Under 13
CLANE JUVENILE HURLING
Last Update: Nov 7th, 2010
Team Name: Clane U13 Hurling
Next Match: Season complete
Team Competitions To Date: Winners of U12 County Blitz 2009
Joint Winners U12 Div 1 Spring League 2009
Winners of U14 Div 2 Spring League 2010
Winners of U13 Div 1 Autumn League 2010
Mentors: Michael Hyland 086-2403731
James Healy 087-2559856
Team Captain:
Training Schedule: Sunday Mornings 11am - 12:15pm Clane GAA
Wednesday Nights 6:15pm - 7:15pm Clane GAA
Player/Panel List: Cormac Judge, Daragh McKeown, Ciaran O Flaherty, Adam Donovan, Brian Corbett, Eimhin Gillman, Robbie Hyland, Ethan O Donoghue, Liam Casley, Cormac Palmer, Brian Healy, Caolan Smith, Robbie Phillips, Colm O Sullivan, Paddy Jordan, Mark Doyle, Brian Giffney, Conor Crowley, Donal Martin, Jonathan Donnelly, Owen O Loughlin, Brian McLaughlin, Eoin Kelly, Robbie Wynne.
Current Match Schedule: Fri 27th Aug. Eire Og 4-08 v Clane 7-08
Fri 3rd Sept. Bye
Fri 10th Sept. Clane 8-15 v Naas 2 0-03
Sat 18th Sept. Clane 4-06 v Leixlip 0-03
Sat 2nd Oct. Naas 1 2-02 v Clane 3-04
Team Goals: Prepare to be genuine contenders for Feile 2011
Additional Information/Comments:
Team Photo:
(Click on photos to enlarge)
Foreign Trips! Well if it’s good enough for All Ireland Senior Hurling Champions to be treated to trips to Dubai and New York then Clane’s U13 county champions also deserved their breakaway. On Sunday 7th November, the panel travelled west to Cappataggle, Co. Galway and even if it was only for one day and no sun the lads had a great outing. When they arrived at the club they were met by Galway hurling goalkeeper James Skehill and county U21 star Alan Dolan. The two lads took the panel on a one hour coaching session at their wonderful facility. This was followed by a match against Cappataggle U13’s which ended all square so there has to be a replay back in Clane but not until the Spring when weather and pitch conditions permit. When the match was over, the lads attended a banquet laid on by the local GAA community in their club hall and that was greatly appreciated by all before we returned to Clane. Here are a few photo’s of the trip courtesy of Jason Doyle Photography:
Latest Match Report:
Clane 3-08 Leixlip 2-05
As the saying goes ’A week is a long time in politics’ – well likewise could be said of sport or certainly Clane’s U13 GAA players. From the bitter taste of defeat and it’s emotional trappings on Sunday last (Oct. 10) in the U13 Division 1 football decider came the elation for many of the same players just six days later when they were crowned Division 1 county hurling champions. The venue on this occasion was Maynooth GAA with Leixlip providing the opposition. It has to be said that the condition of the pitch was extremely disappointing and indeed most unsatisfactory for the hosting of a Division 1 final. Allied to that was the fact that – and not for the first time – we had no show from the appointed referee. We had a 45 minute delay to throw in and while both teams were affected equally somebody has got to respect that alot of time and effort goes into preparing teams nowadays and do something about ensuring that match officials take the field on time.
When proceedings did get under way, we were treated to a marvellous hours hurling – a ding dong struggle with one team on top, then the other and some marvellous scores. The large attendance was left breathless and nerves frayed as the two best teams in Kildare U13 hurling went head to head. It was the Clane lads who took the initiative and laid down the early marker. Ciaran O Flaherty, who has had a wonderful season, stormed out of the blocks and gave the Leixlip no.6 a torrid evening. With only two minutes on the clock, Flaherty raced onto a Brian McLoughlin clearance and sent a low delivery into a bang-in-form Robbie Phillips who first timed to the Leixlip net. Perfect start Clane. Phillips has had a great year on the edge of the opposition square and finished the season as the leagues top scorer.
It was literally blow for blow as three minutes later, Leixlip with their first meaningful attack had the ball in Cormac Judge’s net. Not alot he could do – a great goal. A settling down period was to follow as both defences attempted to get the measure of their opposite numbers and Leixlip began to up the pace. Brian Corbett and Robbie Hyland did particularly well in this phase as both men grew in stature for the remainder of the game dominating their positions and indeed a variety of opponents. Leixlip did, however, manage to pile on the pressure and were rewarded with a pointed free followed quickly by one from play.
The Clane side needed a steadying influence at this stage and it came from two men with vast experience for their tender years – full back Eimhin Gillman and no.8 Ethan O Donoghue. Both these lads were playing Feile hurling down in Offaly two and a half years ago – hard to believe they are still U13! Eimhin marshalled his defence superbly with yet another of that great Clane hurling family, Brian Giffney, benefitting from his encouragement in the left corner. Giffney gave a great display on a very tricky opponent. At the other end, the towering Paddy Jordan was a constant threat and a needless foul on him presented ace free taker, Brian Healy, with his first opportunity from the placed ball which he duly obliged with. Moments later another foul – this time on Caolan Smith – and Healy made it two from two in as many minutes. Before we had time to take a breath, the ref was awarding Leixlip a 20metre free in front of the Clane posts. Up stepped their free taker and bang – everybody still standing but the Clane net is shaking. Time for cool heads once moreand who better to provide than Ciaran O Flaherty with more than a little help from that most wonderful strikers of a ball – Cormac Palmer. A move which began with Colm O Sullivan at wing back, continued by Palmer and into the path of O Flaherty who gave a delightful pass to Robbie Phillips 25 metres out. He turned, advanced a few metres before sending a blistering drive goalwards. It was partially stopped by the keeper but he couldn’t prevent it entering the net such was the ferocity in the strike. All square again. Still time for more before the break. Another Clane point from Ciaran O Flaherty after Ethan O Donoghue had done very well to pick him out. Half time Clane 2-03 Leixlip 2-02.
Early second half switches saw Healy move to the corner and Smith to half forward. Both men benefitted enormously. Another man who was uncharacteristically quiet in the opening half, Liam Casly, roared into action. This young man wants to play everywhere and thankfully for Clane he did in the second half. That spirit made it’s way through the team as they began to take a vice like grip on proceedings. Alot of credit for this must go to a half back line that battened down the hatches.At no.6 Brian McLoughlin emerged time and again with ball in hand and his long raking clearances seemed to be breaking Leixlip’s spirit. To his right he had a real powerhouse, Colm O Sullivan, who lined out despite a very nasty injury picked up during the week – must be that Kerry bloodline! And what of that no.7, surely defiance personified. Robbie Hyland has made 
that position his own and on merit. Don’t stand in his way during a match seems to be his motto – I tried it once and I’m close to a full recovery now!
When Ethan O Donoghue made it 2-04 to 2-02 in Clanes favour five minutes after halftime, what followed was sustained Clane pressure for the next fifteen minutes. Clane put daylight between themselves and Leixlip to move 2-08 to 2-02 clear. It took a huge effort with Ciaran O Flaherty, Ethan O Donoghue and Robbie Phillips in particular throwing down the gauntlet. The second point of the half was probably the outstanding point of the game. Robbie Hyland cleared on the wing to Caolan Smith who incidentally was now hurling out of his skin. He released a beautifully timed pass to Ethan O Donoghue who collected while in full flight, raced clear and fired over from 40 metres. Minutes later it was the turn of scorer-in-chief Robbie Phillips pointing after creating the opportunity for himself. Point number seven came from the stick of Ethan O Donoghue who was now rampant and appeared to be getting stronger. As the contest entered the final quarter, the big question was could Clane keep up this intensity. Brian Healy was winning alot of ball inside and it was he who made it 2-08 to 2-02 from a placed ball after Cormac Palmer had been brought down.
Paddy Jordan who had run himself into the ground in that dominant period was replaced by Adam Donovan with twelve minutes to go. Adam brought freshness to the forward sector and fought a great battle in that closing quarter when defense was required high up the field. As the effort began to take it’s toll, Leixlip once more bounced to life with three unanswered points in a five minute spell. The game was back in the melting pot 2-08 to 2-05 with six minutes to go.
It was wave after wave from Leixlip but credit to all six backs and Cormac Judge, there was no way through. With three minutes left came the goal of the day. Liam Casly won possession out on the right, set Cormac Palmer away and when Robbie Phillips caught the ball and turned 30 metres out everybody was screaming to put it over. Robbie made up his own mind and smashed it away to the keepers right – an absolute belter and breathing space again. That made it 3-08 to 2-05. Two minutes later it was all over and Clane had claimed a first Division 1 underage hurling title since 1995. Maybe we can put that in perspective by saying that none of this winning panel were born when that happened! It must be mentioned that there’s a fine panel of players fighting for the starting fifteen places on this team and players like sub keeper Mark Doyle, Jonathan Donnelly, Conor Crowley, Robbie Wynne, Kevin Leonard, Owen O Loughlin, Donal Martin and Eoin Kelly are all very close to the mark making sure everybody stays on their toes. This competition for places can only ensure the standards are maintained as Feile 2011 approaches.
I’m sure nobody would disagree too much, least of all his colleagues, if special mention was given to one player – team captain Ethan O Donoghue. This young man gets pulled left and right to line out for different teams and takes it in his stride. A born leader who thrives in battle and every time he pulls on a jersey it’s yet another top class performance.Fitting then also that the trophy should be presented to Ethan by a man who gives and has given so much of his own time to underage hurling and football in our club for over a decade – the unassuming Limerick man Tony O Grady.
Finally, a word of praise to two men who are responsible for guiding this team along winning lines – Tipperary’s Michael Hyland agus as an nGallaimhe Seamus O Healaithe. Michael and James had this team in excellent shape coming into the final and one of the big differences on Final Day was a far superior ‘first touch’ – the foundation stone of all great hurlers.
Team: Cormac Judge, Brian Corbett, Eimhinn Gillman, Brian Giffney, Colm O Sullivan, Brian McLoughlin, Robbie Hyland, Ethan O Donoghue, Cormac Palmer, Liam Casley, Ciaran O Flaherty, Brian Healy, Caolan Smith, Robbie Phillips, Paddy Jordan. Subs: Adam Donovan for Jordan, Mark Doyle, Jonathan Donnelly, Conor Crowley, Robbie Wynne, Kevin Leonard, Owen O Loughlin, Donal Martin , Eoin Kelly.
2010 Div 1 Final Photo Selection:
