Feile Spraoi Iomáint Finals

Our club’s Under 10 side qualified for the finals of both their football and hurling competitions which were scheduled to take place in August. Whilst the football competition did take place in Pairc Uí Chaoimh, the hurling final fell foul of very poor weather one week later. Thus it was rescheduled for Pairc Uí Rinn in late September and on this occasion the weather did not let us down! White’s Cross were grouped with Watergrasshill, Castlelyons and Nemo Rangers in this blitz style competition. Played under the GO-Games rules, part of the philosophy of which is that the games are not to be overly competitive and thus the referees are not to take scores, ensuring that there are no losers, and that all are winners instead. Whilst that might be the philosophy and a great ideal in sport, try telling it to a group of nine and ten year olds, who have all mastered the job of counting very, very well, at this early juncture in their lives; they don’t need a referee or a scoreboard to tell them who won and who lost!
In the spirit of GO-Games this reporter isn’t going to talk about winners and losers either but suffice to say in these three games the White’s Cross boys were wearing broad smiles at the end of two of the three matches. In the opening encounter with Watergrasshill, Fionn Hickey showed he was truly on form with some outstanding scores as he tormented the Hill defence. Elsewhere Daniel Kelleher, Harry Coughlan, Sean Murphy and Ethan Ryan kept the oppositions forwards at bay time and time again, to ensure their scores were kept to a premium. In the second game Adrian Buckley stamped his authority on this game from his midfield role, whilst Jack O Callaghan and Stephen Whooley both showed real goal-poaching instincts with some fine finishes. At the opposite end Patrick Harrington, Kaelan Skillington and Senan Ryan were more than a match for the Castlelyons forwards. In the third game our keeper Brendan Quain had his busiest period of the three games but illustrated that he too was tuned in for the occasion with some great saves and outstanding clearances. In this tougher contest Olan Skillington showed outstanding character to chase and harry the Nemo opposition, while Conor Docherty had some fine long distance scores for the Cross.
After these three great performances the White’s Cross squad will travel in buoyant form to Limerick city next weekend where they partake in the Munster Inter City Hurling Blitz. Here they will play host club Claughaun, as well as Sacred Heart and Kildimo.