The success of the Fr Dalton's/Southern Gaels underage amalgamation bodes well for the future of hurling in Ballymore according to team mentor Donie Glynn. The issue of teams amalgamating may be a thorny subject in Westmeath GAA circles, but two clubs who have clearly embraced the concept are Fr Dalton's and Southern Gaels. Since joining forces at underage level a few years ago, both clubs have seen their fortunes revived. In 2002, an under 14 'B' title was secured and that was followed last year by success in the under 14 'A' championship. The Ballymore/Athlone combination also contested the under 16 'B' (13-a-side) championship final which they lost to Ringtown after a replay. "The amalgamation has worked well for both clubs," says Donie Glynn, who was a mentor with the successful under 14 team. "Without it, hurling would probably be dead in Ballymore and Southern Gaels wouldn't be able to field an underage team either. "We had a good year last year with the under 14 team winning the 'A' championship and the under 16 team getting to the final of the 'B' championship. The under 12 team also showed plenty of promise by taking Castlepollard to extra-time in the 'A' championship semi-final," he adds. Under the management of Mick Kincaid, John Foley, Kevin Jordan, Fergal Ormsby and Glynn, the Fr Dalton's/Southern Gaels under 14 team defeated Raharney and Castlepollard en route to a final showdown with Brownstown in September. The combination side were slow to get going and were 0-0 to 0-2 in arrears at the end of the first quarter. But in the lead-up to half-time, an Anthony Martin goal was sandwiched between points from Eoin Jordan, Neil Rattigan, Joe Kenny and Conor Foley, leaving Fr Dalton's/Southern Gaels perched on a 1-4 to 0-3 lead at the interval. The winners took a firm grip on proceedings just after the restart when Foley placed Martin for his second goal. It continued to be one-way traffic for the remainder of the half with further scores from Kenny, Rattigan and Peter Murray sealing a 2-10 to 0-5 victory for Fr Dalton's/Southern Gaels. Afterwards, joint-captains Alan Slevin and Noel Mulligan received the trophy from minor board chairman Ger Kenny. "From the Fr Dalton's end, we had nine on the starting team and three or four among the subs," Glynn explains. "It was a big achievement for us to win the under 14 'A' championship and hopefully we can build on it in the coming year. The short-term aim for this team will be to give the under 16 'premier' championship a good crack in 2005." Many of last year's under 14 team also figured for the under 16 side which came tantalizingly close to landing the 'B' championship. Pitted against Ringtown in the final, Fr Dalton's/Southern Gaels looked set for victory when goals from Eoin Jordan (two) and Joe Kenny had them 3-3 to 3-2 in front before Niall Kilcoyne - son of former All-Star David - grabbed a last-gasp equalizing point for the north county outfit. In the replay, Ringtown were always the stronger team, taking a 3-4 to 0-0 lead into the interval. Fr Dalton's/Southern Gaels rallied in the second half with goals from Aidan McKnight, John Newcombe and John Dunning bringing them back into contention. However, a late Aidan O'Grady goal sealed a 4-5 to 3-2 victory for Ringtown. Looking to the future, Glynn expresses the hope that Fr Dalton's will be in a position to reform an adult club in "four or five years time". "Ultimately, our aim is to be able to field an adult team again. We have a good crop of young players at the moment, but a lot can happen over the next few years. Having said that, I'd be hopeful that most of these lads will be still playing hurling into their twenties," he concludes. The Fr Dalton's/Southern Gaels team which captured the under 14 'A' hurling title was: Ciaran Duncan; Alan Slevin, Andrew Slevin, Daryl Wilson; Noel Mulligan, Neil Rattigan, John Gillian; Eoin Jordan, Joe Kenny; Martin Hynes, Peter Murray, Conor McNeill; John O'Toole, Anthony Martin, Conor Foley. Subs used: Kenneth Kincaid, Robert Mahon, Ciaran Martin, Conor Guinan and Stephen Conlon. The under 16 team which lost to Ringtown in the 'B' championship final replay was: Ciaran Duncan; Noel Mulligan, Andrew Slevin; Declan Rooney, Robert English, Matthew Murray; Peter Murray; Neil Rattigan; Joe Kenny, John Dunning, Eoin Jordan; Darragh Lennon, Anthony McKnight. Sub used: John Newcombe. Tweet

Most Read Stories