The U14 Hurlers had a very busy 6 weeks recently, with ‘B’ Championship having begun in early September. A 2 point defeat in a thriller v Glenealy, followed by an 11 point defeat to an ever improving Arklow Rocks (eventual B Championship winners), meant that we were now likely to be competing for B Shield honours. At this point, the team really stood up to the challenge and comprehensive wins over Bray Emmets and Avondale meant that we played Avondale on Saturday last in the B Shield Final. As it turned out, the narrow defeat to Glenealy was the difference between playing in B Championship final and B Shield final – on the smallest margins are such outcomes determined.
The final was played in Pearse Park in Arklow. The team put in an excellent performance from first whistle to last. An injury to Avondale’s star midfielder was to be a major disadvantage to them, and from mid-way in the 1st half, the outcome was rarely in doubt. However, our players must be commended on some excellent passages of play and some fantastic point scoring from a range of distances and angles. All players from No. 6 to 15 got on the scoresheet, and our goalkeeper and backline performed ‘thar barr’ throughout.
Man of the match and captain, Shaun Cranley, picked up the Shield trophy from Coiste na nOg Chairman, Martin Fitzgerald. Shaun gave an excellent ‘óráid’ in which he thanked his coaches for their time and efforts throughout the year, a gallant Avondale for a competitive sporting game and referee, Ciarán Manley, who, as always, gave an excellent display of ‘réiteóireacht’.
The squad had 2 players from Kilcoole, plus the coaching expertise of Ferrybank (Waterford) man, Gary Coady (Kilcoole) – thanks a million to Gary for his time and efforts all year. He was hugely popular with the players and we look forward to working with him, and Kilcoole, again in the future, should the need arise.
Overall, we played 13 games in the year, with 5 wins, 1 draw and 6 defeats and we can be satisfied with the huge improvements seen in each individual player, and as a team, from when we set out in March to when we finished up in October.
Panel : Denis Burke, Steven Salmon, Neil Browne, Eoin Byrne (Kilcoole), Shane Ryan, Glenn Ryder, Shaun Cranley, Cillian Keane, Drew Campbell, Thade Shanahan, Luke Dorgan, Daniel Healy, Liam Byrne, Fionn Mansfield (Kilcoole), plus Joe Prendergast & Sean McCormack who stepped up from the U12s and proved themselves more than capable of competing against their elders at this level. Thanks also to Oisin Shanahan, Colm Shortt, Patrick & Frankie Byrne, Ciaran Ovenden and Matthew Rice who stepped up from U12 at various stages during the Summer to help us get a team and fulfil all of our fixtures, as scheduled.
The U14 Hurlers had a very busy 6 weeks recently, with ‘B’ Championship having begun in early September. A 2 point defeat in a thriller v Glenealy, followed by an 11 point defeat to an ever improving Arklow Rocks (eventual B Championship winners), meant that we were now likely to be competing for B Shield honours. At this point, the team really stood up to the challenge and comprehensive wins over Bray Emmets and Avondale meant that we played Avondale on Saturday last in the B Shield Final. As it turned out, the narrow defeat to Glenealy was the difference between playing in B Championship final and B Shield final – on the smallest margins are such outcomes determined.
The final was played in Pearse Park in Arklow. The team put in an excellent performance from first whistle to last. An injury to Avondale’s star midfielder was to be a major disadvantage to them, and from mid-way in the 1st half, the outcome was rarely in doubt. However, our players must be commended on some excellent passages of play and some fantastic point scoring from a range of distances and angles. All players from No. 6 to 15 got on the scoresheet, and our goalkeeper and backline performed ‘thar barr’ throughout.
Man of the match and captain, Shaun Cranley, picked up the Shield trophy from Coiste na nOg Chairman, Martin Fitzgerald. Shaun gave an excellent ‘óráid’ in which he thanked his coaches for their time and efforts throughout the year, a gallant Avondale for a competitive sporting game and referee, Ciarán Manley, who, as always, gave an excellent display of ‘réiteóireacht’.
The squad had 2 players from Kilcoole, plus the coaching expertise of Ferrybank (Waterford) man, Gary Coady (Kilcoole) – thanks a million to Gary for his time and efforts all year. He was hugely popular with the players and we look forward to working with him, and Kilcoole, again in the future, should the need arise.
Overall, we played 13 games in the year, with 5 wins, 1 draw and 6 defeats and we can be satisfied with the huge improvements seen in each individual player, and as a team, from when we set out in March to when we finished up in October.
Panel : Denis Burke, Steven Salmon, Neil Browne, Eoin Byrne (Kilcoole), Shane Ryan, Glenn Ryder, Shaun Cranley, Cillian Keane, Drew Campbell, Thade Shanahan, Luke Dorgan, Daniel Healy, Liam Byrne, Fionn Mansfield (Kilcoole), plus Joe Prendergast & Sean McCormack who stepped up from the U12s and proved themselves more than capable of competing against their elders at this level. Thanks also to Oisin Shanahan, Colm Shortt, Patrick & Frankie Byrne, Ciaran Ovenden and Matthew Rice who stepped up from U12 at various stages during the Summer to help us get a team and fulfil all of our fixtures, as scheduled.
