Garden County Academy - Club Notes
April 18, 2014Fundraising: Joe O'Brien (087-2577680) www.TeamWicklow.com
Media/PR: Robert Walsh (087-1611010)
The U13's had a weekend off and will not train until Saturday 26th of April given the Easter holidays.
The U14's trained with 39 players and had further 8 duel players representing the county in the hurling blitz also staged at Ballinakill. The squad will take part in their first Leinster blitz of the year. The GCA will be fielding two squads in separate groups. Squad 1 will play Laois, and Wexford whilst Squad 2 will play Carlow and Wexford 2. These games will take place this Saturday morning in Ballinakill.
Wicklow U16s travelled to Kinnegad to play Westmeath in a challenge match. To ensure the maximum numbers of players would get the opportunity to participate, both teams agreed to three periods of 20 minutes. The first period saw Wicklow compete exceptionally well and they deserved their lead of 1-7 to 0-5 at the end of the first interval. A combination of ill-luck and some lack-lustre play saw Westmeath overtake Wicklow in the second period. Now trailing 3-9 to 1-7 the game appear beyond reach. However a re-organised and refocused team took the game to Westmeath in the third and final period. They continued to chip away at the deficit and managed to draw level with less than 5 minutes to go. The Wicklow lad now demonstrated a steely determined character and not only withstood a Westmeath onslaught but broke away to tag on two more points. Wicklow won 3-9 to 2-14. Arguably the Wicklow lads showed some vulnerabilities in the second period. However it took great determination and teamwork to overcome the deficit and they richly deserved their victory. This highlighted areas and skills that the management will need to target over the coming weeks and will give the players confidence and self belief as they prepare for next week's blitz against Wexford and Laos. Overall this challenge was a very useful exercise and a very welcome win.
Team Wicklow ambassadors are continuing to recruit members with a great response to date. If you would like to support the Garden County Academy initiative please call Joe O'Brien 087 2577680 or visit www.TeamWicklow.com. All funds raised go towards preparing our juvenile football players to challenge for Leinster and All-Ireland success in years to come.
Finally, the Garden County Academy Committee would like to welcome all involved a very happy Easter. Tweet
