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Club Notes January 2017
Our Sponsors  Get in Touch    | Robert Emmetts Club Notes January 2017 Review of the year 2016 proved to be a year to remember for the club. When we got back training early in the year we did so with the confidence of being the defending London champions, but also knowing that every other team would do their best to take that title from us. We welcomed some new players into our ranks and, for the first time in a few years, fielded a team in the intermediate grade as well as our seniors. We moved to Colindale for training as Greenford underwent preparation to host the main summer matches while the Ruislip redevelopment was underway. Kevin McMullan and Mark Traynor were able to call on most of the 2015 panel but also had to contend with injuries to some key players early in the year. Both senior and intermediate teams got off to flying starts, enjoying wins over Cú Chulainns and Kilburn, respectively. As the cup and league competitions heated up our intermediates had further excellent wins over St Declan's and Granuaile in addition to an exciting rematch with Kilburn that went right to the wire. However, when championship arrived in the summer we were unfortunately unable to overcome Thomas McCurtains and eventual winners Fr Murphys, and exited the competition in the group stages. The seniors couldn't have asked for a better start to the year and went on a long unbeaten run that stretched all the way into August. This saw us qualify for finals in both the Ryan and Collins Cups, as well as keeping us top of the Division 1 League. However, we were conscious of the fact that these results would soon be forgotten if we lost our championship crown. Our rivals St Gabriel's and Kilburn were nipping at our heels and Sean Treacys were putting in consistently strong performances and would be a danger. We were soon brought down to earth when St Gabriel's put four goals past us in Round 2 of the SHC in East Lane to beat us by 11 points. This seemed to be the wake-up call we needed though, and the lads responded by closing out the rest of the group games with victories over Cú Chulainns, Fulham Irish and a battling win over Kilburn Gaels to secure a semi-final spot against Sean Treacys. Our forwards were on fire in the semi-final as we scored six goals to win and set up a rematch with St Gabriel's in the final. The final itself proved to be a tense and stop-start affair and we had Eoin Chawke and Tomás Lawrence to thank for keeping our scoreboard ticking over early in the first half. St Gabriel's were taking their points well, but two excellent goals - one from Daryl Roberts after a massive Padge Buckley free, the other from Eoin Chawke after an assist from Richie Murphy - meant we kept our noses in front at the break. In the second half, with the wind at our backs, we managed to settle a bit more and the points soon started to come. Eoin and Daryl got a couple of early points while Denis O'Regan drove one over from centre field to give us some breathing space. Our backs were putting in an excellent performance with Steven Griffey, Paul Horkan and captain Tadhg Healy in particular leading by example. St Gabriel's did manage to steal a goal back late in the half, but we kept our cool as Cathal Kehoe and Kieran Morrissey knocked over instant replies and ensure that Tadhg lifted the Harrell Cup. Finally, in a hectic finish to the London hurling year, we added both cups and the league title to our collection and cap a fantastic year. Congratulations We were very proud as a club to see our own Fergus McMahon lead the London hurlers into action as manager for another season. The team performed very consistently in the league and had a notable victories over Carlow, Derry and Antrim. While London eventually lost out on a place in the semi-final of the Christy Ring Cup, we can also be proud of the fact that another Emmetts man, Tomás Lawrence, was subsequently named on the team of the tournament for the quality of his performances. Finally, well done to Mick O'Dea, who refereed the intermediate championship final between Brothers Pearse and Fr Murphys and did an excellent job in a very exciting and closely-contested game. Thank You Robert Emmetts GAA Club would like to sincerely thank all of those who supported us in 2016, whether through direct sponsorship or taking part in one of our fundraising events. We are particularly grateful to our main sponsors, Ampsail Ltd., who came on board at the start of the year. We are also extremely thankful to have had the support of Kelly Communications, Brogan Group and Champion Build. All-Ireland Intermediate Hurling Championship We are just a couple of weeks into 2017 but we already have the luxury of looking forward to an All-Ireland quarter final against Ulster champions St Brigids, of Cloughmills, Co. Antrim. It will be a huge task for us as St Brigids have stormed through their county and provincial championships to get to this stage. However, our management team have left no stone unturned and the lads have responded with great enthusiasm for the challenge by working particularly hard over the winter months. Come along and support us in Greenford on the 14th (throw-in is 1 pm)! |
Golf Day 2016
Our fund-raising Golf Day was held in Radlett Park on June 4th and was a great success, raising over £5,000 for the club. Read the full report here. |
Foundation Level Hurling Coaching Course
Email from Lloyd Colfer, Community Development Administrator: There will be a Foundation Level Hurling Coaching Course on Saturday, March 29th in Tir Chonaill Gaels Grounds, Greenford. The Course is limited to 20 people and in the interest of fairness, we will only accept 5 nominations from each Club. The Course will run from 9 am until 5 pm with a half an hour Lunch Break at 1 pm - lunch is provided. There will theory based work and practical work involved on the Course so coaches should bring appropriate training gear/footwear. Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis so please contact me asap if you are interested in attending. Finally, I would urge as many of you as possible to please take up this opportunity to further your coaching education which can only benefit your Club and London GAA. Is mise le meas, Lloyd Colfer Community Development Administrator, London G.A.A. 078 72600073 |
Championship 2016: Preliminary Round vs. Cú Chulainns
We open the defence of our championship crown this coming weekend with a preliminary round match against Cú Chulainns. Our management team will be keen to try out some fresh ideas and introduce some new members, so come along and support the lads as we start out on another SHC adventure! Date: 7th February, 2016 Throw-in: 15:00 Venue: Colindale |
Robert Emmetts AGM 2016
Our annual general meeting for 2016 will take place at 8 pm on Wednesday, January 20th at the Tír Chonaill Gaels clubhouse in Greenford (UB6 0NZ). All members are urged to attend. We would also encourage non-members with an interest in joining to come along and learn about what we have planned for the year ahead. |
All-Ireland Series
Our London SHC final win over St Gabriels now takes us into the All-Ireland Intermediate Club Championships, where we will face Abbeyknockmoy of Galway. Our opponents, who have already come through a tough Galway championship, will represent the toughest challenge we have yet to face this year. They will make the trip across to Ruislip also on the back of a hard-fought win over Four Roads of Roscommon in the Connacht final so we will have to find another gear if we are to match them. The entire panel and backroom team have been preparing well in recent weeks, despite the uncooperative weather, and have been encouraged by messages of support coming in from family, friends and past club members in London, at home, and around the globe. We will need all of this support this coming weekend as we hope to make it another day to remember in Ruislip! All-Ireland Intermediate Club Hurling Championship Quarter-Final Robert Emmetts vs. Abbeyknockmoy (Galway) Venue: Ruislip Date: November 21st, 2015 Throw-in: 13:30 |
Robert Emmetts: London Senior Hurling Champions 2015!
It started as a dark, foggy Sunday in Ruislip but by early afternoon the sun had blazed through, setting the stage for an equally glorious performance from our hurlers. Picking up where they left off in the semi-final our lads showed heart, pride and a steely determination that could not be overcome. From the moment the ball was thrown in they tore into their opponents, hassling, blocking and frustrating them at every turn. At the back we were tigerish and dogged, holding a talented St Gabriels forward line to just four points in the first half, while our own attackers kept up a relentless workrate that resulted in scores or forced a free. Our midfield duo of Mícheál Ó Laochdha and Tadhg Healy were tireless, fielding primary possession, putting their bodies on the line and winning even the scrappiest of tussles to ensure we were always on the front foot. We set the tone early on, hunting in packs, and scored first through an Eoin Chawke free, rifled over from the right wing after Tadhg Healy had won possession in big collision. Seán Ryan came out from his goal a few minutes later to launch a booming free from well within our own half to add to the tally. Despite being pegged back a few minutes later we were creating lots of chances through the pressure we were exerting, which eventually resulted in a pinpoint crossfield ball finding Martin Fitzpatrick on the edge of the square. Our captain made no mistake and rattled the net. We continued to press and by the time we reached the half-time mark another two goals had been added, the final one from a long-range Eoin Chawke free. However on the stroke of half-time we were dealt a hammer-blow as Martin Fitzpatrick suffered a serious knee injury and had to be carried from the field. Our captain had been leading by example, acting as the focal point of our attack and taking the game to the Gabriels. There was no panic though, and Kevin McMullan sprung Mick O'Dwyer from the bench, who immediately started causing headaches for the St Gabriels defence. Our workrate was still paying dividends as we were still enjoying the majority of possession around the middle third, which gave our threatening forwards the chance to attack at every opportunity. Carlowmen Denis O'Regan and Daryl Roberts were proving to be a real handful in the corners, giving their markers no option but to give away frees, which were gratefully slotted over by Eoin Chawke allowing us to stretch our lead to 10 with just over 15 minutes remaining. Rory Costello was a constant threat, first on the edge of the square and then out to the half-forward line winning the ball and delivering to his teammates inside. Cathal Keogh was typically aggressive and hungry for the ball, timing his run perfectly to collect a pass from Daryl and slot over the bar. St Gabriels did manage to break through for a well-taken goal, but we refused to panic, and replied immediately as Eoin lofted over an excellent point from play from the right sideline. As the clock passed the 20-minute mark St Gabriels piled on the pressure, dropping a series of high balls into our goalmouth. Inevitably though, it was an Emmetts man who emerged every time. Our full back line were aggressive but level-headed and cool in their clearances and distribution. Paul Horkan was calmness personified, dealing with several dangerous one-on-one situations expertly, while his corner-men Mark Conroy and Steven Griffey snuffed out the threat of their dangerous opponents and delivered relieving clearances every time. Fergus McMahon was showing all his experience at centre-back, reading the play brilliantly and linking up fluently with his midfield. He also showed tremendous athleticism in giving an exhibition of high fielding and perfect first touch in tight situations. Paddy Breen and Seán Finn on the wings delivered the high-tempo performances that we've come to expect from them, making light work of the blinding low sun and skilfully hooking and blocking their opponents in a display of controlled aggression. As the timer wound agonisingly slowly towards the hour mark the gap had been reduced to six. The Gabriels men poured forward searching for a goal to puncture our confidence. It wasn't to be though - instead, in a cameo of our entire team's display, midfielder Tadhg Healy sprinted from out from our own 21 to meet an onrushing goal-bound St Gabriels forward with a thunderous shoulder-to-shoulder challenge. The ball was spilled and cleared, raising a roar from the Emmetts supporters and neutrals alike. There was time to exchange two more pointed frees, but moments later referee Brian Barrett raised his hand and called for the ball from Seán Ryan, sending the Emmetts lads into raptures. It was a great day to be an Emmetts supporter and the victory seemed all the sweeter for the hard work we had to put in to earn it. At the start of the year few in London would have even considered us as contenders but, thanks to the dedication of our manager Kevin McMullan and selectors Mark Traynor and Denis Costello, this band of brothers grew in confidence and yesterday in Ruislip showed how much they were willing to give for each other. A massive cheer went up as Martin Fitzpatrick emerged onto the balcony of the clubhouse who, in lifting the trophy, dedicated the win to our chairman Tom Redmond in recognition of his decades of service to the club. The celebrations will be enjoyed but Kevin is sure to bring the lads back to earth as we return to the training pitch to prepare for an All-Ireland campaign - territory he is only too familiar with. Emmetts abú! |
Hurlers In SHC Final
A year of hard work by our committed squad and management team has finally led us to the showpiece day of London hurling. Our narrow victory over Kilburn Gaels in the semi-final has set us up for a showdown with St Gabriels in the championship final. Our opposition have already engaged us in several close battles this year, in league, championship and cup ties, with no more than a few points between us over four meetings. St Gabriels have already shown their credentials by recently winning the league title, so we know that we must produce our best performance if we are to be in with a chance of upsetting them. We hope that our supporters will be in full voice this weekend, shouting on the lads, and that belief, hunger, determination and confidence in our own hurling ability will see us through. Throw-in: 14:00, Sunday Nov. 1st |
SHC Semi-Final: Kilburn Gaels
On Saturday 17th of October we faced 2014 champions Kilburn Gaels in the London SHC semi-final in Ruislip. Playing with the wind at our backs in the first half we held a three point advantage at half time, 1-7 to 0-7, with Eoin Chawke's quick-fire goal the only difference between us. Facing into the breeze in the second half there was little between the sides as we managed to keep our noses in front. However Kilburn hit a purple patch midway through the half, reeling in our lead before pushing three ahead on the 50 minute mark. It seemed like our hopes were fading as the same cushion remained with less than five minutes left. We refused to give up however, and our patience was rewarded when Daryl Roberts gathered possession out on the wing, beat several defenders and rattled the Kilburn net. In almost the next play Mick O'Dwyer latched onto a ball on the right and rifled the sliotar between the posts to put us one ahead with time just up. What followed was a long period of added time during which our defence had to withstand a continuous Kilburn onslaught. Due to a combination of spirited and disciplined defending we managed to hold on to our slender advantage over those last tense minutes. As the clock ticked past the 67-minute mark a long-range Kilburn free was lofted into our incredibly crowded goalmouth. However it was inspirational midfielder Tadhg Healy who rose highest, fielding the sliotar above the thicket of hurleys, before clearing to the wing. The final whistle then sounded, to the great joy of our supporters. It was a display of great heart and determination against a very strong Kilburn team, of which we can be proud. However our attention turns immediately to the training pitch and our preparations for the final. Our opposition, St Gabriels, have already shown their quality by winning the league title this year, so we must show even greater heart and skill if we are to capture the ultimate prize in London in 2015. |
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