Tuesday 6 July 2004 Rapparees 1-14  Faythe Harriers 2-9   Our Junior A Hurlers had a good win last night in Parc Carman - beating the Harriers by 2 points - 1-14 to 2-9. The first half was a dour affair with both sides missing a lot of chances to leave the score level at the break at 5 points each.   Things certainly livened up in the second half - with some fine hurling on both sides and both teams picking off some very nice scores. All our backs played remarkably well throughout as they were under tremendous pressure in the first half and our goalie Eddie Shallow brought off two marvellous saves - my compliments to all defenders - Niall Sunderland/Damian Tobin/John Foley/Maurice Donohoe and in particular to Ollie O’Connor and Jake Murphy who gave outstanding performances in the half back line.   Jason Russell playing at mid-field is improving every game and gives 100% every time he goes out scoring 2 points from the middle and his brother Anthony had a better game than hes had in a long time - you’re coming back to form again Anto - keep it up.   Brian Kehoe got his name on the scoreboard from the middle of the field as well - Mark Quigley who asked to play in the forwards proved that he can make it there - Tony Boland picked off some very fine points and was getting himself into good positions to score - Davy (Speedy) Morrissey did well returning from illness.   Jim Holden was also strong going forward and picked off a very nice point and D.J. O’Shea who replaced Eamonn Furlong banged in a lovely goal shortly after coming into the fray. Our attitude at half time changed completely and we looked confident and anxious to win in the second half and that’s why we did!   A good display lads - and an enjoyable game - thanks for the commitment - it was a joy to watch ye enjoying your hurling in the second half. Maria Nolan       Junior A Hurling League Saturday 5 June 2004 Rapparees 0-10   Liam Mellows 3-13 We suffered a major defeat in the League this weekend against Liam Mellows. Both defeats were very disheartening particularly for players like Niall Sunderland/Damian Barron/Ollie O`Connor/Jason and Anthony Russell and several others who hurled very well at Junior A but with the rest of the team understrength they felt that a lot of their efforts were in vain and that is taking nothing from the Junior B's and the Minors who showed up for us but we really should not be asking them to line out against first teams like Liam Mellows who are extremely fit and extremely strong and have been in serious training. It is putting our Junior B's and many of our Minors under pressure and perhaps even turning them off and it is discouraging for those Junior A's who are up for it and willing to hurl hard for the win and the Club to discover that other members who are making the Senior ranks and are eligible to play Junior A are nowhere to be seen.   Despite going down badly we had some very fine performances in both games - Niall Sunderland was sound in defence as were John Foley (who has been hurling extremely well lately) and Damian Barron, the Russell combination of Jason and Anthony did well at mid-field and Ollie O`Connor was his usual dependable self, Cathal Murphy was our only Minor at Junior A and tried hard at wing forward as did Michael Nolan at full and Tony Boland, Damian Breen and our new comer Brian Kavanagh - for whom this was a baptism of fire.   Junior A Hurling Championship Sunday 30th May Rapparees  1-8  St Fintans 1-12 Unfortunately, our Juniors didn’t fare out quite so well losing to the Fintans on Sunday, 1-8 to 1-12.   Our very young side put up a gutsy performance in the second half against a much older and more experienced team. Because of the many losses we have suffered this year with many of our Junior A’s gone to Australia/America and England and some others going up into the Senior ranks we are in a situation where we are playing 6 or 7 Minors at this grade and I’m glad to say that they are performing very well for us.   Damian Barron had a excellent game in the centre back position after which I’ve no doubt we’ll be losing him to the Senior squad, Niall Sunderland was as usual sound self at full back and Damian Mahon tried hard at full forward.   Some of the brightest sparks were our Minors with Fran O’Gorman doing very well in the centre of the field and scoring some lovely frees in the second half while Kevin Walsh played an outstanding game at corner back.  Cathal Murphy is coming into his own at adult level, getting some good possession and sending in good quality ball into the full forward line.   Brian Newe put in a very lively performance went he came on for the injured D.J. O’Shea as did Declan Barron who replaced Cathal Murphy who also went off with an injury. Rory O’Connor tried hard to put his mark on the game as did Graham Doyle.   I would like on behalf of Management to thank all those who showed up for us and ask them to put an effort into training over the next couple of weeks and we could be a force to be reckoned with in the next round.   I would also like to extend our good wishes to D.J. O’Shea who received a rather serious injury during the game and wish him a very speedy recovery - D.J. is one of our stalwarts and is always available when we look for him.   Despite the fact that we lost it was a good effort and it is encouraging to see so many of our young up and coming hurlers doing so well - it augurs well for the future.   Junior A Hurling 17 April V Monageer Rapps 1-11 Mongeer 1-6 Our Junior A Hurlers had a good win over Monageer in dreadful conditions in Monageer on Saturday last at 6.30pm.   Wind and heavy rain made it difficult to excel but we had some very fine individual preformances from Ollie O`Connor, Davy (Speedy) Morrissey, Declan Ivers, Jason Russell, Tony Boland and Damian Barron who managed to score 2 good points whilst playing in the half back line.   It was a good overall team preformance and once again our sincere thanks to those who are turning up for us weekend after weekend - It`s paying off lads - you`re improving with every game.   Scorers - Ollie O`Connor 3pts/Tony Boland 3pts/Damian Barron 2pts/Diarmuid (D.J.) O`Shea 1goal/Davy Morrissey 2pts and John (Shapes) Redmond and Pa Mernagh 1 pt each.     Junior A Hurling - 28 March Glynn / Barntown  2-9  Rapps 0-12 Our Junior A Hurlers were unfortunate to go down to Glynn/Barntown 12 pts to 2-9. After a poor enough first half a half time score of 5 pts to 1-6 we performed much better in the second and if we had converted the chances we had into scores would have come out winners.   Considering that we left Bellefield with only 16 players - two of them Minors - Eddie Tobin and Cathal Murphy - and once again I would like to thank both of these guys for turning up for both Junior A and Junior B over the weekend - both of them doing very well at Junior B - and Eddie getting a run and performing well at Junior A. Thanks lads we would have had to give a walkover at Junior A only for you - you are showing great promise for the future and good commitment to the Club and I take this opportunity to wish you both well at your own grade of Minor when you meet Rathnure in the first round of the Championship next Friday, 2nd April - these games at adult level will hopefully stand to you well.   Once again Damian Barron gave a fine display from the corner back position - with every game Damian is making this position his, Mark Quigley played well throughout - did a lot of work and a lot of hurling around the field - partnered by Jason Russell in the middle both lads worked hard.   In the forwards Eamonn Furlong was in scoring form clocking up a total of 8 pts - 5pts from frees, while Tony Boland and Davy (Speedy) Morrissey tried hard to make a difference - Tony scoring 3pts and Mark Quigley getting the other one.     Junior A Hurling - 21 March Horeswood 1-8 Rapps 1-10 Our Junior A hurlers played Horeswood away at 3pm on Sunday and beat them by 2 points - 1-10 to 1-8. There was a very poor turn out from players and we were forced to leave Bellefield with the bare 15 and this included Cathal Murphy, one of our Minors and Brian Murphy who doesn’t play hurling at all - so I would like to thank all those who showed up and particularly these two guys without whom we would have been forced to give a walk-over.   Brian, despite the fact that he doesn`t hurl accquited himself well and in his debut into adult hurling Cathal Murphy scored a nice point and made a good strike off the ground which the goalkeeper saved - well done lads - Eamonn Furlong gave a marvellous performance scoring a total of 1-7, 1-4 actually from play - Damian Barron had another good game at corner back along with Derek Tobin and Declan Ivers who made a very welcome comeback and gave a fine display at fullback - our thanks too to Jayo Russell and D.J. O`Shea who had both played soccer beforehand but remained on to hurl - thanks lads for the commitment - it is appreciated.