######## Reports 2014 ###### Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Final. {Saturday 4th October - Pollard 2 - 11 vs CTG 0 - 16} Castlepollard Senior hurlers upset the favourites CTG in the first match of a double header in Cusack Park on Saturday last, 4th October to reach the 2014 Senior Hurling Final, bridging a 9 year gap. Final score Pollard 2 - 11 vs CTG 0 - 16.Pollard, despite accounting for CTG in the group stages, by a margin of 5 points were complete underdogs coming into this Semi Final. In the week leading up to the match Pollard were dealt a blow with the news that fullfoward JP Murray would be out having broken his collar bone in training. Youthful John McCarthy was given the nod to replace Murrary in the full forward line, and boy did he take his chance with both hands, finishing the game with an impressive 2-01. Pollard got off to a great start and were 1-02 to 0-1 ahead after 5mins, with McCarthy pouncing on a terrible defensive error between CTG defender and Goalkeeper, with his first time ground strike hitting the back of the CTG net, much to the delight of the Pollard following. A Devine landed a long range 70m+ free, having earlier being wide of the mark with a shorter range attempt, and quickly followed this with a well taken score from play. The Pollard defence was playing well and, in the early exchanges, Higgins was most impressive with several long clearances one of which reached the troublesome McCarthy who was subsequently fouled, with A Devine scoring from the resultant free after 19m. Devine followed this up with a quick score from play following some good work from T Gallagher. With the half time whistle looming Devine scored once more from a free to leave the halftime score showing Castlepollard 1-05 to 0-5 in front. Within minutes of the restart CTG had the deficit reduce to the minimum, but the veteran D McCormack came alive and stopped the rot fielding two huge puckouts in quick succession, to which he was fouled on the first, with Devine pointing the resultant free and McCormack turning quickly and firing over the bar from 40yds. Between the 10m to 20m period CTG got on top scoring 0-5 point to Pollard’s 0-02, with Pollard’s scores coming from the stick of freetaker A Devine. The sides were now level, and a mistake in the Pollard defence left an unmarked CTG foward in on goal, and with a goal at his mercy, he blasted the ball over the bar, much to the relief of the Pollard supporters. On 52mins the youthful pair of J Rabbitte & S Lancaster were introduced to replace W Casserely & D Murray. With Pollard now a point down and with less than 3 mins remaining McCarthy struck for his 2nd goal, with the Pollard support lifting the roof of the Cusack Park stand. Indeed McCarty quickly followed this up with a well taken point having caught a long clearance from the Pollard defence. What followed then was unbelievable. With normal time up CTG pulled the margin back to just a single point and they had a further three attempts on Goal, but they could not get an an equalliser. That being said great credit must be given to the Pollard players for putting the striker under pressure each time. Congrats to mentors, players and all involved, you did the club proud. Pollard now face Raharney in the Final in just two weeks time, Sunday 19th October. Team : A Dermody, P.Murphy, D.Higgins, C.Dermody, S.Fagan, T.Gallagher, M.Egan, K.Brazil, D. Murray, W.Casserrely, S.Egan, D.McCormack(0-01), D.Devine, A.Devine(0-09), (0-2 & (0-07[fr]), J.McCarthy(2-01). Subs: M. Murray for D.Devine(41m) J.Rabbitte for W.Casserely & S.Lancaster for D.Murray(both 52m). ##################################################### Our Seniors having played very well in the first half collapsed in the 2nd half and were well beaten by a free scoring Clonkill side in the Senior Championship on Saturday 13th September in Cusack Park with the final score 1-11 to 2-24. Pollard looked good in the opening 30mins and were a match for their opponents with the HT score of Pollard 1-08 to 1-09. What was to follow in the 2nd half was unbeliveable with the disappearance of the teams composure and concentration. The majority of the Pollard players looking as if they had thrown in the towel from an early stage. Clonkill right from the restart had a further 9 points (0-4 fr) on the scoreboard within the opening 10 minutes to Pollards only score from play in the 2nd half from the stick of fullfoward JP Murrary. Indeed this was the only Pollard score from play in the 2nd half with A.Devine scoring (0-2) from frees late on in the match. Pollard now face CTG in the Semi-finals on weekend of Oct 3rd, where a massive improvement will be required. Team : A Dermody, P.Murphy, D.Higgins, C.Dermody, S.Fagan, T.Gallagher, G.Flynn, K.Brazil, D. Murray, J.Rabbitte, S.Egan, D.McCormack, A.Devine(1-7), (0-1[‘65]& (0-06) [fr], JP.Murray(0-02), D.Devine. Subs: M.Egan for G.Flynn(inj) (12mins)W.Casserly for S.Fagan(HT), M. Murray for J.Rabbitte, A.Dowdall for P.Murphy, C.Fagan for M.Egan (all 50mins). ##################################################### Senior Hurling Championship (Rd6). {Sunday 31st August - Pollard 1 - 15 vs Clonkill 0 - 13} Our Seniors recorded a good win over Castletown Geoghegan in the Senior Championship on Sunday 31st in Cusack Park. on a scoreline of Castlepollard 1-15 to 0-13. The game saw the fist Senior Championship starts for A.Dermody in Goal and D.Higgins at Fullback. Both men having previously played in attack put in superb performances in their new positions and can be extremely proud of their displays. Pollard were very strong down the middle with T.Gallagher at No6 and S.Egan at No11 winning their respective battles. Higgins at Fullback was rock steady, and was well supported by hard working P. Murphy (great 2nd half) and M.Egan who gave everything having recieved some serious knocks. Up front A.Devine was deadly with the frees and with S.Egan(spearheading the attack) , and D.McCormack displaying some great high ball fielding. The inside line of JP Murray and D.Devine(1st half) being very dangerous infront of goal throughout . Pollard got off to a great start and were 1-02 to 0-1 up after 5mins with Brazil, A.Devine(fr) and JP Murray (1-0) all on target, with Murray being most alert to collect the rebound off the unright and riffle home a low shot to the CTG net. Pollard then had a penalty saved from the stick of A.Devine, and shortly afterwards D.Devine was unlucky not to raise the green flag when his volley, from the CTG keepers earlier save struck the keeper and went out for a ’65. A.Devine then scored the resultant ’65 to leave the score at 1-03 to 0-2 with 10mins gone. With about 22mins gone A.Devine(0-2 ,fr) and Casserley(0-1), who had replaced young S. Lancaster on the Pollard team had increased Pollard’ lead to 1-07 to 0-4. CTG then scored 3pts without reply before Devine responded with a free just before the break. The HT score was Pollard 1-09 to 0-8. CTG opened the scoring in the 2nd half from a ’65, after A.Dermody made a superb save from a ball heading for the top corner of the net. D.Higgins then stemmed another CTG attack on the Pollard goal with a fine catch and pass to D.McCormack who struck the ball between the posts from distance. McCormack having recovered from an earlier “closeline tackle” which went unpunished. This was quickly followed up by A.Devine 0-1 from play, following some good Pollard defending. J.McCarthy replaced D.Murray with about 15mins gone. A.Devine scored another 0-1 from free to leave the scoreline Pollard 1-13 to 0-11. D.McCormack rose highest to catch a lengthy A.Dermody puckout turning swiftly to strike his 2nd point of the evening. On 21mins D.McCormack was again high tackled and this time the offence was punished with the CTG man being shown a 2nd yellow and sent to the sideline. A.Devine pointed the resultant free to leave the scoreline Pollard 1-15 to CTG 0-13. D.Devine was very unluck with another goal bound flick this time hitting the side netting. M.Murray came on for D.Devine and A.Devine was wide with a long range free just before the final whistle. Team : A Dermody, P.Murphy, D.Higgins, S.Lancaster, M.Egan, T.Gallagher, S.Fagan, K.Brazil(0-1),C.Dermody, D. Murray, S.Egan(0-1), D.McCormack(0-2), A.Devine(0-2), (0-1[‘65]& (0-7) [fr], JP.Murray(1-0), D.Devine. Subs: W.Casserly(0-1) for S.Lancaster(15mins) J.McCarthy for D.Murray(45mins), M. Murray for D.Devine (55mins). Castlepollard’s next opponents in the Senior Championship will be Clonkill on Saturday 13th September in cusack Park @ 6.15pm. ##################################################### Senior Hurling Championship (Rd5). {16th August - Pollard 1 - 08 vs St Oliver Plunketts 3 - 05 } ##################################################### Senior Hurling Championship (Rd4). {2nd August - Pollard 2 - 09 vs LLG 0 - 7 } ##################################################### Senior Hurling Championship (Rd3). {15th July - Pollard 1 - 15 vs Crookedwood 2 - 08 } ##################################################### Senior Hurling Championship (Rd2). {12th July - Pollard 0 - 17 vs Raharney 2 - 17 } ##################################################### Senior Hurling Championship (Rd1). {6th June - Pollard 3 - 12 vs Delvin 2 - 06} ######## Reports 2013 ###### Senior Hurling League:- Pollard vs St. Oliver Plunketts, Sun 3rd March, Castlepollard. We had our 1st outing of the year on Sunday last 3rd
March vs St Oliver Plunketts in Castlepollard. The game was a good lively and
evenly contested encounter in the first half
but was a scrappy affair in the 2nd half as players tired. Most of the Pollard lads in the 2nd half
showed they had only one session under there belt so far this year with the exception
of our County players who looked a lot
more mobile. In the finish we edged a tightly contested game by the narrowest
of margins. Final score Pollard 3-13, Plunketts 3-12. Team: Alfie Devine, J. Ward,J.Murray,J. Coyle, D.Murray,
T.Gallagher, D.Devine, S.Fagan,C.Dermody,M.Egan,
D.McCormack,M.Murray,K.Gavigan, D.Higgins, A.Devine. ######## Reports 2012 ###### Quater Final of Senior Championship :-Pollard vs Clonkill, Sun 20th August, Cusack Park. 3rd Round of Senior Championship :- Pollard (1 - 10) vs CTG (0 - 19), Sat 14th, St Lomans Lakepoint Park. 2nd Round of Senior Championship :- Pollard (2 - 12) vs LLG (1 - 16), Sun 1st July, Cusack Park. 1st Round of Senior Championship :- Pollard (6 - 20) vs Delvin (2 - 05), Sat 9th June, Cusack Park. |
Match Reports
Leinster Senior Hurling League. Division 1 D
Fixture: Camross (Co. Laois) 4-13 v Castlepollard (Co. Westmeath) 1-15 Venue: Camross GAA Club, Co. Laois. (2.30pm) Team: Colin McCormack, Colm Dermody,John Paul Murray, Donal Devine (0-01), Martin Egan,Darren McCormack (0-02),Glenn Flynn,Derek Murray,Tommy Gallagher (0-01),Brian Melia,Shane Fagan,Stephen Boylan (0-01),Andrew Dermody (1-03),Kevin Brazil (0-03),Kevin Gavigan (0-01). Subs:Paul Dermody (0-01) for Derek Murray (Injury),Michael Murray (0-02) for Brian Melia,Jamie Ward for Glenn Flynn,Noel Boylan for Kevin Gavigan,Kenny Murray for Martin Egan
Poor 1st Half
performance by Castlepollard. Slow to get into the game and Camross scored 4
early goals in quick succession. These goals proved to be the difference
between the sides at Half-Time on score: Camross
4-06 : Castlepollard 0-06. Stronger Castlepollard
performance in 2nd Half. Outscored Camross in 2nd
Half.
Heartening that 9 different players got on the score sheet for Castlepollard. Kenny Murray made a return for Castlepollard coming on as a sub. Speedy recovery to Noel Boylan who picked up a shoulder injury at end of game requiring a visit to Tullamore Hospital. |
League match vs St Oliver Plunketts:
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