Report by Martin Delahunty
The U14 panel for 2015 started their year with an unbeaten run in the Football league, qualifying for the League Final which is due to be played in early 2016. They continued their tremendous form throughout the championship and earned a place against Glenmore in the County Final. Unfortunately, they fell a bit short on the big day and were beaten by a well drilled Glenmore outfit.
It was onto the small ball from here on where the boys competed in the County Feile, Roinn A League and Championship. They put up some gallant performances against the top sides in the county, deservedly beating Thomastown and sharing the spoils with a tough Lisdowney side. There was bad shoulder injuries received by Kevin Ging and Finn Lanigan during the season but thankfully both players recovered sufficiently to come back before the season ended.
The Club hosted its annual Declan Byrne Tournament in early June which was a huge success and was well received by all 7 Clubs invited for the one day blitz. The local boys were to make up for the previous years final loss to collect the silverware, beating the great Southern club Ballyhale Shamrocks in the Final .
There was more success for the club when 11 of the boys travelled to compete in the prestigious U13 Lisdowney 7s Tournament. This is where the local boys made a bit of club history being the first team to win the Shield in its 33rd year of running, beating city outfit O’Loughlin Gaels in the final .
Overall it was a hugely successful year for this brilliant bunch of young men who along with enjoying the highs of winning, they accepted defeat with valour, realising that there’s always room for improvement and were always willing to listen and learn. Onwards and Upwards, bring on 2016.
Panel: Dan Cahill, Kevin Ging, Simon O’Dwyer, JJ Ryan, Jason O’Brien, Brendan Dunne, Alex McCluskey, Eoin Delahunty, Craig Lawlor, Scott Lawlor, Daniel Lawlor, Stephen Keoghan, Paddy Brennan, Oisín Egan, Eamon Corcoran, Mark Brennan, Liam Cleere, Tommy Docherty, Stephen Robinson, Andrew McGrath, John Muldowney, Jack Walton, Finn Lanigan.
Happy Christmas to all from Thomas, Paul, Tomás and Martin!
