seller Owen Dunphy, Eddie Cooney.

1. County U-21 Hurling Final

Abbeyside 3-13 De La Salle 1-12

Our quest for four U-21 hurling county titles came to an end last Saturday when we were beaten by an excellent Abbeyside team in Fraher Field in a sporting contest throughout. Abbeyside were the better team throughout on a day in which little went right for us though with even a small bit of luck we might have got closer on the scoreboard but credit to our lads for fighting to the end.

Congratulations to Abbeyside on their victory and finally lifting the Tony Mansfield cup named after one of their own.

We say thanks and well done to our own panel of players and team mentors of Bryan Phelan, Ian Flynn, Stevie Brenner, Barry Murphy and Martin Doyle with Joe Kenny and Micko Casey who were on first aid duty for all their efforts. It is worth remembering, as the  U-21 championship comes to an end, that this management group in six years led us to four county titles and five eastern titles. Best wishes also to Lorcan Dwyer and Eddie Meaney who picked up injuries during the game.

Abbeyside opened the scoring in the first minute and the excellent Thomas Douglas replied from a free after he was fouled himself. He added one from play in the fifth minute but Abbeyside equalised immediately. Evan Whelan regained the lead for us with appoint but Abbeyside goaled in the eight minute to take a lead they would never lose. They added a point before Thomas Douglas converted a free after a foul on Sam Flynn to make it 1-3 to 0-4 after fourteen minutes. Abbeyside were denied a second goal when Shaun O’Brien saved brilliantly but they then hit 1-2 without reply by the 19^th minute. A foul on Eddie Meaney saw Thomas Douglas point but again Abbeyside replied. Mikey Costigan sent over a point from distance in the 24^th minute. Abbeyside pointed again in the 25^th minute before a foul on Cormac McCann resulted inThomas Douglas pointing and we trailed 2-7 to 0-7 at the break.

Abbeyside began the second half with a point inside twenty seconds and Thomas Douglas pointed a free in the third minute after Cormac McCann was fouled. Another Thomas Douglas free in the sixth minute reduced the arrears to five points but the game was then won by Abbeyside when they scored two points and followed with their third goal in the 12^th minute to lead 3-10 to 0-9. Badly needing a goal at this stage, we thought we had it when Dylan Finn found the net but as he was in the act of striking the referee’s whistle sounded. The referee then appeared to first award the goal but after consulting his umpires awarded a penalty and yellow carded the goalkeeper who produced a brilliant save from the resultant strike. Mikey Costigan pointed a sixty five but Abbeyside replied again. Thomas Douglas pointed from play in the 23^rdminute but Abbeyside replied immediately. Mikey Costigan hit another long range point in the 26^th minute and Abbeyside got their last score in the 32^nd minute. Thomas Douglas was desperately unlucky to see his shot for goal come back off the inside of the upright in the 33^rd minute but we finally found the net in the 35^th minute when Evan Whelan goaled.

Scorers: Thomas Douglas 0-8 (0-6 frees), Evan Whelan 1-1, Mikey Costigan 0-3 (0-1 ‘65).

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, Dylan Finn, Luke Flynn, James Stone, Jack Hannon, Aidan Gannon, Sean Power, Tom Crotty, Jeff Cahill, Seaghan Walsh.

• Annual General Meeting

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

• De La Salle Camogie