During the past fortnight we played two games in the Fe 12 hurling league. In the first of those games the opposition was Sr. Daltons/ Southern Gaels and the venue was Ballymore. In this game we took up where we left off against Delvin and after a keenly contested game we once again emerged victorious. This game marked the return of a number of our stronger players such as Francis Nally, Kevin Loughrey, Cathal Coyne, Stephen Quinn. The teams was as follows Niall Brady, Ronan Flanagan, Damien Moran, Jason Byrne, Sean Deegan, Dara Coyne, Aiden Fallon, Kevin Morgan, Daniel Crombie, Cathal Daly, Brendan Keegan, Conor Slevin, Jason Feery, Christopher Coyne, Ben Gavin, subs used Stephen Quinn, Kevin Loughrey, Cathal Coyne and Enda Cully.

Footnote: We would like to express out gratitude to the number of parents who travelled to Ballymore thus avoiding the necessity to hire a bus.

Our third game in the league was played in Rochfortbridge on Friday last. On this occasion however we came up against a very strong skillful Crookedwood team and despite our best efforts defeat was to be our lot on this occasion. However the margin of defeat was small and we were there with every chance up until the final whistle. We should not be too disconsolate as every player tried their best and should be proud of their effort and Crookedwood would be one of the stronger under age teams within the county.

The team was follows Niall Brady, Ronan Flanagan, Damien Moran, Enda McCabe, Aiden Fallon, Dara Coyne, Sean Deegan, Francis Nally, Daniel Crombie, Conor Slevin, Kevin Morgan, Jason Feery, Cathal Coyne, Christopher Coyne, Brendan Keegan. Fir ionad used Ben Gavin, Stephen Quinn, Jamie Gonoud and Niall O Riordan.

The reitoir was our chairman Paul Deegan and it has to be only a matter of time before we see him in action in Croke Park.

On Thursday evening last we travelled to Castletown Geoghegan to play the local team. This was organised to provide a match for our under 10’s plus a number of our under 12’s who have just started hurling and were nor getting games in the under 12 league. If there is talk in GAA circles of reducing teams to 13 a side this was the opposite as this game was played with 17 a side. After a tense action filled forty minutes hurling which kept the large attendance enthralled the game was declared a draw by match official Liam Maher. Our team was a follows, Lorrie Byrne, Stephen Quinn, Cliona Gallagher, Shane Newman, Enda McCabe, Sean Deegan, Ger O Toole, Billy Maher, Jamie Gonoud, Conor Slevin, Jason Feery, Niamh Mc Entegart, Ben Gavin, Niall O Riordan, Niall Cully, Stephen Nally, Cian Kinsella.

We would like to express our thanks to Kieran Kirby and the Castletown Geo team for providing this challenge and they have agreed to return the match in a few weeks time.

On Monday last we travelled to Ballycumber to play the local team (Brosna Gaels) in a tournament organised as part of the Ballycumber Fair Festival. This proved to be a very keenly contested match played at championship pace with no quarter asked or given and will stand to us as we prepare for the coming championship. Having had to field an understrength team due to the absence of players such as Niall Seery, Pat Hayes and Philip Sheridan we were always going to be under pressure against a physically strong keen Brosna Gaels side. However we acquitted our selves admirably with everyone giving of their best and the experience gained by our younger players will be of benefit. On this occasion we had to give second best and the John Gavin Memorial Cup stays in Ballycumber for this year. Final score Brosna Gaels 3-5 St. Brigids 2-6. On the evening surely history was made when our finishing full forward line consisted of the effervescent Jay Faulkner flanked on each side by his sons Seamus and Dermot, a proud occasion for the Faulkner family. The team was as follows Declan Hogan,Adrian Gallagher, Noel Gavin, Maurice Molloy, Gordon Gonoud, Gordon Eighan, John Maloney, Kevin Connell, Damien Loran, David Eighan, Bernie Kiernan, Jonathan Sheridan, Paul Brady, Kenneth Gunning and Adrian Eighan, subs used, Seamus Faulkner, Dermot Faulkner, Eamon Gallagher, Larry Poynton and Jay Faulkner.