Tansey Cup: Strokestown V Oran 24/05/09

Strokestown 2-3, Oran 1-14.

Team: Thomas Shanagher, Damian Shaughnessy, Ciarán O'Reilly, Alan Kelly, Paul McLoughlin, Cian Crosbie, Donal Molloy, Philip Duignan, Cormac Hanly, James Carr (0-1), Niall Brogan (1-0), Leo Cauneen, David Parker, Conor Silke (0-2), David Kelly (1-0).
Subs: Andrew Duignan, Colm Dowd.

O'Rourke Cup 15/05/09 Strokestown V St.Brigids

St. Brigids 3-12, Strokestown 1-17

The 747 sponsored senior team lost out to St. Brigids in a fantastic game of football in the O'Rourke Cup on Friday evening last in Kiltoom. Despite scoring 20 points Town still lost by the minimum of margins. The game was a highlight of all that is good in football with both teams fully commited to the cause. The never say die attitude shown from the Black and amber was exemplery as the boys battled back on a couple of occasions from a position from where it looked like the home side were in the ascendency. The tough work done earlier in the year on the training field was certainly in eveidence as Strokestown were well able to play for the full 65 to 70 minutes that were played.
If it was not only for two very fortunate goals for the home side Strokestown would have been very comfortable winners. The first was a simple finish from the edge of the square after an effort for a point came back off the post. Despite this Town managed to claw their way back into the game scoring 11 points in the first half to draw level approaching half time but then Brigids struck for their freak second goal. A shot which was going right and wide deflected of the head of a St. Brigids player and sent the ball into the opposite corner of the net.
In the second half Strokestown again faught their way back and actually took the lead with a goal from David Parker. But Brigids then got their third goal when Their right half forward was aloowed to cut in from the right and finish low into the bottom corner. With about 5 minutes to go Strokestown found themselves down by 5 points and the game looked over but again the boys managed to put the minimum between the sides with 4 consecutive points and were very unfortunate not to see one of the efforts go under the crossbar.
In the end St. Brigids just managed to hang on with some of their players admitting afterwards that they didn't deserve the win. The game bodes well for Strokestown as despite a number of injuries and absentees the lads who came in certainly making a case for their place on the championship team in 5 weeks time. Best for Strokestown on the day were Matty Colum, Thomas Shanagher, David Parker and the ever dependable captain John Rogers. Others to impress and who covered huge amounts of ground were Morgan Beirne, John Hagan and Daniel Rogers.

TEAM: John McHugh, Johnny Dolan, Ciarán O'Reilly, Colin Dowd, Daniel Rogers (0-1), Morgan Beirne, Emmet Collins (0-1), Matty Colum (0-2), Seamus Collins (0-2), John Hagan (0-1), John Rogers (0-5), Ruaidhri Molloy (0-1), Thomas Shanagher (0-2), Ronan Owens, David Parker (1-2).
SUBS: Damian Caslin for Colin Dowd, Thomas Hughes for Ruaidhri Molloy, Donal Molloy for Emmet Collins.

Strokestown V St. Aidans, O'Rourke Cup 08/05/09

Strokestown 0-12, St. Aidans 2-10.

*Game was switched to Ballyforan due to the pitch in Farnbeg being unplayable.

Team: John McHugh, Johnny Dolan, Ciarán O'Reilly, Colin Dowd, Paul McLoughlin, Morgan Beirne, Daniel Rogers, John Hagan, Seamus Collins, Matty Colum, Ronan Owens, Ruaidhri Molloy, Emmet Collins, Niall Brogan, John Rogers.
Subs: Paddy Brogan for Paul McLoughlin, Damian Caslin for Colin Dowd, Thomas Shanagher for Emmet Collins.