Momentous memories that will last a lifetime were created on Sunday as thirty boys from Kiltale and Moynalvey travelled to the iconic venue of Croke Park to play hurling in the U8 Leinster GAA blitz.

Togging out in their maroon jerseys, touring the dressing rooms and warm up areas that many of their heroes have passed through over the years and getting to run out through the Cusack stand tunnel onto the pitch were among the highlights of the trip.

The Kiltale teams played two Kilkenny teams on the day where superb hurling skills were displayed on both sides. With striking goals on the day from Frankie Gilsenan, Robert Walsh and James Hanifin, the future of this Kiltale team is bright. All the boys played their hearts out and never gave up throughout their matches. Resilience is so much a part of being a hurler and the thirty players who took to the field have this in abundance. For the players, parents, grandparents, family and friends who travelled to Croke Park the experience and thrill of this U8 game was as good as any All Ireland Hurling final and the entire day was one to savour.

The team got to experience precious first-hand experience of being a GAA star for the day on the biggest stage of all that is Croke Park. The icing on the cake came at the end of the day when each player got to climb the steps of the Hogan stand presentation area and had the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of their idols by lifting their very own Liam Mc Carthy cup. Dreams came true that will be cherished for these Young Hurling Stars of the future. After their Croke Park adventure the teams travelled to Kiltale Clubhouse for celebrations with their families where the fun continued and hurls and helmets got plenty more action on the pitch of Kiltale that evening.

Paddy Kelly and Willie Byrne the team’s coaches have played a significant influence on these children from a very young age having trained them from nursery age. The organised the annual indoor Gormanstown Hurling tournament which is held over an eight week period in January and while it is a fun experience for all involved it also allows the children to enhance their hurling skills at a young age. With strong coaching experience and talent, the future is very bright for Kiltale and Meath hurling.

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