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Earlier this year, we were very fortunate to have run a successful vintage tractor fundraiser, to support the development of the club.

At the time we gave an undertaking to support  Béara Macra na Feirme in their similar endeavours efforts to raise much needed funds for the recovery and rehabilitation of our friend and neighbour, Gary Hartnett.  We  fulfilled this commitment on a lovely Sunday October morning at Cahermore!

A lovely Ford 4000 tractor is currently being restored and we would encourage everyone in Béara and beyond to get behind this initiative!

A Béara semi-final is always about getting a result! After a second-half capitulation which lead to a narrow defeat to Glengarriff just over 12 months ago, this match was always about restoring the hierarchy. On a pleasant Autumn day in Droum,  the signals were positive before the match had begun.  Well before kick-off, Garnish togged-out with a full panel of 30 players warming up at the western end.

Garnish got off to the perfect start with a well-worked interplay, which finished with a left curler over the bar from Fintan JL.  Brian Walsh quickly followed with the game’s first goal and another from Fintan John L.  However, poor defending and indiscipline inside the square led to referee, Martin Hegarty,  calling a penalty and bringing Glengarriff back into the game. And this remained the pattern of the first half, Garnish majestic going forward but lethargic in defence, struggling to pull away despite their dominance.  Jack Andy was rewarded for his phenomenal work-rate with a wonderfully taken point and some great build-up play from the creative John O’Driscoll  and Cian O’Neill led a crafty placement to the corner of the net by Sean Terry. Yet, the 3-3 to 1-1  half-time scoreline only flattered to deceive.

Whatever was said at half-time, Garnish came out a different team and from the 39th minute Glengarriff relied heavily on frees to keep in touching distance. Matthew O’Leary began to dominate the full-back line and Dylan Henshaw answered any criticism with two majestic points, the second coming from winning the Glengarriff kickout on their 45, chipping it up and slotting it over the bar.  Rory O’Driscoll completed the scoring on 59 mins with a 4-11 to 2-7 win.

Ross Murphy, Matthew O’Leary, Éanna Murphy, Tommy O’Sullivan, Darragh Henshaw, Rory O’Driscoll (0-1), Jack Andy (0-1), Brian Terry (0-2), Jerome Dwyer, Hugh Suanais, Brian Walsh (1-0), Sean Terry(1-3), Fintan JL (2-2), John ‘Driscoll, Cian O’Neill. Subs Dylan Henshaw (0-2), Darren Deery, Paul O’Neill, Dean Henshaw, Jamie O’Driscoll. 

So, a Béara final and a County semi-final now beckons for this maturing side. Whilst Ollie Rue and his management team would like nothing more than to bring silverware back over the gap of Gour, much work is yet to be done. Perhaps the most pleasing aspect of this win was the panel contribution. Indeed, the form of the talented Danny Harrington and the return from injury of Gary O’Sullivan suggests they were unlucky not to get game time. More importantly, a range of youngsters – Conor Andy, Darragh Flor, Stephen Lane, Traelach O’Connor, Tuan Millem suggests that any obituary for Ireland’s further GAA club from Croke Park is way too premature. The tradition of great Garnish team’s has its hallmarks in the DNA of this current Garnish squad.

How the team applies themselves against the bigger teams over the next few weeks will define their season!

Sport can be cruel, particularly penalties after 90 minutes of football, and sudden-death even more cruel again. Delight for one team, bitter disappointment for another. So, it was with irony that, with the last kick of the game, arguably Kilbrin’s best player on the night, failed to see the back of the net, sending Garnish into a semi final by the slimmest of margins.

There were hero’s, of course, for Garnish – Jack Andy, Jerome O’Dwyer and Cian O’Neill running ’till their legs could carry them no further; Eanna Murphy and Tommy O’Sullivan, marshalling the talented Will Heffernan in front of goal and, Captain, Ross Murphy pulling off the penalty save to keep Garnish in the competition. Yet, in truth, whilst faith tipped the result in Garnish’ favour,  further improvements are required if this current generation of players are to advance beyond a semi-final.  Sean Terry, Rory O’Driscoll and Fintan JL clocked up 1-4  in the first quarter with only an Eoin Sheehan free in response. Yet, slowly Kilbrin came into the game and Sean O’Reilly’s bullet to the back of the net on 28 minutes was a key tipping point. With Heffernan drifting out,  Kilbrin’s corner forwards found more space. For the second quarter, Garnish dug deep, holding Kilbrin to a scoreline of 1-6 to 1-2 at half-time. Despite Darren Deery’s introduction, the third quarter belonged to Kilbrin, looking the fitter team and outscoring scoring Garnish 1-2 to to 0-1. Hugh Suanais brought a freshness to the forward line and a late sending off gave the Garnish players a numerical advantage, yet they failed to put away the opposition. Full-Time: Garnish 1-8 Kilbrin 2-5.

To their credit, Garnish bounced back in extra-time. Darragh Henshaw and Paul Neill started to get forward more and Jamie O’Driscoll worked really hard, slowing Kilbrin’s attack. 3 points up at sos uisce and it started to look like Garnish’ day. Yet, mistakes allowed the Duhallow side back into the match for a second time and a moment of indiscipline gave Will Heffernan the final-free of the match in the dying seconds, which he duly pointed, sending the game to penalties. Dave Griffin saved from Brian Terry. In response, Ross Murphy saved from Shane Crowley. On to sudden death! Paul O’Neill converted and with that final kick of the ball, there was that brief moment of elation for the Béara side.

It is almost a quarter of a century since Ollie Rue lifted the Andy Scannel cup for the Béara division. Some of the current Garnish players  have only heard the focklore. Perhaps, if they can chase those extra inches of improvement over the coming weeks, they might give him his sweetest football memories of all and the tide can turn again. In the words of one astute politician: Is féidir linn ach tá go leor oibre le déanamh againn!

Ross Murphy (Cpt), Matthew O’Leary, Eanna Murphy, Tommy O’Sullivan, Darragh Henshaw, Paul O’Neill (0-1), Jack Andy, Jerome O’Dwyer, Brian Terry, Rory O’Driscoll (0-2), Cian O’Neill, Sean Terry (1-3), Fintan JL O’Sullivan (0-2), John O’Dwyer, Dylan Henshaw. Subs: Darren Deery, Jamie O’Driscoll, Ollie O’Sullivan, Hugh Suanais

 

The Béara Championship is as tough as they come and if this Garnish team is to reach its potential, it will have to beat teams as dogged and experienced as  their near neighbours. And so it was the green and gold exuded a steeliness and edge to their play, grinding out a well-deserved win over ‘Town at Adrigole.

Andrew O’Sullivan opened the scoring for ‘Town before Fintan JL responded by pointing a well earned free by Dylan Henshaw.  It became clear in the first quarter that it was going to be a low scoring game, both teams having well-organised defences. A penalty conversion in the 11th minute ultimately gave Garnish the platform to secure the victory.  The goal was the only score between the teams at half time.

Particular credit most go to Garnish’ half-backs – Jack Andy, Darragh Henshaw, and Paul O’Neill who nullifed ‘Town’s route-one football and got enough contact to slow their attack. Given ‘Town’s strength in-depth, one might have expected their fitness to carry them through the 2nd half. Yet, it was the Garnish players who looked better conditioned: Brian Terry tagging on more scores, to extend their lead to 5 points. Darren Deery’s introduction provided a target at full-forward and as ‘Town began to tire,  Rory O’Driscoll  and Sean Terry exerter greater influence. Particularly pleasing was the work-rate, Eanna Murphy, Matthew O’Leary, Brian Walsh running to opposite ends of the field when required. Fresh legs from Jamie O’Driscoll, Stephen Lane and Danny Harrington saw out the victory. Club captain, Ross Murphy, duly accepted the Noel Kelly cup. Hopefully, with the right attitude and continued commitment, this team can achieve much more this season.

1. Ross Murphy, 2. Matthew O’Leary, 3. Eanna Murphy, 4. Tommy O’Sullivan, 5. Jack Andy, 6. Paul O’Neill (0-1), 7. Darragh Henshaw, 8. Brian Terry( 0-2), 9. Jerome O’Dwyer, 10. Rory O’Driscoll, 11. Brian Walsh, 12, Sean Terry (0-2), 13. Fintan JL (1-2) O’Sullivan, 14. John O’Dwyer, 15. Dylan Henshaw  (0-2). Subs: Darren Derry, Jamie O’Driscoll, Cian O’Neill, Stephen Lane, Danny Harrington.

A successful start to the 2021 Junior B Championship following a comfortable win against East Cork side St. Catherine’s GAA at Kilmichael on the eve on the All-Ireland Hurling Final.

Against a  stiff breeze, Garnish got a dream start with a point from Brian Terry and goal from Cian O’Neill. Eoin Condon and Rory Galvin got two back for the Saints either side the water break. However, a phenomenal work- rate  from the Garnish wingers resulted resulted in a well-worked goal finished by Brian Terry, followed by points on the loop for Fintan JL and Rory O’Driscoll. Garnish led 2-5 to 0-2 at the break and, with the wind at their backs, would have been expected to kick-on in the 3rd quarter.   However, it was St. Catherine’s who found their groove with quick ball to their corner-forwards.  Despite the best efforts of Daniel Rue, acting as sweeper, a goal and a brace of points brought St. Catherine’s considerably closer.  Points from Sean Terry and  Paul O’Neill ensured there would not may any major St. Catherine’s revival and the 3rd quarter finished all square.  Fresh legs from Dean Henshaw, Daniel Harrington, Jamie O’Driscoll and Hugh Suanais ensured that the result was never really in doubt in the final quarter. A brace of points from Dylan  Henshaw resulted in a 2-13 to 1-5 win for the Western parish.

Verdict? a  competent display albeit room for improvement. Addressing some notable wides from poor shot selection in first half and easy frees conceded in the third quarter could have resulted in a more clinical win.  However, the unity and progression in the Garnish team was clearly in evidence and would have silenced the most ardent critics.  Here’s to hoping that the team can go one better than 2020 and win their forthcoming quarter final.  Gairinis Abu!

 

A tough competitive challenge in Ballydehob was just what the team needed as players travelled home on a Friday evening for the bank-holiday weekend.

Fintan JL and Dylan Henshaw opened the scoring in the early minutes  before the opposition resonded. With Fintan demonstrating form from the dead-ball, Garnish led at the water-break 0-4 to 0-2 . Their lead was further extended in the second quarter thanks to a long-range effort from Brian Terry and a well taken penalty by Fintan JL. A second penalty conversion kept Garnish well ahead but Gabriel Rangers stormed back into contention in the third quarter as the Garnish collective appeared to loose concentration. Goals from Brian Terry and Rory O’Driscoll in the final quarter gavegarnish a narrow victory.

 

Some vintage football on display on a hot Sunday morning in Cahermore. Despite some tired legs from a tough encounter against Goleen on the previous Wednesday,  a reshaped Garnish side clocked up a a big score. Dean Henshaw made a big impression distributing ball to the wings where Jacky Andy and Gary O’Sullivan enjoyed some considerable freedom.

With Matthew O’Leary and Tommy O’Sullivan on man-marking duty, Ilen Rover’s attack was largely blunted.  Moreover, several subs stamped their own impression on the game  with Stephen Lane, Danny Harrington and Eric O’Neil all getting on the scoreboard.

Congratulations to Danny Harrington and Stephen Lane on making their adult football debuts for Garnish in recent weeks. The future of the club is in good hands!

A good win over local rivals, Urhan, highlighted plenty of promise for the 2021 season. Particularly pleasing was the performance in the final quarter during which Garnish pulled away.

A brave effort was not good enough to advance to the semi-finals of the 2020 championship. Deel Rovers started well with three points before a well-taken goal from Paul O’Neill shock off early Garnish nerves. By the first water-break, Garnish were 3 points up thanks to a long-range effort from Hugh Sounish and two frees from Sean Terry.  In the second quarter the teams traded scores. Brian Terry chipped to an excellent charge forward from Darragh Henshaw, from which Sean Terry duly pointed, giving Garnish a 4-point lead at half-time.

Things were looking rosy early in the second-half with Garnish enjoying a 1-08 to 0-05 lead. But the Deel Rovers challenge roared back to life a brilliant goal and by the water-break enjoyed a three-point lead. With four minutes left on the clock Darren Deery responded with a goal of his own. Sean Terry levelled in the red, bringing the match to extra-time. A black card for a needless foul swing the momentum back to Garnish. Yet,  points from Rory O’Driscoll and Jerome O’Dwyer were insufficient for the ten minutes of numerical superiority. For the final 10 minutes, it was all Deel Rovers.

Final Score: Deel Rovers 2- 15 Garnish 2- 12.