Great Day Out For Under 8's
29 Under 8 Kilmacud players, 48 adults and 20 non-playing siblings descended on Oranmore at 11am on Easter Sunday 4th April 2010 for the start of what was a truly memorable day.
Brilliant sunshine welcomed the U8 Hurlers onto to the pitch in Oranmore and remained on their backs until the final act of the Kilmacud trip to Galway had concluded, at which stage the rain clouds which had been the only weather feature of the previous seven days rolled back in again.
When the fixture for the Dublin v Galway league tie in Pearse Stadium was announced for the Easter Week-end we set about making a day of it for the U8 hurlers. Pat Malone, a holder of two All-Ireland Senior Hurling medals with Galway (1987 and 1988) and currently the chairman of Juvenile Hurling with the Oranmore-Maree Club was delighted to have been asked to host Kilmacud Crokes.
Oranmore-Maree assembled three teams from their U7, U8 and U9 panels and six games were played against Kilmacud Crokes. After six games and some excellent hurling the spoils were shared. There was a group photo of both teams and then the Oranmore-Maree GAA club distributed the usual array of sweets, drinks and crisps to the players.
The local magazine took interviews from representatives from both clubs and copious photos for the next publication. The hospitality that was shown to Kilmacud was truly amazing and much remarked upon by the traveling Dubs.
On departure a return invitation was made to Pat Malone and his mentors. Kilmacud mentors and parents look forward to returning the hospitality.
Onwards then to the Oranmore Lodge Hotel where there was a hot lunch at which the mentors gathered their charges and parents and explained the agenda for Pearse Stadium.
All descended on Pearse Stadium at 2pm where we were met by James Murphy (Chairman of the Juvenile Hurling Committee and Treasurer of the Salthill GAA club). When I spoke with James in December 09 about the possibility of playing Salthill at half-time in the league tie, he was an immediate disciple and set about convincing Galway County Board of the merits of having the game. Not only did he succeed but he also secured immortality for the KC mentors, referees and players by their inclusion in the official match program. We look forward to returning the compliment to James and his mentors during the Summer.
At half-time and after a rousing welcome by the announcer at the stadium the KC and Salthill players, mentors and referees streamed onto the pitch to play four games. The KC referees (Martin Byrne and Michael Crowe) proved to be non-controversial, thankfully, and the mentors were encouraging and professional and the players won all four games.
After the match Salthill presented each of the players with an Easter egg. After the Dublin v Galway tie some players (including Joe Canning) stayed on the pitch for quite some time signing autographs. A highlight for most of the kids was getting their photograph taken and an autograph with the Man-of-the-Match, our own Niall Corcoran. A recurring comment from parents was the generosity shown by Niall to all those that traveled in chatting, posing for photos and signing autographs (even when he must have been bitterly disappointed at the result of the tie). Well done and thanks to Niall.
Then the rain began to fall and the crowds began to thin. As one parent put it to me that evening; already, the sporting achievements of the U8 hurlers that were playing on Easter Sunday will have eclipsed those of their parents by playing in Pearse Stadium on the day of a National Hurling League tie.
To see photos of the trip click on the camera below!
