U14 hurlers Update

Our U14 hurlers have been very busy over the last seven days.

 

On Saturday 4th May they won the North Antrim Feilé A in Ballycastle. With gale force winds, scores were difficult to come by. Ruairí Óg won the toss and choose to play with the strong breeze and leading 0.04 to 0.01 at half time it looked a tough assignment to win the game. Ballycastle tied the game at 0.04 each with 10 minutes to go and it didnt look good for the young Ruairís who couldnt get the ball over the half way line due to the wind.

 

But cometh the hour cometh a superb team performance and in those last 10 minutes our lads played with great heart, determination, teamwork, discipline and a never give in attitude. Ballycastle conceded a free and it was converted to leave the young men from the 'Dall winners on a scoreline of 0.05 to 0.04.

 

 

Then it was on to Bank Holiday Monday and the lads, along with U15s Cathal Mc Donnell, Ciaran Neeson and Fergus Mc Cambridge, travelled to defend our U15 Cian Durkin Memorial Cup at Ballyboden St Endas, Dublin.

 

Cian was a 15 year old lad from Ballyboden St Endas who had cancer. His family were in the process of raising funds so as he could get to America for treatment for his cancer but he tragically died before this could happen. In his memory an U15 Tournament is played for every May Day Bank Holiday and we had won it in 2011 and 2012. We were realistic about any talk of 3-in-a-row and it was more for experience for our players playing against Southern opposition, and of course to develop our relationship with our host club Ballyboden St Endas and remember the young life of Cian Durkin.

 

As we mainly had an U14 team in the U15 event we were playing much bigger, stronger boys from the South. Up first was St Martins, Co Wexford (who got to the A Final) and although we led 3 points to 1 early on, St Martins powered their way to a 3.12 to 0.07 win.

 

Next up were Kilconieron, Co Galway who had a player who was a cousin of Bernard Burke from St Thomas's and he was in the same mould, a tank of a player. This was the very reason why we took our lads down to this tournament, to play, and learn, against Southern players and boy did we learn quickly. We stopped admiring our opponents and got stuck into trying to win the game. It finished 0.15 to 1.11 to our Galway counterparts but they knew that they were in a game.

 

Our final game was against Mallow, Co Cork and after leading for all of the game our smaller lads tired and Mallow scored two goals in 'fergie time' to win 3.11 to 2.09.

 

Despite losing all three games this was a trip well worth it. We again made sure that the clubs honour was upheld on and off the park. Our lads were a year younger than most of our opponents but in the last two games we were so close to beating two U15 teams. Our players learnt a lot and gained vital experience in playing 'down south'.

 

 

 

Then it was on to the All County Feilé Final at Casement Park against red hot favourites O' Donovan Rossa, Belfast. As in the U15 tournament we were a smaller team than Rossa but the experience gained playing against bigger players stood to us and despite playing against a very strong wind in the first half we held Rossa to a 1.06 to 0.04 lead. Lady luck wasnt to be on our side in the second half we had a goal chance hit the bar and another hit the post and with Rossa playing well and adding on points to stretch their lead. The final scoreline was 1.11 to 0.07 to Rossa who now go forward to the Finals in Limerick.

 

Our entire u14 panel can hold their heads high as they have represented Ruairí Óg CLG with great heart, fight, determination and skill. So far they have won the North Antrim 8-a-side indoor Division 1 and 3, NA Feilé 'A' and were narrowly beaten in the All County Final to a fine Rossa team. Added to that Eoin Magee won the North Antrim and All County Feilé Skills. We still have the NA Shield and the All County League to play for so we have lots to look forward to for the rest of the season.

 

Thanks go to these young lads who have a first class attitude and have been training twice a week since January, they have played in Dunloy, Loughgiel, Ballycastle, Draperstown, Cookstown, Dublin and Belfast - well done, keep it going and keep enjoying your hurling lads as you can have a great future ahead of you.