Year 9 ‘C’ Hurling Blitz

Such was the unprecedented response from schools that this blitz had to be subdivided over 2 days and 2 venues which could provide at least 2 fullsize pitches.

On Thursday 18th September 6 schools competed at Monaghan’s new county complex at Annyalla viz. Carrickmacross, Crossmaglen, Ballyshannon, Monaghan, Cavan, and newcomers Bessbrook. Here the schools were divided into 2 league sections, with playoffs between the respective 1st, 2nd, and 3rd placed teams. This produced a total of 15 games from which St Macartan’s Monaghan emerged as eventual winners.

The venue for Friday was the Woodlands complex in Belfast. This attracted 7 Belfast schools viz. Aquinas, Glen Road, Corpus Christi, Bearnageeha, St Malachy’s, Colaiste Feirste, and Edmund Rice College. They were joined by Lisburn, Randalstown, and St Columb’s Derry.

The 2 groups of 5 teams produced 40 league games, each of 15 minutes duration; St Malachy’s and Randalstown emerged victorious from the semifinals with wins over Aquinas and Colaiste Feirste respectively, with St Malachy’s just shading the subsequent final.

Over 300 students attended this year’s blitz, and played 58 games, which translates into almost 15 hours of hurling. Many thanks to those schools and coaches who attended, and cooperated so readily with the arrangements on both days. Thanks also to Jimmy Darragh (Comhairle Uladh for his support), and to Kieran Megraw, John Crossey, and Gavin Craig who acted as referees.

This initiative once again confirms that our young people will respond in considerable numbers if schools and organising bodies provide them with encouragement, direction, and opportunities. The future wellbeing of hurling in Ulster may be better served by duplicating and replicating events like Woodlands on 19th September when over 200 youngsters hurled enthusiastically throughout the day, rather than by counties migrating to Leinster.

Seamus Woods (Runai Colaisti Uladh)