U10 BLITZ Fri 14th June Páirc Chiaráin  

Southern Gaels hosted an U10 blitz with teams from Lough Lene Geals, Turin and Longford Slashers. Our first match was a very high scoring game against Turin. The Gaels lost narrowly despite some great goal and point scoring from our midfield and forwards.  

Unfortunately we lost our dynamic midfielder Dara Geary who had to retire after the first match with a shoulder injury. 

The second game against Longford Slashers was a close affair with the visitors winning narrowly. Highlight of this game was a brilliantly pointed long range free by Eoin Whelan. Thanks to the visiting clubs for making the long journey to Athlone and to all the parents for supporting the players. 

 

Féile Follow-Up 

When the dust settles after a final or any tournament, it’s natural to look back to assess the outcome. It’s overwhelming positivity that has to be the follow up assessment on this Fantastic Féile Tournament. To think we nearly missed out on the opportunity to compete in the event, we have to be thankful we got in at all, but once we did, we grasped it wholeheartedly. The preparations couldn’t have gone better, with three sessions a week of 1.5 hours coupled with wins in each of the League encounters, the lads were always going to be ready. But what really set them up was the Pre-Féile Camp on the Bank Holiday Monday.  

That was an immense success of professional standards with every minute of the 4.5 hour event put to valuable use, with Cardio work, Breakfast Briefing, Video Analysis and Puckout strategies all enacted to ensure the lads went in with a fighting chance for the Féile. The Club Executive also stood tall behind the Féile Faithful, putting all their resources behind them to help raise the €5,000 needed to send them on their way, following Bingo, Inflatables and Programme writing initiatives to raise the funds.  

Then with a brand new 191 bus, they were set: Fail to Prepare, Prepare to Fail was certainly not going to happen. The Gaels plans were followed with military precision, stopping off in North Cork, Kilworth’s ground, to get fed and prepare with Free Taking analysis - because if there was a draw in the knockouts, 5 Free Takers were required to decide the outcome. That was never needed, but 5 players were selected should the case have arisen. All prepared without a ball thrown in. However, what made this tournament really special was the amount of travelling support in Maroon and Yellow colours spread all over the sidelines in full voice. They were magnificent in supporting every tackle and clash on the pitch, while representing the club superbly on the social scene, taking in each of the club houses as we travelled all over Cork from Mayfield, to Blackrock to Kilavullen.  

Our hosts were also of immense importance to our Clubs successes. Mayfield treated all our players superbly in their Host houses, but also went up and beyond their duties, by sending our lads to the Cork v Waterford match in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on the Saturday evening, before a great function in Mayfield’s social clubhouse which really was fantastic Cork Hospitality. All progress was superbly tracked and gratefully photographed by Dermot Whelan’s sharp lense and all this was sent through the internet to the WhatsApp watchers, which was extremely invaluable to those unable to travel but wanted to support in whatever way they could from home or abroad. 

 All that was short was some score tracking, but Cillian Geary (unable to take to the field due to broken bones) stepped up to give a score by score account across the group chat which was eagerly awaited by the diaspora, while our PRO Gearóid Ó Duibhir, kept the Facebook up to date along with supplying all supporters with our colours. All in all, an awful lot of work and preparation needs to be done to get a team to Feile and even more to make it a success. Even though no Trophy was won, Success on and Off the Field is the positive assessment of the Féile Follow Up as so many worked together to get the team there and back with smiles. 

  

U14s Southern Gaels 4-12 v 1-10 St Vincent’s (Crookedwood & Ringtown) 

St Vincent’s came to town with a League final spot a possibility if they were to beat our unbeaten League U14s. They arrived with intent and pushed our players very hard from the start. St. Vincent’s had quality players all over the pitch, but our lads were up for the challenge. With a few tired bodies from the Féile, a few injuries and a few on holidays, the depth of our squad was put to test and we managed to field 17 quality players with heart and determination: Diarmaid is growing into a quality keeper, for which other teams would like to rob.  

The fullback line of Gearoid, Conn and Thomas stood up and cleared well when tested with balls of all types. The half backline of Tom, Calum & Cathal was the platform for the success, and in particular Cathal was Man of The Match, tracking, blocking and stopping their agile centre forward – it was the winning of the match. Luke Whelan was immense at midfield, ably supported by the energetic Cormac, always available for the pass and setting up the pacey half forward line of Seán, Johnny and Dean who worked tirelessly as defending forwards, making chances out of nothing. The full forwards of Ruairí, Aaron and Luke Farrell tormented the opposition with all they had, with Luke taking particular pride in blocking the keeper to get our first goal. Subs Kristers and Kian came on to seal the deal by putting in a trojan effort.  

It was a game that had to be ground out by giving 100% in every tackle and then reaping the rewards of ensuring a League Final awaits. Can’t wait for that battle. Squad for the night: Diarmaid Murtagh, Thomas Collins, Conn O’Hara, Gearóid McCarthy, Tom Bourke, Calum Devaney, Cathal Hardiman, Luke Whelan, Cormac Bradley, Seán O’Donoghue, Johnny Martin, Dean Burns, Ruairí Ó Duibhir, Aaron Murphy, Luke Farrell. 

Tweet

Most Read Stories