Kilmacud Crokes u8 ‘Festival of Hurling’ Tournament 2012
Team Reports from fantastic U8 Festival of Hurling 28th October 2012
KC1
Panel: Gavin Bane, Cian Browne, Tom Cosgrove, Joe Cullen, Oscar Egan, David Hyland, Eoin Keys, Oisín McCann, Tomás Noone, Sean O'Hurley, Cathal Sullivan, Finn Walsh
Mentors: Cormac Browne and Sean O’Hurley
The KC1 team, like the others, was a mixture of our two U-8 panels, so many of the players hadn't played together recently. However, the lads gelled quickly as we tackled Na Fianna in our first game. KC1 were well on top for much of the game, but, in a pattern that was to follow, struggled to put scores on the board. A converted 65 by Sean O'Hurley on the stroke of half-time for KC1 being the difference between the teams. Further pressure in the second half yielded a long-range goal by Eoin Keys, and the lad survived a late surge by Na Fianna to win this opening clash.
Our second game, following the intake of copious buns, cakes and possibly the odd sandwich during the break, saw KC1 take on Craughwell. Our expectations about the strength of the opposition were soon confirmed and, despite a valiant defensive effort we ended up being well behind at half time. However, in the second half, the lads showed their real metal and battled hard, fighting for everything and showing real pride in the jersey, and only conceded 2 more scores.
Our third and last group game saw us face Kilmacow. This game was real nip-and-tuck, with very little between the sides. KC1 enjoyed lots of attacking possession, but was a little bit unlucky in front of goal. A somewhat fortuitous long-range goal conceded in the first half separating the sides. In the second half, our lads again battled hard and had more than enough good opportunities, but in the end lost out by a small margin. This was a special game for Finn, one of our U-7's, who was not remotely over-awed by playing with the U-8's, and in this game, he marked his cousin from Kilmacow.
Our final was against Carnmore. The first half saw very little between the 2 sides and ended 0-2 to 0-1 to Carnmore. Carnmore took the initiative in the second half, scoring a number of excellent long-range scores to pull clear.
Overall, the day proved a great experience for our young hurlers on KC1. They showed grit and determination and some fine skills against some very strong opposition, particularly as, for many of them, this was their first exposure to "air hurling". We took some fine scores and there were some fine hooks and blocks as well. In particular, the management were highly impressed at the never-say-die attitude they showed, particularly during the game v Craughwell, when a lesser bunch of lads might have thrown in the towel. Their parents, mentors and most of all, the boys themselves can be very proud of how they played and represented their club.
KC2
Panel: Stephen McMahon, Niall O'Mahony, Matthew Blanker, Sean Bradley, Danny Kileen, Matthew Kane, Ruaidhri MacDonncha, Dan Murphy, Eoin Kenny, Conor Vaughan, Gearoid Fitzgerald, Louis McGaure, Dylan Saunders, James Coady
Mentors:Arthur McMahon and Brian Murphy
The KC2 team were a great mix of lads who could not wait to get straight into the competition. Although they had never played together as a team before they showed great team spirit from the outset.
Our first match was about getting to know each other’s strengths as well as getting a grip on our opposition, Naas. A low scoring game was testimony to our defence throughout the field where Sean Bradley, Mathew Blanker and Dan Murphy used their shouldering and blocking skills with great effect.
The second game against Durlas Óg was a well contested game with plenty of air hurling with the Crokes losing out to a last minute goal. Niall O'Mahony, Danny Kileen, Eoin Kenny and Gearoid Fitzgerald's play between the midfield and forward line was excellent, creating great opportunities.
Carnmore were our next challenge, third match in and the boys were up for it. Ruaidhri MacDonncha, Conor Vaughan's positional play and Mathew Kane's ability to move the play forward in the counter attack brought the game to within a point against a very strong Carnmore team.
So onto an all Dublin final against Na Fianna from Glasnevin. Louis McGaure and Dylan Saunders ground hurling skills kept Na Fianna on the back foot. Danny and Niall were mighty in midfield; to a boy our lads gave it their all, showing some great skill. As expected the game was a hard fought battle ending in a draw, a fair result and a sporting end to a great day of hurling.
A special mention for Stephen McMahon and James Coady, who were unavailable on the day through illness.
The mentors have one lasting observation from the day, the skill sets will grow, confidence with it, but the one thing you cannot mentor is team spirit and the courage to keep on trying for one another and the boys in KC2 showed they have this in spades.
KC3
Panel: Keelan Murphy, Adam Fearon, Michael Sullivan, John Gilsenan, Cormac Curran, Sean Horan, Oisín Tiernan, Michael Foley, Diarmuid Deegan, Ivan Tiernan, Daire Sullivan, Ryan Nolan and Ryan Norton
Mentors: Simon Murphy and Seamus Moran
It was clear from the start that The KC3 panel meant business in this year's festival of hurling. Having played each of the clubs before the boys knew a series of tough matches lay ahead of them - but they were ready for them.
The first match was a tight affair with only a point scored. The Crokes players were outstanding with the boys battling for and wining more than their fair share of every ball. So good was the play that there was little to be said at half time or full time other than keep it up - and that is a rare occurrence as the boys will testify!
The second match was equally tough with the Crokes boys continuing to give 100%. The marking in defence and the desire to be 'first to the ball' marked the Crokes players out from the opposition.
In the third match against Cuala, the local rivals, KC3 got their just rewards for the fantastic play in the first two matches as the continued to battle hard and were rewarded with a series of fantastic goals and points.
Having broken for lunch the boys lined out for a tough final against a superb team. Each and every player gave it their all as the effort they put into training every week paid off in a series of first class blocks, clashes, hooks and scores. The day ended with the boys exhausted but satisfied. As for the mentors, parents and spectators looking on, one word summed up the day – Pride!
KC4
Panel: James Hamill, Thomas Doran, Luke O Gorman, Joshua Scallan, Paul Dalton, Conor Stephens, Tom Wyley, Conal O’Riain, Terry Jones, Hugh Reid, Tom Walsh and Shane Gallagher
Mentors: Ciarán Scallan and Michael Hamill
The boys met up for the first time with their mentors on the morning of the match and it was clear that they were excited about the tournament, but unsure of the quality of the opposition. The rules of the matches were slightly different from the usual go games – with these matches being the first 10-a-side games that many of them had ever played. Let alone the fact that the games would be all “air hurling”!
Our first match was against Naas. The team started well with some great work done by the midfield trio of James, Joshua and Hugh. The Naas team though started to get an early foothold in the match and, in the end, they won by a small margin. The KC4 team were disappointed but the match was a close one and they knew that they had performed well. The question of “will we grab some lunch before the next match” obtained the most enthusiastic response of the day. The boys eat a ferocious amount of sambos, soup and buns.
The second match was against Durlas Óg from Thurles. Once again this proved to be another close encounter, with some terrific work put in by Thomas D, Luke and Conor. The boys showed that they had warmed up well after the first game and the match was very competitive. In the end, Durlas Óg won by a score of 2-1 to 2-0. As before though, the boys knew that they had a win in them and they didn’t want to go home empty handed. “its not about how many times you get knocked down – its about how many times you get back up”. Well the boys of KC4 were about to prove that definition of resilience was very true!
Naomh Eanna were the opponents in the final group game. They had previously beaten the team the Durlas team that beat our boys – but the KC boys played with great technical skill and with some brilliant individual performances from Paul, Tom Walsh and Terry amongst others, the first win of the tournament was secured. The final score of the game was KC 0-2, NE 0-1. Another close call, with KC4 coming out on top.
So, after 3 matches, the KC team had finished level on points with Durlas Óg and Naomh Eanna – with the individual results accounting for the placings. We were awarded 3rd place and we faced Cuala in the final.
Well, what a final. Everything that the boys had previously learnt in the first 3 games was demonstrated in this match. Terrier like tackling, strong powerful strikes, teamwork and passing were all on display. Tom Wyley played like he wanted to be involved in every tackle and win every ball; Shane was constantly lingering near the goal and causing the defenders and goalkeeper a lot of concern every time the ball came near him. And Conal finally got the rewards of 4 terrific matches with multiple scores in this game. It was as if he couldn’t miss. Goals and Points from close range and from distance were scored by him in a top class performance. Cuala staged a bit of a comeback in the second half but this was swiftly snuffed out by a 3rd goal for the KC boys. Final score KC 3-1 Cuala 0-2
So the day finished strongly for the boys, with 2 back to back wins. There was no doubt that we had a very strong team today and that each of the player contributed to the team’s performance.
