It was a bright and sunny morning in Castleblayney last Friday as the u14 team met to begin their Féile 2019 weekend of hurling. Before boarding the bus bound for Cloughduv in Cork, the u14 panel met sponsors Elaine @PixiesWorld, Kingspan, Evelann’s Boutique, Declan Loughman Sport and Broomfield Construction for photography and well wishes from their families.

Greeted with warmth and hospitality by the hosts, the team warmed up under the watchful eyes of mentors Patrick McArdle, Kevin Moloney and Eddie Heavin. The first game at 5.30 that evening was against Millstreet of Cork and the team showed skill and tenacity, driving forward to win on a score line of 3.08 to 1.01. There was a slight delay beginning the next match against Bennettsbridge of Kilkenny and weariness began to show. Despite only falling behind by two scores at half time, the game ended with a comprehensive victory for the Kilkenny hurlers, who would go on to claim the Division 8 Cup title. The Bennettsbridge mentors spoke candidly to the ‘Blayney boys afterwards, focusing on the positives and the potential within the team.  

Saturday morning’s match against the host club, Cloughduv was a good–natured affair, highlighting all that Féile na nGael stands for -sportsmanship, skills, fun and friendship. It was a joy to see so many of the younger players getting time on the field to hurl for their club alongside their older team-mates. The score line, 2.06 to 0.2, meant that Castleblayney would go forward to the shield Quarter Final at Brinny against Wolfe Tones Óg of Longford later that afternoon. With every fibre of their being the young lads hurled in the green and gold, winning 1.05 to 1.1 and earning a semi–final place on Sunday at noon against local rivals, Naomh Moininne of Dundalk. In keeping with the Féile aspiration of community and camaraderie, on Saturday evening Cloughduv organized a big screen showing of the Cork Waterford game and a skills competition for the hurling and camogie teams being hosted. 

Bidding farewell to host parents on Sunday morning, for the team and travelling entourage of parents, all roads led to Inniscarra for the semi-final. Castleblayney Camogie Club made their way from Kerry to support the hurlers also. As if they were in Concra on a Monday night, the team systematically dismantled the Louth opponents, Naomh Moininne, and earned their place in the final on a score line of 3.02 to 2.1. The final against Ahan Gaels of Cork had a slight delay as the heavens opened and the mentors commented that it was just like in Golden, 3 years ago, when the current crop of u17 players (and one member of the 2019 Féile team), attained their All Ireland Title. Indeed, the heavy shower that delayed the play was a good omen. Just like 2016, the team ran out strong convincing winners (2.03 to 0.01) to claim their own All Ireland Title. Division 8 Shield Winners 2019. Late Sunday evening the team and mentors were welcomed home to Castleblayney by families, friends and senior hurlers, all delighted with this superb start to the Summer of hurling, 2019. 

Team: Noah Connolly, Cian Malone, Tristan Duffy, Tom Carey, Conor Burns, Jake McDonnell, Brion Sherry, Nathan McArdle, Charlie McQuillan, Canice Murphy, Shea Casey, Daniel Kerr, Ben McDonnell, Jason Clarke, Coehn McCabe, Liam Duffy,Timothy McArdle, Eoghan McGroder, Alfie Hughes, Fionn Mulholland, David lambe, Michael Meegan, Shane Miller, Tiernan Buckley, James Holden, James Shortt, Senan Hanratty, Shea Duffy, Padraic Carville. Mentors: Patrick McArdle. Kevin Moloney, Eddie Heavin.