Lucozade
Junior Championship Round 1- Saturday 1st August 2009
Shane O'Neills 0-13 v Grange
0-05
Before the game started a minutes silence was observed
in memory of Ann Feehan and Seamus Berry who both
passed away last week.This was the senior’s
first game in almost three weeks and it showed in
the opening five or six minutes when they missed a
number of kickable scores. A long range point from
Brendy Mackin settled the nerves before a fine point
from Kieran Murphy put the Shanes two up. The Shanes
were winning a lot of ball around midfield and Paul
Donegan was on hand to win a breaking ball before
supplying Brendy Mackin who fired the ball over for
another point. The Shanes continued to hit a number
of wides before Jameso Lennon made a mighty hit on
his midfield opponent and the ball found it’s
way to his brother Neil Paul who calmly steered the
ball between the posts. Grange mounted a rare attack
into Shanes territory and were rewarded with a point
but with the first half almost over a brilliant point
from Jameso Lennon gave the Shanes a four point lead
at the break, 0 – 5 to 0 – 1.
The Shanes began the second half in great style and
scored three unanswered points in as many minutes.
Neil Paul Lennon got the first of these scores with
a well taken point off his left foot and he followed
this up with an equally well taken score, this time
off his right. A further point from Paul Donegan increased
the Shanes lead to seven points. Grange replied with
two points of their own, one from play and the other
from a free. A storming run from Raymie Fitzpatrick
resulted in him driving the ball over the bar before
another Kieran Murphy point restored the Shanes seven
point advantage. The best score of the game came next
with a sweeping Shanes move the length of the field
ended with young Kristian Magill popping the ball
over the bar. Grange replied with another pointed
free before Peter O’Brien replied with a free
of his own. Kieran Murphy got his third point of the
game to finish the Shanes scoring and it was Grange
who got the last scorewith another pointed free to
leave the final score 0 – 13 to 0 – 5
in favour of Shane O’Neills.
Team: C Duffy, D Doyle, G Brannigan,
C Malone, D Fearon, P Doran, K McParland, J Lennon,
R Fitzpatrick, P Donegan, B Mackin, P O’Brien,
K Murphy, K Magill, N P Lennon. Subs Used:
P.Gregory, B.Treanor. Unused Subs:
D Brady, M Brady, C Murphy, S Austin, M McKeown, L
Lennon, D Boyle and D Muckian.
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Lucozade Junior
Championship Quarter Final - Saturday 29th August
2009
Shane O'Neills
1-06 v Tullysaran 0-08
Both sides made a nervous start to the game and it
was almost ten minutes before the first score was
registered and it was Tullysaran who got the first
point of the contest. The Shanes were soon back on
level terms with a pointed free from Peter O’Brien.
Two further points edged Tullysaran ahead again before
another free, this time from Neil Paul Lennon, reduced
the arrears to one. Both sides had further chances
but a combination of good defending and bad shooting
ensured that scores were at a premium before Tullysaran
put two between them with another point. A Brendy
Mackin point just before half-time left one point
between the sides at the interval, Tullysaran 0 –
4 Shane O’Neills 0 – 3.
A great point from Paul Donegan early in the second
half brought the Shanes level again before Tullysaran
hit a bit of a purple patch and scored three unanswered
points. Tullysaran sensed victory now but some great
defending from the Shanes, particularly a last ditch
tackle from Kevin McParland, kept Shanes in the hunt.
It was becoming increasingly evident that the Camlough
side were going to need a goal to get back in the
game and one duly arrived courtesy of corner-forward
Micheál Brady. A passage of slick interplay
among the forwards ended with Micheál calming
slotting the ball to the net to bring the Shanes back
on level terms. It was anyone’s game now but
it was Tullysaran who edged in front again with another
good point. With time fast running out the Shanes
were pressing for the equalising score and it was
Brendy Mackin who popped up with a brilliant point
to leave the sides level for the fourth time in the
game. With the game now in injury time it looked odds
on to end in a draw before young Lennon popped up
to seal the win and a semi-final place for the Shanes
with a brilliantly taken point to leave the final
score 1 – 6 to 0 – 8.
Team: C Duffy, D Doyle, G Brannigan,
M.McKeown, D Fearon, P Doran, K McParland, J Lennon,
P Donegan, P.Gregory, B Mackin, P O’Brien, M.Brady,
K Murphy, N P Lennon. Subs Used:
L.Lennon Unused Subs: D Brady, S
Austin, D.Feeley, D Boyle and D Muckian.
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Lucozade Junior
Championship Semi Final - Saturday 19th September
2009
O'Hanlon's 2-02 v Shane O'Neill's
0-17
Both sides made a cagey start to the game and scoring
chances were at a premium early on but it was young
Pete O’Brien who opening the scoring from a
free following a foul on Brendy Mackin. Minutes later
the Shanes were rocked back on their heels when O’Hanlons
were awarded a penalty which they duly dispatched
to the net. However, this set back only served to
spur the Shanes on and a Kieran Murphy point was quickly
followed by a another free from Pete O’Brien
to leave the sides level. Corner forward, Neil Paul
Lennon, eased the Shanes one in front again with a
well taken free from a difficult angle before Pete
O’Brien capitalised on more O’Hanlons
indiscipline with another pointed free. The Shanes
were winning the midfield battle with Jameso Lennon
and Raymie Fitzpatrick getting through a mountain
of work and it was their dominance which led to the
Shanes finishing the first half the much stronger
side. A further point from the impressiveKieran Murphy
and a great long range effort from Dan Fearon gave
the Shanes a four point lead at the break, 0 –
7 to 1 – 0.
The Shanes made the better start to the second period
and an early pointed free from Neil Paul Lennon put
the Shanes five in front before the same player popped
over another free after Micheál Brady was fouled
on the edge of the large square. O’Hanlons then
registered only their second score of the game with
a well taken point. However, Paddy Doran quickly cancelled
out the score with a brilliant point following a period
of great ball retention from the Shanes which left
the space for Doran to get his score. A brilliant
point from Brendy Mackin put the Shanes seven points
up before another O’Hanlons point reduced the
lead to six. Neil Paul Lennon got his fourth score
of the game with another well taken free before O’Hanlons
got themselves right back into the game with their
second goal. The Poyntzpass side tried to build in
this score but a combination of goalkeeper, Cormac
Duffy, and the full-back line of Damien Doyle, Kevin
McParland and DamienBrady, held firm to snuff out
any further scoring threat and the goal proved to
be O’Hanlons last score of the contest. The
Shanes responded to the O’Hanlons goal with
their best score of the game, a flowing move the entire
length of the field which ended with Paddy Gregory
splitting the posts for a brilliant point. The Shanes
midfield continued to dominate, with the half back
line of Dan Fearon, Paddy Doran and Micheál
Brady winning all the breaking ball and they were
ably assisted by the half forward line of Paul Donegan,
Paddy Gregory and Pete O’Brien. By now the Shanes
realised that they had one foot in the final and they
were playing with great confidence and they scored
a further four points form play without reply, the
scores coming from Neil Paul Lennon (2), Pete O’Brien
and Dan Fearon to leave the final score: Shane O’Neills
0 – 17 O’Hanlons 2 – 2.
Team: C Duffy, D Doyle, K.McParland,
D.Brady, D Fearon, P Doran, M.Brady, J Lennon, R Fitzpatrick,
P Donegan, P.Gregory, P O’Brien, K Murphy, B.Mackin,
N P Lennon. Subs Used: B.Treanor,
L.Lennon. Unused Subs: M McKeown,D.Feeley,
D Boyle, D.McDonald. K.Magill and D Muckian.
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Lucozade Junior Championship
Final - Sunday 11th October 2009
Shane O'Neills 0-12 v Belleek
2-06
Understandably both teams made a nervous start to
the game and the Shanes missed a couple of early chances
before Brendy Mackin put them in front with a well
taken point from a free. Belleek replied with a point
of their own before Pete O’Brien restored the
Shanes lead with another point from a free. Neil Paul
Lennon increased the Camlough side’s lead with
another pointed free following some persistent fouling
on Paddy Gregory. Young Lennon added another point
for the Shanes before Belleek got their second point
of the game but Kieran Murphy put the Shanes three
in front again with a great point following a quickly
taken free. The Shanes were playing all the football
and were good value for their three point advantage
but a high ball towards the Shanes square caused a
bit of confusion and the Belleek forward took full
advantage to rise highest and fist the ball to the
net and bring the sides level. The Shanes regrouped
and another pointed free fromBrendy Mackin put the
Shanes one ahead again but they were hit with another
sucker-punch minutes later when another long ball
forward some how found its way to the back of the
Shane’s net. But credit to the Shanes, they
finished the half the stronger of the two teams and
a brilliant point from Neil Paul Lennon was the perfect
reply to the second Belleek goal and saw the Shanes
only a point in arrears at the break, 2 – 2
to 0 – 7.
Belleek were first on the scoreboard in the second
half when they got two early points to put them three
in front. The Shanes had a number of chances to reduce
the deficit but they shot a number of poor wides before
Paddy Gregory was on the end of a well worked Shanes
move to pop the ball over the bar. The same player
was involved minutes later when he worked hard to
find Kieran Murphy who duly put the ball over the
bar to leave just the minimum between the sides. Once
again it was the Shanes who were playing all the football
but it was Belleek who got the next score with a well
taken point. Brendy Mackin replied for the Shanes
with another pointed free but with time almost up
Belleek restored their two point advantage. In years
gone by many Shanes teams would have given up the
ghost but this current group of players are made of
sterner stuff and they proved this once again with
a rousing final few minutes. Second half subs Declan
McDonald and Lee Lennoncombined to set Lee racing
towards the Belleek goal but he was unceremoniously
upended right on the edge of the penalty area and
he picked himself up to slot the resulting free over
the bar. The game was now well into added time and
crucially the Shanes were awarded another free, 45
metres from goal and young Neil Paul Lennon took the
responsibility of taking it and with it, the Shanes
hopes of staying in the championship. However from
the moment it left his boot the ball was always going
over the bar to level the game again and after the
resulting kick out the ref blew for full-time to leave
the final score: Shane O’Neills 0 – 12
Belleek 2 – 6.
Team: C Duffy, D.Doyle, K.McParland,
D.Brady, D Fearon, P Doran, M.Brady, J Lennon, R Fitzpatrick,
P Donegan, P.Gregory, P O’Brien, K.Murphy, B.Mackin,
N P Lennon. Subs Used: L.Lennon,
D.McDonald.
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Lucozade Junior Championship
Final Replay - Friday 16th October 2009
Shane O'Neills 0-13 v Belleek
0-07
Belleek were on the scoreboard first with an early
pointed free but Neil Paul Lennon levelled things
up with a great confidence boosting free minutes later.
This was always going to be a keenly fought affair
and the referee stamped his authority early on by
issuing a number of yellow cards to players from both
sides and Neil Paul Lennon capitalised on a Belleek
indiscretion with another well taken free to put the
Shanes ahead for the first time. Good work from Paul
Donegan minutes later led to Paddy Gregory finding
space in front of the posts and he duly popped the
ball over the bar to increase the Shanes lead. By
now the Shanes were well on top all over the pitch
and the movement of the forward line was causing the
Belleek defence untold problems and a foul on Kieran
Murphy resulted in Neil Paul Lennon getting his third
and the Shanes fourth point of the half. The same
player was on the score sheet minutes later when he
sold his marker a clever dummybefore turning and driving
the ball right between the uprights. Similar to the
drawn game, the Shanes were playing all the football
and young Pete O’Brien took full advantage of
another Belleek foul with a well taken free from a
difficult angle. In a rare attack Belleek got their
second point of the game but Neil Paul Lennon restored
the Shanes five point advantage with another confidently
taken free following a foul on Pete O’Brien.
With time almost up in the first half Belleek got
another point to leave them four in arrears at the
break, 0 – 7 to 0 – 3.
The second half began with Belleek on the front foot
and they scored two quick points to get them right
back into the game and to leave just two between the
sides. Despite applying further pressure on the Shanes
defence this was as close as Belleek got as Paul Donegan
replied for the Shanes with a moral boosting point,
a score which seem to lift the entire Shanes team
and their support. Team captain Brendy Mackin then
got in on the scoring act with a magnificently struck
point from the outside of the boot which sailed over
the bar. Belleek replied with their sixth point of
the game but Pete O’Brien quickly cancelled
this out with a great run at the Belleek defence which
ended with him fisting the bar over the bar to put
four between them again. Kieran Murphy was having
a horse of a game in the full forward line and he
got a deserved point when he collected a low ball,
turned and swivelled before confidently striking the
ball over the bar. PeteO’Brien put double scores
between the sides with another well taken free before
Belleek got their seventh and final score of the game.
However, the Shanes were not going to be outdone and
in injury time Paddy Gregory rounded off a fantastic
Shane’s performance with superbly taken point
off the outside of his right boot to leave the final
score Shane O’Neills 0 – 13 Belleek 0
– 7.
Team: C Duffy, D.Doyle, K.McParland,
D.Brady, D Fearon, P Doran, M.Brady, J Lennon, R Fitzpatrick,
P Donegan, P.Gregory, P O’Brien, K.Murphy, B.Mackin,
N P Lennon. Subs: Kristian Magill,
Davy O’Brien, David Boyle, Sean Austin, Gavin
Brannigan, Micheál McKeown, Declan McDonald,
Ben Treanor, David Muckian, Liam Quinn and Lee Lennon.
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Ulster Junior Club Championship
Quarter Final - Sunday 1st November 2009
Shane O'Neills 2-12 v Sean
Dolans (Derry) 0-09
The Derry side made the better start to the game
and they found themselves two points up after five
minutes. A fisted point from half-back Sean Austin
got the Shanes on the scoreboard before Sean Dolans
got their third point, their second from a free. Neil
Paul Lennon replied for the Shanes when, following
a great move, the Dolans keeper punched his goal bound
effort over the bar but the Derry side soon restored
their two point advantage with another well taken
point. The Shanes reduced the gap to just one when
Brendy Mackin popped the ball over the bar following
some great ball retention from the Shanes forwards
which allowed Mackin to get the space for his score.
A few minutes later the Shanes almost hit the front
when Raymie Fitzpatrick bore down on goal only for
a Dolans defender to make a great last ditch tackle
to prevent a certain goal. However, the Shanes were
soon back on level terms when blood sub, Kieran Murphy,
made an instant impact with abrilliant turn and point.
The Shanes were now on top all over the field and
they hit the front for the first time when Paddy Gregory
was on the end of a great flowing move to blast the
ball over the bar. From the resulting kick-out Raymie
Fitzpatrick rose highest to field the dropping ball
before driving forward and splitting the up-rights
with a brilliantly taken score to send the Camlough
side into the half-time break two points up, 0 –
6 to 0 – 4.
The Shanes couldn’t have asked for a better
start to the second half when corner forward Neil
Paul Lennon collected the ball right on the side line
before turning and confidently driving the ball over
the bar. The Shanes increased their lead soon after
when a quickly taken free was flicked on by Paddy
Gregory into the path of Kieran Murphy who popped
it over the bar. The Shanes were enjoying total domination
now however a pointed free from Sean Dolans still
only left three between the sides but the Shanes got
the next score with a brilliant Dan Fearon point when
James Lennon broke up a Sean Dolans attack which led
to the flowing move that ended with Fearon putting
the ball over the bar. Two quick points from corner-forward
Kieran Murphy saw the Shanes lead by six, 0 –
11 to 0 – 5, before the Shanes keeper, Cormac
Duffy, made a great save at the feet of a Dolans attacker
to prevent an almost certain goal but they did get
a point from the resulting45. The Derry keeper was
called into action soon after when he made a great
save following a shot from Neil Paul Lennon before
the bar came to his rescue following a shot from Brendy
Mackin but Paddy Gregory was on hand to fist the rebound
over. Two points from Sean Dolans reduced the arrears
to four points but Neil Paul Lennon put the game beyond
the Derry side when he collected a pass from Kieran
Murphy before lashing the ball to the back of the
net. Sean Dolans scored their ninth point of the contest
before Paddy Gregory sealed the Shanes win when he
capitalised on a poor kick-out and planted the ball
high in the roof of the net to leave the final score
Shane O’Neills 2 – 12 to 0 – 9.
Team: C Duffy, D.Doyle, D.Fearon,
D.Brady, S.Austin, P Doran, M.Brady, J Lennon, R Fitzpatrick,
P Donegan, P.Gregory, P O’Brien, L.Lennon, B.Mackin,
N P Lennon. Subs Used: K.Murphy for
L.Lennon, Unused: Kristian Magill,
Davy O’Brien, David Boyle, Gavin Brannigan,
Micheál McKeown, Declan McDonald, David Muckian,
Liam Quinn.
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Ulster Junior Club Championship
Semi Final - Sunday 15th November 2009
Emyvale (Monaghan) 0-12 v
Shane O'Neills 0-09
The Shanes had the better of the opening exchanges
and following some good early possession they took
the lead with a pointed free from Neil Paul Lennon.
Emyvale replied with a well taken point and a few
minutes later they took the lead with another good
point. However, from the resulting kick out the Shanes
won the ball in midfield and fed Brendy Mackin who
fired the ball over the bar to bring the sides level
again. A fast flowing attack from Emyvale almost resulted
in the Monaghan side finding the net but a great save
from Cormac Duffy kept the teams all square before
Emyvale went a point in front from the resulting 45.
Neil Paul Lennon replied for the Shanes with another
well taken free following a foul on Raymie Fitzpatrick
and they soon found themselves a point to the good
when Paddy Gregory fired over following some good
work by Damian Doyle and Brendy Mackin. The Shanes
keeper, Cormac Duffy, came to their rescue once again
when he preventedanother certain goal when he got
his hand to the ball to turn it over the bar to level
the sides level for the fourth time. This score seemed
to lift the Monaghan side and they put a further two
points on the board before Paddy Gregory got his second
point of the game to leave just one between the sides.
A great point from Peter O’Brien brought the
sides level again when he was on hand to collect a
break ball in midfield before driving forward and
splitting the posts to bring the teams back on level
terms again. It looked as if the first half would
finish all square but with the final attack of the
half Emyvale pointed again to leave the minimum between
the sides at the interval, 0 – 7 to 0 –
6.
Emyvale began the second half where they left off
in the first and two quick points saw them take a
three point lead, the furthest any team was ahead
in the game. However, the Shanes dug in once again
and, as they have done all year, they never gave up
and they reduced the deficit to just two when Brendy
Mackin scored a great point following some good ball
retention from Paddy Doran. The Shanes continued to
battle hard and they brought themselves right back
into the game when Dan Fearon surged forward before
putting the ball over the bar from a very tight angle.
The Shanes were pressing hard to get back on level
terms but it was Emyvale who got the extra stride
in their step and they scored three unanswered points
to leave them four points in front with time running
out. Try as they might the Shanes couldn’t get
themselves back into the game and had only a late
Raymie Fitzpatrick point to show for all their effort
in the final few minutes. Emyvale haddone enough and
qualified for the Ulster Final on a score-line of
0 – 12 to 0 – 9.
Team: C Duffy, D.Doyle, D.Fearon,
D.Brady, S.Austin, P Doran, M.Brady, J Lennon, R Fitzpatrick,
P Donegan, P.Gregory, P O’Brien, L.Lennon, B.Mackin,
N P Lennon. Subs Used: K.McParland
for D.Brady, K.Murphy for L.Lennon, D.McDonald for
P.Gregory, K.Magill for P.Donegan Unused:
Davy O’Brien, David Boyle, Gavin Brannigan,
Micheál McKeown, David Muckian, Liam Quinn
& Cathal Murphy
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