The club has been enthralled with our Junior team’s brilliant and valiant League campaign. Although the team finished second in the League, a semi-final play-off against Eire Og took place last week. Unfortunately the tables were turned when an earlier victory by one point a few weeks ago turned in to the narrowest of defeats by one point in extra time in the semi-final. The teams were very evenly matched and although Eire Og led by 3 points at half time, Parnells played their way back in to the game and led by one point into the last plays of the game only to have the game snatched away in the final minutes. The full time score was 3 – 10 Parnells to 2 – 13 Eire Og.
The prospect of extra time seemed daunting for both teams given the sweltering conditions but both sides stepped up to the challenge. Going into the final 10 minutes, nothing could split them and the game was in the balance at 3 – 12 to 2 – 15 apiece.
Parnells had chances around the goal mouth but it was Eire Og to get the last point with less than 1 minute to go. When the final whistle was blown, Parnells players, the management and supporters were all exhausted physically and mentally. There is no doubt that they gave more than 100% on the pitch and even with water breaks the game had drained everyone involved.
Team details and scores will appear in the club news section separately.
An exciting game and well done to Eire Og and now the focus changes to the Championship where we face St. Anthony’s in early August. The team is still developing as a young side and their Mullarkey Cup and League campaign will stand them in good stead and with continued training the side will embrace the Championship challenge.
The club would like to wish Alan and Aidan Callanan all the best as they play with the London hurling team that is participating in the GAA’s World Games in Waterford, Ireland this week. Both brothers have played youth football with the club and now are members of the new home grown Junior team. However they are duel players and have played hurling for years with Granuaille Hurling Club and been very successful at it. Jack Woulffe is another duel adult player.
The club has a number of duel players in the younger youth age groups and are proud of the fact that this is the case. Recently we had three players selected to go to the U14 Feile hurling earlier in the summer: Tommie Mayne-Sheehy, Killian Griffin and Matthew Cox. They were also players in a winning team at the ABC in Greenford as well.
Events to look forward to after the summer are the Youth Golf Day taking place on Friday 13th September at Stanmore Golf Club. Information is in circulation and will be on the website soon. Also on Saturday 14th September we will be hosting our U12 Commemorative Games for the Conrad Ryan Cup, Nora Togher Plate and Gerry Somers Shield. This year we will be introducing a new trophy competition for an U13 girl’s competition in honour and in memory of Brendan Lynch (RIP). We will be welcoming visiting teams including Sean McDermotts from Birmingham and Ballyporeen from Tipperary. The club will celebrate with football and family fun and hope that it will be a great success and look forward to everyone joining us.
The season continues and Parnells are always happy to welcome at our bases, Harrow Rugby Club and Northwick Park, new players across all age groups and ability. For U6-17 please contact Colin McGuinness (07779 340398) or Veronica Bailey (07768 635534) and for the Senior/Junior teams, please contact Tony Griffin (07966 160999) or Dennis Diggins (07768 352680). Training for the Youth section will resume w/c 2/9.
