Down minor players with Liam McCarthy Cup
Down Minor Hurlers were busy over the weekend
Friday 2 nd May to Sunday 2008 as they were
in Kilkenny for an intensive Coaching weekend.
The first players were picked
up in Portaferry shortly after 5.00pm on Friday
evening, it was about 11.30pm when they arrived
at their designated accommodation whilst in
Kilkenny, the itinerary mean that breakfast
was planned for 8.0am on Saturday Morning as
the Coaching session under various Kilkenny
team coaches was scheduled for 10.00am.
On arrival at Nowlan Park ,
they were met and welcomed by Martin Fogarty,
Senior Team Trainer, who informed them of what
was expected; 31 Leinster Coaches observed the
session. Jimmy Maher, U-21 trainer and Brien
Ryan, Minor coach also took the players for
session during the 2 hour session. The coaches
had tremendous praise for the effort the players
gave during the session. To emphasis the importance
of the venture the Kilkenny Chairman Paul Kinsella,
Secretary Ned Quinn, Treasurer Barry Hickey,
Youth Board Chairman Joe Pyke all attended and
observed the session.
The players after being fed
had a major surprise when the Liam McCarthy
Cup, was shown to the players to handle and
importantly get the all important pictures on
their phones and cameras. The players were then
taken to the Lory Meagher Museum , where a lot
of the history of Kilkenny G.A.A. is stored,
a fascinating place to visit; to appreciate
it fully at least 4 to 5 hours could be spent
in it. A venue for all GAA enthusiasts to visit.
After the visit a game against the Kilkenny
U-17 / Minor squad was arranged for Nowlan Park
.
Big strong full forward Alan
Bergin opened the scoring for the home team
after 5 minutes before the tenacious visitors
took the game to them with 3 points from the
Hurls of Daniel Toner, Shane Conlon and Connor
Dorrian. Kilkenny with prompting from their
manager Bro. Damien upped their game and rattled
off 5 points without reply through Daniel Dermody
(2), Cathal English, Paddy Galvin and Peter
Landy. Daniel Toner and Miceal Cunningham reduced
the deficit before Landy latched onto a loose
ball in the square to lash it into the net to
leave the score after 22 minutes 1-6 to 0-5
in favour of the ‘Cats’. Paul O’Neill
and Shane Phelan recorded points for their respective
teams before the interval whistle.
At the break the management
introduced 7 subs, again Kilkenny scored first
through Cathal English, before Neil Torney rattled
the Kilkenny net with a fine taken goal. With
the Down players showing tiredness after their
exertions of the 2 hour coaching session and
disruption of team play with the 7 subs, the
home team piled on the pressure and scored to
lead 2-12 to 1-6 eight minutes into the second
half. Whilst the Kilkenny lads kept piling on
the points to their credit the Mourne visitors
strove manfully to compete and got their just
rewards through points from Cunningham, Paul
Sheehan (2), Niall Donnelly, O’Neill and
Declan Doherty, the score at the end of the
game was 2-22 to 1-12. The score did not reflect
the effort of the Do wn lads and it will be
interesting to see how many of the home players
will be on the full Kilkenny Minor Team come
championship time. A number of names from the
team to look out for in years to come are James
Hoyne, Chris Murphy, Paddy Graham, Paddy Galvin,
Alan Bergin and Cathal English.
Each of the Down players will
be able to take away a memory of the game, such
as a block or tackle, long clearance from defence
and scoring a goal and or point in Nowlan Park
. It was mentioned and the Kilkenny people were
reminded of the day the Down Senior Hurlers
in 1993 defeated the great Kilkenny team with
13 of their All Ireland winning team on display
in the last game of the National Hurling League
to stay in Division 1 whilst Kilkenny were relegated
as a result of their defeat.
DOWN: Paddy McNally, Joe Smyth,
Fergal Rodgers, Michael Hughes, Mathew Teague,
John Merron, Aaron O’Prey, Paul O’Neill,
Shane Conlon, Connor Doran, Donal Ennis, Connor
Mageean, Connor Dorrian, Michael Cunningham,
Daniel Toner. SUBS: Colum McCabe, Cormac Hughes,
Niall Donnelly, Declan Doherty, Neill Torney,
Paddy Lennon, Paul Sheehan.
A tired and weary panel returned
to their accommodation in the knowledge that
they had an early start on Sunday morning as
breakfast was organised for 7.30am, with coaching
under John Leahy, former Tipperary and Munster
All Ireland winner, at 9.30am in Carrickshock.
A hectic but enjoyable weekend
which will stand in good stead for the panel
as they compete in the forthcoming Ulster Championship
in June.
