2007 / 2008 Review

Hurling Club

In a year that promised so much for the IT Tralee hurling club, it ended in disappointment as we failed to win any silverware.

The Senior League started well with Tralee beating Mary I and CCFE before going down to Tipperary Institute in the last league game. However as a result of our two earlier victories we had qualified for the quarter final where we eventually lost to Sligo IT.

As in the league the Ryan Cup championship also started well for us as we qualified for the quarter-final by topping our group as a result of two victories over Trinity College Dublin and eventual winners NUI Maynooth. This set us up for a home quarter final tie against Tipperary Institute and once again they managed to defeat us. Final score was IT Tralee 0-11 Tipp Inst. 1-10. As Ryan Cup holders, Tralee were hoping to progress further in the competition and were very disappointed to exit it at this stage. The match report is as follows:

Ryan Cup holders IT Tralee exited the competition at the quarter-final stage when they came up against a spirited Tipperary Institute team at the ITT GAA pitch on Wednesday 20th February. In what were perfect conditions for hurling, Tralee went into the game confident but were unable to match the tenacity shown by Tipperary.

Tralee started the game brightly with James Riordan pointing with a fine solo effort. Tralee and Tipp then went point for point with Paddy Raftice (2, 1f) and Eoin Ryan (2,1f) getting Tralee scores. However, Tipp Inst. struck for what was to prove the decisive score when they goaled 10 minutes before half time, as a result of a mistake in the Tralee defence. Tipp Inst. were driven on by this score and went on to add 2 further points before the half.

Half time score Tralee 0-5 Tipp 1-07

Tralee made some changes at the break introducing Kerry Senior Darren Dineen and Clare minor Thomas Downes. Tralee tried hard to fight back, however Tipp Inst. always remained marginally ahead. In the 12th minute of the half, Tralee were unlucky not to have a goal but unfortunately Paddy Raftice’s effort hit the crossbar. For the remainder of the half Tralee and Tipp Inst went point for point all the way with Ryan (3,2f), Raftice (1), Darren Dineen (1), James O Brien (1)getting the Tralee scores. Although Tralee finished the stronger, they found the Tipp defence too solid to break down on the day and the goal that Tralee so badly needed never materialised.

IT Tralee scorers were: Eoin Ryan 0-5 (3f), P Raftice 0-3 (1f), Darren Dineen 0-1, James O Brien 0-1, J Riordan 0-1

IT TRALEE PANEL

1. Stephen Heffernan (Limerick) 2. Stephen Guillfoyle (Clare) 3. Stephen Kelly (Clare) 4. Colm Griffin (Kerry) 5. Eoin O Brien (Limerick) 6. Nicky Quaid (Limerick) 7. Liam Hurley (Limerick) 8. James O Brien (Limerick) 9. Darren Wallace (Kerry) 10. Matthew Lynch (Kerry) 11. Denis Crowley (Cork) 12. James Riordan (Limerick) 13.Dara O Brien (Tipperary) 14. Eoin Ryan (Limerick) 15.Paddy Raftice (Kilkenny)

16. Mark Ryall (Kerry) 17. Thomas Downes (Clare) 18. Dave O Dea (Limerick) 19. Alan Ryan (Tipperary) 20. Tim Hanifin (Kerry) 21. Darren Dineen (Kerry) 22. Kevin Butler (Laois) 23. Bill Lawlor (Offaly) 24. Shane O Brien (Tipperary) 25. Patrick Hogan (Limerick) 26. John O Brien (Clare) 27. Padraig Harty (Kerry) 28. Jason Murphy (Clare) 29. John Murphy (Kilkenny) 30. Diarmuid Brennan (Tipperary)

Manager:
John Joe Canty (Causeway)

Selectors:
Eamon Fitzgerald (Causeway)
Garry Murphy (Patrickswell)

Tralee played in the Fresher B League winning only one game along the way. However, Tralee qualified for the final of the Fresher 2 Championship where they eventually lost to DCU. Tralee had beaten Sligo IT in the quarter-final and received a walkover from NUI Maynooth in the semi-final.

Fresher Hurling Management team:

Liam Hurley, Garry Murphy and Eoin Ryan.

The IT Tralee Hurling club would like to thank Horans Nightclub and the Blasket Bar who kindly sponsored the club during the year. The club also raised money as a result of a fundraising night.

Football Club

In Senior football, IT Tralee had a very poor start to the League campaign losing to UL and CIT before drawing with UCC and being awarded the game from WIT.

In the Sigerson Cup, Tralee were drawn against NUI Maynooth at home. Tralee had not won a Sigerson game for a number of years so when we finally prevailed against Maynooth, we were delighted. The final score on the day was IT Tralee 0-16, Maynooth 1-10. In the quarter-final Tralee faced a strong DIT side, and although confidence was up, DIT proved too strong on the day. Final score was 14 points to 4 to DIT.

In the Fresher 2 League, Tralee proved to be too strong for all teams and went on to win this competition accounting for DCU in the final. Tralee also entered the Div. 1 Championship where we eventually lost to DIT in the semi-final having defeated UL and WIT to reach that stage. Here is a report of the Fresher Football League Final:

IT Tralee retain Fresher Football title

IT Tralee 2-12 DCU 1-05

IT Tralee fresher football team travelled to Cashel on Wednesday last where they faced DCU for the Fresher Football Division 2 league title. Tralee, who had to line out without the services of Jamie Doolan due to his Kerry u-21 commitments, played against the wind in the first half but settled the fastest leading by 5 points to no score after 15 minutes. Scorers for Tralee were Paul O Donoghue, James Riordan, DJ O Connor (2) and Eoin Kennedy. DCU then hit a good spell and scored 3 unanswered points of their own. However Tralee upped their performance again and with O Donoghue and Kennedy kicking 2 more points the teams retired at the break on a scoreline of 7 points to 3 in favour of Tralee.

DCU started the second half well but failed to turn their posession in to scores. Tralee soon settled and had 3 further points on the board courtesy of O Connor (2) and Darren Wallace. An Eoin Kennedy goal gave Tralee a comfortable lead and with 5 minutes to go, Tralee lead 1-10 to 0-05. A Kevin Harnett goal put the result beyond doubt, before Stephen Slattery and O Connor rounded off the Tralee scoring. Overall this was a great team performance from Tralee to give them their second league title in successive years.

Team and scorers:
1. Thomas O Sullivan 2. Joe Scully 3. Darragh Carroll 4. Thomas Downes 5. Stephen Browne 6. Ian Howard (Captain) 7. Tony MacMahon 8. Kevin Harnett (1-00) 9. Paul O Donoghue (0-02) 10. Darren Wallace (0-01) 11. James Riordan (0-01) 12. Stephen Keeney 13. Eoin Kennedy (1-02) 14. DJ O Connor (0-05) 15. Stphen Slattery (0-01)

Subs: Niall O Flaharta, Dara O Brien, Adrian Locke, Damien Clifford, Kevin Healy, Gary Savage, Mark O Sullivan, Michael O Carroll, Michael O Connor, Jamie Doolan, Joe Whyte, Darren Kenny, Michael Cussen, Stephen Guillfoyle

Manager: James Prendergast

Selectors: Fr. Kevin O Sullivan, Mark Bourke, Jim Morris

The Intermediate team only got to play two games this year. Tralee questioned the league that they were placed in and by the time an answer had been given as to what league Tralee would be competing in, the competition had reached its knock out stages.

Again as always, Lee Strand sponsored the Senior team for the year and for this they must be thanked. IT Tralee Senior football would also like to thank the Wine Buff for its sponsorship towards the Senior team during the year. Finally, many thanks to McNamara Construction who once again sponsored the Fresher team.

Camogie Club

After a disappointing league campaign, Tralee played in the Purcell Cup competition where they overcame Dundalk IT in the first round. In their next outing Tralee came up against eventual Purcell Cup winners Queens University Belfast and were defeated which meant that Tralee would now be competing in the shield competition. In the semi-final of the Purcell Shield Tralee overcame DCU but unfortunately went down to NUI Maynooth in the final.

However, Tralee were delighted to receive two Purcell All Stars with Grace McNamara and Elaine Hough being rewarded for their displays over the Pucell weekend

The Camogie club would like to thank The Deacon Bar for their sponsorship during the year. The club also held their own fundraising event.

Ladies Football Club

The Ladies Football club in IT Tralee had a mixed year. In their first league game they were defeated by WIT. However successive victories over UCC and Mary I meant that Tralee qualified for the semi-final where they overcame a strong NUI Maynooth side. Tralee met St. Pats Drumcondra in the final where unfortunately for Tralee, St. Pats were to prove too good.

Tralee competed in the Lynch Cup championship once again this year. In order to reach the semi-final stage in Galway, Tralee had to overcome GMIT, St. Marys Belfast and Mary I. In the semi-final Tralee came up against Liverpool Hope and were very disappointed to be defeated.

In the Fresher Blitz Tralee lost in the final of the Plate Competition to St. Pats Drumcondra.

The club would like to thank J&M Carpentry who sponsored the team for the year while the club also held numerous fundraising events.

Handball Club

Daniel Riordan was the only member of the IT Tralee Handball Club to participate in competitive action this year. Daniel captained the Munster team in the 60 x 30 “A” All Ireland Intervarsities where they were defeated at the semi-final stage.

In individual competition, Daniel reached the semi-final stages of both the 40 x 20 “B” All Ireland Intervarsities and the 60 x 30 “B” All Ireland Intervarsities.

The following are the names of recipients involved in the GAA that received IT Tralee Scholarships for the Academic Year 2007/2008:

Denis Crowley (Cork)- Football/Hurling
James O Brien (Limerick) - Hurling
Eoin Ryan (Limerick)- Hurling/Football
Paddy Raffice (Kilkenny)- Hurling
Paddy Curran (Kerry) - Football
Gary O Driscoll (Kerry) - Football
Jenny Luddy (Cork) - Ladies Football
James Riordan (Limerick) - Hurling/Football
Eoin Kennedy (Kerry) - Football

The following are the names of the recipients that received Munster Bursary for the Academic Year 2007/2008:

Ciara O Sullivan (Cork) - Ladies Football
Jerry Coffey (Kerry) - Football
Jamie Doolin (Kerry) - Football
Sarah Sexton (Cork) - Camogie
Dara O Brien (Tipperary) - Football/Hurling
Rhona Buckley (Cork) - Ladies Football
Danielle Sheedy (Clare) - Camogie

Kennedy Coaches Sports Scholarship Recipient 2007/2008

Nicky Quaid (Limerick)- Hurling