Gort GAA Club Win Beacon Hospital All Ireland Hurling 7s 2023
Photo Credit : Steven Dagg
Some additional photos can be found HERE from Steven Dagg & Philip McKeever
ALL IRELAND HURLING 7’S REPORT – GORT GAIN 2 ND TITLE IN GREAT STYLE!
(Report compiled by Diarmuid Coogan.)
In 1983 Gort became the 1 st Galway club to win the All Ireland 7’s title and their 2023 team
celebrated the 40 th anniversary of that success by sweeping all opposition aside to win the
tournament for the 2 nd time in the clubs history.
From the start it became apparent that Gort in Group 4 and Ballyhale Shamrocks in Group 3 (both
based in UCD) were going to be involved in the “business end” of things with Bennettsbridge
(Kilkenny) and Liam Mellowes(Galway) setting the pace in Silverpark in Groups 1 & 2.
QUARTER FINAL 1: Ballyhale 3-18 Patrickswell (Limerick) 4-12
This was a cliffhanger!
All Ireland Club Champions Ballyhale were playing in their 1 st ever All Ireland 7’s and were keen to do the double and opened brightly with points from Niall Shortall, Evan Shefflin and goalie Mark Gorman before sharp shooter John Flynn kept Patrickswell in touch with some fine points.
Ballyhale should have been further ahead approaching half time but squandered some chances and were dealt a major blow on the stroke of half time when Pat Kirby finished clinically to the netto put his side 1 point up with a strong wind to come in the 2 nd half. (H/T B’Hale 0-10 P’Well 2-5) Ballyhale began the 2 nd half in determined fashion when All Ireland winning captain Ronan Corcoran played a great ball into Shortall who restored the lead with a goal. There followed an exchange of points but when Gorman hit a long range free to put Shamrocks 1-16 to 2-10 ahead with 4 minutes to go, it seemed as if they were in control; however, the alert ‘Well goalie Jason Gillane took the puck out very quickly and “lobbed” the sliothar over the retreating Gorman to tie up the scores! Ballyhale hit back with another 2 points but Gillane found Mark Carmody with another quick puck out and he scored a fine goal and Gillane added a point to make it 4-11(23) to 1-18(21) in ‘Well’s favour.
The excellent Shefflin finished a well worked move into the wind with a goal to put Ballyhale back ahead but Well equalised almost immediately. (2-18 V 4-12)
With scores level and time almost up, Patrickswell were attacking deep inside Shamrocks’ ½ and just as their forward was about “to pull the trigger”, Shefflin regained possession with a marvellous hook before sending the sliothar back upfield to Shortall who finished to the net for a trademark Ballyhale “last gasp” win!!
Patrickswell Bainisteoir Eamonn Kelly: “It was our 1 st time playing in the 7’s in recent years and we really gave it our all. I thought that we had just about done enough to beat Ballyhale but a little bit of inconsistency told against us. It was a great day of fast hurling and we’ll definitely be back(if we’re asked!).”
QUARTER FINAL 2: Bennettsbridge 6-5 Craughwell 1 5-8
(Bennettsbridge won on penalties.)
This game ebbed and flowed with Craughwell establishing a lead in the 1 st half with goals from Adrian Prendergast and young Oisín Quirke. Darragh Gilligan was very solid in goal and Brian Howley dominant in midfield. Kevin Blanchfield (of the famous Blanchfield family) kept Bennettsbridge in touch with a goal to leave the score 2-5 to 1-3 in Craughwell’s favour at half time.
However Bennetsbridge “blitzed” Craughwell in the 1 st 5 minutes of the 2 nd half with Seán Morrisey amassing 5 goals! Nigel Kelly and Prendergast found the net to bring a “shell shocked” Craughwell back into it before James Greaney scored a brilliant goal to level scores in the last play of the match. The drama continued in a penalty shoot out with the Kilkenny lads edging it 1-1 to 0-0.
Craughwell Bainisteoir Kevin Quirke: “It was a great learning experience for our younger players and also great to see the input of 2 “older statesmen” James Greaney and Mark Horan in getting the team into the knockout stages and only losing to a penalty shootout. It was a wonderful day’s hurling for both of our teams and hopefully will stand to us with the county championship to come.”
Quarter Final 3: Liam Mellowes 3-9 Craughwell (2) 4-8
Coached by former Kilmacud Crokes hero, Ryan O’Dwyer, Liam Mellowes started well with a goal and a point from Mark Hughes before Jack Forde added another goal to leave it at 2-5 each at half time with Shaun Gilligan & Stephen O’Halloran netting for Craughwell. Craughwell’s excellent goalie O’Halloran had made a great save from Luke McPhilbin earlier in the half.
Craughwell nudged in front in the 2nd half thanks to goals from Darren Lyons and Pa Monaghan and a free in the 2 nd last minute put them 2 points ahead which meant Liam Mellowes had to go for goal but the Craughwell defence stood firm.
Liam Mellowes Bainisteoir Ryan O’Dwyer: “We’re very disappointed to lose in the quarter final. I thought we were well placed at half time but didn’t seem to have the drive to win in the “heat of battle” in the 2 nd half. Possibly some of our players didn’t realise the importance of this as a “National Competition” but we’ll definitely have our heads in the right place when it comes around again. It was a bit strange not being in Glenalbyn for the knock out phase but hopefully it’ll be back there next year!”
QUARTER FINAL 4: Gort 4-10 Coolderry (Offaly) 1-8
From an early stage in the tournament, GORT looked like the form team but at half time an upset looked possible as Coolderry led by 1-7 to 0-9.
However from the restart, the excellent Paddy Commins (son of legendary Galway goalkeeper John) made a great catch, turned and struck over the bar for a text book point. Greg Lally followed up with a goal before Commins added another. Richie Cummins and Ben O’Donovan scored further goals for Gort to run out comfortably as 4-10 to 1-8 winners.
SEMI-FINAL 1: Ballyhale 3-10 Bennetsbridge 4-9
This was another cliffhanger and was the first “upset” of the day!
Ballyhale began brightly with an early point from goalie Mark Gorman but were rocked back when Kevin Blanchfield scored a goal for Bennetsbridge and followed up with a point. Ballyhale hit back with a goal from Ronan Corcoran but Blanchfield scored another.
A fortuitous goal from a long range free from Gorman after 5 minutes seemed to get Ballyhale into their stride and following a string of points from Shortall, Gorman, Dara Mason, and Evan Shefflin, they had established a 3-8 to 2-4 lead at half time.
While this looked good, Bennetsbridge had a strong wind behind them and made use of it from the restart when Jack Campion cut the deficit with a great goal. Corcoran and Eoin Kenneally scored fine points to restore a 6 point advantage for Shamrocks but it was all Bennetsbridge after that.
Cillian Fennessy and Enda Morrisey hit long range points before Blanchfield carried from the right and buried it in the left corner to complete a memorable hat-trick with 4 minutes remaining. (B’H 3-10 B’B 4-6).
With the deficit now only a point, both sides were guilty of bad misses before Bennetsbridge got the equaliser and then goalie Ben King put them a point ahead from a puck out! (B’H 3-10 B’B 4-8) Ballyhale rallied in search of an equaliser and won a 20 metre free with time almost up. Shefflin lined up the free and, possibly fearing that Bennetsbridge would strike a winning point from the puck out, he bravely went for goal but the defence managed to scramble it clear and Nicky Cleere hit a great point from “out the field” which won the day!
Ballyhale Bainisteoir Pat Hoban: “We really enjoyed the hurling – it was a great occasion – thanks to Kilmacud Crokes for organising and all the other clubs who played. We’re disappointed not to be in the final but best of luck to Gort and Bennetsbridge!”
SEMI-FINAL 2: Gort 2-15 Craughwell 4-07
Just as the All Kilkenny semi was a classic, so also was the All Galway affair between local rivals Gort and Craughwell. Gort scored 3 points without reply before Adam Stewart opened Craughwell’s account. Jason O’Donohue and Greg Lally struck again for Gort ahead while Pa Monagahan and goalie Stephen O’Halloran kept Craughwell in touch before Gort were awarded a penalty when Caoimhim Marran was taken down.
O’Halloran(who had been a start performer on the day) saved brilliantly and gathered the ball before embarking on a long solo down the pitch; he passed to the right and followed on to smash the resulting pass into the net. This could have been a pivotal moment in the match and Craughwell followed up with 3 points including a brilliant effort by Stewart from the left sideline.
Commins kept Gort in touch to leave the score 1-6 to 0-7 in Craughwell’s favour at half time. Gort opened the 2 nd half with a point from O’Donohue and 2 from inspirational captain Aidan Helebert. With 5 minues remaining Pa Monaghan carried powerfully from midfield and before the Gort defence closed him down, he buried it from the edge of the large square. (C’Well 2-6 Gort 0-10)
Gort didn’t panic and the Lally and Richie Cummins scored the next 2 points between which Lally scored a great individual goal. (C’W 2-6 Gort 1-12). Stewart hit back with a point for Craughwell but when Eoin Killeen netted for Gort after a great run, it really looked all over with 3 minutes left. (Gort 2-12 C’Well 2-7). However Craughwell had other ideas and following a brilliant goal by Mark Monaghan, Tiernan Leen followed up with another to edge them back into the lead. (Gort 2-12 C’Well 4-7).
Again Gort stayed calm and Gavin “Sat Nav” Lally lined up the puck out and struck it over the Craughwell bar for yet another equaliser. Ben O’Donovan and O’Donohue followed up with 2 long range points to clinch an epic win for Gort.
Craughwell Bainisteoir Keith Carr: “I played in the Crokes 7’s for Ballinderry many years ago but this is my 1 st team to manage a team in it. It was an excellent days hurling and our players enjoyed every minute of it. The fact that our semi final was against local rivals Gort really added an edge to it . I’m delighted that we had 2 teams participating today and this has been ideal preparation for the county championship ahead.”
FINAL: GORT 14-10 BENNETTSBRIDGE 4-10
Kevin Blanchfield got Bennettsbridge off to a flyer with a great goal from an acute angle. He nearly added another in the 2 nd minute only for “Sat Nav” to make a great save and deflect it over. (B’B 1-1 Gort 0-0).
Jason O’Donohue drilled a goal from the edge of the square for Gort . Bennetsbridge did get the score board moving with 5 points from Bill Hughes, Nicky Cleere and Seán Morrisey but Greg Lally and Paddy Commins goaled for Gort to leave them 3-2 to 1-6 ahead midway through the 1 st half.
Then came a pivotal moment from which Bennettsbridge never recovered; they were on the attack deep in Gort territory when one of their players was fouled but the referee waved play on.
Gort pounced on the breaking ball and countered swiftly and Richie Cummins finished to the net.
Marran and Cummins added further goals to leave the score 6-04 to 1-8 at half time.
2nd Half
Bennettsbridge had a mountain to climb and their cause was not helped by the loss of their captain Enda Morrisey who had been outstanding throughout the tournament. Campion gave them a glimmer of hope with an excellent penalty at the start of the half but 3 quick goals by Lally and Commins(2) effectively ended the match as a contest. (9-05 to 2-10).
Gort were rampant now with “Sat Nav” setting up attack after attack and 5 more goals followed from Cummins(2), Commins(2) and Helebert while Campion managed 2 consolation goals for Bennettsbridge.
GORT BAINISTEOIR DAVID HUBAN: “It was a great day for all of our players – while we’re delighted to win, I’m especially pleased that we had 2 teams out today and it’s been very good preparation for the championship. It was nice to see our young goalkeeper Gavin Lally play so well while his older brother Greg, who’s one of our “elder statesmen”, really led the way up front. We look forward to defending the title next year!”
BENNETSBRIDGE CATHAOIRLEACH ALAN FLYNN: “We were absolutely delighted to play in the All Ireland 7’s and it was a great bonus to get to the final but unfortunately a couple of injuries caught up on us. We’re looking forward to our county championship now."
Tournament Director Vincent Peters thanked all the participating clubs for the wonderful hurling that they’d served up and thanked the 100+ volunteers from Kilmacud Crokes who’d helped organise the event. He also thanked Dominic O’Keefe of UCD for providing such a good venue (with the unavailability of Pairc de Burca) and the Beacon Hospital for their continued sponsorship.
