300 Word Account of James Stephens GAA U-14 Féile NaGael 2007-

Account of James Stephens GAA U-14 Féile NaGael 2007-

James Stephens GAA Club has a most wonderful record in Féile NaGael over the Years winning 6 titles over our long years of Participation in the event. This 6 Title record tops the roll of honour and co-insides with our good neighbours from Cork Na Piarsaigh. This was considered one of the greatest week-ends in the Clubs History for Juvenile hurling which saw our Club forge a fantastic relationship with a Club from Cork called Blackrock and also a Club from the North called Sarsfields. The decision of James Stephens to enter 2 teams into the Féile NaGael was an excellent move. We entered a Team into Division 1 and another team into Division into 3. The week-end began on Thursday Evening where Denis Carney and his squad of Players welcomed Sarsfields of Antrim to Larchfield. The Northern team took on the long journey on Thursday so as they could be in good shape for there opening game on Friday against the James Stephens No:2 team. On Friday morning our Féile Co-ordinater Richie Minogue worked frantically ensuring that all the finishing touches were complete for the opening games of the Féile NaGael. The day began with our 2^nd Squad playing against Sarsfields of Antrim. This was an excellent game of Hurling with both teams going at it with great application and endeavour. Both teams traded scores throughout but it was defining goals from the Antrim Outfit that saw them through by 3 points.

Onto the Main event in Larchfield and it was the Clash of the Giants James Stephens against good friends and rivals Blackrock from Cork. While both teams were togging out in their respective dressing rooms the weather took a turn for the worst and in what was described by people attending the game as “Monsoon” type conditions developed,. Nevertheless the game began a mist these horrible conditions and it opened with Blackrock really dominating the opening half racing into a big lead by half-time. The Village side looked to lack the physical edge when they tried to compete with the Cork boys. The game didn’t change in the second half as Blackrock drove onto a 4-2 to 0-1 victory and there sheer physical size was the dominant factor in this fine win for the Cork men. The Village boys were extremely disappointed but had to lift it back up for the following morning. Friday evening James Stephens No: 1 and 2 Squads travelled over to Nowlan Park for what was a Most Memorable Moment in the Players and Management lives as they took part in the parade and marched right directly behind the Artane Boys Band through the streets of Kilkenny all the way to Kieran’s College. On Saturday the A Squad moved to St.Lachtains GAA Club in Freshford while the B Squad travelled the short distance to Palmerstown. In Palmerstown the 2^nd Squad played Dicksboro and lost that game and in there last game they beat Four Roads {Roscommon}. The Management for both of the games in Dicksboro involved all of the squad giving all the Subs a great deal of game time and well done to the U-14 B Féile Management team of Denis Carney, Neil Lahart, Nicholas O’Carroll, Pat Murphy. At the same time on Saturday our A Squad had moved to Freshford where they took on the task of beating the Galway Champions Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry. This was a fantastic game of hurling from both teams as they took to the game with a real Ding Dong effort and they both traded scores throughout. The Village side were 6 points down at half time and came back into the game in the second half to lead by 3 points but the Galway champions scrambled a goal to draw the game which sent the Village out of the Qualifying stage of Féile NaGael.The next game for the Village boys was against local side St.Lachtains {Freshford} where the Village boys came out and put in a great Performance to beat them by 4-5 to 1-3 and the Village Management used this game to ensure all Subs get game time to experience the dream of Féile NaGael. So that ended the dream for 2007, but what a week-end it was in which over 50 U-14 youngsters wore the red & Green and played with great determination for the Parish of St.Patricks. This was a special Féile NaGael and well done to the A Management of Kieran McQuillan, Mark Tyrrell, Kieran Brennan, Eamon Tyrrell, and Denis Carney. There was no stone left unturned in making sure this event was a memorable one for the boys of the Village. Well done to Richie Minogue and his Féile Club Committee

N.B:- The Village also had a dream week-end in June when they travelled to Oran GAA Club in Roscommon to re-present Kilkenny in the Féile Peil NaÓg 2007. This was a most amazing week-end for the squad of players and management where James Stephens forges a great relationship with a most Rural and small GAA Club in Roscommon. James Stephens won 2 out of there 3 group games and unfortunately they needed to win all 3 games. Well done to Captain Luke Hickey and his Squad.