Under-11’s pipped at the post in Pat Walsh Memorial tournament
Our Under 11s took part in the Pat Walsh Memorial Tournament at the splendid Downs GAA facility on Sunday, competing in four tough matches against the hosts, and teams from Meath, Longford and Offaly in Group B. The lads gave it their all and by virtue of finishing second in their group, they competed for The Downs 125 Cup, where they were beaten by a hard-as-nails St Vincents from Offaly.
The lads got off to a flyer against Killoe Og from Longford, going 3-1 up in a few minutes with a great Caolán Murphy goal the pick of the early scores. The lads went 5-1 up courtesy of Carl Keane, Pau Dooley and Zach Gilbride scoring a few outrageous long range points. Dominating from midfield, they should have gone clearer by the Longford boys made a comeback and it was 5-3 at half time. It would have been more only for some great brave defencing from Kian Newcombe. Dylan Conlon and Eddie Leavy put a few more scores on the board, and John Cleary made one of the saves of the tournament towards the end. James Casey put a cap on a gfreat first game at the very end, making it 8-4 to Shamrocks.
Everyone present will remember the second Shamrocks game of the day for a long time to come. It was tough, pulsating, edge-of-your-seat stuff from the throw-in, ultimately going to the last wire. Meath’s Clann na nGael went 2-0 up after a tense opening few minutes before brothers Pau and Sean Dooley got Shamrocks back with a point each. Meath took the lead with Josh Burke pegging them back, then Meath went out again, before Zach Gilbride pegged them back. After half time the Meath lads went two-up, before Zach Gilbride struck an incredible point. Meath would have gone further ahead only for John Cleary’s goalkeeping, and there then followed a marvellous closing spell, with that man Gilbride levelling the scores. A draw would have been a fair result by Shamrocks never stopped working. Every man from back to front went for it, and ultimately with the very last kick of the game, Aaron Smith struck a beaut of a winning goal, to put Shamrocks 7-6 up.
The Downs were up next, and after a tense start the hosts slipped ahead. Great defending from Dylan Hanley, Evan Palmer, Cian MacNamee and Sean Dooley kept them at bay, and Eddie Leavy and Pau Dooley put lovely scores on the board for Shamrocks, but it was 7 – 3 to the hosts at half time. The Downs played fantastic football, and despite pressure by Shamrocks they couldn’t get past the orange and black wall. The hosts ran out 12 – 4 winners, and topped the group with Shamrocks a very respectable second place.
Shamrocks were against St Vincent’s from Offaly in the second place final. Vincents had obliterated Northern Gaels 22-3 and Coralstown-Kinnegad 15-3 in their opening group matches and the Offaly lads proved to be very tough, forward driving opponents, never stopping. Shamrocks could barely get a sniff of the ball up front, thanks to some great defending, and despite a fierce brave performance by Shamrocks they went down 15-4 in the final. The lads were brave to the end, and even a strong bench drawn from our U10s couldn’t break down the Offaly lads.
The main final was between The Downs and JK Brackens of Tipperary. It may be a long way to Tipperary, but they had silverware to keep them company after beating the hosts 13-5.
Full tribute must be paid to The Downs for an incredibly well run tournament. Their facilities are top notch and the professionalism of the tournament organisers, the referees and those on hand to feed and water the masses must be acknowledged. Their generosity also must be noted with an after-match reception that lifted the spirits of all those who didn’t bring home any silverware.
Shamrocks squad:
John Cleary; Carl Keane; Zach Gilbride; Cian McNamee; Dylan Hanley; Sam Hunt; Sean Dooley, Pau Dooley; Eddie Leavy; Kian Newcombe; Josh Burke, Aaron Smith, James Casey; Evan Palmer; Caolán Murphy; Conor Peyton; Donnacha Doyle; Dylan Conlon.
Coaches: Garret Doyle, Ronan Leavy, Murty Hanley, Ronan Casey, Tom Keane and Ultan Smith
