U12 Trip to Croke Park
Date: Sunday12th October 2014
Thanks to Darren for compiling this report
Both Eire Og and Saint Brigids were chosen to play go games at Headquarters and this meant we were able to bring a grade total of 26 juvenile players to the hallowed turf of Croke Park.
Gerard’s carefully planned itinerary was almost put in jeopardy when one family who will remain nameless arrived with seconds to spare!. After this close shave the coach doors were closed and we started the drive towards head quarters. Toirealach, Sean and JP lead the way with the singing from the back rows and the levels began to rise when the players seen the first glimpses of the magnificent stadium that is Croke Park.
On arrival both teams were registered and Gerard and John finalised the team lists. The players were then brought into the changing rooms and warm up areas in the Cusack Stand and several photos were taken off the nervous but excited players. Then came the signal that every player who has ever played gaelic sports wants to hear when the doors were opened and the players were allowed to run onto the pitch with the sound effects of 80,000 supporters ringing in our ears.
The Eire Og team’s schedule was to play 2 games against Loch Mor Dal Gcais and Belfast Side Sarsfields with the Saint Brigid team due to play North Antrim sides Glenravel and Rasharkin. Both teams played brilliant hurling over the course of the 4 games and there was some fantastic hooking and blocking similar to the All Ireland Final which had played on the same turf several weeks earlier. There were also several excellent scores including 2 side line cuts from Connla and Shane and goals and points from Andrew, Brendan, Connla, Jack, Ronan, Sean, Shane and Toirealach but special mention must go to Brian, David, Fintan, Niall, Pearse and Zack who all got scores today and are still U10. Other U10s who played brilliantly today were Conlan, Oran and Owen and did not look out of place which is reassuring for the future of Brid Og hurling. At the end of the games the players had recorded 4 victories from the 4 games played.
After the games the players were given a tour of this great stadium and they were brought to the seats at the very top of the Hogan Stand close to the where myself and Pearse had watched the All Ireland hurling replay several weeks earlier and it brought back great memories. There was also time for the players and mentors to walk around the museum and take part in the various fun activities. After the museum visit our time at Headquarters was over but Gerard’s itinerary included a stop off at the Appleg
reen just outside Dublin for a well earned burger or snack to round off a perfect day.
Thanks
I would like to thank both Kieran and Paul for organising these games at the home of the GAA. Thanks to Gerard, John and Oliver for organising the coach, squads and itinerary. Thanks to both John’s, Ciaran, Gavin, Gerard, Tara and Colm for helping with the teams and tour of the stadium. Thanks to our players parents and family who travelled to the games and I hope they were impressed and entertained by the spectacle of hurling performed by the players. Finally, I hope the players enjoyed their time on the hallowed turf. For several of our younger players this was there first time in the stadium so hopefully the squad will all have some great memories of their visit. It must also be mentioned that for some of our older players this will be their last time to play at Croke Park at Under 12 level but I am sure this will not be the last time they will play at HQ.
Saint Brigids Squad
Brian, Chris, Dylan, Fintan,JP, Niall, Oisin, Owen, Pearse, Ronan, Shane,Toirealach,Zack
Eire Og Squad
Andrew, Brendan, Conlan, Connla, Daire, David, Diarmaid, Jack, Luke, Martin, Oran, Paudraig, Sean
