Celtic Challenge off to a flier
At the launch of the 2017 Bank of Ireland Celtic Challenge, GAA.ie catches up with some of the players set to appear in the competition who outline their excitement at taking part in at least six matches in the national competition which features 47 team across the 32 counties nationwide.
The 2017 national series of the Bank of Ireland Celtic Challenge got underway on Wednesday (May 3) with 19 games down for decision.
The opening round games threw up some fascinating tussles, not least the Kilkenny Amber and Dublin Clarke game which saw the Kilkenny side wining on a 2-17-2-10 scoreline in Group D.
Also in Group D Meath Royals had a massive win, on a 5-18 - 2-7 scoreline, over **Wexford Gold **which illustrates the huge hurling development work taking place in the Royal County.
The meeting of neighbours North Clare and North/Mid Tipperary also threw up some brilliant scores in their game which was held at Cratloe.
And the high-scoring meeting of Donegal and Mayo provided eight goals for spectators with Donegal snatching a fine win having staved off a Mayo team that came back from 10 points down to make a game of it right until the end.
On Thursday night **East Waterford **scored 3-10 but were still beaten by South Tipp who scored 1-19 in a cracking game at St Molleran's.
Below are a selection of games that took place on a lovely, sunny evening - one that was perfect for hurling.
Each week we will preview the action and review some of the games as we give a flavour for a competition that is capturing the imagination of the hurling world for its unique and holistic approach to the game and its players.
GROUP A
Galway McDonagh 1-21 Galway Maroon 3-11
By Sean Walsh
The opening round of the Celtic Challenge saw the unique meeting of Galway McDonagh and Galway Maroon in the sunshine in Pearse Stadium on Wednesday night.
Galway McDonagh emerged victorious and laid the platform for this win by building a 1-13 to 0-4 lead at the interval with the aid of the breeze.
Conor Molloy, who finished with 0-10, shot 8 first-half points with Mark Kennedy firing the game’s first goal on 27 minutes to help build that sizeable lead. The McDonagh side were well worthy of that interval lead as they hurled with conviction in that opening period.
The Galway Maroon side, to their credit, lifted their performance in the second half and a 33rd minute Niall Coen goal helped their cause. Still, by the 49th minute the Galway McDonagh side still led by 1-19 to 1-7, before Conor Walsh struck for a goal. That score was quickly followed by Niall Coen’s second major and quick fire points from Adrian Gavin and Ross Albertini had the Maroon side back to 3-9 to 1-19 on 54 minutes.
However, that was as close as it got and by the final whistle the Galway Maroon side were left to rue their 12 wides as Galway McDonagh emerged with the bragging local derby rights on a final score line of 1-21 to 3-11.
Celtic Challenge
GROUP A
North/Mid Tipperary 2-24 North Clare 3-11
By David Minogue & Michael O'Connor
North/Mid Tipperary defeated North Clare in the first round of the Bank of Ireland Celtic Challenge in Cratloe on Wednesday. It's the first time that the North/Mid Tipp side has taken part in the national Under-17 hurling tournament.
The Tipp side started the game well leading at half time on a score line of 0-12 to 0-6. With the first half scores coming from Stephen Kirwin, Gearoid O’Connor, Shane Doyle and a monstrous long range free from captain, Zach Jackson.
After the restart both sides traded early scores. With the Clare side growing in confidence they had reduced the deficit to just three points by the 50th minute on a score line of 1-19 to 3-10. With Mikey Nally, who had switched to full forward fielding high over the full back before finding the net for an important Tipp goal that separated the sides.
The Tipp boys took control of the game and finished strongest outscoring the opposition by 1-5 to 0-1 in the final 10 minutes. Stephen Kirwin rifled the second Tipp goal to the net.
The North/Mid side face Offaly on Wednesday May 10th in the next round in Moneygall at 7.30p.m.
GROUP D
Meath Royals 5-18 Wexford Gold 2-7
By Pauric Burke
Meath Royals got their Bank of Ireland Celtic Challenge campaign off to a near-perfect start in a windy but sunny evening in the GAA National Games Development Centre in Abbotstown.
Meath hurling is in a good state at the moment and right from the off their Under-17s seemed intent on putting in a good performance and after 10 minutes found themselves 0-4 to 0-0 up. Things got better when pacy corner forward Nicky Potterton added a goal.
Wexford responded with a goal of their own but the Royals hit the next score with a free from Potterton, who, along with Trevor Healy, added further points.
Wexford rallied with a flurry of scores leaving it 1-9 to 1-4 at the break.
With the aid of a stiff breeze at their backs Meath began to press on. Vinny Ward added to his first half score as did Healy and Potterton. Paul Briody who had put in an excellent shift scored a deserved point from near the sideline.
Three goals from Healy in the space of five minutes put the result beyond doubt. It was an excellent performance from The Royals.
Offaly won Division 1 of the Celtic Challenge in 2016.
GROUP G
Donegal 4-13 Mayo 4-10
By Lorcan O Tuathaill & Thaigh Morley
Cormac Finn (St. Eunan's) and Aaron Craig (Buncrana) rescued a dramatic win for Donegal against Mayo in Scarden on a scoreline of 4-13 to 4-10.
Mayo came out of the blocks fast and were relentless in their pursuit of Donegal. After building up an early lead Mayo were left to rue a number of wides with the wind behind them in the first half. Donegal eventually got control of the game and saw captain Jordan Barr claim a goal to help Donegal to a narrow half time lead of 2-6 to 1-5, Mayo having responded with a goal of their own.
Donegal dominated for the opening quarter of the second half but Mayo battled hard and dug deep as they came back and enjoyed a purple patch. With five minutes to go Mayo lead by a point. A Cormac Finn free levlled matters before he dispossessed a threatening Mayo attack and superbly set up Aaron Craig for what proved to be the crucial goal. Craig taking the ball on the forty five going on a piercing run through the Mayo defence and smashing for goal to complete his hat-trick for the evening.
Overall a fantastic affair and a great result for the Ulster men on their first foray into Connaught hurling.
"We are disappointed but it was a great game" said Mayo manager Adrian Hession. "I thought our goalkeeper was brilliant, Liam Cassidy. He definitely stopped another few from going in. It was a pretty exciting game and we learned a lot from it."
GROUP G
Galway Tribesmen 4-24 Sligo 0-9
By Frances Hanly
Galway Tribesmen struck early at the Connacht Centre of Excellence last Wednesday to record an emphatic win over Sligo.
Galway were quick off the mark in this game with an early goal and a batch of points.
Sligo were chasing this game throughout but never gave up the chase even as the match went away from them.
Galway's full-forward line, in particular, was superb and with the half-time score reading 4-13 to 0-5 it was clear there could only be one winner.
To their credit Sligo stayed battling hard in the second half but couldn't get a foothold in the game.
There was some family bragging rights at stake too with Sligo's Fionn Moylan coming up against his cousin, Hugh Moylan, who lined out with the Galway side.
