Graigue-Ballycallan GAA Club played host last Saturday to the u-14 Leinster Feile. Teams from Dublin, Carlow and Kilkenny arrived in Tom Ryall Park to brilliant sunshine which showed off the grounds to great effect.
Erin’s Isle from Finglas, Ballinkillen from Carlow and Clara of Kilkenny joined with the local u-14 team to play a series of three games each. GBC’s first encounter was against their Carlow neighbours. Games consisted of fifteen minutes a-side. After a slow start, GBC got into their stride and their ability to score some good long-range points ensured a victory. Their next game saw them take on fellow Kilkenny u-14’s Clara. A close first half saw little between the teams at half time but Clara’s ability to score goals saw them run out winners of this game. The final challenge of the day saw GBC face up to a very strong Finglas team who had already been victorious in their previous two games. GBC served up their best performance of the day in the first half of this game and went in at half-time three points up. Erins Isle introduced back some of their older players for the second half and this coupled with the fact that GBC were playing all day without their key forward saw the Dublin team run out easy winners.
Panel: Jason O’Brien, Fionn O’Halloran (Capt.), Adam O’Brien, Luke Cullen, Eoin Delahunty, Aaron Brennan, Alex McCluskey, Eamonn Corcoran, Simon O’Dwyer, Oisín Egan, Alan Wall, Finn Lanigan, Paddy Brennan, Stephen Keoghan, Daniel Lawlor, Scott Lawlor, Killian Egan, Jack Walton, Stephen Robinson, JJ Ryan.
The competition was enjoyed by all spectators present, both locals and those with the visiting teams. Great praise must go to Mark O’Brien, u-14 Team Manager and his fellow mentors Tomás Ryan, Tomás McCluskey and Martin Delahunty for co-ordinating the event and ensuring it ran smoothly. As always the pitches and grounds were in immaculate order and thanks go to Maurice and Johnny Ronan for their hard work on the day. The kitchen was a hive of activity from early morning as a team of ladies led by Siobhan O’Brien provided refreshments to close on one hundred people. Several of the fathers of the u-14’s, assisted by a number of our older juvenile members carried out the duties of umpires and linesmen for the day. The provision of first aid for the event was in the capable hands of Mary Keoghan and David Brennan.
Despite the success of the day it did in fact carry a poignant note. It was to prove the last time for the foreseeable future that club member Fionn O’Halloran would play for GBC. Fionn and his family are taking leave of our shores for a new life in Germany. As a fitting farewell gesture to their team mate, the u-14s declared him captain for the day, a role he carried out with great distinction. The u-14 management and team members would like to take this opportunity to wish Fionn, his parents Michael and Zita and his brothers the best of luck as they start their new adventure in Germany.
Photos of participating teams below. For more photos go to: http://www.graigueballycallan.ie/2014/06/24/u14-leinster-feile-21062014-tom-ryall-park/
