16 Hurling 2014 Overview

Post date: Mar 12, 2015 7:24:22 PM

The Mágh Cuilinn U16 hurling team completed their 2014 campaign on a high note with a comprehensive Shield Final victory against Kiltormer in Clarinbridge winning 3-13 to 0-04

The win was some consolation for U16 team that was competitive throughout the campaign but four games lost by very narrow margins meant they just missed out on qualifying for the Championship finals and a possible run in Connacht. In the early part of the season, the panel was made up of just 18 players with the U14 players concentrating on Feile and their own Championship success. Long term injuries away from hurling made two of the most experienced players, Kian McLochlann and Ciarán Scully unavailable for crucial games. Having kept their Championship hopes alive on the last day of June with a win over Ballygar, our U16 team travelled to Carnmore to try to secure a Championship play-off. A total of three players on holiday, four on the injury list and 5 ill or absent including 6 regular starters meant that a panel of 27 was left with the bare 15. Despite a valiant effort by a team sprinkled with U14s, the game ended 2-08 to 2-04 to Carnmore meaning Mágh Cuilinn now had to focus on the Shield competition. A semi-final match against Cois Fharraige proved just as tough as it had in the earlier Group match but Daniel Lydon broke through for a late goal and the team survived a late onslaught to win 3-11 to 3-07. In the final a personal first half tally of 1-05 for Shane Clancy, later named Man of the Match, put Mágh Cuilinn in the driving seat at halftime. After an early second half goal there was no way back for Kiltormer, and for the second year in a row, Mágh Cuilinn added Shield success to a Championship at underage level. Four points was most Mágh Cuilinn lost by in any game but whether winning or losing always had to cope without key players injury o due to injury or family holidays; and the first key to success is having all your players available when needed. A dedicated panel of 27 players competed in 11 games and can be pleased with their season. They show great potential for the future. The panel was:

Aaron Connell, Andrew McDonagh, James Dempsey, Tim McDonagh, Gareth Kenny, Daire Davoren, Micheál Joyce, Joe Lydon, Sean Barrett, Ger McDonagh, Daniel Lydon, Shane Clancy, Ceillan Leonard, Walter McDonagh, Daniel Faherty, Oran McLochlann, Kian McLochlann, Ciarán Scully, Neil Mulcahy, Tom O'Connor, Alan Carr, Evan Kenny, Cillian Clancy, Keith Carter, Fionn McDonagh, Owen Hester, Cillian Davoren.

They were coached and managed by Kenneth Fox, Martin Barrett, Hugo Molloy and Kenneth Clancy