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Gearoid Rennicks embellished an impressive outing with two points and Cian Rennicks topped the St Ultan’s scoring charts with four, three of them from frees. That defeat meant the pressure was really on to start winning and that habit began in the third round against Clann na nGael at Trim. Clann na nGael, who included Graham Geraghty in their attack, led by 1-2 to 0-4 at the break and they stayed in front for most of the second period, before St Ultan’s scored the last two points to earn a 0-10 to 1-6 victory which lifted them off the bottom of the group and revived their qualification hopes. Kilmainham was the venue for a fourth round game against Carnaross and St Ultan’s doubled their points tally when they held on under pressure to record a hard earned 1-13 to 2-9 win. They were looking good with a 0-9 to 0-3 advantage after 20 minutes but aided by a goal from a John L McGee penalty Carnaross cut the deficit to 1-5 to 0-10 Linda Smyth
at the break. Ciaran Rogers gave St Ultan’s a significant boost with a goal early in the second half but when McGee countered with a second Carnaross major they were well in contention. The second period remained tight and Ultan’s were three points in front with five minutes to play. They conceded the last two points and were relieved to hear the final whistle as they scraped through for a win which offered hopes of knockout action down the road. Cian Rennicks top-scored with seven points. St Ultan’s achieved a third successive group victory when they edged past Syddan by 0-9 to 0-8 in the last round at Carlanstown but with other results not favouring them they bowed out of contention. Syddan led by 0-6 to 0-4 at the change of ends but St Ultan’s limited them to just two points in the second half and added five themselves to win by the minimum. Kevin Galligan was their leading marksman with three points,
Shane Rennicks and Stephen Quirke got two each and Gearoid Rennicks and Ciaran Rogers completed their tally. When all was said and done in group A Clann na nGael were the surprise table-toppers on seven points from a possible 10 and went straight through to the semi-finals. Three teams - Dunderry, St Michael’s and St Ultan’s - all finished tied on six points and when the calculations were completed Ultan’s were the unlucky ones to miss out on a place in the quarter-finals. Syddan finished fifth in the section on four points and Carnaross brought up the rear on one. A championship campaign which started with back to back defeats suffered at the hands of St Michael’s and Dunderry really took off for St Ultan’s with those three victories on the bounce over Clann na nGael, Carnaross and Syddan but it just wasn’t enough. However, it was still a campaign which suggested that better days lie in waiting for a club which has
Rob Duffy against Carnaross
Cian Farnan
Darren Costello
Richie Lynagh Senior Ladies championship finalists, front l/r: Shauna Bennett, Geraldine Doherty, Linda Smyth, Cliona Rennicks, Leslie Buchanan, Elaine Duffy, Mary Coyne, Mary Foley, Mary O'Brien, Katie O'Brien, Karen Healy, Mairead Costello. Back: Tommy Mallon (mentor), Peter Marley (mentor), Jenny Healy, Grainne Mackin, Ashling Marley, Grainne Lindsey, Hayley Reilly, Cara Woods, Ciara Murray, Nuala O'Brien, Aoife Ball, Sinead Monaghan, Megan Buchanan, Niamh Rispin, Irene Munnelly, Vincent Rennicks (manager), Colm Rennicks (mentor)
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