07 October 2013
The 2013 Antrim U14 Squad put in tremendous effort from their first trial in October 2012.
Here is a brief outline of their activity:
• 4 weeks of trials- Ballymena & Dunloy
• 8 weeks of Strength & Conditioning (4 each side of Christmas for players although staff
delivered 16 sessions)
• 4 sessions at Jordanstown
• 21 Training sessions in Ballymena
• 5 Challenge Games (1 Additional game v Carlow called off due to snow- NHL Fixture)
• 3 Blitzes- Including Tony Forrestal.
• Total- 45 Sessions
• 75 different players attended Trials/Sessions this year
• 37 players on Squad until 12/8/13
• 24 Players on Tony Forristal Squad
The management would like to sincerely thank the parents of all players for taking the time and effort to bring their sons to training and all support throughout the year. Their commitment made
this all possible. Clubs in the county were also very cooperative throughout and we thank them.
We would also like to thank All Saints Ballymena for the use of pitches throughout the year and especially Owen Elliott and Joe Casey for all their assistance. Antrim GAA staff Ciara Ferry, Paul
Doherty, Dominic McKinley and Kieran Megraw along with Development Squad Coordinator Niall Kearney for delivering the Strength & Conditioning programme, coaching and organisational support was first class.
This is a fantastic group of young players who should take pride in their performances this year, the commitment and attitude shown was brilliant and we are confident that with the correct systems
put in place the future will be bright for these lads
Les meas
Antrim u14 Development Squad, Mentors 2013
• Ciaran Kearney
• Paul McLaughlin
• Ronan McKenna
Tony Forristal Tournament 2013
Saturday 31st August 2013
For the second year running the Antrim u14 development squad travelled to Mount Sion in Waterford to participate in the prestigious Tony Forristal inter-county festival of hurling. The tournament is now in its 32nd year. However it was only in 2012 that Antrim secured an invite to participate in the Division 1 event to compete against with eleven other counties. This year the format was based on four groups of three teams with the winners of each group paired off into two semi-finalists with the winners then progressing to a final in Walsh Park.
Antrim’s group contained Laois and Wexford with the group winners paired with the group winners from Waterford, Clare and Limerick.
With the games on Saturday and an 11:40 throw-in, the Antrim squad travelled south on the Friday afternoon, departing from Casement at 3pm with an overnight stay in Kilkenny. With a light puck around followed by a meal, the team had the privilege of listening to five-time All-Ireland winner and All Star Richie Hogan from Kilkenny.
Hogan shared with the squad how he had represented Kilkenny
twice in the Tony Forristal tournament and on both occasions the team had failed to register a single victory. No doubting, then, the quality of the event and the nature of the opposition which awaited
Antrim the following day.
On the Saturday morning the squad made the short trip from Kilkenny to Waterford city and the Mount Sion ground. On arrival the team were met by Antrim senior manager and Waterford native Kevin Ryan. Kevin reminded the squad that they should have every belief in their ability as individuals and as a squad, enjoy their hurling and to hold no fear of competing against any of the teams participating.
League Game1: Antrim v Laois
The first game for Antrim in the group was against Laois, who were a bit of an unknown quantity but have been focused on developing underage structures over the past number of years. This was
evidenced through their minor team reaching the Leinster final for the first time since 1991. Playing with the aid of a breeze and into the clubhouse goal, Antrim got off to a very strong start dominating
all sectors of play and within the opening five minutes had raced into a three point lead 0-4 to 0-1.
Antrim continued to dominate and create a lot of scoring opportunities, unfortunately however their conversion rate was poor. Midway through the first half the Laois goalkeeper made two great stops to deny Antrim what looked like certain goals. Despite some wayward shooting Antrim increased their lead with a further four unanswered points, with a solitary sore in reply from Laois, to leave the score 0-8 to 0-2 in Antrim’s favour after fifteen minutes of play. By this stage of the game the Antrim lads were playing some fine hurling and had complete control in all sectors of the field. Laois did respond with a single point, however Antrim finished the first half scoring with two further points to lead at halftime on a score line of 0-10 to 0-3.
While the lads had played some fine hurling in the first half, there was some unease amongst the large and vocal support from parents on the side line, that facing into a stiff breeze the team would come under concerted pressure in the second half. However, all fears were greatly eased when Antrim quickly gained the upper hand at the start of the second twenty minute period and translated this dominance to the score board with a very well taken goal and a point. Laois however, to their credit, raised their game and mid-way through the half responded with a goal of their own.
As the game drew to a close the sides traded points, however Antrim remained in full control to run out comfortable winners on a score line of 1-13 to 1-5. However, with Wexford running up a big score of 4-9 to 1-5 in their opening game victory against Laois it was clear Antrim’s next league game against the Slaneysiders would be a much tighter affair.
League Game 2: Antrim v Wexford
As both teams had won their opening games and conceded the exact same score to Laois, the winner of this game was guaranteed a semi-final spot. If the game ended in a draw then a penalty shoot-out was on the cards. Antrim started the game playing again with the breeze as they had against Laois, however it was clear from the very outset this would not be a repeat of the Laois encounter.
Wexford dominated the early possession, but fortunately registered a number of wides before registering the first point of the game. This seemed to stir the Antrim lads into action and they responded with a point to level the game. With a bit of confidence now instilled Antrim struck for a goal after 5 minutes to take a 1-1 to 0-1 lead – perhaps somewhat against the run of play.
Wexford responded though and within sixty seconds had scored a goal of their own to level the tie at 1-1 apiece. As the first half progressed the game was evenly balanced, however Antrim did begin to utilise the wind advantage to lead by a single point 1-3 to 1-2 with five minutes of the half remaining. In the remaining five minute period Antrim did dominate possession, recording a further two points to lead at half time on a score line of 1-5 to 1-2.
Facing the breeze in the second half and given the very close nature of the contest in the opening twenty minutes, it appeared as though the Antrim lads would have a very tough task ahead.
Undaunted by the opposition Antrim picked up in the second period in the same manner they had finished the first half with an early point. Against the run of play Wexford responded with a point, however Antrim were beginning to dominate the exchanges and rattled in a second goal to take a seven point lead. By the mid-way point in the half Antrim were well in control and had a 6 point lead, with Wexford only registering a single point in the preceding fifteen minute period of play. Antrim continued to control the game and added a further point to lead by seven with seven minutes left to play. At this stage it looked as though the game was over as a contest.
Wexford however had other ideas and demonstrated they were not going to capitulate easily. Within a six minute spell they rattled over five unanswered points to only trail by two with a minute remaining.
At this stage Antrim were effectively camped in their own half with Wexford searching for a goal to snatch victory – and except for two fantastic saves from the Antrim keeper they may well have scored. The Antrim lads were not to be denied and as the seconds ticked away they broke up field to score a point and much to the relief of supporters and coaches the referee blew the final whistle.
After Antrim’s historic All Ireland u21 semi-final victory only seven days earlier, the u14’s wrote their own little piece of history in progressing to the Tony Forristal semi-final for the first time in their
county’s history. Final score Antrim 2-08 Wexford 1-08.
Semi-final: Antrim v Clare
The match got underway just before 4pm with Antrim once again starting with the aid of the breeze. With just two minutes on the clock Antrim opened the scoring with a fantastic goal – which really set the scene for what turned out to be a real belter of a game. Clare hit back and within a minute and had recorded a goal of their own to level the scores at a goal apiece.
The drama continued to unfold and with only four minutes gone Antrim were awarded a penalty which was brilliantly saved by the
Clare keeper. Clare, however, were beginning to dominate the exchanges and knocked over two quick fire points to take a two point lead. However, with eight minutes on the clock Antrim began
to get themselves into the game, and in a three minute spell recorded three great points to take a 1-4 to 1-2 lead. Clare, in what was perhaps the deciding spell of the match, increased the tempo
and in a four minute spell rocked the Antrim lads back on their heels with three well taken goals (the first from the penalty spot) to leave the score Clare 4-2 Antrim 1-4.
At this stage of the game things looked very bleak for Antrim. However, the true character of the squad came to the fore and with seven minutes remaining in the half Antrim produced a fantastic display of hurling. A goal and quick fire point brought Antrim right back into the contest with the score at 4-2 to 2-5. Within three minutes Antrim had levelled the tie with a further three points, and as the half-time whistle approached they hit the net again. On the 20th minute Antrim recorded the final score of the half to leave the score Antrim 3-9 Clare 4-2 – Antrim leading by four, having trailed by six half way through the first half. The supporters of both teams, and the neutrals from Waterford were buzzing from an absolutely fantastic half of hurling.
The second period was barley underway when Clare drilled the ball to the Antrim net for their fifth goal of the game. Antrim responded with a point after five minutes before Clare recoded their third point to leave the minimum margin between the sides with eleven minutes of the game remaining.
The scoring fest of the first half was not being repeated in this second period with both sides struggling to gain any real dominance. With only six minutes remaining Antrim were still a point to the good and it looked as though they may hold out to secure their place in the final. However, Clare continued to look dangerous and disaster struck when they recorded their sixth goal to take a two point lead on a score line of 6-3 to 3-10. Antrim pressed hard to get back into the game, however playing against the breeze and having already played two tough games, tiredness began to creep in. Clare had the upper hand at this point and in the final four minutes recorded an impressive 1-6 to no score. On the final whistle the scoreboard read Clare 7-9 Antrim 3-10.
The score however was not reflective of the tight encounter – as Antrim were leading the contest by a point with six minutes remaining. Ultimately the period in the first half when Antrim conceded three goals in a short space of time proved the undoing of the young saffrons.
Over the course of the day and indeed the previous ten months, this squad of Antrim players proved they were a match for any team. As the squad boarded the bus to head north, the players, mentors and parents could rightly be proud of a dedicated bunch of lads who had worked hard since November of last year. Their exploits on the pitch, winning the Leinster and Ulster blitzes and reaching the semi-final of the Tony Forristal all-Ireland, was a true reflection of skill and work ethic of the whole squad.
Many thanks to Oliver Lennon for compiling this report
Antrim u14 Tony Forristal Panel, 2013
1. Seamus Og McCurry, Ruairi Og
2. Liam Gillan, Ruairi Og
3. Aaron Christie, Loughgiel Shamrocks
4. Dubaltach Magee-Baker, St Enda’s
5. Manus Smyth, Rossa
6. Conall McAteer, Ruairi Og
7. Conor Boyd, McQuillans
8. Shane O’Connor, Oisins
9. Daire Matthews, Rossa
10. Tiernan Murphy, Rossa
11. Dermot Carey, Creggan
12. Michael McGreevy, Rossa
13. David Kilgore, Robert Emmett’s
14. Corey Blair, Loughgiel Shamrocks
15. Ruairi Crummey, St Enda’s
16. Phillip Kennedy, St Agnes/ Rossa
17. Edward McQuillan, Ruairi Og
18. Conal Colgan, McQuillans
19. Phelim Lennon, St Brigids Belfast
20. Conor McHugh, Robert Emmett’s
21. Marcus Donnelly, St Gall’s
22. Eoin Magee, Ruairi Og
23. Dominic McEnhill, Rossa
24. Eoghan McMenamin, Rossa
