Junior B Championship District Semi-final Sunday 10th October 2004 Oylegate Rapparees 0-4 Ballyhogue 1-10 The season finally comes to a finish and a lack of training finally caught up with the Junior B hurlers.  We were playing Ballyhogue's first team and the disparity in physique and conditioning was the difference between the two teams.    The Bree men went into an early three point lead after a series of raids into the Rapps defence but having started slowly in all our previous encounters this did not unduly perturb the team.  However there was no let up from the opposition and we were effectively strangled as no space opened up anywhere on the pitch: whenever a ball went into space our men were closely followed by two or sometimes three opponents.   That said, we were not out of the game, Ballyhogue's scores were mainly coming from placed balls and approaching half time there were only three pints between the teams.  However a 21 yard free was awarded as the half hour approached and despite the best efforts of John "Muckers" Tyrrell who half blocked a rasping shot, our rivals got the breakthrough they were looking for.   Nevertheless there was hope at the interval with only six points between the teams, we just needed to get our game going.  However this never happened with Ballyhogue fighting for everything and we just didn't make any inroads into their lead.   It was a disappointing end because we had played well previously, but it was a lesson as well: championships are won on the training field!   Team: John Tyrrell; Stephen Murphy, Pádraig Hall, Adrian Kirwan; Peter O’Sullivan, Eric Flynn, Pádraig Doyle; Pa Mernagh, Wayne Breen; Cathal Murphy, Micheal Nolan, Damian Barron; Mark Kenny, David Tyrrell, Damian Tobin; Kevin Courtney for Damian Tobin, Pa O'Brien for Mark Kenny.     Junior B Championship Sunday 5th September 2004 Bellefield Rapparees 2-15  Monageer / Boolavogue  1-5 This was a good weekend with our Junior B hurlers beating Monageer in Bellefield on Sunday evening at 5.30 by 12 points.   Again this was an excellent overall team performance from our goal keeper out - John Tyrrell making some very fine saves during the game and getting in some good clearances under pressure.   We had some trojan work from a lot of our younger players and also from some of the not so young ones like Padraig Doyle, Padraig Hall and Michael Nolan   Stephen Murphy did a marvellous job of holding the ball in our full forward line while David Tyrrell had some excellent shots at goal and David (Judas) O`Brien showed all his skill with a very finely taken point at the beginning of the second half.   Of course our main marksman notched up 1-7 and full credit to Pa Mernagh who got some really lovely scores that would put our Senior hurlers in the shade and with Joe (Woody) Hyland taking the sideline cuts with all the dash of Adrian Fenlon our Junior B’s delighted the small crowd with some really nice patches of hurling.   Hopefully we can keep this up at Junior B and come away with District medals in both the hurling and football. As a Selector can I take this opportunity to thank all those who have been showing up for us in both the League and the Championship - you are a joy of work with and we hope you are enjoying those wins as much as we are. Maria Nolan (Secretary).       Thursday 8 July Coolree Rapparees V Bunclody Our Junior B hurlers faced Bunclody in the championship at Coolree last Thursday evening with a largely unchanged team from that which proved successful against Rathnure.  Bunclody took an early lead but the Rapps stayed in touch throughout with Eric Flynn clearing everything at centre back and Pa Mernagh keeping the scoreboard ticking along.  A remarkable feature of the first half was the defensive work of the six forwards, led by Tomas McVeigh: no ball was pucked easily out of the Bunclody half.   In the second half however Bunclody started creeping ahead and into the last minute were a point up when up popped (if that’s the right word) David Tyrrell to slam the ball to the back of the net for a narrow victory.   Team: John Tyrrell; Stephen Murphy, Pádraig Hall, Adrian Kirwan; Peter O’Sullivan, Eric Flynn, Pádraig Doyle; Pa Mernagh, Wayne Breen; Brain Newe, Micheal Nolan, Sean Crotty; Ricky Fox, Tomas McVeigh, Ciaran O’Connor. David Tyrrell for Maccers.       Junior B Championship Saturday 26 June St Patrick's Park Rapparees 2-15  Rathnure 0-5 The Junior B hurlers were out in the first game of the championship on Saturday in St Patrick’s Park against Rathnure.  They played very well throughout and ran out good winners on a score line of 2-15 to 0-5.  Very good perfomances from Peter O'Sullivan, Pa Mernagh, Michael Nolan and Ricky Fox.   We won’t be getting carried away with this win since it was Rathnure’s fifth team in the championship which is a credit to their club.    The team was: John Tyrrell, Damian Tobin, Pádraig Hall, Adrian Kirwan, Peter O’Sullivan, Eric Flynn, Pádraig Doyle, Pa Mernagh, Cathal Murphy, Ciaran O’Connor, Micheal Nolan, Damian Barron, Ricky Fox, Ken Kavanagh, Damian Breen, Brian Murphy, Pa O’Brien, Daithi O’Brien.       Junior B League Saturday 5 June Rapparees 2-3 Bunclody 2-14 We suffered a major defeat in the Junior B League on Saturday evening against Bunclody losing 2-14 to 2-3.   Our Minors fared well with scores coming from Fran O'Gorman who is hurling well at this grade 1-2 and a rasper of a goal from Cathal Murphy and a nicely worked point from Ricky Fox. Eddie Shallow is doing well in the goal as is Kevin Waldron whose confidence is growing with each match. Once again on behalf of Junior Management I would like to send our very best wishes for a speedy recovery to Adrian Kirwan who was hospitalised after receiving a blow to the head during the game. I would like to try to encourage all Club members out there to come to Junior A & B matches - these guys are playing for the Club just the same as the Seniors are and it must be disheartening for them to go the places like Castletown and have no support on the line - and here I would have to mention that we are losing decisions during games because we have no-one to do the line or to do Umpire for us. I would also have to say that there is a group at all matches and I would like to thank them here for there constant and continued support - Johnny & Sally Russell, Paddy & Liz Murphy, and Fran & Kathleen Millar - without this loyal little gathering we would have no-one from the Club at our matches - we can`t expect support from players if we are giving them none - and believe me I know its not easy to be at all the games - but I would appeal to Club people to try to be at some at Junior level - it would mean a lot to the players.       Junior B Hurling - 18 April V Clongeen Rapps 2-4  Clongeen 2-9 What looked a very strong Junior B selection on paper turned in a very disappointing performance at home to Clongeen.  The defence performed fairly well throughout but we seemed unable to get the ball past out half forward line in the first half.  Going in six points down at the break the selectors weren't too unhappy because they knew better had to come.    Unfortunately this didn't happen and again Clongeen were the first to score in the second period.  After this the Rapps started to come back into it and after scoring two goals and taking control of the middle third of the field looked like they would draw the opposition back in.  It wasn't to be however and a few good chances were cleared by the Clongeen defence.  IF this team are to progress come championship time they will need to knuckle down and actually do some training.     Ed Shallow, Damian Tobin, Pat O'Neill, Eric Flynn, Stephen Murphy, Pádraig Hall, Kevin Walsh, Nicky Kehoe, Woody Hyland,  Shapes, Graham Doyle, Dermot O'Shea, Sean Russell, Micheal Nolan, JOhn Foley, Tomas McVeigh, Fiacre Ryan, Mark Kenny, Pa O'Brien.     Junior B Hurling - 10 April V St Fintans Beaten by St Fintans.  The Rapps were well in this game until about half way through the second half when Fintan's started to pull away. We only had the bare 15 so that meant it was very hard to do anything as the tide turned.  Good performances from the Tobins, Cecil and Eddie, along with a welcome return from Pat O'Neill in the backs.  Goal of the season was scored by Shapes running from midfield and rounding half the opposition.   Ed Shallow, Damian Tobin, Pádraig Hall, Fiacre Ryan, Eddie Tobin, Pat O'Neill, Stephen Murphy, Shapes, Graham Doyle, A. Mackey, Kevin Waldron, Cathal Murphy, Pa O'Brien, Eamon Furlong, Mark Kenny.   Junior B Hurling - 27 March Rapps 4-4   Bannow/Ballymitty  2-13 A young Junior B team went down by 3 points to Bannow / Ballymitty on Saturday evening.  The lads were leading going into the last 5 minutes but five unanswered pointes from the south county men let them run out victorious. The final score was 4-4 to 2-13 so we'll need to work on our point scoring ability for the next fixture.  Fair play to all the minors for turning out - hard games like that will benefit them you in the coming season.  Well done to Mick Nolan and Rory - goal scorers extraordinaire.   Ed Shallow, Damian Tobin, Pádraig Hall,Stephen Murphy, Pádraig Doyle, Maurice Donohoe, Joe Newe, Joe Hyland, Eddie Tobin, Brian Newe, Graham Doyle, Cathal Murphy, Kevin Mythen, Micheal Nolan, Rory O'Connor.