U12 Go games begin.
At a well appointed Muckalee pitch St Martins U12s Dearg Team played their first go game on Thursday evening 25th July last against Barrow Rangers. The large attendance of family and friends were treated to an entertaining game. The first half was even enough and some good saves from Joe Reid and clearances from his defence in from of him Shane O’Neill Mathew Shortall and Tommy Butler kept Barrow Rangers at bay. Eventually St Martins midfield powered into the game and took control. With the constant supply of ball into the forwards the scores started to come. With goals from Shane Fahey, James Carrigan, Thomas Lawlor and Justin Manning. Points added from Conor Mulhll, Harry Kealy and Donal Coughlan, St Martins were well in control.The young saints hadn’t it all their own way at the start of the second half and Barrow Rangers piled on the pressure but good play from Justin Manning and Darragh Coughlan kept ball repelled and second half goalie Andrew Buggy made two good saves. Then a great run by Donal Coughlan ended up in a goal for St Martins. From the puck out a good move was finished to the net by Harry Kealy and from here on St Martins scored some fine points and finished the game well. The team play, skill, work rate, covering back and score taking was exceptional from these young hurlers.
Thank you to Robert Reid for refereeing the game. And the parents who helped in setting up the pitch and clear up after the game.
Team; Joe Reid, Tommy Butler, Mathew Shortall, Shane O’Neill, Justin Manning, Darragh Coughlan, Harry Kealy, Donal Coughlan, Shane Fahey, Conor Mulhall, Andrew Buggy, Thomas Lawlor and James Carrigan.
Mentors; Donal Coughlan, Sean O’Neill and Noel Shortall.
U12 Hurlers continue with their busy schedule.
On Thursday evening St Martins U12s welcomed Clara to Muckalee for a challenge game. On a wonderful evening for hurling both sides gave their all and a fast flowing game ensued.
With both defence’s on top in the first half scores were at a premium. The game opened up in the second half and the forward lines started to make some great scoring opportunities. A brilliant goal line clearance form Andrew Buggy mid way through the half kept the Martins goal in tact. Our midfield of Daragh Quinlan and Donal Coughlan again got through a huge amount of work. The half back line of Darragh Coughlan, Dan Doyle and Jack Murphy really got to grips with their men in the second half. Up front Tommy Butler, James Carrigan and Justin Manning hurled well.
Team from Shane Brennan, Paul Murphy, Adam Agar,Andrew Buggy, Jack Murphy, Darragh Coughlan, Dan Doyle, Daragh Quinlan, Donal Coughlan, Conor Mulhall, Justin Manning, James Carrigan, Tommy Butler, Ronan Shore, and James Dowling.
St Martins U11s went to Ballyragget on Friday evening for their annual Phelan Stone and M&A Coaches Hurling Tournament. On a perfect evening for hurling the young saints played St Lactains in their first game and it was keenly contested. With Martins taking control of the middle of the field there was plenty of scoring chances and were mostly taken. In their second game Martins took on Thomastown. In a much tighter game scoring was lower and it was martins sharper touch in front of goal that proved decisive. The last game was against old foes James Stephens the intensity of this game was red hot with neither team giving an inch. As the game went on the exertion of the games started to tell and the intensity fell off. Captain Josh Dempsey received the honours from Ritchie Stone. The players and Mentors were treated to refreshments after the games.
Thanks to all the parents who travelled to all the games over the last few weeks.
U12s travel to Danesfort in preparation for Go-Games.
St Martins U12s continued their preparations for the upcoming Go Games campaign with a hard fought win over Danesfort on Tuesday evening. Jack Murphy made some great saves in the first half and was well supported by Adam Agar and Tommy Butler in defence. Daragh Quinlan and Donal Coughlan hurled an ocean of ball in midfield and created many opportunities for the forwards. Up front Daniel Doyle and especially James Carrigan put in very strong performances all through the match. Paul Murphy, Justin Manning, Darragh Coughlan, Ronan Shore, James Dowling and Andrew Buggy were the other team members who contributed to a great team effort.
A “drownded” but happy U12 team after their victory over Danesfort.
U12 travel to Tullamore
St Martins U12s travelled to Tullamore on Sunday 9th June to play 2 matches. It was a glorious day for hurling with splendid sunshine and the teams left in high spirits.
U12 squad in Tullamore.
The Glas teamed played Clara from Offaly. It was a competitive game with good skill and fine hurling. St Martins started well and they kept the Clara forwards under control. There were fine scores taken in the first half. The lads continued this form for the second half and really enjoyed the game.
Team Jack Farrell Paul Murphy Tristan Roache Tommy Butler James Carrigan Adam Agar Cillian Bryan Josh Delahunty Dan Doyle Harry Kealy Aaron O’Dea Ronan Shore and Lorcan Agar
The dearg team played Durrow Ballinamere. St Martins started slowly in this game and conceded some easy scores but slowly the lads got into the game and by half time had become competitive. In the second half St Martins took over and showed great determination.
Team Shane Fahy James Dowling Shane Brennan Tommy Lawlor James Dowling Justin Manning Bill Dowling Shane O’Neill Darragh Coughlan William Smith Josh Dempsey Andrew Buggy & Donal Coughlan.
Both teams showed off their skills ability and determination.
A big thank you to our hosts Durrow Ballinamere as they treated the lads to tea sandwiches and refreshments after the games.
Afterwards the lads went to see their heros Kilkenny play in O’Conner Park.
Billy Nolan of Ranchers Return donated drinks and fruit for all the lads on the trip.
On the way home the bus stopped in Supermacs Portlaoise for food.
Everyone had a good day
Thank you to PJ Shore , Adrian Roache, Tom Farrell, Sean O’Neill, Adrian Dempsey, Gerry Buggy and Liam Dowling for helping out with the teams on the day.
Large numbers turning out for U12 squads.
The U12s have had a great start to the year with training now taking place twice a week. The panel of 30 players are putting in a great effort. We have had two series off games so far against James Stephens and Graigue Ballycallan and we were extremely competitive in both. Preparations are going well for the U12 series of Go Games which will take place in July.
Plans are also being put in place for a trip to Offaly to play two teams before the Leinster quarter final.
We also had our first representative on a county team when Harry Kealy became the first player in the group to represent Kilkenny when he played for the primary schools football team that won a recent blitz when his team beat Westmeath, Carlow and Laois on the way to glory.
U12s waiting for the All Ireland replay
Members of St Martins U12 panel enjoying All Ireland final day in Croke Park!
St Martin’s win U12 Dowling Perpetual Cup
On a glorious sunny day the inaugural Dowling Perpetual Cup was won by the home side who defeated a gallant Carrickshock side.
The cup was presented to St Martin’s Bord na nOg by Tom & Marie Dowling , for an annual U12 tournament.
Both sides gave a whole hearted display of hurling in a very evenly contested final. Shane Brennan, came to the rescue of the home side on a number of occasions as he gave another consistent performance in the goal. The backline of Robert Dowling, Liam Brennan, Colm Kealy, Dan Doyle, Adam Agar and Daniel Comerford were very solid and cleared an ocean of ball all through the match.In midfield, Donal Coughlan and Justin Manning were strong and kept the ball moving to the forward line. Those forwards, Oscar Bennet, Harry Kealy, John Murphy, Ronan Shore, Darragh Coughlan and Daragh Quinlan took their scores when the chances came and harried and blocked the opposing backs in a great team effort. During the course of the game, Tommy Butler, Andrew Buggy, Daragh O’Shea, Conor Mulhall, Jack Murphy, Paul Murphy, Marcus Smith, Robyn Smith, James Carrigan, James Dowling and Willem Smith all played their part as the full panel played their hearts out to keep the Dowling Cup at home by the narrowest of margins on a scoreline of 2-6 to 2-5.
Tom Dowling then presented the cup to the winning team and also presented hurling grips to both sets of players.
Thanks to John Ryan for refereeing the match.
After the match everyone returned to the hall in Coon where refreshments were enjoyed by players and parents alike. 
Under age registration night.
St Martins Juvenile Registration night will take place in Muckalee Community Centre on Wednesday 1st Feb from 7pm to 8pm for age groups under 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14.
U13’s shine in Kilcoole.
Well done to all the U13 players who travelled to Kilcoole on Saturday to compete in their Mini Feile. They competed in 3 games against Camross, Ratoath Meath and Kilcoole before meeting St. Patrick’s from Wexford in the final. They won each game convincingly and were a credit to the Club.
The team are, John Joe Kelly, Robert Reid, Eoin Murphy, Sean Maher, Finn Dowling, Paddy Heffernan, Conor Fahy, Evan Stapleton, Tommy Downey, Tommy Quirke, Colm O’Neill, Seamus O’Keeffe, Conor Dowling, Adam Kelly, Jack Manning, Padraig Buggy, Ciarán Brennan, Jack Nolan, Mathew Cullen, Patrick Darcy, Conor Moloney, Adam Comerford, Ciarán Fahy, Ciarán Fitzpatrick, Richard O’Shea and Dean Farrell.
The Lads showed great team work and played brilliant hurling on a sunny day in Wicklow. Everyone put in great effort and the scores on the board proved it.
The team were led by 4 captains on the day Robert Reid, Eoin Murphy, John Joe Kelly and Colm O’Neill and John Joe was named payer of the tournament. Great work lads and well done.
U12s play Dicksboro
Our U12 Hurling squad played their first friendly of 2010 on Thursday night 8th April, in Muckalee against Dicksboro. Such was the size of the turnout that 2 games were played simultaneously. All the lads put in a great effort and the games were played in great spirits. Well done to you all, keep up the good work and keep up the efforts on the training field also.
