Southern Gaels Frank Young Memorial Cup and 2014 wrap up for U10 hurling in 2014
    Southern Gaels U10s completed their busy year with the running of the Frank young Cup against CastleTown Geoghan Sunday last.
    Our U10s had a busy year in 2014. Our main aim was to try and organise lots of games so they would get to play as many matches as possible.
    We started the year with indoor hurling programme in Marist School  Hall and played our first match in Cusack Park on the 15th April
    Along the way we played in Offaly , Roscommon, Galway and Dublin while we travelled to
    watch matches in Croke park and Thurles. We had great turnout for our  St Patricks day parades, summer camps for the club members.
    We played Brosna Gaels (twice) ,Longford Slashers,Fr Daltons(twice), Four Roads(twice),St Ryanaghs from Banagher,
    Cullion,Casteltown Geaoghan(twice), Birr (Twice), and Oliver Plunketts and Ballinasloe (twice).
    The U10s are very talented bunch and it took some  very good teams to out do is in the few matches we lost.
    The year ended on a high with 2 fantastic games against CastleTown Geoghan where we retained the Frank Young Memorial Cup.
    In the older group the match finished level at 6-6 to 7-3 after full time and our U10s went on to win it in extra time with a great crowd in attendance.
    This was the toughest and best U10 game we played all year. It had great scores, fabulous tackling, hooking and great score taking from both sides with an exciting finish.
    Southern Gaels got off to a great start, scoring two good points before Casteltown took control with a deflection from an attempted defensive block and a well taken goal.
    Southern Gaels then piled on the  pressure and were rewarded with a couple of fine scores from frees and play. Castletown then added a few scores to get back into it before Southern
    gaels period of scores saw us heading towards full time with a 3 goal advantage.
    The gaels midfield and forwards were in good form and nearly all our forwards got onto the score sheet.
    Michael Dolan, Dano McMonagle, Eoin Hardiman, Paidí O'Leochain, Oisín O'Flaherty, Bobby Nugent, Johnny Martin and Cian Geary all contributing scores.
    Our midfield of Bobby and Eoin had one of their best games of the year with fine blocking and hooking to keep the Casteltown lads under pressure throughout and taking
    some brilliant scores. Paidí had another great game breaking up Castletown attacks, starting some of our own and pointing our frees.
    Cian Geary and Dano McMonagle were tremendous in defence helped by Dairmuid Murtagh who hardly put a foot wrong all day. 
    Luke Whelan had another fine game in goal stopping some great shots which look destined for the net on a number of occasions.
    Johnny Martin was unlucky on a number of occasions after great work with some shots shooting narrowly wide. Michael finished with 2 goals to the net under serious pressure.
    Switches in 2nd half saw Dano and Cian move upfield while Johnny and Michael swapped to defence. Luke Farrell came in for Rayan Fallon who was working hard in the forwards
    in a prearranged swap. Calum Devaney came on for Diarmuid in extra time to strengthen our defence.
    Peter Clarke nearly stole it for Castletown with a fantastic goals. It was like watching Shane O'Donnell's batting of the sliothar into the back of the cork net again in the All Ireland Final.
    These goals levelled the match and Peter nearly won it but for a fantastic save from Luke Whelan which sent the game into extra time. In the excitement of the finish,
    all eyes turned to referee Kevin Jordan who signalled a drawn game. Castletown Geoghan had some fine performances of their own with Shane Doran playing well in defence.
    Peter Murphy and Daniel Keegan made life very difficult for the Gaels midfield with some great hooking and tackling while Daniel Keegan was very dangerous in attack.
    They were unlucky not to have grabbed a late win in normal time and did not show their best in extra time.
    While the game was very much in the balance in extra time Luke Farrell popped up to score 2 fine goals and Oisín cracked a super shot to the top of the net
    to secure the win for Southern Gaels. Donagh McCormack came in for Eoin who got a bang on the leg and had to retire and Donagh showed some fine touches.
    Kian Mitchell and Oisin Flynn made late appearances and were unlucky not to get on score sheet.
    Our team for the match was Luke Whelan (Goalkeeper) Diarmaid Murtagh, Dano McMonagle, Cian Geary, Paidi O'Leochain,  Eoin Hardiman, Bobby Nugent,  Oisin OFlaherty, Ryan Fallaon, Johnny Martin and Michael Dolan.
    In the younger game, Kian Mitchell, Calum Devaney  and Donagh McCormack stood out, but it was great for all our players to get full games without requiring substitutions.
    Our team for the match was Alex Devaney, Ellis Hynes, Zach Meegan,Jack Mulvihill,Oisin Egan,Oisin Flynn, Kian Mitchell, Calum Devaney  and Donagh McCormack
    These younger lads ran out winners over a young Castletown group who on the day, we were just too strong for.
    After a very tough year for Cian Geary who was recuperating from very serious surgery this year, Cian Geary was nominated to receive the Frank Young Cup to great applause
    from the crowd gathered.  Indoor hurling over the winter is scheduled for 6 weeks from start of November to Mid December on Tuesdays so we hope to see you all there.
    A big thank you to all the parents who take the time to bring the children training and matches. It is very much appreciated and we
    hope the children enjoyed their hurling year as much as the mentors and coaches. Special Thanks must also go to the great coaches for the year: Danny McMonagle and Dermot Whelan.

    Under 8 Hurling
    The Curtain spectacularly came down on Under 8 Outdoor Hurling for this talented bunch of players in 2014, with 2 great games versus Ballinasloe under lights in Pairc Chiaráin on Friday October 10. One game was first half; ground hurling and second half; high hurling. This was a hugely entertaining end to end game, which kept all parents and spectators enthralled. Players for this match included: Seán Cosgrove, Eoin McCormack, Conor Hughes, Ciarán Morgan, Diarmuid Morgan, Daithí O Leochain, Seán O' Neill, Ruairí Dolan, Harry Healy. Great praise to all the players for the efforts in this game but special mention has to go to Daithi O'Leochain who gave an exceptional defensive performance throughout.  The other game was a challenging full High Hurling match which tested the kids new skills to the limit. They all performed heroically and we had one of the best closely contested match of the year. Players in this game included: Cormac Bradley, Cathal Hardiman, Shane Wheatley, Ruairí O Duibhir, Cormac Murphy, Kyle Mahon, Cillian McGowan, Liam O'Flaherty, Stephen o Connor, Gearoid McCarthy. Much Thanks must go to the Mentors who improved these hurlers throughout the year; Gearoid O Duibhir, Tommy Murphy and Martin Geary. There is a break now until the Halloween Party on October 28 at 6.30 in Pairc Chiarain, then indoor hurling begins on Tuesdays for 6 weeks, starting November 4. For more info checkout www.tinyurl.com/sg-under8

    Under 12 hurling

Our Under 12s completed their programme of games last week with two games, against Cullion away and Oliver Plunketts in Pairc Ciaran.
In the game against Cullion, we were much stronger with a big margin of victory following scores from Eamon Martin, Callum McKnight, Chulainn Dowd, Rory Gilgarrif and Cian McCarthy. Our defence was particularly solid with Shaun Fox in goals, Cian O Suilleabhain, Sean Murphy, Daragh Elliot and Aaron Lynch. Apart from our score getters there were other good performances from Evan Farrell, Dara Elliot, Peter Mulvihill and Niall Scully.

Our final game against Oliver Plunketts was a rip-roaring contest that ebbed and flowed with the game ending in a draw, 4.1 to Plunketts and 2.7 to Southern Gaels. The concession of three goals in the second half put us under huge pressure but the lads displayed great heart to pick off some great points in the closing minutes to draw. Overall we used 25 players this year at Under 12 and with only five of those overage next year the future looks bright at this level.

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