CCC1 Report – 7th March 2015
Saturday just gone saw the U12 hurlers play their second grading league games with the following results
U12 Hurling 'A' Blitz Grp.1  Clontarf 2 – 5 Lucan Sarsfields 1-8
The second match of the U12 Hurling A grading blitz saw Lucan travel to At Anne’s park to play Clontarf.  Lucan knew to expect a tough game – the last time these two teams met Lucan came out on top by a single point.   Clontarf must have been brimming with confidence having overcome one of the favourites for the group, Ballyboden the previous week by 6 points.
On winning the toss Lucan elected to play with a strong wind but it was Clontarf who got off to the stronger start slipping a low, hard shot past Adam Gilmore in the Lucan goals within the first few minutes.  This was quickly followed up with a point from a free for the home side.  Lucan’s first score of the game came from the hurley of Mathew Coogan when he lobbed in a long range free which sneaked under the bar for a goal.  Buoyed by this score the Lucan forwards settled down and started to pick off scores – including a couple from long range frees from Hugh Cuffe.  The first half ended 1-4 to to 1-1 to the boys in green.
With the wind picking up the half time team talk centred around protecting the lead, defending stoutly and taking our chances.  The second half started with the Lucan boys getting the first score on the board.  Lucan were defending comfortably coming into the last quarter of the game when Clontarf struck a lucky goal leaving 2 points between the team.  The half wore on, the wind continuing to blow and the Lucan defence continued to soak up attack after attack.  Michael Young, once again was like a veritable hoover cleaning up possession in the half back line!  Adam Whyte in the Lucan goal made 2 important stops and followed up with some great clearances.  Within minutes of the final whistle Clontarf pegged Lucan back to a draw.  With 3 minutes left on the clock Lucan were awarded a penalty after Neil O’leary was dragged down in front of goal. 
The referee placed the ball on the 21 yard line.  Hugh Cuffe, confidently stood over the ball, and following instruction from the side line drove the ball over the black spot putting Lucan ahead by a point.  With time running out on their last attack Clontarf had a long rage effort deflected out for a ‘65’.  Clontarf’s free taker, who had been deadly accurate all day duly slotted the bar over the bar with the last shot of the game bringing the game to a well deserved draw.
It was a fantastic team effort today with everyone putting every last ounce of energy into the game.  There were many candidates for man of the match including Michael Young, Huge Cuffe, Mathew Coogan among others but for sheer work rate,  skill and determination Brendan Kavanagh takes the award.
Both teams should be complimented for their skill levels, honest hurling and commitment throughout the game. 
Squad: Adam Gilmore,  Adam Whyte, Sean Harkness, Aidan Sheery, Michael Young, Cillian Morrissey, Brendan Kavanagh, Hugh Cuffe, Diarmuid Keher, Mathew Coogan, Danny McCarthy, Cian Cannavan, Neil O’Leary, Louis Butler.
Man of Match : Brendan Kavanagh
The team and mentors wish Jamie Lavin a speedy recovery following an unfortunate injury last week – Get Well soon Jamie!
U12 Hurling 'C' Blitz Grp.3  Lucan Sarsfields 6 – 5 Naomh Mearnog 0-0
The U12 ‘B’ squad set out to gain their first points against Naomh Mearnog on a blustery day in AGP1. The game was nip and tuck in the early stages with Sars keeper Darragh Condron at the forefront keeping out several goal-bound efforts. Once Sars scored their first goal through Eoin Fitzpatrick they seemed to settle down and play their normal game with 2 further goals coming before the break – an excellent return against the strong wind. When the game resumed after half-time the Lucan lads made good use of the conditions and started to find their range. At the other end the opposition tried to put some scores on the board but a determined defence from the boys in green kept them out. In the end what may have seemed like a routine victory was all down to hard work and persistence with some excellent team-work thrown in – the lads have the bruises to prove it.
While difficult to single out any individuals in such a strong performance special mention should be given to James Ryan, Conor Hannon and Cian Ryan.
Squad: Darragh Burke,  Eoin Fitzpatrick, Darragh Condron, Ryan Fahy, Cian Ryan, Lorcan O’Reilly, Noah O’Kelly, Ryan Brant, Joshua Brant, Jamie Ivory, Brendan Harkin, Conor Hannon, James Ryan.
Man of Match: Conor Hannon
U12 Hurling 'D' Blitz Grp.2  Lucan Sarsfields 6-2 Beann Eadair 2-1
The ‘C’ squad maintained their winning start to the season with a convincing win in AGP1 with strong performances all across the panel.
Squad: Conor Cooper, Conor Devlin, Cian McCormack, Jake Lamkin, Rory Barrett, James Kenny, Sean Norman, Robert Hazely, Dean Boylan, Mark Furness, Luke O’Neill, Rian Carey, Conall Morris
 
U11(2004) Hurling
Two home games for Sars U11 against Naas and Raheny.  The wind was blowing hard but for both games our U11 hurlers blew just as hard as they fought bravely in what were two tough but very entertaining hurling games. 
U11 Vs Naas
Playing against the wind in the first half, Lucan defended for most of the half only managing a few attacks but were clinical in their conversion with some excellent scoring coming off fine interplay from both the stick and the hand.  It is refreshing to see the improvement in the lads as they are starting to pick off scores on the run and finishing following good passing moves.  However Naas took a well deserved lead into half time.  In the second half and with the breeze at their backs, Lucan began to dominate but still had to put in the hard yards at the defensive end and were dogged in their determination not to concede.  Goals and points came but what was better to see was the encouragement from the lads for themselves in order to keep going.  Lucan came from behind to record a fine victory against a very good Naas side.  In our second game against Naas, there was some equally determined play from the Sars but the wind in the first half proved their undoing as the lads found it too much of a gap to pull back.  Still they fought bravely and pegged back the scores but ran out of time in the end.  An equally determined team performance only wets the appetite.
Squad: Scott O’Sullivan, Conor O’Neill, Conor Hylands, Conor Sheary, Cathal Doody, Joey Dunne, Gareth Kennedy, Jack Behan, Alex Hickey, Adam Duffy, Luca Kavanagh, Eoghan KIlduff, Jack Doyle, Eoin Hanley, Matthew Byrne, Sam Donohoe, Jack Langan, Luke Trunk, Sean Fenlon, Conor King, Niall Carron, Jamie Carroll and Alex Kelly.
U11 Vs Raheny
Following on from the Naas game, our U11s took on Raheny in two more games.  The wind did not let up but then again neither did Sars again overcoming two half time deficits to record two fine victories.  In somewhat of a repeat of the Naas game, the wind dictated how Lucan played and for the majority of the first half, it was a story of very determined and tough defending.  Both sides played hard but fair with both squads coping well with the conditions.  In attack, Sars showed that training does pay off as some neat passing lead to a couple of fine scores and the hooking and blocking on the other end of the pitch paid off well as scores were kept to a minimum.  In the second half, it wasn’t until the end of the game that Lucan just pulled clear and the lads were clearly deleted with the enthusiasm from the parents and team mates from the sideline.  In the other Raheny game Lucan were more in control both ends of the pitch and I am reliably informed that the standard of play was excellent from the throw in.  Playing with the wind, this time in the first half, Lucan put over some fine scores and kept Raheny at bay for large portions of the half.  Despite playing against the wind in the second half, Sars kept at it and pulled away in the end.  All in all, a good day’s hurling!
Squad: Rossa Daly, Liam Farrell, David Mulqueen, Charlie Mulqueen, Joey McSweeney, Jamie Smith, Rian Fortune, Andrew Kennedy, David Martin, Cathal Doody, Gareth Kennedy, Jack Kelly, Cian Cregg, Niall Higgins, Ronan MacCraith, Roghan Withero, Alex Skeehan, Ben O’Toole, Andrew Hill, Finn Tuohy and Niall Doherty.
U10 Hurling
U10 V Castleknock
A competitive game was held in difficult conditions on Saturday morning in Porterstwon with the long grass not helping either team.  Lucan were able to take their scores better and with the skill points gained from some excellent hooking, ran out the winners.  All the lads put in a great effort with Cathal Kennedy, Daniel Kane, Darragh Lyons and Eoin Conheady getting through a lot of work with Darragh Meehan and Sean Langton being on the end of some nice scores.  In addition Ryan Clancy and Cormac Coffey worked tirelessly throughout.
U10 V Clan na Gael
Our lads came up against a very strong Clan na Gael side in Sandymount on Saturday morning. Following the long months of winter training the Lucan boys seemed to struggle at first in the warm sunshine of the first real spring day of the year. Clan na Gael signalled their intent by scoring an early 1-2 before Lucan registered their first point. Lucan got back in the game in the second half with all players giving a display of hooking, blocking and tackling that limited their opponents’ scoring chances. Lucan took the lead following some fine points from Alex Derrien and held it until the final whistle thanks to heroic last line defending by Ronan Munnelly.
 
U9 Hurling
Our 2 squads were in action on Saturday. Our 2 Team Squad took on St. Judes at a windy Tymon Park and our 3 Team Squad played Round Towers on the all weather pitch.
Both squads played very well, everyone giving 100% throughout. In what was only the lads second 'air' hurling match there was some super striking from the hand and numerous great points scored, including one of our teams who had 4 point scorers!
Well done to all the boys and keep up the good work.
2 Team Squad: Adam Rock, Cillian Lawlor, David Harrington, Gavin Collins, Liam Fitzgerald, Louie Fanning, Mathieu Enright, Reece Kelly, Robert O’Connell, Adam Salmon, Daire Collis, Dylan Johnson, Eoghan O’Connor, Freddie Haran, Killian O’Connor, Michael Lynch, Robert Keher.
3 Team Squad: Aaron Malone, Charlie McHugh, Cillian Murphy, Daire Collis, Eimhin Walsh, Massimo Pappalardo, Oisin Sharkey, Sean Durkan, Stephen Geoghegan, Ben O’Keeffe, Callum Morris, Harry Goeghegan, James Scott, Liam Fitzgerald, Matthew Brennan, Rory Egan, Sean Flynn, Sean Wright, Callum Keane, Chris Hylands, Conor Dolan, Conor Hartigan, Devin Thomas, Mark Deignan, Nicolas Ropotan, Ryan Feighery.
U8 Hurling
7 U8 teams continued their hurling journey with 52 players at home against teams from Geraldine Morans and away to Commercials and Naomh Olaf.  Whilst the gale force winds were challenging, the warmer temperatures helped the boys focus on hurling rather than staying warm, leading to good skills and teamwork.  We have several new starters this year that performed like veterans with some of the veterans (with 3 years Academy experience) unleashing all the skills learned in training.  Looking forward to our next challenge.