Mullinahone Under 10 and under12 Hurling Tournament

On Saturday last was the annual Mullinahone U10/12 Hurling tournament.

Mullinahone kindly asked our U6 hurlers to play their U6s to open the event. Both U6 teams produced a very entertaining game watched by a big crowd. Our lads won it by a few scores.

Squad; Mike Dywer, Eoin Morrisey, Cathal Keane, Michael Cuddihy, Sean Fitzgerald, Conor Danaher, Cormac Duggan, Charlie Noonan

In the U10 ground hurling tournament we were in a group with Graigue Ballycallan(Kilkenny), Mullinahone and Eoghan Rua(Tyrone). Our first game was against Graigue/Ballycallan. We started ok and picked up two scores(a point and a goal are counted as one score) in the first half. Graigue got a score back early in the second half which kept the bare min between the sides. We eventually got another score to put us three to one ahead and a first victory in the bag.

Our second game was against Eoghan Rua and it was a tough battle but the lads got through by 2 scores. So two victories from two and Mullinahone had similar. So the decider between ourselves and the hosts and what a game it turned out to be. The Drangan / Cloneen lads started well and picked up the first score, a goal by Brain O’Halloran. Mullinahone leveled soon afterwards. Two frees from Cathal Foley put us 3 to one up. Mullinahone picked up a score before half time to leave it on a knife edge. The hurling from both sides was very good and the crowd well entertained by the skill and commitment of both sets of players.

The second half started at the same pace as the first with Mullinahone picking up the first score to leave it all square. The sliothar was up and down the field with neither team yielding. Mullinahone with a few mins left got a score to put them in front. Fair play to the St. Pats side for digging in and they, with a minute to go, got the equaliser. It finished a draw after a massive game of ground hurling. Both teams were level on points(2 wins and a draw) and Mullinahone progressed as group winners, based on score difference.

But it wasn’t over for Pats, we qualified for the semi finals based on a best runner up spot. So onto the semi final and it was Pats vs Carrick Swan and Mullinahone vs Golden. Pats started slow against Swan with Swan going in at half time 2 scores up. The Drangan/Cloneen lads upped it in the second half and unfortunately it finished 5 to 2 to Swan. Swan progressed to the Cup final vs Mullinahone(who defeated Golden) and we went onto a shield final vs Golden.

Unfortunately tiredness began to show on the Pats players and we never got into it really in the shield final. Golden ran out deserving winners by 4 scores. Despite losing the final, the St. Pats young hurlers were a credit to the club, they hurled with great fire and determination and a very high level of skill. Over recent years, possible the first time ever(?), it was the first time that we qualified out of our group and contested a final. Well done to the young lads.

Also a thanks to Mullinahone; this is a great tournament and St. Pats are delighted to be involved in it.

St. Pats squad;

D. Gleeson, J.Brett, L.Fox, A.Fitzgerald, J.Cleere, C.Foley, C.Crannitch, R.Crannitch, R.Cuddihy, J.Ryan, E.White, B.Halloran, B.Cuddihy, W.Cleere