16/03/03 St. Johns Minor Hurling Trip to Castleton Co. Laois

Club News

St. Johns minor hurling team headed off to the De La Salle Monastery in Castleton Co. Laois on Friday the 14th of March. A panel of 18 Minors traveled down with Liam Donnelly, Andrew McCallin, John McCallin and Joe McCallin, we had a few members of the panel who were McClarnon cup tied, some working and some didn't bother. We arrived at the Monastery at 10.30 and our hosts greeted us with a welcome cup of tea and some biscuits after which everyone headed for bed.

The following morning we all got up at 8.00 a.m. and trained for an hour before breakfast, having access to handball alleys proved a big success and it is easy to see how facilities such as these can improve hurling skills. After breakfast we packed our gear and headed for Thurles where we had a game lined up with Thurles Sarsfields.

Match 1 - St Johns 4-8 Thurles Sarsfields 3- 9

	St. John's
	K. McGlinchey
C. McCurdy	N. Rooney	P. McGarrity
C. Maskey	N. McCallin	C. McFall
	J. Meade P. Begley
S. McCrory	N. Sadler	D. Hartigan
B. McFall	A. McConnell	J. Peoples
(Subs: Paul Gribbin, Conor McStein, Kevin Kennedy)

The Team was:

The game was played at a very fast pace and right from the off you could tell that this game was going to be close. Great credit must be given to both sets of players, as the game was played in a great spirit with both teams only interested in the ball.

The back line was very secure and driven on by Niall McCallin and Noel Rooney provided plenty of ammunition for our forwards and Conal Maskey, Colm McFall and Ciaran McCurdy weighing in with excellent performances, although the defensive performance of the day would have to go to Peter McGarrity who punched way above his weight nullifying the nippy corner forward he was lining and playing the shirt off his back. Our midfield pairing of John Meade and Peter Begley just shaded this department with Peter doing most of the donkey work with endless running and blocking, hooking and generally the unglamorous aspects of hurling which if undone lead to defeat. John Meade produced a classy performance, won some excellent ball, which he distributed with great style.

The forwards all contributed to a fine game and Simon, Niall and Dermott ensured that a fair percentage of the ball moved on to the inside forward line with Aiden (1-0) Jim( 2-4) and Barry(1-2) all scoring. The 'Goal of the Game' was scored by Barry McFall who won a ball that came through to him - turned, beat his man and walloped it off the underside of the bar and into the back of the net.

This report may appear to be one sided but the opposition where in front for most of the game with St. Johns battling at all times to stay with Thurles. Niall McCallin had a great battle with his opposite number and Noel Rooney having a similar encounter, we didn't have it all our own way up front either with Simon McCrory having to show his mettle against a tenacious Tipp wing back. All in all this was a super game of hurling and of great benefit to all concerned and the score finished St Johns 4-8 Thurles Sarsfields 3- 9. Thurles Sarsfields laid on a super spread afterwards and we were shown around their Trophy room by club member Pat O'Shea, Thanks also to Lenny and Ken Doherty for putting the game on for us despite the fact that the Club had had tragic news about the death of one of the juvenile members of Durlas Og. Our Sympathies go to the young man's family and also to the Club. After saying our goodbyes we headed back to base camp to prepare for our game against Coolderry (Offaly) the following day.

Match 2 - St. Johns 3-7 Cooldery 1-10

	St. John's
	K. McGlinchey
K. Kennedy	N. Rooney	P. Gribben
C. Maskey	N. McCallin	C. McFall
	J. Meade P. Begley
S. McCrory	D. Hartigan	J. Peoples
C. McStein	A. McConnell	B. McFall
(Subs: C. McCurdy for K. Kennedy, N. Sadler for A. McConnell, P. McGarity for Paul Gribbin)

The was Team was:

Sunday 16th of March again we had an early start with our game set for 11.00 a.m. at Coolderrys pitch - this is approx 15 miles from Birr and Cooldery have won the last three Offaly minor hurling championships and have great hopes again this year. The less said about the first 30 minutes of this game the better but it would be fair to say that Coolderry gave us quite the runaround with a style that would have reminded you of Dunloy in their pomp with excellent support play the order of the day. Perhaps the whole weekend was catching up with us but one thing that cannot usually be leveled at this group is that they always try to the bitter end.

After a stern talking to at half time during which certain anatomical features where called into question and a few switches where made the team took to the field again and what a difference 10 minutes can make! Trailing Coolderry 0-8 to 0-1 St Johns set about the opposition with renewed vigor and got the first point and started to bombard their goal but tragedy would have appeared to have struck when Coolderry goaled with 10 minutes gone. Many teams would have packed it in at this stage but St. Johns never say die spirit was in evidence and gradually the tide turned with score after score going over and in at the other end.

With about 5 minutes left St. Johns hit the front and maintained that to the end. This was truly a marvelous result and effort as the team looked dead and buried before half time. The back line again gave a disciplined display with Conal Maskey and Colm McFall dependable as ever, never giving away needless frees and trying all the way. Niall McCallin gave a steady display throughout with Noel Rooney really driving us forward in the second half. Our midfield pairing had a tough first half and found themselves under severe pressure but great credit to the lads with an awesome performance in the second half driving us forward at every opportunity and John Meade scoring a superb point after a sixty yard run off his left hand (hard to believe I know but I seen it with my own eyes).

The forwards again had a tough examination but they all tried very hard and after the first half display must have been pretty deflated but once the tide had turned and the chances presented themselves nobody hid. Dermot Hartigan had a great hour despite having a few Dermot Moments ( it's hard to tell he has ginger hair under that hat perhaps we should put a sign on it to warn opponents) Jim Peoples, Barry McFall, Simon McCrory all got on the score sheet and Niall Sadler did a great job of disrupting the fullback when he was introduced at half time. Conor McStein on his first game for the minors deserves a mention and Kevin Kennedy more renowned as a footballer (and chat up line merchant) and Paul Gribben who tried their hearts out. The game finished on a scoreline St. Johns 3-7 Cooldery 1-10.

Thanks again to Coolderry and especially Joe O' Connor and Dermot for taking the game and they had a lovely spread on at a local pub which was much appreciated by all.

On Behalf of the selectors I would like to thank Joe McCallin and John for making themselves available for the trip, to all the members of the panel, and to Bro Columba in the De La Salle Monastery for providing a perfect base.

Is Mise

Liam Donnelly
Andrew McCallin
Brenden McQuillan