06 September 2010
South Down Tournament at Burren
Team 1
Dylan Little, Padraig Mackle, Joey O’Hare, Sean Campbell, Martin Beeton, Conor Flynn, Adam Mooney, Noel Crossey, Conor McCabe, Deaglan Murphy, Sean McCann, Ciaran Kelly, Brian Crossan, Jack Martin, Pearse Fitzsimmins, Peter McKenna, Joe McStravick, Paddy McDiarmuid, Eoin McNulty (injured).
Team 2
Jonathan Fyfe, Peter Heally, Conor Carey, Kevin Hillen, Tommy McGoran, James Carey, Cormac Eastwood, Padraig McPartland, Kieran McGee, Johnfrancis McCarthy, Rurai Scott, Conor O’Doherty, Padraig McGreevey, Mark Walsh, Conor McAuley, Oran McGuckian, Ciaran Mooney, Michael Brazier, Sheamus McGarry(injured).
Team1 2-2 V North Armagh(B) 0-0 Team2 0-0 V North Armagh(A) 0-4
Team1 1-0 V South Down(B) 0-1 Team2 1-0 V South Down(A) 2-0
Team1 2-1 V Louth(B) 0-1 Team2 0-2 V Louth(A) 2-1
Team1 0-3 V South Armagh(B) 0-4 Team2 1-0 V South Armagh(A) 2-3
Team1 1-5 V East Down(B) 1-0 Team2 0-4 V East Down(A) 0-2
Team2 qualified for semi-finals
Team2 1-2 V Louth(B) 0-2
Team2 qualified for final.
Team2 0-1 V South Armagh(B) 0-2
We had a tremendous day at the South Down tournament hosted at the magnificent Burren complex. We travelled with 38 of the 40 panel with 2 of the guys on long term injury. It was great that the 2 lads could travel with us and we wish them both a speedy recovery.
We arrived in good time to get settled into our changing rooms and started to digest the rules and the teams competing on the day. There were 6 teams in total, South Down, East Down, South Armagh, North Armagh, Louth and Antrim. Each panel had 2 teams and these were divided into an A and a B team. We have chosen not to operate an A and a B and simply divided the panel in half to make Team1 and Team2. Each game was 10 minutes long and each team played their A and B at the same time.
Team2 ended up playing all the A teams and certainly found the going tough in most of the games. We tried hard in all the games and it was very valuable information for the coaches as we adjusted the formation in each game and got close to our strongest setup at the end when we registered a 2 point win against East Down.
Team1 were the stars on the day and finished runners-up in the B-section. The team showed tremendous fight and team ethics battling against the rain and the wind on Burren’s second pitch. They got through to the final to play South Armagh and this was played on the main pitch. We took the lead in the first half and had chances to extend that lead before half time but unfortunately missed. In the second half South Armagh equalised and it was backs to the wall. We were once again unlucky to miss a good chance and then South Armagh was awarded a dubious free to win it by one on the final whistle.
The panel were presented their development squad shirts on the day and were worn with pride and great spirit. On behalf of the coaches I would like to thank all the kids who have attended the sessions and the final matches. You have been a pleasure to work with and have a brilliant future ahead of you. I hope you will buy into what we have attempted to build this year and that you will continue to work at your game and your physical development. On the Teamer website there are key exercises for core and strength development as well as injury prevention. Please get into a good habit and work at these over the winter and this will bring you on to the next level for next year.
U14 Antrim Football Management Team.
