North Meath Hurling Club held a Hurling/Camogie Blitz on Saturday 16th February at the new St Michaels GFC pitch at the Deerpark in Carlanstown.

At short notice, Gaeil Colmcille, Kilskyre and Moylagh (Loughcrew Gaels) fielded teams and joined North Meath in games of U-12, U-10 and U-8 with a total of 128 players taking part. Cups of tea and coffee were on hand to warm up parents and supporters who enjoyed the sunny but cold conditions.

The U-12 teams started off proceedings at 11am, with North Meath playing against a Gaeil Colmcille/Kilskyre/Moylagh combination in a very entertaining and skillful game which was nip and tuck throughout just shaded by North Meath. North Meath U-12's were sporting their brand new kit kindly sponsored by Brogan's Centra in Carlanstown.

Then it was the turn of the U-8's with an excellent exhibition of ground Hurling from all clubs. At U-10 level both the Gaeil Colmcille and Kilskyre/Moylagh U-10 teams in particular stood out with some excellent scores and skills on display along with a gallant display by a young North Meath U-10 side playing their first "picking up" game.

The North Meath Hurling initiative begun in September 2017 when contact was made between four neighbouring clubs (St. Michaels, Moynalty, Kilmainhamwood and Nobber) and a meeting held with the County Board Games Development team Peter Durnin and Jamie Queeny with a view to trialing hurling in the area. Thanks to the backing and support from Brogan's Centra Carlanstown, a Centra Hurling day was held at St. Michaels on the 30th Sept 2017 to launch North Meath Hurling. Both All-Ireland Trophies were available for photos, "give it a go" sessions were facilitated by County Board Coaches and Wexford dual star Lee Chin was in attendance to meet and greet. Schools in the area were then visited by County Board Coach Paraic Burke throughout late September through to early November 2017.

Coaching sessions were then kicked off on Friday evenings in Cormeen Sports Complex in mid-October 2017. Three County Board coaches conducted the sessions which were attended by up to 70 children and this carried on every Friday night over the winter finishing in late February 2018. Sixteen volunteer parents were trained up as mentors over the same period including a session provided by the National Hurling Director Martin Fogarty in Cormeen. North Meath U-8's and U-10's entered teams into the 2018 go-games, they impressed in all games and the season culminated in St Michaels at a Hurling Cul Camp in August 2018. A highlight of the year was for North Meath U-8's who had a huge day out in Croke Park on the 4th April 2018, where they played two games against the Kilkenny Club Barrow Rangers.

In 2019, Friday night training resumed in Cormeen Sports Complex in early January with coaching carried out by in-house North Meath coaches with 84 to 96 children taking part each week. Schools in the area are also being visited by Meath Coaching and Games Coach Chloe Mahon throughout February. Martin Fogarty, National GAA Hurling Director, made another visit to Cormeen Sports Complex on Friday 8th Feb and carried out a practical coaching session which was enjoyed by everyone, children, parents and coaches alike. His enthusiasm, passion and practical approach has been very much appreciated.

North Meath look forward to the U-12 league, U-8 and U-10 go games starting in March and will also be entering an U-15 team into the Táin Óg Hurling League beginning in April 2019. St Michaels are hosting another Cul Camp later in the year. North Meath Hurling coaches wish to express thanks to all of the parents for their ongoing support and to neighbouring clubs for taking part on Saturday making it a special and historic day for all concerned on the new pitch in the Deerpark. The support from Meath Coaching and Games, local schools, Brogans Centra and the National GAA Director is also very much appreciated by all concerned.

Report by Eoin O'Sullivan

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