2020 Season Reviews Carrickmacross Emmets Co Monaghan

Category : Archive | Sub Category : Archive 2020 Posted on 2021-01-02 20:29:16

Carrickmacross 2020 season

In the beginning of March, with the cancellation of the interprovincial competition due to covid 19 the 2020 season looked to be in real doubt. Pitches were not as available as they once were, covid 19 had shook the nation and indeed the sporting world as we know it. Locked gates, empty dressing rooms, travelling alone, hand sanitiser, checkpoints, masks had become the norm, this would be a season like no other. 

The Ard Comhairle together with the CCC took the decision on a shortened season and are to be commended in giving all the clubs a chance to play. The group pairing in the men's saw us pitted with Glynn Barntown ,Erne Eagles, Skryne and Breaffy, four very difficult games but a challenge we were grateful to have. The top 2 teams would progress to the semi-finals. The fixtures were a welcome distraction from the ever-gripping pandemic that continues to halt our everyday lives as we know them.

Training commenced with good numbers and a move to inver college for training helped relieve the pressure on our GAA club pitches to ensure we followed all guidelines. Colm Birdy took the unenviable task of covid officer and we thank him greatly for carrying out the role with attention to detail. Adrian Kelly joined our ranks in a playing coaching role his background in baseball has given us a good outlook of the way we played, he brought new ideas to the table and his stats were key for us to improve and helped us prepare better. Francis Walsh took care of coaching duties alongside Colm Birdy and Ronan Kiernan.

The first championship match after the lock down we played Glynn Barntown of Wexford, it was a cagey start with both teams fielding well scores were hard to find and the Wexford men had the better of the early innings with some smart batting. The final inning Glynn Barntown lead 9-2 but we replied well in the last to level the game at 9-9 it was a draw we probably didn’t deserve.

Our next stop was Mulahoran on a sunny Sunday morning, not many teams leave there with 5 points, the eagles had not been beat since their return in 2018. It was a fantastic game with both teams exchanging scores early on, three outs for no runs scored in the 4th give us a lead of 7-4. The breffini men rallied in the last to tie the game at 11-11 but it was to be our day, the winning run collected by Barry Lambe. It was a game we needed to win, we had a huge boost with the re-emergence of Patrick Bermingham at short stop, Declan Finnegan and Darren Martin at left and right of out- field.

We headed for skryne next an emerging team full of raw talent, we didn’t play well but to skryne’s credit their fielding was excellent and they kept us at bay for long periods in a game that only lasted 48 minutes. Final score 8-2. Declan Finnegan was man of the match with 6 outs on the day.

Our final group game with Breaffy did not go ahead, with Breaffy already eliminated the logistics were not viable in the current climate and the risk factor of unnecessary journeys. It was the correct decision for the times we live in with covid 19.

A semi-final date with The Heath of Laois next, Newtown Forbes the venue for this one. No one could have predicted the events that followed as a 3-hour frantic battle took place. In the early exchanges the Heath looked in control of this tie racing in to a 12-4 lead by the 4th innings, but we kept in touch just about, the Heath batting continued to dominate the game with huge questions been asked of the fielders, by the 6th innings the Heath lead 21-11. However, this team never gives up and players like Barry Lambe, Colm Kiernan and Francis Duffy continued to carry the fight. A huge hit from Ronan Kiernan over 3rd slipped passed James Farrell at L.O.F, Kiernan didn’t stop when he reached 3rd causing mayhem in the Heath defence as he dived for home, a bases loaded homerun turning the game on its head. Justin burns Barry Lambe and Patrick Bermingham tagged on runs and by  the final inning of normal time we led 24 -21. The Heath never give in and held their nerve to tie the game at 24-24.

Extra Time

Fresh from a frantic final inning we scored 6 more in the 8th.The Heath kept in touch scoring 3 of their own, top of the 9th 30-27. The final inning, we tagged on a further 5 runs and looked to have done enough, but a few unlikely errors give the Heath chances which they took and showed huge character to snatch a dramatic draw 35-35. A final count back on who won the most innings was ordered to determine a winner. In a season of draws you can guess the game was still level.

Neither team deserved to lose that game and the tension was palpable throughout. A replay 5 days later proved no different in terms of drama and on day when torrential rain and wind played a huge factor the Heath took control again with us slow to get going.

11-1 down you got the sense that the underdog had missed the boat. Drama again came to the fore with Justin Burns setting the wheels in motion for a 14-run scoring spree in the 3rd. The errors began to flow with both teams guilty of mistakes, but the weather was unbelievable at this stage and the catches were few and far between. At the top of the 6th the Heath led 21-16 and we battled hard with Boylan, Kiernan and Bermingham keeping us in the game, we entered the final inning 26-24 ahead and held our nerve with C.O.F Oran Kiernan landing the final blow of an enthralling contest. Final score 29-28.

With the current restrictions unfortunately, we didn’t get to play the ALL Ireland final as of yet. Glynn Barntown of Wexford will be our opponents when it is safe to do so, and for the 1st time since 2011 the Corn Aodh Rua will have a new name added to the list of great teams to have won the senior men's For us it has been a good year in terms of new and returning players with great numbers showing up night after night.

In 2021 we hope to get our underage structures back to their former glory, we have an all-Ireland final to look forward to and hope to build on 2020 with the help of all involved with the club.

On behalf of the team, we would like to take the opportunity to thank our GAA Club Carrickmacross Emmets GFC for the use of the pitches without this we would not have the opportunity to train or play. To our sponsors Birdys Newsagents Carrickmacross we remain ever grateful for your continued support both on and off the pitch. Colm himself is a vital member of our club and has supported Rounder’s for many years in the town dating back to the great Bro Gregrory,s time when he introduced the game to Carrickmacross.

And finally to the players of 2020 we thank you for the continued commitment, honesty , hard work and time you put in. lets hope 2021 can be even better .

Carrickmacross Rounder’s Management