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Ruairí Óg boys show true grit, to bring home the Liam Magee Memorial Cup
The 2014 Ruairi Og U10’s with the addition of Colm McKeegan, Matthew McCann and Shane McKenna from the U12’s formed up to play in this years P6&7 blitz in Dunloy. A panel of 19 young men travelled to Pearse Park to battle it out for the Liam Magee Memorial Cup and the Cuchullains Cup.
Our younger boys many of which are only 7 and 8 played for the Cuchullain Cup, by all accounts the team showed off their fine skills and athleticism. It was encouraging to see this group of young player’s fine exhibition of jab lifting and striking, blocking and hooking against boys one, two and three years older. The determination to run, chase back and never give up is testament to the character of this group of players, most pleasing from a coaching point of view were the smiles on the boys faces.
Our older players competed for the Liam Magee Memorial Cup. Having come so close to winning this trophy last year and with the disappointment of not winning the U10 Championship last weekend still fresh and very raw, the boys got off to the worst possible start with a 0-3 to 2-0 loss against the Oisins.
Dunloy suffered the backlash of this defeat with a resounding win to the Ruairi Og 3-7 to 0-0.
Smiles and self-belief back the unknown qualities of Slaughtneil were next up, a reshuffled starting line-up and the simple instruction "compete for every ball” and the boys were set. A physical match the boys from Co. Derry were a brave bit bigger than our lads with their keeper puck outs reaching our very own young Killian McNaughton in nets. Slaughtneil took an early two point lead, out muscling our boys in midfield. Colm McKegan without doubt Ruairi Og’s player of the day with some fine scores from long range ran the midfield turning the game in favour of the Dall, with the final whistle it had been a tough fought match resulting in a 2 point victory to Cushendall 3-3 to 2-4.
Next came Loughgiel with the side line shoulder to shoulder with the Shamrocks supporters our boys still full of pump from the Slaughtneil encounter took control of the game from the first whistle and the game was never in doubt. The final score Ruairi Og 2-4 Loughgiel 0-1.
A quick drink and change of pitch, McQuillians were next to face the mighty Dall. Both teams now in this their fifth game had started to tire. Ballycastle playing a long ball game looked threatening from their puck outs, the Ruairi Og back line of Ciaran Sharpe, Shane McKenna and Michael Quinn held strong quickly stifling any attempts on goal. Another win, 3-2 to 1-3 in favour of our Cushendall boys.
With three teams finishing with one loss, point’s difference was required to decide who would play for the Liam Magee Memorial Cup. The accumulation of scores from our forward line of Joseph McLaughlin, Padraig McKillop and Daniel McAllister ensured our final spot, with Slaughtneil our opponents.
Ruairi Og were on the back foot from the first whistle going 2 points behind inside the first two minutes and for a moment it looked like it might be a repeat of last season’s final loss. This teams grit and determined typified by Colm McKeegan in fine scoring form, weren’t about to lie down. A couple of well worked team scores had Cushendall back in the game. Slaughtneil continued to pressure our defence with their direct style of play only to find Frankie McCormack playing like a bull in no mood to return down GlenBallyeamon without silverware. The second half started with the introduction of Oisin Woodhouse to corner forward and the boys scoring continued with both Daniel McAllister and Padraig McKillop finding the back of the net and sealing the victory for the Dall 3-4 to Slaughtneil 1-4.
Josh Schnell as U10 captain worked hard for the team all day and was rewarded with the lifting of the Liam Magee Memorial Cup.
Well done boys!
Thanks to Andrew Schnell for the Report and to Adrian Mc Naughton for the photo.