Brian Cooney introduces the Shanaway Road team, a team with huge aspirations of retaining their title starting with banishing work colleague Kevin Brennan and the Kilrush Road to the shield…Similar to Kerins O’Rahilly’s they are flying some star players from all corners of the globe in their bid to hit the top spot 😉it remains to be seen how this all works out :D

Quite the family affair in Shanaway with 7 sets of siblings on board

O’Regans - Cormac & Mikey
Walshe’s - Tadhg & Dara
O’Donoghues - Niall & Cillian
Cooneys- Brian & Ronan
Cooneys- Laura & Gavin
Brennan’s- Rory & Conor
Redmonds - Sarah & Maria

We are immensely proud of our history in the club, and there are legendary families like The Blake’s, The Dilger’s, The Nevin’s, The Brennan’s, The Loftus’s, The Russell’s or The Pyne’s that have weaved that history down the years, however an interesting observation of Shanaway is that of our 20 strong panel in Shanaway, 17 are “blow ins” to the parish. Luca Cleary’s dad Kevin, and the O’Regans dad Ollie played for Éire Og in the past but the rest of us are products of family’s that moved to Ennis from somewhere else. In rural clubs you’ll often hear about someone’s son or grandson, however things work a little differently in an urban club. We must always be as welcoming as we can to new families and encourage them to be part of the clubs history.

Shanaway have 3 brilliant club men in Dara Walsh, Conor Brennan and Cillian O’Donoghue coming home from The States and Australia respectively. They’re all absolutely keen as mustard to play and to meet up with friends and teammates. I think it says a lot about the role the club and our community play in peoples lives, even if we find ourselves living away from Ennis.

Captain -

1. Name – Brian Cooney

2. Eire Og Team you play on – Eire Og Senior & Junior Hurling (retired)

3. Plans/hopes for the future – A club on the rise, I have unlimited hope for Eire Og. We are blessed to have incredible role models like never before. Everyone is treated with respect and we have so much talent and interest, it energises everyone. Long may it continue.

Your Team –

1. Team Name – Shanaway / The Gaza Strip

2. Your part of Town is famous (infamous) for – Woodstock Hotel & Golf, Jim Heffernan Hurleys, Clearys Barbers.

3. How many are committed to playing – 20 brave and willing soldiers.

4. Who are your Star Players – El Capitano – Gavin Cooney, Sarah & Maria, Darawelch

5. Who is your Rising/Young Stars – Conor Hennessy, Luca Cleary, Matt Shannon (one to watch)

6. Who are your “Veteran” players– Paul Nihill – still going since 1990 Junior A final, Ronan Cooney, Mikey O’Regan.

7. Who are the Ladies on your Team – Sarah & Maria Redmond, Laura Cooney

8. Any injury worries/absentees – Paddy O’Malley (dual star).

9. What’s your Strategy/Plan for the tournament – Take intensity levels to the RedZone and see who can live with us.

10. How far has your team gone in the past tournaments – Reigning champs. Going for our 3rd final in a row. Consideration will be given to starting a team on Shanaway if we go all the way on Stephens Day.

11. A good day on St Stephen’s Day is one where – Get out of bed dry, warm & happy. Go to bed dry, warm & happy.