Antrim U14 Development Squad

We have 7 lads on the Antrim U14 Development Squad, Seamus Óg Mc Curry, Liam Gillan, Scott Walsh, Edward Mc Quillan, Connell Mc Ateer, Ronan Mc Cambridge and Eoin Magee, along with U21 Manager, Ciaran Kearney who is one of the Team Mentors. These lads attended a 7 week strength & conditioning program on Friday nights during the winter at St Louis School in Ballymena as well as 3 Monday night indoor hurling sessions at the University Of Ulster Sports Centre, Jordanstown. There has been several outdoor sessions at Ballymena on Sunday mornings.

 

On 1st June 5 of the lads were part of a 25 man panel who travelled to Mullingar to compete in the Leinster Blitz in their first competitive outing of the year. With a 6.30am departure from Cloughmills the players were going to find it difficult but a strong squad of 24 players from 11 different clubs went down to Westmeath full of confidence.

 

In your first game of the season there is surely no indicator of where you are at than a game against a Kilkenny Squad. Antrim were flying out of the blocks and raced into an early lead going 2-07 to 0-00 up at Half Time. A very pacy forward line had the Cat’s shell shocked although the young Saffrons were facing a breeze in the second half an excellent defensive display saw Antrim stay on top and finish the game with a 3-09 to 1-03 victory.

 

With the team changed around to ensure a share of playing time next up was Offaly who drew with Westmeath. Antrim were slow out of the blocks and were maybe still dwelling on the previous games exploits. Antrim were defeated by 1-09 to 0-03.

 

In the third and final game against Westmeath the management ensured that all 24 players saw at least a game and a half of action. Antrim stormed ahead again aided with the breeze to lead comfortably at the break. Westmeath had suffered a narrow defeat to Kilkenny but Antrim maintained their dominance to win convincingly on a scoreline of 4-13 to 2-02. Some excellent scores were taken and some superb high fielding was also displayed by an Antrim team who have trained collectively for quite a while.

 

In the final group game Kilkenny defeated Offaly by three points. This is an exciting bunch of players and with another 10 players also on the squad games will be very important as we prepare for Tony Forrestal Division 1 for the second year running.

 

Well done to the management and panel of players and best wishes for the future.

 

Picture- Back L-R- Ronan McKenna (Coach) David Kilgore Cushendun, Tiernan Murphy Rossa, Scott Walsh Ruairi Og, Liam Gillan Ruairi Og, Conor Boyd Ballycastle, Michael McGreevy Rossa, Daire Matthews Rossa, Eoghan McCabe St Gall’s, Ryan O’Neill Rossa, Shane O’Connor Glenariffe, Dermot Carey Creggan, Corey Blair Loughgiel, Dubhaltach Magee Baker St Enda’s,  Eoin Magee Ruairi Og, Ciaran Kearney (Coach) Front- Brian McNaughton Loughgiel, Liam McCann Dunloy, Edward McQuillan Ruairi Og, Jack Morris Rossa, Marcus Donnelly St Gall’s, Phelim Lennon St Brigids, Seamus Og McCurry Ruairi Og, Paul McMullan Glenariffe, Manus Smith Rossa, Ruairi Crummey St Enda’s- Missing from Picture-Coach Paul McLaughlin