09 September 2014
Antrim U14 Hurling Development Squad / Tony Forristal Sat 30th Aug 2014
The Antrim squad travelled down on Friday 29th August leaving Cloughmills at 1.30pm. On the Friday evening, the players met with Eddie Brennan and listened intently as he gave an account of his playing career with Kilkenny covering areas such as preparation for games, training, players he had played against and with, etc.
The panel had an early start on the Sat morning arriving at their venue at 9.00am, as first game was a 10am start v Clare in St Saviours Gac Waterford City. Clare were doing the early running in the game scoring a goal, following up with a number of points before Antrim registered their first point from Eoghan McMenamin. Seaan Elliott scored a point from a free and Dominic McEnhill pointed a 65 to leave it at half time, Antrim 0.03 v 1.04 Clare.
Antrim started the 2nd half brightly with 3 quick points, Seaan Elliott free ,Eoghan McMenamin point another Seaan Elliott free leaving Antrim 1 point behind . Clare scored a free to put them in front by 2. With 10 mins left, Patrick Ross got possession of the sliothar and hit the back of the net to put Antrim in front. The last 10 mins were very exciting with all players playing well and competing for possession. Clare levelled with another free and then gaining the lead with another free. Antrim replied with a free from Seaan Elliott, with teams now level, the game was evenly balanced until in the last two minutes Clare got their only score from play in the 2nd half to grab the winner.
In their second game v Tipperary at 11.40am, same venue, Antrim started their scoring with a free from Seaan Elliott with Tipp countering with a goal. Anton McGrath grabbed a goal for Antrim. The game continued to be close over the next 10 mins with Tipp scoring from 3 x frees, 2 x points from play. Antrim stayed in touch with a point from Ryan Mc Garry and another free from Seaan Elliott leaving the score a few minutes before half time Antrim 1.03 v 1.05 Tipp. Unfortunately for Antrim, Tipp scored another goal to leave half time score, Antrim 1.03 v 2.05 Tipp.
On the restart, Tipp got 2 points, countered by a Seán Elliott free. The scoring continued with a point and third goal from Tipp putting the game beyond Antrim's reach with approx 8 minutes to go. The Antrim team continued to look for scores, with Ryan Mc Garry getting a free and a second goal from Ciaran McKendry. Game finished Antrim 2.05 v 3.13 Tipperary.
This squad gathered together from October 2013 with approximately 80 players trialing. At the turn of the year a small strength and conditioning programme was undertaken followed by a series of indoor sessions in Dunloy and Randalstown. Owing to Feile na nGael being held in Ulster the squad took a break of four weeks to allow clubs to prepare for Feile. Two Leinster Blitzes and one Ulster blitz along with the Antrim Cup v Kilkenny, challenge games with Dublin, Down and St Kierans College Kilkenny were held. The coaching weekend in Limerick in August was a highlight in which the players began to mature as players and individuals and importantly grew as a team.
Almost 40 players were maintained on the squad until mid August with only one player through disciplinary reasons not part of the U14 squad. It is important to note that the best players in the County are making themselves available with phenomenal support from their parents in bringing players to sessions and games.
Support from the County Board is increasing year on year however access to challenge games and costs in travelling to gain adequate challenge games continues to be a problem. We are confident of developing players who are competing with the top level counties however with further work we should be aspiring to do more than compete. A mentality in our young hurlers is one that they belong with the best. Performances suggest this is the case, hopefully results will follow.
The management would like to pay thanks to the All Saints club for the use of their facilities for training and in particular Joe Casey for without whom so much would not be possible.
Ciaran Kearney & Seán McManus
