Under 14
Clane Juvenile Hurling
Last Update: July 22nd
Team Name: Clane U14 Hurling
Next Match: Sun 18th July Leixlip v Clane (St Conleths Park, Newbridge) 11:45am
Team Competitions to date: Winners of U12 County Blitz in 2009.
Mentors: Michael Hyland 0862403731
James Healy 0872559856
Team Captain: Oisin McKenna
Training Schedule: Sunday Mornings 11am – 12:30pm Clane GAA
Wednesday Nights 6:45pm – 7:45pm Clongowes wood College
Player/Panel List: Liam Casly, Brian Corbett, Conor Crowley, Jonathan Donnelly, Adam Donovan, Mark Doyle, Kieran Flaherty, Niall Flynn, Brian Giffney, Eimhin Gillman, Brian Healy, Robbie Hyland, Paddy Jordan, Cormac Judge, Luca Lehane, Tadhg Lonnergan, Donal Martin, Jack McCreevey, Brian McLoughlin, Oisin McKenna, Philip Mylod, Liam O’ Brien, Ethan O’ Donoghue, Oisin O’ Driscoll, Owen O’ Loughlin, Colm O Sullivan, Cormac Palmer, Robbie Phillips, Caolan Smith, Ryan Sullivan, Alan Watson.
Teams Recent History:
Current Match Schedule: League Div 2
Fri 28th May Clane 4-11 v Kilcock 1-07
Fri 11th June Leixlip v Clane (away) 7pm
Fri 2nd July Eire Og v Clane (away) 7pm
Sun 11th July Clane v Naas (home) 7pm
Team Goals: To perform to it’s capabilities in the Kildare Feile competition.
Additional Information or general comments:
Team Photo:
(Click to enlarge)
Latest Match Report:
CLANE 6-03 Leixlip 1-01
St. Conleths Park, Newbridge was the venue for this Division 2 title decider involving Clane and Leixlip. These two sides have served up some pulsating battles over the last few years and with Clane being forced to line out without the inspirational Liam O’ Brien and Brian Healy, it looked like being a big ask for the young men of Clane. Having already captured the U12 and U16 titles over the past five weeks, it was then left to the U14’s to complete the hatrick of titles. During the past number of weeks, this panel has put in alot of hard work under their coaches Michael Hyland and James Healy and were quitely confident of pulling off an upset as the game approached.
Straight from the throw in, Clane hurled with an intensity to which Leixlip had no answer.Facing into a stiff breeze and light rain for the opening thirty minutes Clane were much quicker to settle with Paddy Jordan, Caolan Smith and Robbie Phillips all going close in the opening five minutes. When the breakthrough came in the sixth minute, it was spectacular. The towering figure of Oisin O’ Driscoll at centre back raced forward and delivered a speculative ball into the 13 metre line. Robbie Phillips fielded cleanly over the head of the full back, turned and blasted to the roof of the net. Leixlip were then on the scoreboard with a pointed free from Cathal Dervan. This was followed almost immediately down at the other end by a fine goal from Paddy Jordan. He latched on to a clearance 8 metres out and first timed it back into the bottom corner. As the first half progressed, Ethan O’ Donoghue and Ryan Sullivan established a firm grip in midfield which they controlled for the entire contest. Sullivan’s workrate was phenonemal as he completely outshone his more illustrious opposite number.Caolan Smith was very unlucky on 14 when his goalbound rasper was turned around the post by Travers. From the resultant 65 by O’ Driscoll, Ethan O’ Donoghue fielded and sent one of his trademark drives past the Leixlip netminder.
A gap was beginning to open and with both wing men, Cormac Palmer and Jack McCreevy tormenting their opposite numbers, there was to be no let up in the supply. Liam Casly lined out on the 40 and gave one of his great displays covering every blade of grass in St Conleths Park. His hunger for ball and contest seemed to inspire all around him and on this occasion it was simply relentless. The final act of the first half saw the ball end up in the Clane net from another Dervan free.Perhaps a little lapse in concentration although the wind had increased considerably in the five minutes previous. Ironically, it only seemed to inspire Clane to an even greater effort on the resumption. Half time Clane 3-01 Leixlip 1-01.
Cormac Judge was never under too much pressure in the Clane goal although he was called into action on a few occasions particularly in the opening period. He dealt capably with the best Leixlip efforts and pucked out pretty smartly also. In a game largely controlled by Clane, every man had his shoulder to the wheel when the call came. From the full back line where Niall Flynn had one of his finest outings in a white jersey repeatedly fielding and coming away to clear. At full back was the captain and leader Oisin McKenna with his no nonsense style of play clearing any sign of danger and seeing off a number of opponents over the hour. In the other corner, the stoutly built Ciaran O’ Flaherty hurled as if his life depended on it and his ability to cover ground and attack ball is evidence of the effort this young man applies to his training sessions. That full back line was the platform on which the rest of the team performed.
The second half was only three minutes old when Caolan Smith was rewarded for his efforts giving the keeper no chance from close in. This was preceded by a pointed free from Cormac Palmer following a foul on himself as he raced into the danger zone. If any player deserved to score over the hour it was Liam Casly. He was rewarded on 43 with a fine point to leave it 4-02 to 1-01. With Robbie Hyland giving a performance of sheer defiance at wing back making little of those who only appeared taller than him, one’s mind couldn’t help recall some of hurlings great number 7’s – Eugene Coughlan (Offaly), Dermot McCurtain (Cork), Gerry McInerney (Galway)!
With 10 minutes remaining Robbie Phillips got his second when the defence were slow to clear. Mr. Phillips doesn’t have to be asked twice to take those one’s. One player over the hour who was simply outstanding was a young man with a lifetime of experience – Eimhin Gillman at right half back. That was surely epitomised by one moment of class for this writer and I’m sure for all those present midway through the opening half. Having pulled off the perfect block down of a ball, his hurley disappeared through the air. He didn’t follow it’s flight but instead hunted down the sliotar and chipped a booted pass into the path of Ethan O’ Donoghue who dispatched to safety 70 metres away.
Other inspirational moments from a great day – the catch by Oisin O’ Driscoll in the first half before he left everybody standing, the two distance solo runs by Cormac Palmer that were unlucky not to yield a score, the superb double save by substitute goalkeeper Mark Doyle who returned from Wexford for the match, Robbie Phillips first goal. It was difficult to place one player above another on a day when all were stars. When Jack McCreevy finally came ashore on 40 minutes having been ill in the lead up to the game, he was replaced by a firebrand – Brian Corbett. This lad was unlucky not to start in some position and for any coach who has the opportunity to work with this sportsman – it’s a pleasure. He just wants to learn. Tadhg Lonergan made a late appearance to freshen up the attack and ensure there was to be no let up from the Men in White on the day. With the game well and truly beyond Leixlip in the closing stages, Ethan O’ Donoghue finished off a fine hours hurling by tagging on another 1-01 to leave the final score Clane 6-03 Leixlip 1-01.
With such a large panel of players which is the key to a successful team, special mention must go to men like Adam Donovan, Dara McKeown and Conor Crowley who did not make it on to the field of play on Final Day but all played a big part in the earlier rounds of the league which gave us the opportunity to contest the final. A word of congratulations also to joint coaches – Michael Hyland and James Healy – who had the team in excellent shape; a fact reflected on the scoreboard!
