U14 Féile Trip to Mallow

Post date: Jun 30, 2014 10:0:10 PM

After an early start and a long drive from Edenderry, we played our first game against Moyle Rovers from Clonmel. We looked very sluggish in this game and were lucky to be level at half time. We made things very hard on ourselves by leaking two very soft goals early in the second half. We were 6 points down with 5 minutes to go and it looked we were dead and buried. The boys showed great determination and team spirit to claw out a draw with two great goals in the dying minutes of the game. This was a game we should have won easily but you would have to be very proud of the way the lads refused to give up and earned the draw.

Having seen some of the Glanmire vs. Legion game, we knew that we would get an even stiffer test from a big and skilful Glanmire team. We asked the lads to up their work rate and that is exactly what they did for the first half . They produced a brilliant display of teamwork and effort and we were unlucky to be only a point down at half time. Unfortunately, things did not go well for us in the second half. The game was still in the melting pot when we lost Alan Harte to an injury. We leaked a couple of scores while we were trying to re-organise the team and get the subs onto the field. With only 15mins a half, we just didn't have enough time to stage another comeback and ended up losing by 6 points. That score definitely did not do us justice and I would fancy our chances if we were to meet them again.

We asked the lads to give everything they had in our final game against Killarney Legion. We felt that we had only played in patches and didn't to want finish the day without a big performance. Unfortunately, we didn't get that in the first half. They were probably a little deflated knowing that they could not qualify for the final but they produced a very poor display in that 15 minutes (even though they were a goal up). They got a bit of an ear bashing at half time and it seemed to do the trick. They produced a fantastic display of attacking football in the second half to build up a big lead. They did give us a few nervous minutes at the very end by leaking a few soft goals but we managed to hold out for a 5 point lead

After watching Carbury easily win the final, we retired to the Complex for some grub and some well-earned liquid refreshment for the parents/mentors. The kids spent the evening in the indoor astro-turf field knocking lumps out of each other in a game of SKINS vs SHIRTS. For those unfamiliar with the concept, this is where one team plays shirtless and the other wears their shirts. While not wanting to name any names, a certain player ( a proven goal scorer that stands about 6ft tall) did take things a little far when he proceeded to remove his trousers and shoes for the game also. Most people tried to get some sleep around 4am but a couple of hardy boyos stayed awake long enough to drive poor Bill Farrell out to his car with sleeping bag and blow-up bed under his arm.

As a management team we are very happy with this event. The mallow GAA complex is fantastic and we were treated very well by all their staff. At the same time we learned a lot about our team that will stand to us when we get to the championship in two weeks’ time. The lads themselves now know that they are as good as any team around, not just those in Offaly. In the last few weeks we have played teams from Kildare, Westmeath, Laois, Cork, Tipperary and Kerry and have won more than we lost. If we can cut out some of the defensive lapses and work hard for each other, then we are capable of beating any team on our day. That is the attitude we need to take into the next few months. If we do, then we firmly believe that there is a championship in this team this year.

I would like to thank the kids for their fund-raising efforts over the last few weeks. It is never easy to ask kids to raise money but i hope it was worth it for all of them. I'd also like to thank Colm, Willie and Lisa for their support. Finally, I'd like to thank Bill Farrell, James Lowry, Paul Cox and Ken Slevin for their help in Mallow….Ken Breen U14 Manger