Ruairi Og Trip to Youghal 8th-10th July 2016
Our Under 13s travelled to one of Ireland’s most southerly Counties Cork competing for the Peter Butler Memorial Cup at Youghal’s Festival of Hurling.
Leaving the clubrooms at 11 am the boys arrived at a wet and misty Youghal round 8 p.m.
Saturday morning arrived with a hope of some fine sunny Cork weather but wet and mist greeted the day. Two Groups of 3 with Group 1 featuring Dicksboro of Kilkenny, Glen Rovers and the Home team, Youghal. Group 2 featured Ballygunner of Waterford, Sliabh Rua of Cork and our young Ruairi Og’s.
After a parade led by a lone piper and a rendition of Amhran Na bhFiann first up was Ballygunner. Playing against a stiff breeze the boys kept the half time score to a minimum. The second half was one way traffic with the Ruairis finishing on top on a score line of 2:08 to 1:04. Notable performers included Fiontan McQuillan who was outstanding in middle of park, the two McAllisters James and Daniel in defence and Padraig McKillop with a number of fine scores.
The second game was fast upon our boys with little break v Sliabh Rua and our boys were slow out of the traps with 4 down at break. With the elements in our favour and Ciaran Sharpe having the heart of a lion in second period our boys gradually came back into the game. An injection of youth including the two Birts, Michael Quinn, Killian McNaughton and Joseph McLaughlin added the needed impetus we came within a whisker of winning the game losing out on a score line of 1:03 to 1:02. So it was down to scoring difference to determine whether we were in the A or B Final as Ballygunner had won against Sliabh Rua.
We were confirmed in the A Final v Dicksboro who had looked very sharp in their group games winning with a bit to spare.
After a small break and some refreshments our boys went in as massive underdogs against Dicksboro who had comfortably topped their group. Our boys showed no fear from the off taking an early lead with a fine goal and Dicksboro knew they were in for a game. With Pierce McKeegan dictating play from the back and Shane McKenna outstanding in the half forward line our boys continued to ask questions of the Kilkenny team before losing out on a score line of 1:08 to 2 goals.
A weekend to remember despite losing a tight final we hope it will long in the memory for the boys and Youghal who treated us with such kindness.
Our boys behaved themselves impeccably and were a credit to the Club and their parents. The Trip would not have been possible without thanking a few including Alan Geary of Youghal, our Club for supporting the Trip, Sean Paul McKillop, Andrew Schnell, the community for supporting the Coffee morning and Sponsorship and most importantly the parents who came in their numbers and backed the trip.
Connel
The club would like to thank Connel Trainor for his report and photos and to all the volunteers involved in taking the lads to the spiritual home of Jamie Quinn (who was also on the trip).
I made the trip myself, and also went to the Clare v Limerick game on Saturday evening in Thurles and at the very wet Minor & Senior Munster Finals on Sunday, and I'm proud to say that the most competitive, enjoyable hurling all weekend was our young lads games in Cork especially the final with a very talented Dicksboro team. Thanks to our hosts for the invite and well done to the players, coaches, parents and all those who contributed to the fundraising for this great experience for our youth.
Martin Magee