Barna GAA Notes May 11th 04
Barna Senior Football Team, who have lost up to seven players , some
through the urge to go to Australia and USA , together with a number of
injury problems , found the odds stacked against them when they faced
the All Ireland Champions last Sunday night at Pearse Stadium. As I
entered the ground after making the mad dash from supporting our County
hurlers at a fantastic new Limerick Gaa Ground, the score in Pearse
Stadium was Caltra -5 to Barna 0-2 and Barna at that stage looked like
they might give this game a good lash as they were playing somewhat
against a wind favouring Caltra . Caltra , All Ireland Champions,
certainly looked like All Ireland champions and again do look strong
contenders for county glory and who knows a second All Ireland, if they
get the right breaks. To say that Michael Meehan had a good game would
be an understatement, as he give the Barna defence a lesson. He was at
his finest from a club football perspective. He may have had a quiet day
in Croke park, but he certainly made up for it in Pearse Stadium, when
he refused to let up at all and pilled on the scores against Barna, when
everything certainly went Caltra and, Michael Meehan”s way.
Barna were not a bad outfit ,at all, last Sunday, but Caltra boys looked
they were ready to play the All Ireland in two weeks as they give a
display of quality football, that would do any GAA Club follower proud.
I will say no more about Caltra except that their centrefield needs
improvement as both Barna midfielders Brian Connelly, who is in great
form and Davy Carr certainly had their share of position and cannot in
any way be blamed.
The is no doubt , but Caltra showed that they have played a lot of
football together, as a panel, whereas Barna with the changes that had
to be made in the past number if weeks looked at times unbalanced. I
take great heart with the display of two minors Aoifeann Grehan and
Aidian O’Connor, drafted into the Barna side, who will benefit from
this outing.
Barna will now come back in the backdoor to compete against one of a
number of teams ,most capable of still winning the County . Barna, will
also need to buckle down in the 04 league and build up some wins as we
have just one game played to date, a draw with Killanin. But Brna, lets
not forget, are indeed a Division A Team , who got there on merit and,
its our intention to stay there with a fight.
Barna Under 11 got off to a fine start to their league with a fine point
win over by the score of 0-10 to 0-5.
The final of the Under 14 Feile saw Barna lose out in their particular
grade final to Monivea
Under 16 now managed by Mark McDonagh won a league game over Oughterard
last Tuesday evening by the score of
Barna 2-12 to Oughterard 2-6, played at Furbo pitch. Barna went in at
half time leading 1-6 to 0-2. After withstanding a late Oughterard
rally, Barna won out this match by the final tally of 2-12 to 2-6. Best
for Barna were West Galway Regional Team player for the Ted Webb Cup
namely Ray Connelly, together with , Shane O’Connor, Robert Criddon,
Evan Kennedy and Cormack Thornton. Training continues on Friday evenings
at 6.30 in preparation for our first round Championship match against St
Bredans Ballygar. The management would like to extend a good luck
message to all players sitting the junior cert this year at this level
The Barna Ladies game at the week-end was called off.
The Barna Lotto Jackpot was not won on Sunday night last when numbers
4,18,19,22. There was actually no Match Three
Winners , so the club awarded all five Match Two tickets. The Jackpot is
now at 3,450 euro and the draw will take place at Donnelly”s Pub in
Barna. The Twelve Pins which generally is the Pub main Meeting spot for
after home game receptions , is now closed and will not reopen for at
least twelve months. Certainly the end of an era , for The Pins, as we
all knew it and a source of big disappointment to many that’s its going,
as it will now be totally reconstructed and refurbished.
Slainte agus tog go bog e (HG)