The inaugural running of the Mary Moroney U16 Hurling tournament was on Saturday last in Anner Park Cloneen. It was a festival of hurling. The tournament consisted of four teams: Anner Gaels(St. Pats/Fethard), Silvermines, Moneygal and Gortnahoe.
The first game kicked off at 11am with Anner Gaels against Moneygal. A young Moneygall team put it up to the home side for long periods but the locals kicked on to secure the win. It finished Anner Gaels 1-09, Moneygall 0-02.
The second semi final was a closer affair between Silvermines and Gortnahoe with the lead changing hands right up to the final whistle. The hurling was crisp from both sides with a number of players catching the eye in particular the Gortnahoe midfielders. But the North side came to the fore in the end and cliched the game by a single score, it finished Gortnahoe 1-06 Silvermines 1-07. It was a very entertaining game.
So it was Gortnahoe and Moneygall into the shield final and Anner Gaels and Silvermines into the Cup final.
As is the ‘norm’ on big GAA days, the little ones have to get their chance. Before the finals commenced, we had St.Pats and Fethard hurling an U8 and U10 ‘exhibition game’ while the spectators grabbed the tea and sandwiches. These games got some of the biggest cheers of the day. Both sets of players showed great skill and enjoyed the games immensely.
Primary games over, kids gone for refreshments, it was onto the business end of the day, both finals. The shield final was a fine game, with green flags in abundance. The young Moneygall lads really pushed the mid lads right to the end but Gortnahoe finished with the minimum to spare; Gortnahoe 2-8 Moneygal 3-4. Well done to both teams for a fine sporting game.
Anner Gaels and Silvermines faced off in the cup decider. Anner Gaels started well with a few early scores. The Anner Gaels half backs got a grip of the game from the outset with both Conor Clancy and Charlie Manton to the fore. Silvermines battled well and their goalkeeper Ross Fitzgerald pulled off a string of top class saves, he was very impressive. Anner Gaels were guilty of going for goal on too many occasions when points may have been the better option. Anner Gaels moved Aidan Buckley into full forward and this eventually paid dividends especially in the second half where he picked up a number of scores. It finished up Anner Gaels 4-07 Silvermines 1-06. Congratulations to both teams on another fine game of hurling.
Aidan Buckley(Anner Gaels) was man of the match in the Cup final and Jamie Moriarty(Gortnahoe) was man of the match in the shield final.
Overall it was a great days hurling(from 11am to 5pm), and was well attended by the local patrons. Thanks to the three U16 clubs for attending, Silvermines, Gortnahoe and Moneygall. Thanks to Fethard for bring out their U8s and U10s. A big thanks to everyone who made sandwiches, buns and cakes and to all who handled the catering for the day, it was excellent. The whole day was a fitting tribute to Mary Moroney.
Check out our flickr stream on the side for many more photos of the day.
St. Patricks GAA 