Raleigh Cú Chulainn played it’s second tournament of it’s 2013 season and travel to the competition as Peach Cup Champions. People arrived early to set up tents and group together before starting our ritual of warm-ups and stretches to prepare for the long day of football that was ahead of us.
The weather as a hot 84F when we arrived at 11am at Elon Park, just off Ardry Kell Road in Charlotte. The place was “hopping” with activity. Teams & supporters from Charlotte, Raleigh, Atlanta, D.C. & Greenville, SC filled every corner of the 4 fields and surroundings that was the site for the 2013 Connolly’s Cup. Charlotte had really done a great job organizing the fields, the refreshments, information tents and the schedule for the day.
But all of the ‘hustle and bustle’ aside we had a job to do and that was to make sure we had players who were in the right frame of mind, well stretched, warmed up and hydrated. Enda & Dara lead the team out about 15 mins before our first match at noon for stretching. We spoke about tactics, positions and ensured that everyone knew what the game plan was.
Football
Match 1 – Raleigh 4-08 (20) v Washington D.C. 5-04 (19)
The match started at noon and everyone was excited to kick off our first game of the Connolly’s Cup. Raleigh started strong in the first half getting some early scores and showing DC that we meant business. However DC starting to ‘come in to their own’ and show some great skills putting some well deserved points on the score board. The Raleigh defense was under some early pressure from DC and only after 5 minutes Raleigh had their first injury. Enda (Wiseman) tore his groin and had to leave the game. This was a huge blow to the Raleigh defense and to the Raleigh team as a whole, as Enda is an influential and stalwart defender. Gary Dillon who unfortunately has been unable to train with the club this year started the game as if he had been training all year. He scored a couple of early points and buried a goal to lift the spirits of the team and to quash the DC advance…rumour has it he has been attending CrossFit to keep the body in check!
The Second half started with Raleigh up 5 points and although we were playing the better football we couldn’t be complacent. We also had the hard unforgiving ground and the heat of the Charlotte sun to contend with as well as a strong and competitive DC side. Again Raleigh started the second half strong. Dara (O’Hannaidh) and Sean (Salemme) fielded the ball at midfield and distributed it to the two full forwards Tim (Cronin) & Gary (Dillon) who scored many of the chances they got. DC was reminded that they were in a completive game! However a couple of early goals by DC rattled the Raleigh team…this was DC’s “purple patch”. After some unanswered scores by DC, Mark (Hagan) on the Sideline (torn calf muscle) made some strategic substitutions. Now it was time for Raleigh to show DC why they were Peach Cup Champions. Raleigh never dropped their heads and from the goalkeeper to the full forwards everyone did their jobs to pull off the narrowest of victories.
Team: Mike Gowen, Chad Lefner, Colin Keenan, John Burke, Graham Fordham, Enda Wiseman, Rick Braswell, Dara O Hannaidh, Sean Salemme, Redmond Dunphy, Mike McCarty, Gary Dillon, Tim Cronin (Subs: John Burke, Shane McDermott, Gerry Farrell, Mark O’Hagan (Injured – Calf), John Dallas, Sven Johnson, Dean Molloy)
Match 2 – Raleigh 3-12 (21) v Charlotte B 4-06 (18) – Semi-Final
1 hour and 15 minutes after the first game ended Raleigh’s second game of the day started. It was not 2pm and the sun was not letting up, although a few clouds rolled in to take away the sharpness off the sun for a little while. A similar team to the first game lined up and everyone was in a more confident mood since Raleigh had one game already under their belts. The referee blows his whistle and throws up the ball…GAME ON!
Like Raleigh finished the last game they started their second game strong, with a formidable midfield of Dara (O’Hannaidh) Sean (Salemme). An early ball in to the full dynamic duo of Gary (Dillon) & Tim (Cronin) and Raleigh was on the scored board. The slight nerves – if in fact there was any – were definitely gone at this stage and Raleigh settling in to there game of speed, determination and heart. The link up play between the backs of Colin (Keenan), John (Burke), Graham (Fordham), Rick (Braswell), Sven (Johnson), Shane (McDermott) and the half forwards of Redmond (Dunphy) and Mike (McCarty) was fantastic and was the root of where a lot of the Raleigh scores came from.
Raleigh went in to half time in the driving seat but still had another 20 minutes of a tough fight ahead of them. Bodies were getting a little bit tired and things that were easy in the first game were not a little be tougher. Charlotte B scored a few unanswered goals and all of a saddened Raleigh realized that they would have to dig deep if they were to pull a win out of the bag. “Win this 20 minutes…don’t even think about the final” the words spoken at half time by Dara (O’Hannaidh) that echoed through the conscious of the entire team…because that is exactly what the team did. Dara and Shane (McDermott) who played excellent football around the middle of the park quickly won great kick-outs by Mike (Gowen). Mike was coming of an injury and was playing some incredible football between the posts. Again Raleigh dug deep and finished the game by three points. This was another hard fought battle buy it made the victory that little bit sweeter.
Team: Mike Gowen, John Burke, Colin Keenan, John Burke, Graham Fordham, Sven Johnson, Rick Braswell, Dara O Hannaidh, Sean Salemme, Redmond Dunphy, Mike McCarty, Gary Dillon, Tim Cronin (Subs: Chad Lefner, Shane McDermott, Gerry Farrell, Mark O’Hagan (Injured – Calf), John Dallas, Enda Wiseman (Injured – Groin), Dean Molloy)
Match 3 – Raleigh 0-06 (6) v Charlotte A 2-20(26) – Final
It was 4 o’clock on June 15th 2013 and Raleigh had made the final of the Connolly’s cup after two hard fought game just hours before hand. Their opponent Charlotte A was a familiar foe and both teams knew right from the start that this was going to be a tough, physical match. Raleigh had some tired legs and sore bodies but they had a wonderful team of supporters who were helping prop the team up for the final.
The game started with the midfield partnership of Dara (O’Hannaidh) and Sven (Johnson) winning the throw in and after a quick ball down the right win to Tim (Cronin) Raleigh was on the scored board. Charlotte a little rattled from the get go but this is a strong Gaelic football team with a lot of history and experience and they would not be phased for very long. As the game progressed it got a bit more physical and this time when the a ball was played down the wing by Dara (O’Hannadh) to Tim (Cronin) it was a shoulder into the back that landed Tim on the Astroturf for a couple of minutes. Lucky not to be seriously hurt, it was at this moment that Tim & the whole Raleigh team knew this was going to be a hard fought game to the very end. Charlotte A scored some fantastic point in the first half and Raleigh held on in there to by down 5 points at the half.
How could Raleigh comeback from this deficit? The Raleigh players were now feeling all the pains and aches that a person would feel after playing 100 minutes of hard fought football that day. Legs were sore, calves were tight, feet were blistered but their spirit was not broken. “20 minutes left, lets give it our all” this was the sentiment that floated around the circle of players on the sideline.
The second half started with Charlotte getting a quick score and this just remind the Raleigh team that they would have to dig deeper then they were digging before to stop the onslaught of the Charlotte A team. Raleigh hit a bit of a purple patch after a few minutes but failed to really capitalize on it and Charlotte came back in to the game to put a large margin between the sides. Halfway through the second half The Raleigh corner forward Gary (Dillon) excited the game due to a hamstring injury. This was a big blow the Raleigh team and a further sign bodies were tired and hurting. Raleigh battled hard but couldn’t match the fitness in the second half of the Charlotte A team. The Charlotte team had played only one game that day and although the team was well rested, they also had more experience and capitalized on the scoring chances, having the legs to finish the game stronger that the Raleigh team.
The game finished Raleigh 0-06 v Charlotte A 2-20 but the scored did not reflect the heart, determination, blood, sweat & tears that the Raleigh team played with that day. They grew as a team and they represent themselves and their club very well. It is a positive reflection of the type of foundation the Raleigh Cú Chulainn Gaelic football club is built on. Steve (Shannon), team founder should be very proud!
Team: Mike Gowen, John Burke, Colin Keenan, John Burke, Graham Fordham, Sven Johnson, Rick Braswell, Dara O Hannaidh, Sean Salemme, Redmond Dunphy, Mike McCarty, Gary Dillon, Tim Cronin (Subs: Chad Lefner, Shane McDermott, Gerry Farrell, Mark O’Hagan (Injured – Calf), John Dallas, Enda Wiseman (Injured – Groin), Dean Molloy)
Hurling
Saturday June 15th at Elon Park Sports Complex, Charlotte – Connolly Cup
The Connolly Cup was held at Elon sports complex in Charlotte (same venue as last year). There were 4 soccer pitches, with extended posts added to adapt the goals for the Gaelic games. The weather was sunny, and 88C, with a bit of a breeze. Sun burn weather. The pitches were Astroturf, bouncy and hot.
There were bouncy castles for the kids, food and ice cream stands, an Irish band and a bagpipe marching band. Plenty of entertainment for the many family/ friends who turned up.
This year, Raleigh fielded both a hurling and football team. 22 people turned up for Raleigh. Colm Egan, the North American hurling development coach, was present to both referee the hurling games, and provide a coaching clinic.
Atlanta and Charlotte had decided not to field their hurling teams to focus on the football. Greenville arrived with 10 players. Raleigh had 6 hurlers and 5 dual players. Hampton Road sent 3 players, and Carrollton Hurling club sent one.
However, with the overlap between the football and the hurling games, the dual players went with the footballers, and Raleigh formed a combined team with Hampton Road and Middle Tennessee to face Greenville. 10 a side, with no subs. We would play Greenville twice, and have combined hurling coaching with them. 2 x 20 minute halve per match, with a 10-minute break in the middle, for some much needed water! Greenville had a couple of new players, lacrosse players, and very fit.
First hurling game was at 11:30am. Second at 1:00pm.
Hurlers for the combined team were:
- Eoin Kiely
- Brian Spencer
- Eric Coughlin
- Adam Reeder
- Kris Simino
- John McNeilly
- Bob ? Hampton Road
- Midfielder – Hampton Road
- Goalkeeper – Hampton Road
- Josh – Carrollton Hurling club, Georgia
And a big shout out to Ann Scheuneman who turned up to support us, even though she’s still injured.
First Game (11:30) Greenville 4-5 to 2-6 Raleigh
Raleigh lined up with Eoin, Brian, Eric and Adam in defense, and John and Kris up front.
This was a real close game with both teams competing hard in the heat. Raleigh scored first, a great point in the first minute. Greenville came straight back up the pitch, with a great save followed by a goal for Greenville. Game on. The ball when it hit the ground had a tremendous bounce compared to grass. The remainder of the first half was hard fought, but Greenville were taking advantage of the space available in a 10 a side game to break through on goal at speed. Greenville ended up 2 goals ahead at half time.
In the second half, Raleigh staged a strong comeback, scoring some great points in the second half. The Greenville goalie pulled off 3 very good goal-line saves throughout the game, and Greenville ended up winning by 5 points.
Brian Spencer scored 2 points from the half back line, and John scored 2.
After this game we took a 30-minute break, so we could support the footballers in their game against DC, and get some water.
Second game (1:00) Greenville 6-5 to 3-5 Raleigh
Atlanta had been knocked out of the football by this stage, and 4 hurlers came over to play. So we went to 11 a side, with 1 sub each. One more player in midfield, otherwise the same layout.
Raleigh started the game at 1:05; unfortunately the referee threw the ball in at 1:00. We were down by 4 goals in the first 5 minutes! Their first goal was scrappy with our goalkeeper batting a high ball out, with a lot of ground hurling pinging the ball in and out of the goalmouth. Eventually, Greenville scored, and after this, every puck out for the next couple of minutes seemed to drop to Greenville, who then headed straight for goal. Once the first 5 minutes were over, Raleigh came back really strong, with Brian scoring a fantastic goal after a run from the full back line, and a left handed shot from the half way line straight into the top corner. After this, the Greenville goal was peppered with shots on goal. Two of these shots resulted in goals (one deflected shot from John, and a shot on goal batted out, and driven straight back into the net). Second half was slower, as the heat from both the sun, and the Astroturf, took its toll. Everyone had burning feet from playing on this surface. Both teams were still going for goals, rather than points, but both goalkeepers were in good form in the second half.
With two wins, Greenville won the Connolly Cup. We decided not to play the third hurling match, as the footballers had gotten through to the final, but needed subs after a few injuries. There was a skills competition instead, with 2 representatives from each team playing for jerseys from the North American board. Brian and Josh represented Raleigh, and we won this competition.
Colm Egan then led a hurling coaching session, which was great, and we all learned a lot.
