The last parish league was held in 2014 and was very popular and successful at the time.

By popular demand the Parish League will again be held in 2022. Rumours are swirling of a February start date. It is believed that negotiations are ongoing in relation to the TV rights. Also believed to be ongoing are secret training sessions. The increased numbers attending the Togging out group on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturday mornings to be directly related to the onset of the parish league.

Below is the report from the 2014 final where St. Finachtas defeated the Mountain.

Finnachta All Stars defeat Mountain Warhawks

St. Finnachtas 2-15

Mountain 2-12

Date: Sunday 9th February 2014

Venue: Seanchoill, Parteen

A fantastic finale to the 2014 Parish League Final was played out at Seanchoill in Parteen last Sunday night. A good crowd, vocal at times, turned out to support their Townlands finest. Kevin Walsh was handed the refereeing job for this important final decider. An unusual sight on the field was the jerseys being worn by both teams. The Mountain lined out in Mills jerseys loaned by the Mills Cratloe born chairman Joe O’ Gorman who wondered when handing them over ‘...will they mind wearing Mills jerseys?..’ before stating ‘..sure arent half them Mountain lads living in the Mills anyway!. Finnachtas lined out in Meelick jerseys, which would have made manager Kevin Phelans mother proud, Mary being a very proud Cooney from Fairs road in Meelick and with ties to all the Cooneys and O’ Gradys in Meelick. Indeed the Liddanes who lined out with the Mountain and Finnachtas also have Meelick ties with relations the Whites and especially Johnny Tucker White who would have been proud to see his nephew Anthony in the black and red!

A number of Junior B’s had lined out earlier in the day when the ‘Bridge played Holycross/Ballycahill in the Munster Junior B championship in Rathkeale. Unfortunately the Tipperary side took the honours in that game but focus soon turned to the Parish League Final.

Both teams fielded panels in excess of 20 and for the final, a sideline referee was utilised to monitor managers and ensure league rules were observed. This was not an easy job given that the Mountain management was a formidable force in numbers alone! Eight mentors were counted on the sideline on the night for the Mountain as opposed to the more usual five for Finnachtas!

It was Finnachtas who opened the scoring through a Niall Gilligan free, Gilligan no doubt delighted to be off the mark on the scoring stakes and aiming for his first golden sliotar and showing no side effects after the birth of his son earlier in the week. The mountain responded well however and they hit four points without reply, the first coming from Tommy Morey and a brace from Alan Mulready with a David O’ Connor free in between. This left the score at 0-04 to 0-01 after the first quarter. A Tommy Liddy burst towards goal had a goal look about it but unfortunately he lost his footing at the last minute and the resulting shot tailed wide of the posts.

The game was being played at a very fast pace and subs were flying in and out of both teams with the sideline referees enforcing the rules well. It has to be said that the preparations from both camps was top class and the roars from each dressing room before the game showed that Townland rivalry is alive and well! It is rumoured that an impassioned speech from Finnachtas Assistant manager Ronan Keane was what inspired them on the night. The game although fierce competitive was played in a good spirit.

Niall Gilligan hit back with a point from play and a free. Paidi Fitzpatrick then landed a huge long range free over the bar. Paidi was having a fantastic game and Mountain player manager Kevin Phelan was heard directing goalkeeper Evan McInerney to keep the ball away from Paudi! David O’ Connor delivered a nice point from play for the Mountain to put them 0-06 to 0-03 up with the game being played at a frantic pace. Gavin Whyte got on the ball and made a great run on goal using his pace and pointed despite the best efforts of the mountain backs to eliminate him the goal threat! It would be the Mountain however that would finish the half the strongest with a nice long range point from Barry O’ Connor, another point from play from Sean lynch and a David O’ Connor free to leave the half time score at 0-09 to 0-04 in favour of the Mountain side.

The Mountain were clearly dominating up to half time. Following the restart Pa Sheehan pointed for Finnachtas but the Mountain struck for a goal soon after, Rory Liddane getting the final touch after a long delivery, the crowd responding with a roar. However it was in the next period where the game was won. The Finnachtas all stars upped things a gear and scored 2-03 without reply. The first two points were Gilligan frees and these were followed by a fine goal from Brian Corry goal before Gilly scored again from a placed ball, this time from a ‘65. The former All Stars finishing was clinical on the night. The second goal came from Gavin Whyte, the Clare minor panellist playing very well on the night. This left the score at 2-08 to 1-10 a one point lead for Finnachtas. Their supporters were getting behind the team now and every ball was being contested as fiercely on the sideline as on the pitch.

The Mountain were throwing everything into this tie now to try and gain back some ground, switches between Alan Mulready and David O’ Connor failed to yield any scores from play. Much of this must be attributed to the Finnachtas backs who were tenacious as ever and one play illustrated this perfectly when the Mountain had a shot on goal which was blocked and the rebound was picked fired at goal again by the Mountain and saved and a further shot hit the crossbar and finally through sheer will, harrying and harrassing the ball was cleared. A number of players from both sides were left in the ground, from sheer exhaustion at their efforts and from the Mountain perspective, disbelief that the ball did not cross the goaline! Although later in the night there were rumours that the ball may have passed the line. There will be no appeals but it will be interesting to see the DVD to give some closure on the matter!

The Mountain finished with two pointed frees, one from David O’ Connor and one from Alan Mulready before the final Mountain score, a goal from a close in free by Alan Mulready. Finnachtas finished their scoring with three pointed frees and a fine effort from play by Gilly as well as points from play by Tipperary man Seamus Carr, Pa Sheehan and Stiofan Fitzpatrick. Mulreadys goal brought the tie to within two points, but it was Finnachtas who finished strongest to win the final on a scoreline of 2-15 to 2-12.

For the Mountain good displays were seen from tough defender Ronan Cahill, goalkeeper Richard Drake who had a fine campaign, Aidan Quilligan, Barry O’ Connor, Alan Mulready, David O’ Connor and outstanding Mountain man Paidi Fitzpatrick who was immense on the night.

For Finnachtas Sam Sullivan, player manager Kevin Phelan, Paul Fitzpatrick, Brian Corry and Gavin Whyte all stood out but it was not for the first time Niall Gilligan who shone brightest and led his team to victory and in the process won the 2014 ‘Golden Sliotar amassing 0-10 on the night and a scoreline of 47 points made up from 7-26 (1 pen 12f 165) overall in the tournament.

The cup was presented later in the evening at the Mill Bar to the Captain Niall Gilligan. All in all the league this year was once again great craic and this year very competitive, which just shows the passion for hurling in Sixmilebridge. If there is to be a 2015 Parish League the questions have started already. Will Gilly have transferred back to his native Kilmurry? Will Keith Walker line out again for Cappa to try and restore some pride to that side of the Parish or will they convince Fletcher and David Chaplin to come out of retirement. Will John O’ Connell step up and take the Kilmurry reins to drive them forward? Will Tadgh Keogh return to playing with Marys and how will he find the transition having been on the management side for once and finally will the Mountain be able to give one more push to try and get their hands on that elusive Parish League Cup… Only time will tell…. Oh and there has also been talk of a Boundary Commission being set up to examine the Townland boundaries and where people are residing…..!

There will be a showing of the video of the game on next Saturday night in the Mill bar for anyone who missed the Final. The video will contain a number of special highlights including post match interviews commentary by none other than John O’ Meara as well as expert analysis by Brian Culbert and Tadgh Keogh…!

Mountain Team

Richard Drake, Ronan Cahill, Aidan Quilligan, Michael Liddane, Noel Purcell, Paidi Fitzpatrick (0-02 (2f)), Kieran Liddane (c), Barry O Connor (0-01), Trevor Purcell, Cathal Lynch, Alan Mulready, Tommy Liddy, Rory Liddane (1-00), David O’ Connor (0-05 (4f)), Tommy Morey (0-01)

Subs

Steve Mulready, Jim Spaight, Sean Lynch (0-01), Niall Cahill, Ian Chaplin, John Cahill, Podge Flannery, Brian O’ Loughlin

Management

Syl O Connor (Manager), P.J.Fitzpatrick, Pa Punch, Roger Liddane, Jim Spaight Snr., D.J. Whitty, Donal Mullins, Leo Mulready

St. Finnachtas Team

Evan McInerney, Jason Murphy, Sam O Sullivan, Kevin Phelan, Billy Maxwell, Paul Fitzpatrick, Conor Murphy, Pa Sheehan (0-03), Anthony Liddane, Stiofan Fitzpatrick, Brian Corry (1-00), David O’ Meara, Seamus Carr (0-01), Niall Gilligan (c) (0-10 (6f, ‘65)), Gavin Whyte (1-01)

Subs

Niall Hogan, Albert Daly, Dean McKenna, Eoin O’ Halloran, Mossy Sheehan (inj)

Management

Kevin Phelan (Player Manager), Tom Sheehan, Ollie Kearney, Martin Corry, Sean Corbett, Ronan Keane (Assistant Manager)