Well Done Boys! Under 9's Enjoy Kilmacud Crokes on Tour

30 Under 9 players and their families set off for Kilkenny this morning at 9:30am by bus and cars from Glenalbyn; all headed for St. Kieran's college, Kilkenny City.

 

3 Teams, managed by Dara O'Mahoney, Sean Delap and Brendan Scanlon met the same set of James Stephens players that we played against last year. This year, in sun-drenched Kilkenny Crokes proved to be equal to the intensity that James Stephens bring to the game.

 

Dara's team were narrowly (and controversially) eclipsed in scoring terms but were more than equal in terms of commitment and skill with first-time hurling by Crokes proving to be a wonderful counterbalance to James Stephens physical advantage. David Crowe (otherwise now known as '4 Hearts' given the amount of running he did) and Rory O'Mahoney (who gave an exhibition of ground hurling) were 2 heros among many.

 

Sean's team were unlucky to have sustained 2 injuries to key players (Leo Fearon and Brian Hayes) early in their first game and this misfortune had reprucussions for the second game also.

 

Brendan Scanlon's team exploded onto the scene and won their 2 games with a handsome margin. Again, James Stephens had no answer to the fast and direct hurling approach. Brendan Scanlon (jnr) and Daragh Purcell were irrepressible.

 

After the game Aidan Kavanagh (James Stephens) thanked Crokes for travelling and marked it down as one of the best morning's of hurling that his team had experienced in some time. In return, Mark Lohan thanked Aidan and James Stephens for hosting the games and extended an invitation to James Stephens to the Crokes Hurling Festival in October.

 

After the distribution of 'goodies' all headed to the Hotel for lunch and onwards to Nowlan Park for the Ofally/Kilkenny match.

 

Thanks to Alan and Joan for organising the trip and to all the travelling folk and Fiona Hayes who did all the organising from an U9 perspective. Most importantly well done to the boys who put to good use what they have learned in terms of skills and intensity at training. Mark Lohan

For some photos of the U9s in Kilkenny click HERE or on the photo below!