Senior, Junior and U-21Team Reports AGM 2003

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone associated with the Senior Hurling Panel during the year, the players under the magnificent captaincy of Wayne Sherlock, the selectors Jim O'Brien, Maurice Duggan, Alan Russell, Pat Deasy and Jim Cashman, fellow Coach Tom Cashman.

Medical/first aid team of Dr. Paddy Hayes, Physio Carol Nyhan O'Callaghan and John Driscoll. Hurley magician Noel O'Flaherty, jerseys May O'Brien. The Senior Hurling Committee, especially Chairman Tom O'Sullivan and super Secretary Roger Ryan.

Unfortunately we failed to win the County Senior Hurling Title for the 3rd successive year. There is no doubt but the team had the all round ability to win but fragmented training and other distractions dulled our focus and proved out ultimate undoing.

Individually and collectively this Blackrock panel has proven character and strength and will be major contenders for the Championship of 2004.

Last year we tasted the joy of victory, this year we are left with the bitter taste of defeat. Let us take this defeat with dignity and learn from it. Let us emerge in the spring with renewed drive and determination, the foundation on which we will base our challenge. Roll on the Championship of 2004.

The Rockies team is far from finished and has every intention of being back on top again this year.

Tim Murphy Coach

Click here for Senior Tam results for 2003

Junior "A" Report 2003

The management team for the year met in early January and consisted of Ger Coughlan, Tom Aherne, Alan Duggan, Alan McGee, Mick Harrington and Wally McCarthy. Training commenced in early January under the supervision of Alan McGee until the evenings lengthened and the Juniors and Seniors combined under senior coach Timmy Murphy.

The first outing of the year was an overnight team-building trip to play Na Piarsaigh of Limerick soon followed by a return trip to Thurles Sarsfields after they had visited Blackrock earlier in the season. These challenge matches were a prelude to the City Division League matches, which started poorly for us with disappointing results against Glen Rovers and Carrigaline. Success soon followed as the team settled and wins against Brian Dillons, Bishopstown and Passage West helped with the preparations and focus for the City Junior A Championship.

The Championship pitted Blackrock against Whitechurch in the first round. The Blackrock team, which took the field that day, included three City Junior Championship debutantes: Richard Curtin who had made the step up from the underage structures and two new signings Enda Kiely and Larry Guinan who were to go on and start every match in the Championship. A poor first half where the Rockies failed to perform beyond the full back line saw the team trailing by 9 points at half time. A few well-chosen words and a renewed determination saw this deficit turned into a winning margin of 3 points. Credit was due to all the players for a powerful second half performance and especially to Enda Kiely whose accurate free taking from distance was a feature of this and all subsequent matches.

Nemo Rangers were next in line; a power packed display on the evening lead Blackrock to an easy victory. Blackrock faced St. Finbarrs in the City QuarterFinal. At this stage the services of Tom Cashman were recruited as coach with assistants Jim Cashman and Liam Meaney helping out when asked. Their contributions were invaluable to the success of the team throughout the Championship. The 'Barrs were dispatched with surprising ease and so we awaited St. Vincent's who overcame Mayfield. As we were scheduled to play St. Vincent's in the McCurtain Cup the offer was made to play the one game for both competitions. As this offer was declined St. Vincent's remained in the McCurtain Cup following their defeat in the Championship. Our interest in the McCurtin Cup ended when we forfeited the game against St. Vincent's, as it was fixed for the same week as the City Junior Final.

All focus was firmly set on the last Sunday in August where we would meet Passage West in an attempt to end a thirty year gap since Blackrock last won the City Junior A Final. A major effort from all concerned, both players and management alike, ensured that the team took to the field confident of overcoming a Passage team who were contesting their third final in four years. Blackrock took the lead early in the game and never relinquished it. Two players in particular deserve mention for their performances that day; Colin O'Reilly who scored 2 - 2 and was awarded the Man of the Match award and Enda Kiely who scored 11 points.

After Frankie Barry collected the cup the celebrations lasted for 2 days but all were back on the training pitch on Tuesday evening to prepare for a County Quarter Final against the Carberry Champions who turned out to be Arigideen Rangers. The game was fixed for September 21st in Minane Bridge. Unfortunately for the Rockies Colin O'Reilly had to return to the US where he is on a basketball scholarship. Also missing for this game were the 2 Coakley brothers, David and Ronan, who were on holidays in Australia.

On a perfect surface in Minane Bridge Blackrock were beaten by 1 goal in a game where they never performed to their potential. While they were never the better team on the day, this was a game, which they could and should have won. Despite ending the year in defeat the players can take comfort and learn from their achievements within the City Division.

The Management of the Junior A Hurling Team would like to express gratitude to the following:

A. The Club Management for the support received throughout the year.

B. The Ladies Committee who looked after the players after training.

C. The Medical Staff and Physiotherapists who treated the players' injuries.

D. The Management of the Senior Hurling team without whose support, advice and understanding we could not have achieved what we did, in particular Tim Murphy.

E. The Players who constituted the Junior A Hurling Panel. They gave their dedication and commitment asked of them throughout the year in the pursuit of victory for themselves and the Club. It is the management's wish that they learn from this year and remain together as a team to return stronger next year.

Regards, Alan McGee

Junior "B" Report 2003

A chairde, ba mhaith linn a thogairt an tuarascáil le foireann B sóisear sa bliain dha mhile is a trí.

A total of 51 different players were used during the year (49 in 2002), in which we played 17 matches, with the average attendance being 20 (22 in 2002). Although we struggled early on in the season, particularly during the exam period, all fixtures were fulfilled.

It is essential that this team is kept going because it provides games for a very large group of lads who want to play hurling and may otherwise be lost to the club. We need a greater hardcore of regulars as dealing with the numbers involved makes is very difficult for both players and mentors alike. Martin O'Keeffe was team Captain for the year.

League:

This year the Seandún division leagues were split into 3 groups and we were graded in section 1A. After a slow start the team found their winning ways and we ended up in a respectable mid table position.

Results:

Championship:

1st Round

The first round was against Na Piarsaigh on the 25th June in Piarsaigh Pitch. A very spirited effort resulted in a tremendous victory by 3 - 8 to 0 - 6, in what was arguably our best outing of the year.

Quarter Final:

Douglas were our opponents on July 24th at Church Road. Despite the difficult conditions on the night, the lads again turned in a great performance to win on a scoreline of 3 - 7 to 1 - 4.

Semi-Final:

The semi-final was a local derby against Ballinure played in Ballinlough on the 3rd August. After a titanic battle we lived to regret many missed opportunities losing by the narrowest of margins 1 - 10 to 1 - 11. A major disappointment to all concerned.

Craobh Rúa Cup:

Quarter Final V Whitechurch on 13th August @ Church Road

10 days after the very disappointing championship defeat the lads picked up the pace again and a great performance saw us victorious by 4 - 16 to 1 - 5.

Semi-Final V Passage on 27th August @ Passage

Hard to believe but we travelled to Passage for this semi-final fixture with only 16 players. However, we won the game with a terrific effort from all present on the night, the final score being 4 - 20 to 1 - 7.

Final V Na Piarsaigh on 20th September @ Ballinlough

After building up a commanding lead in the 1st half we took the foot off the pedal and left the game slip out of our grasp in the final minutes, losing to Ballinlough again by a solitary point 2 - 14 to 4 - 9.

General:

- Challenge matches were played against Carrigaline, Belgooly and the U-21s.

- Our thanks to Timmy Murphy; Alan McGee and Pat O'Neill for their coaching of our players who attended club/junior/U-21 training sessions.

- A very successful junior weekend outing to Limerick was held in March, many thanks to Ger Coughlan and Tom Ahern for their efforts in organising the trip.

- We are very grateful for the support we received from senior, junior and U/21 selectors at our games and in the dressingroom. Special thanks to Pat O'Neill and Timmy Murphy for providing great encouragement to our players.

- Congratulations to: The Junior A team for their championship victory, especially all those on our panel who won medals; Redmond Quirke, Adrian O'Keeffe and Martin O'Keeffe on their weddings.

- Thanks to the following for their assistance and support:

Jim and May O'Brien - Jerseys and Gear

John O'Driscoll - 1st Aid Noel O'Flaherty

Hurleys Catriona O'Sullivan

Physio Roger Ryan Senior Committee

Roghnóirí:

Donal Flemming

Aidan Long

Redmond Quirke

Under 21s Report 2003

Selectors: Paddy O'Neill, Andy Creagh, Tom O'Riordan, Paudie O'Neill, Ger Cummins

Link to Selectors: Tom Cashman

Link to Junior A's: Ger Coughlan

Link to Junior B's: Redmond Quirke

When we first met as a group of selectors, very early in 2003, we resolved to get to know all the players who would be available to us, in order to prevent players from drifting away from the club.

We met the selectors of all the adult teams and made sure that everybody was assigned to one of the three senior panels. We held training sessions every Saturday for anybody who was not able to attend the sessions arranged for the senior panels. We had a presence in the field from very early in the season at every game, and we kept the players on the panel informed of developments at all times.

It was thought that this competition might be played in April, and we wished to get to know our panel as early as possible. The players showed great interest at all times. Even though the competition did not start until late September, we did not play or train as a complete unit until a few days before playing Delaneys. This was due to the number of players involved in both the Senior and the Junior A panels. We defeated Delaneys on a scoreline of 2 - 17 to 1 - 5. However, in the semi-final, played under lights in Pairc Uí Rinn, the team played very poorly and did not do themselves justice.

We were very badly beaten on the night by Na Piarsaighs team, for whom everything seemed to go right. Everybody associated with the team, players and selectors alike, were devastated by the result, as we felt we had the potential, commitment and the interest to mount a serious challenge for the U-21 title. The whole squad were a pleasure to work with, and the players made many sacrifices to attend training sessions.

We feel there is a great commitment to Blackrock Hurling Club from this panel of players, and that many of them will serve the club both on and off the field in the coming years.