The usual Abbeyfeale contingent were all present and correct in Twickenham last Saturday afternoon, and they made sure that they were both seen and heard as Ireland put in a rousing finish to beat England 20-16. And the timeless question of what happens when an irresistible force meets an immovable object would appear to have been finally answered, with both Brian O’Driscoll’s head and Paul O’Connell’s knee surviving the encounter. (Was Einstein perhaps wrong after all?)
It all started encouragingly for Ireland, and an early and opportunist Tommy Bowe try, set up by Johnny Sexton, settled nerves and soothed hangovers. Keith Earls also showed great pace to breech the Sassenach defence
However England fought back well and with just nine minutes to go it was 13-all following an England try. Wilkinson then seemed to have won it for the home team with an expertly-taken drop goal.
Ireland refused to panic. Replacement out-half, Ronan O’Gara found a good touch deep inside England’s 22 following a controversial penalty award. Rory Best threw to the towering O’Connell who found O’Leary on the loop. The former Cork hurling captain parted to flying winger, Tommy Bowe who hit the line at a great angle and crashed through the defence to score an excellent try. O’Gara added the points and Ireland were home and hosed, as the new version of the Fields of Athenry was given its world premier.
“Low lie the Fields of Athenry,
Where once we watched the small free birds fly.
Tommy Bowe was on the wing, The Chariot failed to swing.
Its not so lonely round the Fields of Athenry!”
And congratulations to John Hayes who chalked up his 100th cap for Ireland on Saturday. John made his début for Bruff juniors in, of all places, The Grove many moons ago and still rates it as one of his toughest matches.
“The Abbeyfeale front row played very well that day.” he admitted.
Billy O’Rourke would agree.
Abbeyfeale defeated Killorglin 29-21 in a high-scoring game in The Grove last Sunday and continue their stealthy progress up the league table. They play Corca Dhuinne at home next Sunday with a 2.30 pm kick-off.
*Well done to Man Utd who defeated Aston Villa 2-1 in the Carling Cup final at Wembley, much to the disappointment of our cousins in Birmingham. The Carling Cup would probably be the equivilant of the McGrath Cup in GAA which Kerry won a few weeks ago. (We will give them that one.)
And Limerick hurlers lost again at the weekend, as the managerial dispute continues with no solution is sight.
GOLF
Following our first outing of 2010 to the Killeen Course at Killarney Golf & Fishing Club the winners on the day were:1st PD Browne(22) 40pts. 2nd Mossie Kelly(16) 39pts.
3rd Neilus Murphy(16) 39pts. Front 9 Kevin Foley(12) 21pts. Back 9 John D Murphy(19) 21pts. Thank you to our sponsor for the day Jim Lane, New St., Abbeyfeale.
Our next outing is to Castletroy Golf Club, Limerick on Sat. 20th March, sponsored by Fitzgerald Q.S.
DRAMA:
Abbeyfeale Drama Group present Sharon’s Grave by John B. Keane at the GAA Clubhouse on Wednesday, March 3rd, Thursday March 4th, Saturday March 6th and Sunday March 7th. Curtain goes up at 8pm each night
The transition year students of St. Joseph’s Secondary School present Cinderella the Pantomime this Wednesday and Thursday at 8pm. Doors open 7.30pm. Admission €5.
PARADE;
The Abbeyfeale St Patrick’s Day Parade Committee will hold a Church gate collection
next weekend. Your support would be greatly appreciated.
The parade will leave the Convent Yard at 4pm on St Patrick’s Day, Wednesday 17th March, and proceed down Main Street, past the reviewing stand in The Square. Committee members will be visiting local shops, business premises, sporting organizations, etc. over the coming days to invite people to participate in the parade. Further details will be announced next week
The next meeting of the St Patrick’s Day Parade Committee will take place in St Ita’s Hall on next Monday, March 8 at 7pm. All are welcome
BYPASS:
The following press release was handed out following a public meeting in the Devon Inn last weekend to discuss the proposed bypass.
A public meeting for Abbeyfeale, Templeglantine and Tournafulla parishes was held last Sunday night at The Devon Inn Hotel, Templeglantine. The 150 + attendance which included Martin Ferris TD, Cllrs Liam Galvin, Francis Foley and Arthur Spring were told that there is only a 6 week window in which to try and get the NRA to revisit their plans to build a motorway through the West Limerick countryside. The attendance agreed that what is needed is the upgrading of the existing road and bypasses of the towns of Adare, Newcastlewest and Abbeyfeale. The Action Committee is calling for an immediate deferral of the decision on the N21 motorway. They are also calling on the NRA to engage with the local action group and for a full and comprehensive review of the existing plans. Should the motorway plan go through, then land on the chosen route will effectively be sterilized with no building allowed – either farm buildings or dwelling houses. This will cause local communities to become stagnant as the motorway will not be built until there is sufficient money in the coffers to finish it. In the ensuing years whole stretches along the route will lose their life blood of young families. This will, in turn lead to services like schools, shops etc being downgraded. As well, farmers will not be able to expand their enterprises by building sheds etc. On the other hand, should by [passes be built they would cost less than a quarter of the cost of the motorway and thus reduce the debt that will have to be paid out of our taxes. There is no EU funding available for this so the € 500 million approx. that a motorway will cost will be borne by the tax payer. On the other hand there would be an injection of between €40 to €50 million euros into the local area if the by passes go ahead. It was agreed that all those affected by the plans for the motorway should contact their public representatives as a matter of urgency and ask them to lobby the NRA for bypasses and upgrading of the present roadway. A fundraising concert/ceili will be held in the Devon Inn on Friday, March 26 to help raise funds to fight the campaign. Further information can be had from Ger Kearney on 086 1924863.
SOCCER; Abbeyfeale Utd A 1, Pallaskenry 0. Abbeyfeale Utd B 0, Adare Utd 2.
International friendly; Rep of Ireland 0, Brazil 2.