Club News
24/11/03 U-15 trip to
Clonlara Co. Clare (September 26th to 28th 2003)
| Our intrepid U-15 Hurlers set off for a coaching
weekend in Clonlara, Co.Clare from the 26th to 28th of September this
year. St. Johns had hosted the Clonlara U-14 Hurling team in 2002
in the Feile na Gael finals so it was a chance to catch up with a
few people, make new friends and teach the Clare men how to hurl! |
When we were hurlers!!
|
A party of 22 players and 4 mentors departed
Corrigan Park on Friday 26th September in our luxurious
52 seater coach ably captained by the jovial Peter McGarrity
(senior, aged 29). This coach even had a toilet - which
unfortunately didn't work...
We were met in the
middle of nowhere around 8:30pm that night somewhere in
Munster by the very nice Clonlara Secretary Mr Jimmy Browne.
(We impressed Jimmy that much that we never saw him again!!)
Jimmy guided us to our arranged point of contact 'The
Anglers Rest', Doonass, Clonlara, Co.Clare BAR, LOUNGE,
RESTAURANT, BED & BREAKFAST, where we were welcomed
with great warmth and a lovely supper by the good and
the great from Clonlara.
Johnnies man gets the ball away
|
With everyone allotted their host family it was
time for bed.
Our running order for the weekend began on the
Saturday morning with a 10:00am Challenge game with the Clonlara
U-15's which ended in a commendable draw for both sides.
|
CLONLARA 2:14 ST. JOHN'S 3:11
This was simply a game of two halves with
our hosts mistakenly believing that it would be a stroll
in the park. We managed to go in at the interval with
an impressive 9 point lead with some impressive hurling
from our central players, McFall, Caldwell, McGarrity
and McCrudden before Clonlara came storming back to nick
a draw at the end.
The Clonlara mentors were impressed with
our improvement and overall team play and team work.
St. John's Team (hurlless apart from the keeper)
St. Johns:
Substitutes:
St. Johns Scorers:
Clonlara Team
|
After lunch we returned to the GAA field Doonass, Clonlara where
we attended a Training Session under the guidance of Clonlara legends
Colm Honan, Eddie Horgan and Flan Hasket.
Colm was an All-Star for Clare in the 1980's and played in 5 Senior
Munster Hurling Finals during this period. He and Eddie are now
the Clonlara Senior hurling Management Team.
|
The 'legendary' Colm Honan and the
legendary' Flan Hasket (now with Parteen)
|
Colm and Flan instruct some young Johnnies during the session
|
I don't know what to say about Eddie & Flan…..I'm sure
they did great things to achieve legend status in Clonlara but they
should have boasted a bit and then I can write about it.
On a serious note our session was very informative, certainly gave
us new ideas and approach and all the players got a lot out of it.
Many thanks indeed!
|
After this afternoon session, we got ready
and made our way to the Ennis Road in Limerick where our
hosts had arranged our evening entertainment - a bowling
night! We had about 12 lanes and took over the whole complex.
No one from Clonlara I was told had a strike! and the
St John's teams were all successful and won all the Teddy
Bears!
We then returned to Clonlara for supper.
On the Sunday morning we had another challenge
game against The Clonlara U-15 Selection again at 10:00
am. We this time managed a 1 point win in an enjoyable,
friendly sporting encounter.
CLONLARA 2:06 ST. JOHN'S 2:07
Clonara forward tries to break through the Johnnies defence
Certainly this game was played at a less
competitive tempo but it nevertheless served up some excellent
individual performances. The usual suspects of McFall,
Caldwell McGarrity and McCrudden hurled well but well
assisted by Marty Elliott, Kevin Cunningham, Pat Gregory,
Aodh Hamilton and 12 year old David McGarrity. Goalkeeper
Ciaran McKissock put in an excellent performance in this
game and has now achieved ' Honorary Clonlara Legend Status.'
ST. JOHNS:
Sustitutes:
St. Johns SCORERS:
Manager:Mentors:
After the game there then followed a presentation
from the Chairman of Clonlara GAC of a beautifully inscribed
plaque and an inscribed Hurling stick to each of the players.
We then returned to the Anglers Rest, which is only about
a 200m walk from the pitch where our hosts provided us
again with dinner.
Clonlara Chairman and Flan Hasket present Johnnies U-15s with their hurls
After another presentation and more grand
words from the good and the great we departed at 1:30
pm and arrived at Corrigan Park at 7:00 pm after a 220.6
mile journey that evening.
We would like to sincerely
thank all those who supported our trip, the parents of
the players and our sponsors : Mr Gerard Robinson of DATADISPATCH,
Mr Kevin Winters Solicitors & Mr Jackie Kelly of HOMEFIT
Joinery Services.
We also wish to extend a
sincere thank-you to Clonlara G.A.C. for their most generous
hospitality in hosting the mentors in the 'Anglers Rest'
and for all the time and effort in organising a wonderful
weekend.
Mick and Peter chill out at the Angler's Rest
To all the host families and Clonlara organising
committee Jimmy Brown of Kilmore, Flan & Patsy Haskett
of Coolisteigue, Tim O'Shea & family of Mount Catherine,
Eddie Horgan & family, Colm & Maire Honan &
family of Clonlara Village, Sean & Marian O'Donovan
& family of Kildooras, Barney & Carmel O'Kane
& family of Roo East, Martin O'Neill & family
of Oakfield, Michael Clancy & family of Doonass, Paudie
Noonan & family of Lisduff, Jim Clancy & family
of Newtown , Tom & Veronica Dillion & family of
Bartleystown, Michael & Gertrude Clancy of Clonlara
and Michael Hogan we say a sincere thanks.
Clonlara legends discuss the art of hurley making with St. John's legend
Tommy Kelly
Some Funny Moments (in no
particular order):
