Report by Martin Delahunty
The annual U14 Declan Byrne Memorial Tournament was held in Tom Ryall Park on Saturday last, 6th June. There was huge work put in by all in organising teams, officials and preparing the grounds for the big day. In all, 8 clubs participated in the tournament with the first games getting under way at 10am sharp in glorious sunshine. As each team finished their first match all players, officials and parents were served refreshments by the tireless team in the kitchen who worked hard from early morning to make sure nobody went thirsty or hungry.
All teams involved were to play a minimum of 2 games with the unbeaten teams to play out a Cup and Shield Final. The local boys started out against a really impressive Piltown team and after 50 minutes of hurling they could not be separated on a scoreline of 1-10 to 3-4. So both teams settled down to shooting 65s in order to decide who went forward in the Cup competition where it took a monster strike by Dan Cahill against the breeze to win out and the boys were into the semis. Next up were Barrow Rangers who were after getting the better of city outfit Dicksboro by 1 pt in the first round. This game started slowly for the boys with the Paulstown club taking an early 6 pt lead but there was no panic and eventually the half back line were to steady the ship and supply plenty of fast ball into the forwards who took their scores nicely and the boys were to win on a scoreline of 3-8 to 2-1.
Both finals were run off at 2.30pm, with a city derby between Dicksboro and O’Loughlin Gaels on pitch 2 in the Shield and Ballyhale Shamrocks up against the local boys on the main pitch for the Cup. All players were beginning to feel the effects of a long day’s hurling and scores were hard fought. Dicksboro eventually got the better of their neighbours to collect the shield. The Cup match started at a blistering pace and the Shamrocks took an early lead from some nice play in midfield. Graigue were forced into some positional changes with captain Eamonn Corcoran forced to play on the edge of the square with a niggling leg injury. Luckily this turned out to be a blessing as Oisín Egan and the rest of his hardworking team mates were able to supply him with enough ball and he was still mobile enough to score 1-2 from play and set the boys on the way to victory, eventually winning out on a scoreline of 3-4 to 1-2. A magnificent effort from this very young talented squad and truly deserved of a bit of silverware on their home turf in front of cheering parents and club officials. The presentation was made by the parents of Declan Byrne ablely assisted by clubmen Ben Hayes and Dave O’Neill ,and the Trophy was raised aloft to great cheers by captain for the day Eamonn Corcoran.
Special mention has to go to team mentors Thomas Ryan and Tomás Mc Cluskey who had the boys primed for the day and to the Ronan family for having the grounds in prime order as usual. So to everybody who turned out to help in the kitchen, park cars, umpire matches, treat the wounded and cheer the boys, thanks and well done.
Thanks to clubs Piltown, Barrow Rangers, Ballyhale Shamrocks, Clara, O’Loughlins, Dicksboro and Ballingarry for making a huge effort to turn out and participating in a very enjoyable day for all.
PANEL– Jason O’Brien, Kevin Ging, Simon O’Dwyer, JJ Ryan, Alex McCluskey, Eoin Delahunty, Stephen Keoghan, Oisín Egan, Eamonn Corcoran(C), Daniel Lawlor, Scott Lawlor, John Muldowney, Finn Lanigan, Dan Cahill, Jack Walton, Paddy Brennan, Mark Brennan, Liam Cleere, Craig Lawlor, Stephen Robinson, Andrew McGrath & Brendan Dunne.