Report by Adrian Ronan
After winning the U16 Roinn B double in 2014 our goal to compete in Roinn A was the challenge facing the Minors of 2016. As a group we had serious expectations of achieving while acknowledging that maybe the Minors of 2016 were maybe a little too young and light.
Our first matches in the League pitted us against favourites O’Loughlins, losing by -2pts and Dicksboro losing by -8pts—-poor start.
We turned it around in Tom Ryall Park mid April against Thomastown with our first win of 2016.
The exam break allowed us to regroup and focus on winning our next two matches after exams but we lost narrowly to Lisdowney -2pts and then hurled poorly against James Stephens where we were beaten by 9pts.
The loss of a few key players to holidays and injury didn’t help our cause.
Further losses to Danesfort -2pts and Ballyhale -3pts and a win v Mooncoin finished our 2016 league.
While disappointed to go down to the city teams we were quite pleased to have been hugely competitive against the country teams with no more than 2 points separating the different teams.
All matches could easily have went the other way!
However the challenge of been the best country Minor team in 2016 didn’t materialise so we all felt disappointed.
Minor championship 2016 was wide open as most teams had their moments in the league and all quietly fancied their respective chances in the championship.
We were pitted against Ballyhale Shamrocks (eventual champions) and gave ourselves every chance going into the fixture. However, the concession of two early goals killed the team, selectors and supporters and we were left chasing the game to the end. The effort and commitment shown by all in Callan was commendable but not rewarding. Sometimes we all learn more in defeat than we do in victory. We took some heart when we saw Ballyhale Shamrocks going on to win the county Final in style. Pity to lose but on a scoreline of 4-9 to 1-9 we were second best. We fought until the end never letting ourselves or the jersey down.
Great bunch of lads who hurled with huge commitment and character all year.
Huge thanks to all especially John Hoyne, Johnny Ronan, Tom Hogan, Bill Ryan and Adrian Ronan. To Maurice, Dr John Cuddihy, Philomena Brennan, Eamon Butler and Dave O’Neill please take a BOW!!
To the lads moving on from Minor to adult hurling keep it going and enjoy the journey. There will be great days ahead make sure your part of it!
Minor Panel 2016: Bill Cuddihy, Alan Corcoran. Geordan Davis, Dylan Lanigan, Colum Prendiville, Evan Walsh, Jamie Lawlor, Conor Flynn, Sean Ryan, Ciaran Hogan, David Maher, Tommy Ronan, Peter Murphy, Jesse Roberts, Ger Doheny, Tom Dunphy, Luke O’Brien, Killian Egan, Alan Wall, Aaron Brennan, Adam O’Brien, Simon O’Dwyer, Finn Lanigan, Eamon Corcoran, Stephen Keoghan