Coolera/Strandhill U12s visit Croke Park

Back 17/04/2017 @ 12:34 | mainnews | Coolera/Strandhill U12s visit Croke Park

U12 Trip to Croke Park

With great excitement, as well as a few sleepy heads, our U12 boys and their mentors together with some parents and supporters boarded the bus bound for Croke Park at 6.30am last Wednesday. The boys were heading to GAA HQ to take part in the Connacht Council's Go Games event and spirits were high as the stadium came into view. After a quick snack our 30 players were divided into two squads and readied themselves for action. Both squads played 3 games of twenty minutes duration against teams from all over the province with regular rotation of players ensuring maximum enjoyment of the experience for all. The players acquitted themselves admirably on the famous green sward which was a great credit to their mentors and the work they are doing with them.

Once the games had concluded, the boys had lunch, after which there was a stadium tour. Our tour guide insisted on questions being asked and the lads duly obliged, with a few testing ones thrown in for good measure! From the dressing rooms to the warm-up area we proceeded out the tunnel to gain some idea of what it must be like to run out on match day. After visiting the souvenir shop it was back on the bus. A welcome food stop was enjoyed by all and after a fabulous day we arrived home safe at 8.30.

Great credit goes to all involved in this initiative from Connacht Council to the Games Managers/Coaches and Croke Park Staff for managing an event of this scale so smoothly. Thanks also to the club executive for their support and to team mentors/managers for their meticulous preparation to ensure the boys got the maximum enjoyment from the day. Finally a word of praise must go to  the players who represented themselves, their families and the club so well. They conducted themselves impeccably both on and off the pitch and truly embraced the occasion with songs, laughs and great fun in plentiful supply.

Team 1: Alfie McDermott, Kevin Davitt, Oisin Hennessy, Oran Harte, Tadgh Doggett, Zach Gilligan, Cathal Hughes, David Kennedy, Hughie Doherty, Shane Prior, Jack McDaniel, Mark Keane, Tadgh Murphy, Luke Gilligan, Cathal Gilligan. Mentors: Ronan Hennessy, Michael Keane, Phillip Gilligan. 

Team 2: Andrew Connell, Keelan Boyle, Hubert Healy, Keelan Schoen, Oisin O'Neill, Thomas Lee, Cillian O'Neill, Eoghan Healy, Oisin Whelan, Ronan Adams, Shane O'Loughlin, Thomas Kinane, James Lynch, Eoghan Fenton, Aidan O'Loughlin. Mentors: Patrick Healy, Ken O'Neill, Stephen Whelan.