A huge congratulations to the u10s Boys who went to St. Mary's GAA in Clonmel and returned home with the Shield after a titanic day's hurling. There were mighty performances all round the field with each an every young lad showing what it means to them to represent their club in competitive action.  We're look forward to more os the same as these lads continue to develop thier skills under the tutelage of thier mentors.

The Panel included: 
Cian Byrne, Sam McKenna, Eldon Sheridan, Seán O'Neill, Sean Morrissey, David McGee, Rian Delaney, Luke McDonald, Daniel McCormack, Adam Maher, Harry Nolan, Kyril Dovbijenko, Conor Holohan, Jeff Tyrel,l James Holohan.

ACTION GALLERY:

After a night of restless sleep the much anticipated Croke Park Dream Day arrived for 40 lucky young juvenile players Saturday morning. It was an early start for sure but activities were kicking off in Croker Park at 8.50am and everyone had to be suited and booted there at 8.30am.

Centra had their bus at St. John's Park at 6.30am and to their surprise 40 wide eyed children and 10 wide eyed 'Big' children were waiting and ready. Centra Johns Green arrived up with a tray of sandwiches, fruits and water to accompany the group on their trip so that everything was layed on for the young stars.

On their arrival at Croke Park  they were greeted by Donnacha who outlined what was ahead... they were lead to the dressing rooms. Now that's an experience in itself..some lads would be happy with just that but after a change into gear in the same rooms as some of the greats before them our young Gaels entered the Croke Park pitch via the famous tunnel under the stand. As they ran out under the great Hogan Stand the Cusack stand towered above them and the sheer scale of the stadium tingled their spines. This was the highest level..this is what it was like.!!

The jumped into the  team photo flanked by Richie Hogan, Seamus Callanan ...two men who took the same photograph on the biggest day of the year for their counties only a matter of weeks ago.  One day it would be one of our boys.

On to the pitches then for a two hour coaching session from the countries top hurlers. All the skills were done on rotation -Richie Hogan was there for some striking, Seamus Callahan did catching, Dotsy O'Callaghan looked at handpassing while Maurice Shanahan was there too to show the boys how to put the ball between the posts. Podge Collins, Niall O'Meara, Jason Flynn, Lee Chin and Shane Dooley all shared their tricks and skills with our youngsters. You won't get better coaching than that... these boys will be flying ..

After two hours of intense coaching the boys were led to the Cusack Suite for much needed refreshment. A Croke Park banquet fit for our heroes was laid on to refuel the batteries.  No speeches or Man of the Match awards were on offer today but a taste of what it's like to be fêted will surely encourage these lads to achieve their best... which s something all at O'Loughlin Gals GAA will look forward to.

There was time to meet our old pal..Liam McCarthy..let him know that it would be ok..he'd be back in his rightful place very soon..Both Liam and the boys were very happy to see each other at this tough time for us all!!!

Of course some boys were interested in sneaking their own picture of another County.. proving these boys like the big ball too.....

There's more to do... it's off round the stadium to learn about the history and culture of one of the greatest Stadiums in the world... and listen out for the roars ands sounds from times gone by...

At the end of a great Day where the boys were treated like kings by Centra and Croker Park, met and were coached by the biggest stars in the game, it was time to relax at the activity area before making their way back to St. Johns Park..where after putting in a 12 hour day (6.30AM - 6.30PM)  the boys  got straight off the bus and went for a puck-around on the front pitch. They just can't get enough of it!!

Watch out for these boys and follow their development because for sure these lads are going to do great things for O'Loughlin Gals GAA.

A big thanks to Paul Wall, Darren Kelly, Mark Nolan, Noel Hanrahan, Fonzie Butler, Mick Johnson, Padraig O'Neill, Alan Byrne (Photos), John Morrissey, Fearghal Powell....and of course to u10 star Eoghan O'Brien who's skills won this fantastic trip.

Lovely hurling!

On Saturday morning a group of our young 'Gaels will leave St. John's Park to a Dream Day at Croke Park courtesy of GAA Partners Centra and thanks to the wondrous skills of u10 star , Eoghan O'Brien. Eoghan topped a skills competition in Nowlan Park hostels by Centra Ireland which included hundreds of players from all clubs from around County Kilkenny.

40 young Gaels and 10 mentors will enjoy some Croke Park hospitality including togging out in the famous Croker Park dressing rooms following in the footsteps of club stars such as Brian Hogan, Andy Comerford and Martin Comerford..they'll run the tunnel on to the Croker Park pitch for a 2 hour coaching session with Ireland's top  inter-county  hurlers - after that it will be upstairs to the Cusack Suite for some well earned refreshment and lunch- Then its on to the entertainment suite there the boys can relax and enjoy some fun activities provided by their hosts and finally they boys nd mentors will be treated to a Stadium Tour of Croker Park - a behind the scenes tour of the stadium that focuses on the history and culture of the games as well as the historical significance of the stadium itself

Over the last 3 weeks our U10s have being involved in over 12 challenge matches against Young Ireland - Gowran, Thomastown, Graigue/Ballycallan, and Erin's Own of Castlecomer. Each of these matches brilliant to watch,  full of skill and enthusiasm from every boy involved, not an inch was given,  with some of the parents present impressed at how well their young boys were able to rise to some stiff opposition....Next up for this bunch of lads is Dicksboro's blitz on Saturday 10th of September...3 more tough matches ,but there up for any challenge. Hon d'Loughs!

P.Wall

 
O'Loughlin Gaels v Oranmore GAA, Galway

On Sunday 3rd of July u10s headed off to the Leinster Final,but more importantly they had two matches to play in Maynooth GAA. ..On arrival the boys were told their two matches were to be played against Oranmore GAA of Galway…game on!!! .The boys knew it would be a tough match and with both teams after making a long journey by bus, it could be a case of which team settles the quickest. And what a start…from the throw in Luke Hanrahan worked hard to get the ball and drove it over the bar,a lovely point but more importantly it gave our lads the upper hand....Oranmore drove hard to get on the score sheet but with Sean O'Neill, Sean Morrissey and Fionn Lawlor in defence nothing was going to get through easy. Ball after ball came down on them and they cleaned up and drove it back to our forward line of Andy Comerford, Cormac Wall and Conor Farrell who wasted no time in dispatching them over the bar....mid field then got in on the act …. Jack Johnson doing all the hard work of hooking and blocking was rewarded with a lovely point from midfield....Stephen Butler ,even though a midfielder, could be seen racing up and down the pitch ,turning up where ever he was needed...with the introduction of James Holohan and Luke Quigley, O'Loughlins drove on and finished the match in style . The final whistle went and honours to OLoughlins. .....

With enough time to walk to another pitch, the second game got under way, and again our lads pushed on ,hooking, blocking and chasing down balls ,the Galway boys didn't get time to think of what to do before our lads were on them ...Luke Quigley, now working in defence was mighty, clearing ball after ball.. James Holohan took over goalkeeping duty, and sent the puck outs on to our forwards..Andy Comerford got a lovely goal by rounding the keeper and driving into the net ..Jack Johnston, Luke Hanrahan and Fionn Lawlor ran mid field working together, tackling in two's handpassing out and popping the ball over the bar ,beautiful stuff altogether..Cormac Wall took a lovely side line cut to Steven Butler who sent it high and over the bar...Conor Farrell, when not trying to score was laying the ball off to Conor Murphy....Sean Morrissey worked hard in the forward line and was rewarded with a few nice points while Sean O'Neill was at the other end of the pitch doing a great job of protecting his goal time and time again...these lads worked their socks off for each other and it was no surprise that at the end of the two matches only conceded 4 points.
Team ...Conor Murphy, Sean Morrissey, Jack Johnston, Luke Hanrahan, Sean O'Neill, Cormac Wall, Conor Farrell, Stephen Butler ,Luke Quigley, Fionn Lawlor, James Holohan, Andy Comerford....
The goalkeeper for Oranmore on the day was Michael Butler ,O'LG u12s and brother of Stephen (adding a little edge to that sibling rivalry), who played brilliantly, not giving us an inch, playing like only O'Loughlins boys do, by giving 100%...
On the bus later, as we drove into Dublin ,the bus driver was asked by the Garda where was he heading too ,he replied, to Croke Park gates, Jones Road with the team for the hurling match… and after watching the lads play that morning, maybe some day we will...
Paul Wall U10s O'LG

The u10s were in flying form following their recent success after their South-east conquests last weekend. The u11 management shied have known there was something up when they were asked to take up  a challenge against their younger counterparts.  It was a clever move by the u10 management who were surely aware that the u11s were very much depleted due to a clashing of a  school event across town at which many of the u11s would take part. Still undaunted and oozing of confidence the u11s took up the gauntlet and sauntered into what could only be described as a 'cauldron of fire' . The u10s were clearly up for it as was evident by a very vocal sideline. Manager Darren Kelly was either totally focused on driving  on his charges or else uptight about the afternoons championship match between his home team of Tippereary and the rebels of Cork. Either way attempts to influence the referee acted as an extra man for the u10s. The complacency of the u11s also worked to the advantage of the u10s...Eoin O'Brien  was obviously inspired by his fathers work ethic at the previous Fridays Senior encounter and was like the proverbial bee as he latched onto and tunnelled into rucks for anything he could find. He took the hits too  and drove his team to a landmark victory. Daniel McCormack, Kirrills Doubjivenko and Jack Johnson were ruthless in their tackling as the u11s forwards struggled to get to grips with the game. Fionn Lawlor and Josh Hynes (u11s) did all they could to forge a winning performance but with Stephen Butler, Conor Murphy and James Hollohan (u10s) all on form it was futile. Still after all the hurling the u11s led the u10s by 2-0 to 0-2 at half time.

The second half saw the 10s come out livelier than ever. A trademark run and strike by O'Brien early in the half was deemed to have gone inside the post by the umpire influenced by the tetchy Darren Kelly (u10s) both overruling the referees decision that it had been deflected for 65 off u11s defender Ben Little who was superb all morning.  The 11s felt hard done by and Conor Daly, Philip Phelan and Brandon Wall all raised their game to pile on the pressure on the u10s defence but long range strike by Stephen Butler slipped through Orestes Balysy (u11) goal and put the younger team a goal to the good. 2-3 to 2-0.  Kevin O'Connor picked up the mantle for the 11s now and powered into the next few tackles clearing the way for Josh Hynes to make a few attempts at the goal. Brandon Wall popped a further point to reduce the deficit to 2points. But with the 11s on the ascendancy the heavens opened up and a deluge of rain prompted the u10s mentor -and thorn in the side of any referee -  Darren Kelly,  call for the game to be halted!!. (Smart boyo..lets see how vocal he is Semple Stadium at the Cork v Tipp match later today!!). With the rain pouring down..and pressure from the line..not the mention pity on the younger ones... a very capable referee blew up the game EARLY and hence awarded the u10s victory on this occasion.  A rush to the nearest shelter was too late as the players were saturated but it certainly didn't dampen the spirits of the u10s who gleefully relished in their victory. U10s can do no wrong these days and the u11s will know never to be complacent going to any game again. The best lessons are learned the hard way.

Well done 10s..keep up the good work and listen to your mentors ( although its harder not listen to them in some cases - Darren Kelly!!)

On Saturday 14 of may O'loughlins U10s travelled down to Glynn/Barntown Gaa, wexford to take part in the Michael Laggan memorial hurling tournament. ..in total 19 teams were invited with over 35 matches played out the over the day.......our first match was against Naas (one of the largest juvenile clubs in ireland)...it being our first match it was all about finding the best positions for our lads to play to there full abilities. They made it easy for us as mentors ,no matter where they played they gave it their all...with the matches only being 10 minutes aside  it was never going to be a high scoring game. The game was played at a blistering pace and seemed to  go by in the blink of an eye. In  the end it took a long range effort from Naas to beat a rock solid defence.

Our next match was against Bannon/Ballymitty(Wexford)...the disappointment of loosing our first match did not last long as within a minute of throw in Darragh Powell finished off some great work from Jack Johnson in mid field with a goal, his first of the day but most definitely not his last.  With spirits high the team pushed on and were rewarded with a great solo effort from Eoin O'Brien having dug out the ball and making a graceful run along the wing before letting fly with a rasping shot that wouldn't be stopped. Ballymitty pushed hard to get into the game but with a defence controlled by Michael lambert , it wasn't going to happen. In the end our lads were too hungry for victory to let this one go....honours to O'loughlins

Our third match was against St.Judes , Dublin. ...we were told before hand that this was a very good team, however we set about this game in the same fashion as our last. Daniel McCormack on goal pulled off some great saves.  In front of him was  a back line of Michael Lambert/luke Quigley /Sean O'Neill  that didn't fold easily but we're severally tested in this one...our midfield of Jack Johnson /Greg Kelly/ Eoin O'brien when not scoring themselves were providing the forward line of Steven Butler/c]Cormac wall /Daniel Byrne.  It was a great match to watch with both sides never giving up, each score matched  by another. In the end each side thought they had done enough but it was O'loughlins who deservedly edged it by a point.....

Our last match saw us drawn against another Dublin team,St. Kevins. .it didn't really matter to our lads at this stage because they were in the zone and played like demon's. .Steven butler broke onto a lovely block from krillis Doubijenko and drilled the ball towards goal,  Conor Murphy latched onto it and rattled the net From the puck out Adam Banks worked hard to provide Zack Evans with a goal chance , which he took well. At this stage all the O'loughlins lads were flying ,from the hard tackling of cormac wall to the lovely stick work of Sean O'Neill,  all skills were pulled from there bag of tricks, at the final whistle it was the O'Loughlins boys that were victorious....4 games played and 3 wins is a fare measure of these boys....it's great to see them having the confidence to try a handpass, an over head catch or a go at goal..As mentors it's great to see the lads give 100% and enjoy doing it.....sometimes it's not about winning , but about doing your best....these boys have shown they can do both..

(P. Wall)