St. Fechin's hosted the Mc Creesh Cup (B Group) Juvenile Hurling competition on Saturday, 22nd Oct at their beautiful grounds in Termonfeckin.  A small group of Kevin's players and supporters attended.  Unfortunately, the competition got off to a late start, and given the wintry and "cold to the bone" weather conditions it took most of the first match for the youngsters to warm up and start playing to their ability.

First up in the seven-a-side was the Kevin's vs the Geraldines.  The end result was a draw which reflected fairly the end-to-end game played, and the low score was more a testament to the excellent defending than the lack of scoring opportunities.  The next game that the Kevin's contested was vs the host club's second team, and the Kevin's won that match, due to the scoring prowess of Tom Mathews who was on fire during that game.   The final was between the Kevin's and the Wolfe Tones, and this was an extremely exciting and hard fought contest.  The dramatic win came about by a late second half goal from Caoimhe Mathews, who was the Kevin's player of the tournament.

Whilst the Club acknowledge that the A-stream of juvenile hurlers in the county, sporting Naomh Monine and St. Fechins A colours, are still some distance ahead of the Kevin's in terms of pace and skill, that distance has shrunk over the last twelve months thanks to the dedication of Joey Callan and his assistant Joey Whelan.

Immediately after the game a quick 'phone call was made to the Grove Hotel, and Eileen Dowling and her staff had a delicious meal prepared and waiting to be served to the victors within the hour.  The celebrations did not continue long into the night as many of these hurling champions had to go out and compete the following day, and win soccer matches and cross country athletics medals!

St. Kevin's: Joshua Finlay (Goalkeeper), B Johnson, K Mathews, T Mathews, Conor Rogers, Cormac Rogers, C Mathews, R Sands, D O'Connell, C Mc Mullen, C Mc Ardle, A Rogers, T Mc Creesh (Capt.).



Summer Camp

The Summer Camp was a great success; many thanks to Sinead Duffy, Gerald Gribben and all those involved.  The children had a great time, and their interest and skills continue to develop in camogie and hurling.

End of Season Celebrations - 3rd September 2011

On Sat, 3rd Sept. St. Kevin's Juvenile Club hosted its end of season celebrations under the brand new floodlights at the upper new pitch.  To kick off the evening's festivities the intra-club hurling league finals were held.   As usual there was a large crowd of spectators.  The hurling was excellent considering the ages of some of the children, many of whom are new to hurling this year.   In the Tipp/Waterford match, the result was a draw.  Whilst many of the performances were of a very high quality, Tom McCreesh, playing his football with Naomh Fionnbarra, and hurling with St. Kevin's gave a superb display all over the pitch.   The second contest was won by the Dubs, with Rosa Durrigan being the key player who couldn't be marked or matched for point-taking.  After the hurling, it was time for the food.  Well done to Dermot Logue and Vincent Matthews who were kings of the bbq!   Sandra Mathews was chief tea-maker, a role she carried out with her usual gracious friendliness, assisted by Fiona Rogers, who washed a lot of shirts this year.  While parents and supporters were discussing the possible outcome of the All-Ireland Senior Championship Hurling final (with quite a number intending to attend), the older juveniles were enjoying a match of serious football on the floodlit astro-turf, and the younger juveniles under the new floodlights.   Unusually for a Kevin's planned outdoor event the weather was beautiful, and with a crescent moon in the sky, and great disco music under the marque, it was a perfect end to a wonderful season of juvenile gaelic games.   St. Kevin's Juvenile Committee would like to take the opportunity to thank the many, many people who have helped make this year so memorable for the club.  We would particularly like to thank spouses, partners, grannies, grand-dads, guardians, favourite aunts and uncles who kept the home fires burning and without whose help the club wouldn't be half the succcess it is.   Over the last number of months many locals and local businesses contributed financially which is greatly appreciated.   Local media, including the Parish Bulletin, Lannleire Review, LMFM, Dundalk Democrat and Mid-Louth Independent never stinted in helping us promote the strong role our club has in the parish.  


Finally, we would like all of our juvenile members to use the winter months well and to pursue other sporting interests which keep them happy, healthy and ready for the thrill of gaelic games come early summer 2012.   - End

St. Kevin's 2011 Intra-Club Hurling Championship

Team Kilkenny, Manager Bob Doheny

Players: Ronan Sands, Aoife Rogers, Josh Finlay, Emmet Gorman, Robert Mathews, James Stokes, Grainne Murray, Jacob Finlay, Tomas Guinan, Niamh Matthews

Team Dublin, Manager Stephen Mathews

Players: David O'Connell, Una Matthews, Brandon Johnson, Katie, Mathews, TJ Doheny, Ronan Mc Creesh, Jack Stokes, Rosa Durrigan, Stephen Reilly, Roisin Maguire

Team Tipperary, Manager Damien Johnson

Players: Tom Mathews, Hanna Creehan, Conor Rogers, Caolin McMullen, Charlie Whelehan, Conor McArdle, Treasa Durrigan, Conor Gregory, Patrick Kennedy, Jade Caffrey

Team Waterford, Manager Donal Mc Ardle

Players: Tomas McCreesh, Caoimhe Mathews, Cormac Rogers, Aaron Dowling, Leo Kelly, Joe McArdle, Ellen Gorman, Euan McGrory, Niamh Kennedy, Aishling Mathews, Ciara McArdle

Round 1, Friday 12th August 

Kilkenny 3-0, Dublin 3-0 (Draw); Tipperary 5-3, Waterford 5-0 (Tipp win by 3 pts)

The ash was clashed at Philipstown on Friday evening, with a great crowd of spectators who were treated to two exciting hurling contests.   It was great to see Tipperary native, Bob Doheny, managing the Cats to a draw against a feisty Dublin side (who threw away the script to earn a well-deserved draw).   I'm not certain that the psychological warfare administered to Rosa Durrigan by the Cats Manager as she lined up for a free was completely legal, but anything for a draw, eh!

Tipperary certainly laid down a marker for the rest of the teams with lots of flair and class, although Waterford put them to the pin of their collar.  It's very early in the championship, but it would seem that the Premier County is the team to beat.

At this point in the season the Club would like to express it's heartfelt thanks to Joey Callan and all of his hurling assistants who have instilled such a love of the game in the juvenile members, and who has given so much time to teaching them the skills of one of the fastest and most exciting games anywhere in the world.   Joey has a unique brand of coaching which the children respond to very well.   I think we are conscious the hurling project is a work-in-progress but it is exciting, it's progressing much better than we anticipated and best of all is great fun.   Well done me, as adult member Niall Treadwell famously kept saying at his wedding!

Round 2, Friday 19th August

Kilkenny 4-1, Waterford 5-2 (Win); Tipperary 6-1, Dublin 10-2 (win)

With an exciting ladies match vs. St. Anne's running concurrently many spectators were placing themselves where they could watch all three contests!   The ladies give a wonderful display of "total camogie" and will be very pleased with how they out-ran, out-played, and out-defended the Togher side.    Also, it was great to see that the team encompassed veterans and newer members in equal numbers, demonstrating that the camogie club development strategy is working very well.  Congratulations to all the players, their coaches and managers.

Meanwhile, up on the New Pitch, the juveniles were serving up some wonderful hurling.  Catch of the evening - Robbie Mathews, who stretched his little arm upwards as Darren Mc Mullen's huge puc soared high and then fell, fell down from the sky straight into Robbie's hand.   Save(s) of the evening - Conor Rogers, who played a stormer, putting his body on the line, diving to prevent the forwards on the Dublin team making complete hay. 

Round 3, Friday 26th August

Dublin 6-0 (win), Waterford 3-3; Tipperary 1-1, Kilkenny 7-0 (win)

Next week the children return to school - was this why there were so many happy parents on the sidelines, I wondered, or was it that again some lovely hurling was on display at the New Pitch.   The U11 football team who have had a pretty rough run of it this season were being seriously tested by Roche Emmets on the main pitch; Patrick Kennedy who normally hurls with the Tipperary team rued his decision to choose football over hurling on this occasion.  Hannah Crehan, although not on a winning side, had a very good game and saw plenty of mid-field action.   Tómas Mc Creesh (Waterford) did very well.  Niamh Matthews for Kilkenny was in top form, really putting it up to Hannah Crehan and Conor Rogers for the entire game.

Next weekend all of the hurling action will be on Saturday, 3rd September when the Club plays out two finals.   We have no major silverware on offer, but the Managers (well, mainly Bob!) all seem very keen to have bragging rights at the end of a fantastic hurling season.

 No.1 Final Killkenny v Dublin and in the No.2 Final is between Tipperary v Waterford

Pilgrims of the Puc (Saturday, 30th July 2011)

Atop Annaverna Mountain on a beautiful summer's day is a venue that cannot be beaten for a contest that involves strength, skill, spectator and scenery. It kicks Old Trafford into a tin hat, and Croke Park is no more awesome that a regular GAA pitch in comparison to the majesty of the mountain, with Dundalk Bay and the Mourne coast flanking it on either side. I come with son and two other young walkers, who are like mountain goats so nimble and sure-footed are they. At the end of the tarmaced road we park in a field specially provided and then commence the walk to the start line. I fall into a chat with the parent of one of the competitors, Tadgh Hanan. Tadgh, a strapping, freckley, smiley nineteen year old from Salthill, had his GAA "annus horribilis" in 2010. After winning an All-Ireland Club medal (out of age), and playing great football AND hurling, he wanted to transfer to the Portumna Club, in Galway hurling heartland......the usual nightmare of pettiness and obstruction followed, with a year of hurling essentially lost. But it's all okay now, we're walking on the mountain, and Mr. Hanan knows he has my sympathetic ear - I agree there is something sinful about getting in the way of an amateur player approaching the height of his playing powers, and generally treating a committed hurler so shabbily.

When we arrive a row of large flags representing the home counties of all the contestants flap gaily in the summer breeze. To my right Arthur Morgan, former TD; to my left Bernard Dunne former world boxing champion (bantam weight). A dozen steps ahead Davy Fitzgerald, former Clare goalie and current Waterford Hurling Manager. Slightly further on slope, the mighty Brendan Cummins from Tipperary, accompanied by his tiny wife. Everyone is discreetly looking at all of the A-listers, but the celebrities are carrying their fame very lightly and line up for photos and sign boots & books with a smile and chat.

The accomplished lone piper on the rock adds a touch of gravitas to the occasion. At around 1.30 pm the first hurler walks to the line and hits the sliotar high and hard up the path, and is followed by the other contestants, all announced and cheered. We decide to fall in with the Davy Fitzgerald crowd, who seem like good craic. Davy defies expectations. He's not a small man as the camera suggests, but rather a well-built, fit athlete carrying very little extra weight. He looks younger again than the images I have of him from countless Sunday Games. He has a droll and self-deprecating sense of humour, but his shyness and essential aloneness are palpable. One of the party whispers to me that he's "hurling mad" and that inter-county hurling has exacerbated the madness. But on this day he's in control, contained, focussed on the sliotar and the marked white stones highlighting whereabouts on the route he should be aiming for.

It transpires that my new best friend for the day is Bernard Dunne, the boxer. Thanks to Team Carrie I am as fit as a fiddle and feel great pride that I, a forty four year old woman, can leave the former world championship in the ha'penny place, stopping and taking his breath........I don't feel the need to share with him the fact that a mere eight weeks previously the Puc might have been a great deal more onerous for me. We commence the slow march uphill on what is called colloquially The Green Road. As I know absolutely nothing about boxing I ask BD does he hurl himself. It turns out he doesn't hurl but is great pals with Davy which is why he is part of his coterie.

Because of the climb the conversation soon softens and peters out; everyone is concentrating on keeping going, and averting bog holes. At each puc we stop and allow Davy to 'do his stuff' (I'm stealing a catch-phrase of Larry McGuill's there, who encouraged countless youngsters and athletes to do their stuff), and admire his prowess and efforts, clapping and saying "well done, Davy". At the pucs I take time to observe a herd of wild ponies, pick up a ram's horn on the path as a memory of the day, grab some of the bog cotton and heather; it's not exactly the Camino Way but there is certainly a spiritual feel to the event and camraderie. There are sixty known species of bird on Annaverna. I hear the distinct call of the curlew, and see what I think is a plover.

The children are entertaining themselves, enjoying being part of the mountainy adventure. My only concern is that they'll stray from the crowd, but they are sticking to the route.

Everyone wants to chat - where are you from, why are you here, what do you think of the hurling, who's going to win the All-Ireland, don't you just love Lar Corbett, what happened to Galway, that Joe Canning is something special, isn't some of the ref-ing pure woeful, wouldn't you think all the money they had they could invest in some hawk-eye & sensor technology, Joe Brolly drives me nuts but I think Mc Stay is always on the button, poor Louth, how's your juveniles coming along........I'm in seventh heaven amongst other hard-core GAA freaks! We reflect on the frustrated non-GAA relatives and friends we love who haven't yet come to terms with our lifelong addiction. And all the while saying "isn't this place beautiful, it's as good as Switzerland or Canada, what a puc, what a day, I'm delighted to be here and glad to be alive".

The highest point on the walk is a place with the unattractive moniker of The Pimple, named so for the pile of stones located there. We are now in a cold mist, thirsty and hungry. We have negotiated a series of slopes, uphills, ravines, and avoided sections of bog. A number of walkers are clearly not enjoying themselves and finding it tough going. Everyone stops and takes out the sandwiches, sausage rolls, tayto crisps, ullas and flasks - having not eaten since breakfast we are famished and the humble ham & bread sandwich is viewed as a royal feast.

The candidates look at the scores; the Big Man from Toomevara is about three or four pucs ahead of the rest of the field at this stage, intent on taking his fifth title, and putting in some hard practice at the same time for his next championship match. Tadgh Hanan sits on the rock beside me and I mention that his Dad was my companion at an earlier stage on the road. He quizzed me on whether he had mentioned "last year". I said he had, and that the whole episode was a shame, but that it was good to see him here on the mountain competing with the finest of hurlers, and doing his county pride. I told him too about St. Kevin's hurling club established last year, and how we are flying thanks to Joey Callan, and how it is going to take a while but that Liam Mc Carthy would eventually find his way to Louth! Tadgh had taken the annus horribilis in his stride; a young man with a lovely attitude he admitted that his father had done enough worrying and obsessing about it for an entire hurling team, and had fretted over every insult especially the "you're not half the hurler your father thinks you are". I said to him "and I suppose the guy who said that had a drawer full of All-Stars?". His laughing reply was "that fella wouldn't have a medal for Irish dancing, never mind a medal for hurling".

Tea drank, we clear up and plough on.

Sport has a dark side, the GAA has a dark side. Even the Puc Fada has a dark side as I found myself slipping and sliding down Annaverna and landing on my bum in the bog! Bernard Dunne hauls me out and I wonder at his handsome tanned face and perfect teeth - he doesn't have a scratch, not a mark that hints at a career pummelling other men to injury. He suggests that Annaverna got its own back on me for teasing him about his lack of fitness! I respond that Annaverna wouldn't do such a thing; like all Louth ladies she's kind to a fault. The descent requires different skills. The temptation is to half-run; this proves to be unwise, as hidden stumps and marsh are everywhere. A more cautious approach is best - test the terrain gingerly on your way down, once the ground is deemed safe then move on.

We are moving faster now, trying to stay ahead of the mist, and with the other contestants and supporters breathing down our necks. The course has been covered with Brendan Cummins the outright winner. The young Galwegian, Tadgh, has finished third, an excellent achievement for a novice. Davy, to use his own expression, didn't 'disgrace' himself, his score hinting that without the managerial demands of Waterford and the myriad of camogie clubs he assists, that he could easily bring it down to the wire.

My son gets a sliotar signed by Davy from one of the Clare contingent, and Brendan Cummins signs his GAA annual. Bernard waves goodbye and promises to run up Annaverna next year. Arthur is nowhere to be seen. I head for the car and take a final look at the Queen of the Peninsula, covered in a robe of glorious purple heather, dotted with white cotton, and the subtle greens of moss and bog adorning her. Annaverna was our gracious hostess, giving us the space to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the unique Puc Fada contest.

Needless to say my poor sore feet are soaked well that night, and I retire early. Sleep comes quickly and I dream that it is I, not Brendan Cummins, who conquered Annaverna with my hurl.

Maybe next year.


U10 Hurling Blitz

Thursday, 2nd June at 7 pm in Collon (Mattock Rangers field)

On a glorious Thursday evening at the beginning we find ourselves supporting three teams, the Kevins, St. Brides and the hosts, Mattock Rangers, at a U10 hurling blitz in Collon.

After a very unsettled May when the wind was an unwelcome additional player at most of the games of football we had witnessed it was great to attend a gaelic games event where the weather was perfect.

First up against the Kevins was St. Brides.  This was a great game of hurling between two juvenile clubs who have still a lot to learn, but have clearly mastered the basics.   Although the Kevins won, there really was very little between the two teams, and there was plenty to entertain the spectators. The match was played with great gusto, with the players keen to contest each ground ball, with a few nimble players also catching the ball in flight.   Some of the more expert hurlers took sideline pucks from the ground, and scored a couple of points in the process!   All of the defenders on both teams worked well, with the result that there was only a goal apiece for the duration of the match.

Second up was Mattock Rangers.  On the last occasion we played Mattock the Kevins won - on this occasion they won by a point.   Again, all the parents were very impressed at the level of skill displayed by both teams. 

As I am not an expert on hurling I cannot say who was "good" - to me all the kids performed very well, but it did seem that Caoimhe Matthews (who also plays camogie & football) was the most brave and skillful player available to the Kevins.  Tom Mc Creesh, Tom Mathews and TJ Doheny also showed great determination and skill on the ball.   Cormac Rogers & Conor Rogers did well in forwards, and Ronan Sands was keen to show that he could run fast with the ball on the stick!    Not much got past Brandon Johnson or Aaron Dowling, and David O'Connell did very well in goals in the first game, and equally as well outfield.  Katie Mathews was another lady not afraid to get stuck in and hustle for the ball.   Josh Finlay replaced David O'Connell in goals and he had a couple of brilliant saves - there was a big gasp around the sidelines as it really required deft movement and reaction to keep the ball out.    If I have forgotten any names it is because the compulsory helmets made identification a little difficult!

The two adult referees set the tone for the games with their great fairness and good humour.  In fact, the atmosphere around the sidelines was very relaxed and jovial which is what we always hope for.

Sometimes we are reminded that for some players the fact of just playing is the achievement.   As I left the grounds a lad ahead of me removed his helmet to show a completely bald head, a jolting reminder that we must respect our opponent because his battle may be much greater than ours.  His brother and his mother had their arms wrapped around him and were informing him that the was definitely the man of the tournament.   With all of the teams wearing a mixture of red, black & white I don't know which team he represented, but at the end of the evening long after the two thrilling games played on a most beautiful Irish evening imaginable, he was the only hurler I could think of.

God bless all of our juvenile players and the players they meet this year and into future.   From the bottom of my heart I hope that we have an opportunity to play against all of these great young boys and girls again for many, many years.

Hurling Training  Friday (Bob Doheny, Joey Callan, Joe Whelehan, occasional - Joe Kennedy)

Last year St. Kevin's Juvenile GFC, almost by way of an experiment, established a hurling club.   The main reason for this stemmed from the fact that there was a strong Tipperary connection with the Club via Bob Doheny, Daisy Mathews and Joe Kennedy (who holds an All-Ireland Hurling Club medal).  In Tipperary the "small ball" game holds strong sway over the social culture and imagination of its people.  During the summer it wasn't unusual to see the Tipperary-connected children arriving at training sessions with Premier County jerseys.  Although St. Kevin's had a very strong and successful tradition in camogie it seemed unlikely that the hurling club venture would work.   In the hurling heartland of the south-east, south-west and deep south you'll often see school children weighed down with a bag of books on their back and swinging a hurl in their hand.   In Philipstown the boys saunter in with a soccer or gaelic ball under their arm.  With a hurling tradition in Co. Louth that cannot compete with the Kilkennys and Tipperarys; a tiny number of coaches to assist in developing the game; the domination of gaelic football and soccer - it seemed a sporting bridge too far to breach.     And there is the skill factor - it would require some considerable input of patience and determination on the part of the children themselves if they were ever going to acquire a standard of which they could be proud and enjoy the game.


What no-one had thought about was the fact that the hurling itself weaved its own magic at the Kevin's grounds.   The children became enthusiastic about the game from the start.  Those children who had decided not to join the hurling club were persuaded by the other children that it was "fantastic".   With some of the more accomplished camogie players joining the hurling training sessions there was a real buzz about the hurling club from the beginning.   This year an invite was extended to children in other gaelic clubs who do not play hurling to try out the game at the Kevin's Club.  This has resulted in children up to six miles away travelling to training on a Wednesday evening at 6 pm.


Last summer some of the Kevin's players attended cul camps in counties where the hurling tradition is very strong.  Obviously there is some distance between the standards in say, Cork and Louth, but nothing that a lot of practice and a strong standard of intra-club competition in the county wouldn't eliminate.   


On Friday, 6th May the Fechins hosted a juvenile hurling blitz between themselves, Mattock Rangers and the Kevins.   The Kevins beat Mattock Rangers but were beaten by the Fechins themselves (who have some players fulfilling their great potential).  As usual the grounds at the Fechins were immaculate, and the organisation of the event first-class.   Unlike the gaelic football which tends to have tense parents glowering at their children when they don't meet parental expectation, muttering under their breath, and digging their hands deep in their pockets with frustration at fouls and wides there is an altogether more relaxed atmosphere at the hurling.   Maybe this is because the children are playing the game for sheer enjoyment and fun, and parental expectation is (bluntly) non-existent.  It all looks a bit scrappy and messy, but no one can deny that the kids really love it.  They're upset at the end of the blitz; no more teams to play.  When they get home they point out that children in hurling counties have a hurling wall at the gable end (a windowless wall) and that they should be allowed to hurl against the gable wall of their house!  And so the summer sound of thud, thud, thud, crash begins....
 

Again, last year, on 6th July St. Kevin's brought their brand new hurling team to play in Croke Park (where a superior Newbridge comprehensively beat them!) at a Croke Park Club Day.   The fact of being at Croke Park on the ACTUAL PITCH  was a thrill for the Kevin's children; lots of grannies and grandas showed up too, there were plenty of photos taken and it was a wonderful experience for all who attended.


So, despite all of the odds being stacked against a hurling club succeeding in mid-Louth, the very opposite has happened.   The children love hurling, and Wednesday evening is keenly anticipated in many households in Philipstown.   I am absolutely certain from all I have witnessed that geography is everything; if our children had been raised in hurling counties they'd never be attracted to soccer and gaelic.   Hurling is something special.  It is as much an art form as a sport and it gets under your skin in a way that other games don't.  

Long may the St. Kevin's hurling club continue.  If our great friends and rivals Lannleire set up a hurling club too, the clatter of hurls on the street would promise great clashes indeed!