Following a very closely contested game in Rath on September 29th, Ferbane/Belmont's U14 Hurlers emerged victorious and regained the Oran Caulfield Cup for the first time in 5 years. On a wet and slippery pitch, it was goals that ultimately earned the victory for the boys in green and at the end it was just a mere 3 points that won them the 2007 U14 B hurling competition.

Clara started the brighter and a well-taken point in the 3rd minute gave them an early lead. Both sides exchanged wides before the Ferbane/Belmont goalkeeper Eoghan Lowry had to make a full-lenght save from clara half-forward Adam Scanlon in the 7th minute. On 10 minutes, corner-forward John Dooley picked up a loose clearance and shot low under the Clara keeper for Ferbane/Belmont's first score of the game. Straight from the resulting puck-out, Ferbane/Belmont struck again with a point from Darragh Corbett after a clever pass from Conor Lowry. Clara could have levelled the match almost immediatley but were denied by a superb save from Eoghan Lowry once again in the Ferbane/Belmont goal, this time diving full -lenght to his left to parry a shot from clara's centre forward. The resulting 65 earned a point from clara after some loose defending in the Ferbane/Belmont goalmouth. Clara dominated the exchanges for the next 6 minutes but could not capitalise on their possession shooting 3 wides in quick succession. They eventually were rewarded with 2 points, 1 from a close in free in the 21st minute quickly followed by a point from play on 22 tieing up the scores. Ferbane/Belmont rallied at that point and a fantastic run from captain Leon Fox gave Conor Lowry a great goal chance in the 23rd minute. A low shot from Conor was saved well by the clara keeper and cleared. F/B now lifted their game and like clara minutes earlier got poor reward from their efforts with wides from Conor Lowry and John Dooley. These wides were to prove expensive as in the 27th minute, clara broke forward and crashed the ball into Eoghan Lowry's net putting them 3 points ahead. A 20 metre free was awrded to F/B in the 30th minute after Conor Lowry was fouled. Captain Leon Fox stood up and crashed the sliotar low into the Clara net. A frantic first hlaf ended with the scores tied on F/B 2-1 and Clara 1-4.

Joe Maher opened the scoring in the third minute of the second-half with a beautiful strike over the bar from 30 yards after he ran on to a loose ball. 2 minutes later, a long ball from Ciaran Cahill was caught by Conor Lowry who rounded his man and struck low from 20 metres to score a great goal and put F/B four points up. This rattled the boys from Clara who struggled to get back into the game. The F/B backs Brian Grehan, James Nally, Michael Corbett, Shane Mooney and Ciaran Cahill defended brilliantly until the 10th minute when clara snatched a point from some broken play. A 21 metre free a minute later narrowed the deficit to 2 points and it was obvious that the heavy conditions were starting to show in the F/B players. Leon Fox was on the scoresheet again scoring a point from a free on 13 minutes. F/B then had 3 wides in quick succession after great work in the midfield from Darragh Corbett, Darren Kelly and Darren Digan who all worked hard to deny clara any clean possession in the middle of the park. Eventually it paid off when up popped Joe Maher again to strike a quick point from a tight angle after some clumsy defending by the clara keeper. With clara now 4 points in arrears, and time running out the F/B midfield and defence came under increasing pressure to hold out for the win. David Kelly was introduced to replace Shane Mooney in the 19th minute and made two timely interceptions to relieve the pressure on the F/B backline. On the 20th minute, Clara struck back with a point from a free and another from play in the 26th minute. John Dooley had a great chance to put 3 points between the teams again in the 27th minute but shot narrowly wide. It was captain Leon Fox again who remedied matters with a close-in free after a foul on Darren Digan in the 29th minute and another almost immediately with an immaculate long-range free from 40 metres just on 30 minutes following a foul on the rampant Conor Lowry. Clara scored a consolation point in injury time but it was the boys from Ferbane/Belmont who won out on the day with a brave and heroic performance.

Great credit to everyone involved in the squad who got their just rewards for their efforts. Special thanks to the management team of Brian Flynn, Ger Corbett, Brian Cahill, Paul Daly and Paddy Murray

The under 14's won their second county title in two weeks when they won the Football county title in a sun kissed O'Connor Park, Tullamore on Saturday, October 13th. On September 29th in Rath, they regained the Oran Caulfield Cup by beating Clara in the U14 B Hurling final. Not content with that, they set their sights on St. Broughans who had twice denied them county titles in the past and their intentions were clear as soon as the game commenced at 2 pm.

Tullamore Trubune October 17 th 2007 – Report: Kevin O'Brien

Ferbane /Belmont Claim U-14 'A' Title after Nine Goal Thriller

Ferbane/Belmont claimed their first U-14 title in twen­ty years, after a compelling encounter saw them enjoy an eleven point win over St. Broughan's on Saturday last in O'Connor Park. It was the first ever meeting of the two in an U-14 county final and Broughan's were looking to create history and win their first ever champi­onship at this level. The teams had scored six goals between them by the twelfth minute although Ferbane/Belmont pulled clear in the closing stages of the half and added 2-1 without reply to take in a commanding seven point lead at the break. In the second half St. Broughan's managed to add only two points from play while F/B pushed on and made the game safe, and resisted some late pressure to clinch the title. The game was played at a decent tempo and the first-half in particular lacked nothing in excitement, with goals flying in at either end to make for a cracking encounter which was enjoyed by both sets of sup­porters. Ferbane/Belmont drew first blood in the second minute with a goal but from the result­ing kick out, Broughan's raced up field and likewise found the net. The game continued to ebb and flow in the opening exchanges and after a Broughan's defender deflected the ball into his own net, they responded with a point before the teams exchanged goals once again. They were a few examples of some excellent football and Jordan Buckley's goal with eight minutes remaining in the first half was a classic example of good interchange, the full-forward benefited from a telling flick on by Darragh Corbett after along ball in caused problems and Buckley made no mistake in finishing the ball expertly into the net. Another F/B goal followed to end a high scoring first half with Ferbane/Belmont in front by 5-3 to 3-2.

The second half began with an exchange of scores before F/B extended the margin after dominating midfield and the half-forward line and in the end they did enough to add a fifth U-14 title to their roll of honour. The Ferbane/Belmont for­wards were on fire throughout with Darragh Corbett particu­larly inspirational, the wing-forward inflicted much woe on Broughan's and finished the match with an impressive 3-3. The full-forward line of Stephen Wren, Jordan Buckley and Eoghan Lowry bagged a goal each and were in a menacing mood all afternoon, they registered 3-3 between them and they laid the ground work early on with each scoring their goal in the first half. Trailing in the match, St. ; Broughan's tried desperately to get back in the second half ; but they were unable to breach ' the Ferbane/Belmont rear guard for a fourth time, they ' added two points in the dying , minutes hut the damage had already been done and it was a case of too little too late as F/B. held on to record a convincing win.

St. Broughan's took an early lead through an Edward Mather's point but the game took its first twist after two minutes when Jordan Buckley found Darragh Corbett in space inside and Corbett made no mistake and finished into the net to put Ferbane/Belmont in front. Dramatically Broughan's retook the lead less than a minute later after Peter Cunningham sent a searching ball across the square, Jamie Sheridan rose highest and fisted the ball past Darragh Digan to give them the lead once again. On seven minutes the game had its third goal as F/B con­tinued to punish their opposi­tion in front of goal and Darragh Corbett's ball into the square caused problems for the Broughan's rearguard and a defender on the line misjudged the flight of the ball and deflected it into the net to make it 2-0 to 1-1. Jamie Sheridan curled over for Broughan's before Aaron McDonagh raced through for F/B and he played a lovely weighted pass into Stephen Wren who fired into the top­most corner of the net to main­tain the remarkable start to the match. Those who dared to think that the goals were finished were mistaken as Peter Cunningham picked up the break in the Broughan's box and he sent his effort home to leave the proceedings 2-2 to 3-0 after fourteen minutes. Ferbane/Belmont shot over two points in quick succession before Rory Galvin stormed forward and buried a shot into the net for Broughan's to leave the teams level at 3-2 apiece. In a telling final ten minutes of the half F/B really took the game to their opponents and after a second point from Darragh Corbett they took control and buried two goals in quick succession, with Jordan Buckley and Eoghan Lowry taking the plaudits and leaving Ferbane/Belmont in a commanding position at the break, 5-3 to 3-2. F/B hit some four wides in the opening exchanges of the second half before both sides registered a free each to leave seven points between the sides. Just as he did in the first half, Darragh Corbett bagged himself a goal after he picked up a rebound and drove an effort past the outstretched hand of the Broughan's keeper to put ten between the sides, with the scores at 6-4 to 3-3. Ferbane/Belmont enhanced the score line further following a score apiece from Conor and Eoghan Lowry (free). In the closing stages St. Broughan's pressed hard for a goal but they failed to mirror the form shown in the opening sixteen minutes when they had three goals to their name. Jamie Sheridan had a chance to reduce the margin by three points with a minute of normal time to play but he fired over when a goal beckoned and minutes later the teams traded scores for a final time as Ferbane/Belmont eased to their first U-14 title since 1987.

FERBANE/BELMONT: Darren Digan, Shane Mooney ; Ciaran Cahill, John Dooley, Brian Grehan, Darren Kelly, David Kelly, Leon Fox (capt), Conor Lowry (0-1), Darragh Corbett (3-3), Aaron McDonagh, Joseph Maher, Stephen Wren (1-1), Jordan Buckley (1-0), Eoghan Lowry (1-2, 0-2 frees). Subs: James Nally (for John Dooley).

ST. BROUGHAN'S: Darragh Harrison, Joseph Costello, Shane Gavin, Tommy Brereton, Shane McGrath, Eoin Feeney, Dean Barren, Peter Cunningham (1-1), Ciaran Dempsey, Rory Galvin (capt) (1-0), Earl Curry, Edward Mathers (1-1), Jamie Sheridan (0-3), Lucian Belelic, Lee Dempsey. Subs: Pauric Kelly (for Rory Galvin); Daniel Carthy (for Lee Demspey).

REFEREE: Pat Brady (Ballyfore).

The under 10 hurlers got off to a flying start and after only 4 minutes on the clock, they led Kinnitty by 2 goals and a point to no score. Cian Johnson opened the scoring when he kept his cool in the 2nd minute to slot home a low shot to the net after a goalmouth scramble. Almost immediately, Colin Kenny shot over a fantastic 65 and a minute later Oisin Kenny scored a second goal after a great run through the middle and a low shot which beat the Kinnitty keeper. Ferbane/Belmont maintained their dominance and had successive wides from another Colin Kenny 65 and another shot from a tight angle by Cian Johnson. It was the the 8th minute before Kinnitty settled into the game and after they gained some momentum, they scored a scrambled goal in the 13th minute.This seemed to lift the Kinnitty boys and they enjoyed a spirited 5 minutes as they slowly grew in confidence.They got their first point on 14 but this score was cancelled out by captain Jack Clancy 4 minutes later. On 20 minutes, Kinnitty bounced back again with a converted free but it was Clancy again who replied immediately for Ferbane/Belmont this time from long range. As Kinnitty pressed hard to reduce the deficit, the Ferbane/Belmont backs of Ronan Butler, Declan Boylan, Colin Kenny, David Nally and Roisin Egan came under sustained pressure. They worked hard in the closing minutes of the first half and their exploits were well rewarded when Gavin Kelly struck home a neat goal just before half-time. At the break, Ferbane/Belmont had a 7 point lead. Score Ferbane/Belmont 3-3 Kinnitty 1-2.

Whatever was said during the half-time team talk in the Kinnitty camp at half-time certainly had the desired effect. Kinnitty started the second half with renewed confidence and shot over for a point in the second minute. Stout defending by Ferbane/Belmont only temporarily stemmed wave after wave of Kinnitty attacks. When Ferbane/Belmont managed to get the ball forward it seemed to come straight back to put more pressure on the tiring defence. In the 8th minute, Kinnitty struck a great goal from a close in free. Wides by Jack Clancy and Oisin Kenny in the 9th and 12th minutes was as much as Ferbane/Belmont could do in reply. It was the 14th minute before Oisin Kenny managed to convert Ferbane/Belmont's first score of the half. Colin Kenny then missed a free to restore some daylight between the teams. Then in the 18th minute, disaster struck when Kinnitty scored their third goal of the game which left them just 1 point in arrears. In the 20th minute Oisin Kenny gathered a long clearance from a free by Colin Kenny and broke through several attempted tackles to score a great goal from close range. Kinnitty responded directly from the puck out with a point of their own. On 23 minutes Gavin Kelly scored his second goal of the match which gave Ferbane/Belmont a six point lead as the game was drawing to a close. Kinnitty shot over a point in reply as we entered the last minute of normal time. Then in the first minute of injury time, Cian Johnson put the title beyond doubt with a goal that would grace any county or all-ireland final. A long ball over the Kinnitty defence was controlled first time on the hurl, then caught and crashed to the back of the Kinnitty net from close range. A fitting end to a marvellous final. Congratulations to both teams for a magnificent display of skillful hurling all through.

Congratulations to all invloved. Players, Supporters and the Mangement team of Padraig Clancy, Aidan Kelly, KP Egan, Brendan Butler and Peter Molloy.

This was the second time these sides met this year and Ferbane/Belmont's rela­tively convincing victory in the group stages meant they went into this final as warm favourites to win this title, a championship they last secured in 2005. With twenty minutes remaining file warm favourites looked like near certainties as they led by ten points to two and were lord­ing? matters in every area of the field. This bunch of Shamrocks players might not have any medals to show for their efforts at the end of the year, but they deserve immense credit for the way they dug in, mounted a great comeback and kept the result in doubt right up until Paul Jordan's last blast of the whistle. Certainly a close match looked in store early on, as both sides brought very different strengths to Clara and each went about their game plan effectively. Shamrocks moved the ball up the field very well, repeatedly finding team,-mates with accurate foot passing and using the full dimensions of the pitch very well. They took an early lead through two fine scores, a hand passed point when Paddy Kelly showed good maturity in a crowded goalmouth and an excellent 30-metre finish from Daniel Heffernan. That they didn't add to this early advantage was largely down to the tena­cious and vigorous defend­ing of the Ferbane midfielders and defence , who repeatedly denied the Shamrocks front men time and space and forced a series of turnovers within range of their own goals. It took the Ferbane/Belmont boys a bit longer to find their feet in the other half of the field, but when they did start moving the ball a bit better, they had an excellent target man in full-forward Johnny Dunican, and he showed his worth with the first two balls he received, taking points with both. Scores were rare in the first quarter, but with ten minutes to go to the break, Ferbane stepped up the tempo and began to open up a lead. Midfielder Jonathan Duffy gave them the lead, and by half-time that one point lead became six as Enda O'Brien, with a point, and Shane Nally (one from a free) and Dunican, with two each, all showed their skills.

The half-time break gave Shamrocks time to regroup, but the opening exchanges of the second period merely emphasised Ferbane/ Belmont's dominance. It took them seventeen seconds to add another point, arguably the best score of the match. Ciaran McManus secured the initial possession and very swiftly the ball was moved through Shane Nally and Declan Cooney, whose final lay-off found Aaron McDonagh moving well down the wing, and his finish was immaculate. Jonathan Duffy's second point soon followed and at this point it would have been very easy for Shamrocks to lie down and die. They did anything but, and captain Daniel Heffernan's second score roused the players and crowd and put his team in motion again. A rash tackle gave Shane Rosney a simple opportunity to open his account from a free, and having done the needful from the dead ball, he gave his team a real shot in the arm with twelve minutes left when he finished very well from the edge of the box and left a goal between the sides, 1-4 to 0-10. Substitute Aaron Cleary reduced the deficit further, before Johnny Dunican got F/B's first score in almost twenty minutes when he scored within 60 seconds of being moved back into full-forward. He had been inexplicably moved back out the field at the start of the second half, having led the attack imperiously in the first thirty minutes, and any more of a delay in reverting to the starting line-up could have cost Ferbane/Belmont dearly. As it was, they were now in a real dogfight - all the more so when Shane Rosney's long-range effort was blocked outwards by Eoghan Casey and Paddy Kelly was first to the rebound to draw the sides level. With three minutes left the game was there for either side to seize, but once more it fell to Dunican to get out in front, round his man and take his point, consolidating his man-of-the match performance. After another excellent team move saw Duffy score his third point of the match, a late bid for that award was made by Enda O'Brien, who looked to have, wrapped up the game when he scooped up a breaking ball and got F/B's first goal of the match. Almost as importantly, in the next series of play he made a wonderful interception while chasing after Shamrocks players trying to work the ball out the attack, and secured vital possession for his team. Ferbane/Belmont didn't manage to capitalise on this, and once more Shamrocks dug in and Ray Bryant, now operating at corner-forward, put the matter right back in the melting pot when he finished to the net after his own initial shot had been saved by Casey. With injury time expired, possession from the subsequent kick out was now all-important, and once Ferbane/Belmont had the ball in hand, the final whistle confirmed that the title was theirs.

Ferbane/Belmont: Eoghan Casey; George Digan, Shane Melia, Conor Lowry; Mark Lyons, Robin Melia, Adrian Claffey; Ciaran McManus, Jonathan Duffy (0-3); Aaron McDonagh (0-1), Shane Nally (0-2, If), Damien Egan; Declan Cooney, Jonathan Dunican (0-6), Enda O'Brien (1-1). Subs: David Gannon for A Claffey.

Shamrocks: DJ Rosney; Ray Bryant (1-0), Mark McLoughlin, Phillip McCarthy; Kevin Mooney, Brian Thomas, Peter Kearney; Ciaran Buckley, Morgan Byrne; Shane Rosney (1-1, 0-lf), Daniel Heffernan (0-2), Alan Foster; Michael McConigly, Paddy Kelly (1-1), Robbie Bryant. Subs: Shane Heffernan for A Foster (inj.), Martin Keenan for M McConigly, Aaron Cleary (0-1) for P Kelly, P Kelly for S Heffernan. Referee: Paul Jordan.

Match report courtesy of: Kevin Egan, Offaly Independent October 27th 2007.

Four Goal Coolderry Topple Ferbane/ Belmont to Take Minor 'B' Title

Coolderry saw off the chal­lenge of Ferbane/Belmont by seven points to claim the Minor -B, hurling title at a wet and blustery Mountbolus on Saturday last. In a match played in difficult underfoot conditions swirling wind and rain, Coolderry came out on top at the finish the seal put on the victory with a fourth goal seconds from time by Eoin Ryan. Coolderry were deserving winners and were aided by a strong second half display when they managed to get a grip of the match and turned the contest in their favour. Ferbane/Belmont played some useful hurling in the first half getting some key scores from that gave them the edge before the half with their only goal of me match sent to the net by Jonathan Duffy. Ferbane/Belmont led in the match early in the second half but didn't build on it further as they had done in the first half. Trailing by just two points at the interval Coolderry got back into the match more and despite the dreadful conditions hurled more determinedly during the second half. When Coolderry found the net with a third goal from a free by captain Stephen O'Connor they came back to lead by a point at that stage. Coolderry picked up the pace after that and began to get more of the play and created chances as the half went on. Ferbane/Belmont drifted out of the game in the late stages despite going close with one or two chances in the final minutes, as Coolderry led by five points ten minutes from the end. Despite a gallant late effort by Ferbane/Belmont, Coolderry looked to be in con­trol in the late stages, before adding a fourth goal that secured the Minor 'B' title.

The goals in the match more or less swung it Coolderry's way. Scoring four goals at opportune times gave them the edge and broke Ferbane/Belmont hearts. Some mistakes in the backline would come back to haunt Ferbane/Belmont who played their better hurling in the first half. The match changed once or twice in the early stages. Coolderry helped by two early goals by the impressive Eoin Ryan and Kevin Connolly had the early advantage and four points separated them in the late stages of the first half before Ferbane/Belmont ended the half the stronger scoring 1-3. Coolderry were aided by two key forwards in Eoin Ryan and Kevin Connolly who scored 3-5 between them, while Captain Stephen O'Connor was on hand with 1-3 with David Ryan adding a point towards the end. Ferbane/Belmont's key marks­man was Mark Egan scorer of eight of his side's 1-11. Danny Cooney with two efforts and Colin Egan with a first half point also got on the score-sheet. Coolderry couldn't have wished for a more ideal start, with a goal in the first minute, when Eoin Ryan turned his man and fired home a goal. A point was added by Kevin Connolly to lead 1-1 to 0-0. Ferbane/Belmont went close with a goal chance of their own when Jonathan Duffy got in on goal but his shot was blocked. Ferbane/Belmont got off the mark when Mark Egan point­ed and ten minutes in Colin Egan pointed after a solo run. Two minutes later Coolderry got in for a second goal when the ball wasn't cleared and it went loose to Kevin Connolly who found the back of the net making it 2-1 to 0-2. Midways through the half Ferbane/Belmont were on tar­get with a free by Mark Egan and the same player reduced the tally to three points with an effort from play. Coolderry went clear with a well taken point by Kevin Connolly before Ferbane/Belmont replied again. Eight minutes before the interval Coolderry captain Stephen O'Connor sent a free between the posts to lead by 2-3 to 0-5. Ferbane/Belmont replied in the closing minutes of the first half and hit two points in two minutes to cut lead to just two points follow­ing efforts by the impressive Mark Egan. Ferbane/Belmont added a free to put one in it, then in a final attack of the first half, Mark Egan picked out Jonathan Duffy with a low ball and he cut in a low shot to the corner of the net. The goal gave Ferbane/Belmont a 1-8 to 2-3 lead at half time. A point by Eoin Ryan put just a point between them five minutes into the second half, before an effort by Ferbane/Belmont's Danny Cooney saw Ferbane ahead by 1-9 to 2-4. Coolderry began to pick up their game and a turning point came when they won a 20m free and the shot by Stephen O'Connor found its way to the net. He quickly added a point and Coolderry then led by 3-5 to 1-9. But minutes later Ferbane/Belmont perhaps should have done better after a three man move but couldn't build on the chance created. Twelve minutes from the end Kevin Connolly for Coolderry was fouled and Stephen O'Connor sent the free between the posts. Soon after Kevin Connolly got clear to point also as Coolderry turned the match in their favour to lead by 3-7 to 1-9. Both teams continued to hurl in the soft trying underfoot conditions as the match picked up in tempo. Coolderry held a lead of four points 3-8 to 1-10 six minutes from time and they sealed victory in what was to be the last action in the game when Eoin Ryan got free on goal to send the ball to the net to ultimately decide it and give Coolderry the Minor 'B' hurling title.

COOLDERRY: Stephen Corcoran; Colm Larkin, Darragh Parlon, Liam Brady, Brian Kelly, Stephen Burke; Paul Moloney, David King; Stephen O'Connor (capt) (1-3, 1-2 frees), Conor Nolan, Michael Ryan, Eoin Ryan (2-2), Kevin Connolly (1-3). Sub: David Ryan (0-1) (for Stephen Burke).

FERBANE/BELMONT: Damien Egan; Ciaran McManus, Declan Rohan, Jonathan Dunican, Shane Nally, Donal Corbett; Colin Egan (0-1), Robin Melia; Danny Cooney (0-2), Joe Kenny, Jonathan Duffy (1-0); Mark Egan (0-8, 0-3 frees), Shane Melia.

REFEREE; Declan Cooke (Crinkle).

Report by John Horan, Tullamore Tribune 21/11/07