Report By Adrian Ronan
Graigue Ballycallan U16s were in Roinn A as a result of winning U16 Roinn B in 2014. Expectations for 2015 were high and the aim for the year was to be competitive.
We operated with a small tight panel as numbers are low towards other years, usually only togged with 19/20 when without the U13s.
With 12 teams in Roinn A League, we were in Group B, avoiding city teams O’Loughlins, Dicksboro, James Stephens and Naas. In our Group we had the best of the country teams Ballyhale, Thomastown, Mooncoin, Danesfort and Dunnamaggin.
After 10 weeks of core training in Ballycallan Hall under Stephen Delaney the boys were primed for the League in April.
First off on April 6th were Mooncoin in Mooncoin and after a slow start we pulled away with a victory 1-21 to 1-6.
Next up were Thomastown and after a great first half we went in at half time 1-12 to 4pts ahead. Alarmingly, within 10mins of the second half the match was back level. Questions were asked but luckily we pulled away 2-18 to 3-12.
20th April pitted us against Dunnamaggin in Dunnamaggin. After opening tough 10mins when the DUNNA lads hit us hard and early we stood up and gave our best display of the year. It was one of those days when everything went right on the night. This turned out to be the only time all year we played with a fully fit team. Final score 1-18 to 0-6pts
Now with 6pts after 3 games we could now consider the possibility of reaching a County Semi Final. Danesfort were up next and while struggling with injuries they asked serious questions of us but we pulled away in the end 6-21 to 4-10.
In early May, we were invited into James Stephens U16 Tournament. This turned out to be a huge turning point in this team’s year with two huge victories against the two city teams JAMES STEPHENS and DICKSBORO in the final. These victories made a few teams take notice of our genuine possibilities of doing well in 2015.
11th May was supposed to be the deciding match in the League v Ballyhale Shamrocks, here we showed great heart and character to draw level against an excellent team. We were now level on points so a replay was required to decide who reached County Final.
A break for Junior Cert exams meant little or no hurling for 6 weeks in May and June.
We returned back to U16 hurling when we were invited into the Erin’s Own Castlecomer Tournament, here short a few key players we needed to use our panel and particularly some of our younger U14 panelists.
After a great mornings work we won the Tournament and in doing so gave some great game time and experience to our younger panelists.
July 24th Replay v Ballyhale Shamrocks doubled as final League match and county League semi-final in Dunnamaggin. This turned out to be a great evening’s hurling with both sides again asking serious questions of each other. While we did most of the hurling we leaked 4 goals in the first half and went in level 2-7 to 4-1. Playing against the wind, up the hill and down Jesse we turned in a serious second half and held out for a great victory 2-14 to 4-5. We were now in the U16 Roinn A League Final v championship favourites O’Loughlins.
We went into the championship with a decent chance and with the usual honesty, hard work and some luck we gave ourselves a chance.
So versus O’Loughlins in Dicksboro on bank holiday Monday in August we hurled well for first 20mins but needed more luck around their goal. We were chasing the match against an excellent outfit and O’Loughlins deservedly beat us 5-12 to 13pts, the score line been a little unfair with O’Loughlins scoring 2 goals in last 5mins. We were shattered as a team and knew we were better than that performance so we promised that the League Final against same opposition would have to be way better.
O’Loughlins went on to win the championship beating all in front of them by sizeable margins.
A week after O’Loughlins winning the championship we faced them in the Roinn A League Final. The GBC boys gave a huge performance and with 5mins to go the match was level 1-11 a-piece. All over the field they lads played with huge heart and character. Sadly, O’Loughlins had more in the tank and while we made changes to try to win the game O’Loughlins pulled away scoring 2 goals on stroke of full time.
Final score 3-15 to 1-11.
What a year! We were competitive and all over the field different lads achieved huge personal goals.
Highlights of 2015, reaching the League Final, winning both James Stephens and Castlecomer tournaments, only beaten twice all year by the champions O’Loughlins, on both occasions we achieved and improved. The challenge remains the same as every year with this group to continue to improve and challenge ourselves to remain patient, positive and persistent.
Thanks to all, particularly to management team John Hoyne, Johnny Ronan, Tom Hogan and Adrian Ronan.
To Maurice Ronan, Philomena Brennan, John Cuddihy, Mary Keoghan, Paul Muldowney, Stephen Delaney and Eamon Butler take a bow!!
And of course the usual suspects our reliable umpires!
Under 16 Panel 2015: Stephen Keoghan, Ger Doheny, Conor Flynn, Luke O’Brien, Tommy Ronan, Jesse Roberts, Aaron Brennan, Killian Egan, Sean Ryan, Peter Murphy Tom Dunphy, David Maher, Adam O’Brien, Ciaran Hogan, James Everard, Oisin Egan, Eamon Corcoran, Alan Wall, Simon O’Dwyer, Finn Lanigan, Eoin Delahunty, John Muldowney and Paddy Brennan.