Sixmilebridge

Founded 1904

Co. Clare

Monaleen Festival of Hurling Report

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Monaleen, Limerick was the destination today for a Festival of Hurling for our players with participating clubs including, Naas, Charleville, Cashel, Newport, Kinvara and ourselves. Each club had 2 teams playing 3 x 10 minute a side games each.

The event started with a parade of the nations as all teams marched into the arena before standing for Amhrán na bFhiann and then the battle commenced. The Bridge sharks were managed by Caimin, John White and Ultan while John Reddin and Declan looked after the Tigers. Indeed Reddin had strengthened his backroom team for the day with the addition of a double All Ireland winning manager .....

Ger had some great tales before the game including how he was 23 before got to rub shoulders with a man from Kilkenny on the hurling field only for grandson Harry to tell him he has played Kilkenny, Galway, Cork, Tipperary and Limerick in the last few weeks alone as part of the many road trips these boys have been on!

The Tigers started with a game against the hosts and there were some excellent scores with a highlight being their first goal by Harry Loughnane following a superb fielding of the ball in a forest of hurleys by Colm McManus after Evan Murphy picked him out from a puckout. Next up we played Naas who were a physically strong side but this made our lads all the more determined as they used the wind to great effect to draw the game. Our last game against Newport was a dinger with some excellent skill from both sides with many highlights including a diving save from Larry Howard as well as a rasper off the crossbar from Joe Reidy with some saying the goals in Monaleen is still shaking.

The Sharks played Monaleen, Kinvara and Newport and after a slow start in game 1 they refuelled with some sambos and came roaring back into it against the Jude Kearney coached Kinvara as well as having a superb battle against Newport. Some of the many highlights here included Eoin Murphys 2-1 from play and Liam Flannerys endurance throughout covering every blade of grass of the Monaleen pitch while a ground shot rocket from Conor Naughton turned the tide against Newport.

Other highlights of an truly excellent blitz were the Long Puck competition between games which was won by a Cashel King Cormacs Player as well as the target wall. The food and refreshments throughout the day were akin to the buffet at the Jasmin Palace and the parents of Monaleen must take great credit in how they looked after the visiting teams.

Our lads did us all proud on the field when wearing the club jersey but what was just as rewarding for the coaches was their behavior off the field between games when they were being dined and how they sat patiently (watching a movie) for their next game. Talk of free style hurling was a hot topic all day with lads showing off the tricks and skills they have been practicing at home in anticipation of our #alwayshurling initiative.

Thanks to the parents who supported the teams throughout the day and again to Monaleen for an excellent event. We look forward with great anticipation to their Festival of Hurling 2020.



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