Kilkenny News & Notes 23.06.2015

UNDER-12 FINALS

 

Last week was a huge week of finals for Kilkenny Ladies Gaelic Football with the Under-12 finals taking place in various venues. First up was the “B” Final which was an all Clara affair as the Greens and the Pinks shared the spoils in a competitive game played in front of a huge crowd in Clara. There could only be one winner and that was Clara Ladies Gaelic Football who as a country club found hugely deserved dividends in fielding two teams in the competition. The club is a little more than a year old and was born from a successful Gaelic4Girls scheme.

Next up was a double header in James Park with the “A” and “D” finals. In a week of firsts, an excellent performance by new club Dunnamaggin saw them take the “D” title and their first ever Ladies Gaelic Football county title when they beat Erins Own by 2-2 to 0-2. Erins Own have been a progressive club at all levels and are looking forward to representing Kilkenny in the Feile Peil Na Nog this weekend, but on this occasion they found the new girls too much to handle. Dunnamaggin are only in existence a few short months and were the product of a hugely successful primary schools team which grew through the Gaelic4Girls scheme and they now have even commenced Gaelic4Mothers and Others as the games popularity in the area rockets. This was followed by the two dominant juvenile clubs of Kilkenny Ladies Gaelic Football, Kilkenny City and Thomastown in the “A” Final. The City side who have the population advantage with huge numbers available to play won this against a brave Thomastown team that is always competitive by 5-11 to 3-2.

The third day of finals saw games return to a gloriously sunny Clara for the “C” and “E” finals. These two games turned out to be hugely competitive and entertaining games. The “E” final featured new juvenile club Railyard and Barrow Gaels. The first half was played at a tremendous pace up and down the field and with the advantage of the breeze, the Gaels led by 1-4 to 2-0 at the break. Most observers felt they needed to have a bigger lead. It was to be the case as Railyard’s ability to score goals efficiently saw them run out winners by 6-2 to 1-6. Railyard have a long history with Kilkenny Ladies Gaelic Football, but this is the first time they have fielded at this juvenile age group and therefore the club’s first ever juvenile county title. With many players underage next year, they are sure to be challenging at a higher grade. This was followed by the “C” final as last year winners Muckalee, aiming for back to back titles, took on Piltown who were in the competition for the first time. Piltown, with the breeze dominated the first half, but there was a lack of efficiency in front of goal. However, a goal, on the stroke of half time gave the southern club the advantage by 2-4 to 1-2. Piltown got a super start against the breeze with two quick goals on the restart. Muckalee responded with a point. The game looked like it would fizzle out, but then a spirited Muckalee side exploded into action with three goals in a five minute purple patch to leave it 4-4 to 4-3 in Favour of Piltown with five minutes to play. Piltown did not panic and finished the final five minutes outscoring the opponents by 2-2 to 0-0 to take their first ever Under-12 title by 6-6 to 4-3.

Overall it was a great week of girls Gaelic Football with about 200 girls taking part in the finals. The challenge for clubs will be to keep the players playing in the future amidst the many competitive distractions.

 

 

 

FEILE

 

Erins Own will represent Kilkenny in Feile Oeil Na Nog in Wexford this weekend. The Castlecomer side will be in based in Wexford and will  play  in Division 3 Group D. There matches at will be played at Pairc Gharman (Go into Wexford past the racecourse and turn left at the hospitals). Pitches for Faythe Harriers, Volunteers and Sarsfields.  On Friday at 5:45pm they play Glynn Barntown (Wexford). Then at 6:30pm they play Loughnavally (Westmeath) and then on Saturday morning at 11am they play Volunteers of Wexford.

 

 

UNDER-12 INTER-COUNTY BLITZ

 

Kilkenny fielded two teams in the Leinster Inter County Under-12 blitz held in Carlow at the weekend.

 

BLITZ NEWS:

 

New club Dunnamaggin will host an Under-12 blitz on Friday 26^th June.

 

 

COUNTY TEAM MANAGEMENT

 

Kilkenny County Board are seeking management teams for their 2016 county teams at Under-14, Under-16 and Minor. Interested parties should contact chairman Joe Fox (087 9504041) on or before 26^th June.   The county board is particular interested in including females in the management teams