Saturday Morning Diary 2003

There was a great turnout of young Rockies last Saturday morning at St. Anthony’s School in Ballinlough for the first indoor hurling morning of the Winter indoor hurling programme. Almost 150 young boys arrived and that included 20 new Rockies who were attending for their very first morning. Within minutes, these youngsters as young as four were hurling away and enjoying themselves.  The emphasis during the indoor hurling is on enjoyment and fun and it is a great way for young hurlers to spend a cold winters Saturday morning while learning the skills of hurling.

Welcome to our new Rockies, 

Cian Cashman, Mark Quinlan, Eoin Desmond-Doyle, Adam Murphy, Dylan McCarthy, Aaron Ahern, Dara Baldwin, Ben Lawlor, David O'Keeffe, Peter O'Keeffe, David Nason, Nathan Montgomery, Daniel Cullen, Alan O'Keeffe, Ben Smith, Cian Sheedy O'Sullivan, Cian O' Gallachoir, Finn O'Donovan, David Dalton and Owen Sheridan.

Indoor sessions continue until Saturday 6^th December.

Church Road was really buzzing this morning, activity commenced at 9 am as the first mentors arrived to put up the goal posts and sort out the pitches for the super leagues. The dew is still heavy on the grass but the sun is shining. It is going to be a lovely Autumn morning, the sort that once you have got out of bed, you are delighted to have done so. The buses are arriving to take away various teams as little knots of players gather. Everybody knows what is to be done and there is a sense of the calm before the storm.

What a storm! Almost 250 young Rockies descend on the ground. The buses have already taken away the under 10 footballers, the under 11 hurlers to Carrigtwohill and the under 12 hurlers to Midleton. The Midleton under 9 hurlers arrive bright and fresh at 10 am. The Cloyne under 8s also arrive and head off to meet their Rocky counterparts.

The super leaguers arrive in their various tops and begin to gather around their masters, as they get ready for their Cup Finals, this is a very big day in their lives and everything must be done to ensure that they have a morning to remember.

Paul and Michael are trying to cope with about 70 under fours and fives, where did they all come from? What a sight! The ground seems to shake under their warm up. Their coaches are saints and there is a special place for them in hurling heaven!

The Super leagues are up and running by 10.15. By 10.30 one can witness the extraordinary sight on Church Road of almost 300 young hurlers hurling. This is hurling heaven. Look out Kilkenny! The super leagues are fought out with the intensity of youth, this is serious stuff as parents, and coaches and youngsters get caught up in the series of micro dramas unfolding all around Church Road. One cannot take it all in with so much happening, a hurling multichannel whichever way you look.

The passion, the commitment, the skill is all there to be seen, the little boys who commenced the under 6 and 7 super leagues three weeks ago seem to have grown up as they give everything to hurl that ball up and down the field. Their proud parents are slightly in awe of the intensity of it all. They are simply having great fun and enjoying the madness and abandon of hurling.

Eleven o clock comes all too soon as there are only a couple of points between all the teams and some cannot be separated at all. The tears of joy and the tears of sorrow appear. These emotions do not last long and life is usually much better after a bottle of orange and bar and a medal, which they all receive. Life goes on for the youngsters and it is only 11.30 on a Saturday, lots more to do to day!

After the presentations of medals, pitches empty out and the coaches gather in the Pavilion for a chat and to make plans. It has been a good morning, hopefully some of those young hurlers will one day fulfil their dreams on the hurling and sporting fields of Ireland and elsewhere and they may very well have had their very first sporting dreams here in Church Road this morning.

As one leaves Church Road the Rocky under 14s are training for their County Final to morrow in Pairc Ui Rinn. They have their dreams too and tomorrow is their big day.

The sun is still shining over Church Road.

Saturday 26th July 2003.

A beautiful morning at Church Road, lovely blue skies and warm sunshine transfix the grounds and a relaxed atmosphere pervades the complex, like the last day at school. However the approach of many of the young Rockies would suggest otherwise as they threw themselves into some hard fought matches following the skills sessions. The eights, nines and tens combined and had a very good game. The younger lads gave a very good account of themselves.

There was great fun at the under 5 group, where Joe, Paul and Michael and Joy have worked away quietly over the past three months. The improvement has been dramatic, with most of the youngsters actively involved and very focused indeed on striking the ball and participating fully. You would have no doubts whatsoever for the future of the Rockies or for Cork hurling if you saw the level of activity in this group. This year a special day will be arranged for this group in September, they deserve no less!

It is now over three months since the 2003 outdoor hurling season commenced at Church Road and again it has been a very good and positive period. No words on a website can communicate the thanks that is due to the coaches who come morning after morning to Church Road to show our youngsters how to hurl and to become active in sport. One day we hope the youngsters will appreciate the work of these unsung heroes who just get on with the job.

Thank you all!

We are all taking a break (officially) at this stage and will be back again on 30th August for the final six-week outdoor hurling coaching period which will feature the under 6/7 Super leagues. Blackrock hurlers are going well at senior, junior A and B and at under-age, our sports hall is nearing completion and the sun is shining. It is a great note on which to take a break

Enjoy the holidays and see you all on the 30th August.

Saturday Morning Diary 21^st June 2003. 

Dressed for the sun, spatters rain all morning! Longest day, turning point of the Summer, holidays beginning to have an effect on numbers, especially in the Super league where the poor old Lions are very depleted. The Tigers pull a surprise over the more fancied Sharks to finish on top of the Rocky Super league table and set up a reappointment in the Super Cup Final next Saturday. The Tigers and the Sharks really hurled as if their lives depended on it and some wonderful skill and determination graced the proceedings.  It should be some Cup Final!  The Wolves will take on the Lions again in the Plate Final. 

The under 10s were missing this morning getting ready for the finals of the Mick Cashman Cup.  This has been a fantastic competition for under 10 hurlers, organised with military precision by J P Devine over the past two months, involving Na Piarsaigh, Erins Own, Ballinhassig,  Sliabh Rua and Bandon and the under 10 Rockies panel. The finals played this afternoon resulted in a most exciting contest with Ballinhassig coming out on top to capture the Cashman Cup.  Well done to everybody involved and it is evident that hurling in Cork remains in good hands.

Saturday Morning Diary 14^th June.2003. 

What a lovely morning! The sun is shining and Church Road looks great. 

By 9.15 the goalposts for the super leagues were already being set up on the main pitch, Church Road is going to be busy this morning.  The games were in full swing by 10.15, watched by a large crowd. The usual tears of joy and sorrow, in victory and defeat, the Sharks are really the team of the moment with two wins from two games.  Killian and Brendan, their coaches are really on the ball. Fiacre White of the Tigers is really some hurler…he scored one goal and four points this morning! 

The other coaching groups were also in full swing, all over the place. The under 7s are now on the back pitch and enjoying their new found space, some good hurling being played here also.  The under 10s are getting ready for the finals of the under 10 tournament next Saturday and it will take some team to beat them. The 5s and 6s are getting stuck in and these, the youngest Rockies are just as committed as all the older boys. 

Over in the pavilion, there is a very large crowd, the tea and coffee shop is under extreme pressure, while large crowds are coming and going to view the new hall, as part of the open day. It was great to see so many people turn up to visit this facility, now nearing completion.  In particular it was so pleasing also to see whole families looking around the hall, with the youngsters already imagining all the wonder goals they are going to score there. 

Now all we have to do is finish the job and let the youngsters get on with the hurling.

Saturday Morning Diary 7^th June. 

Is this really the summer of 2003? The day dawns cold and wet, yet clears up for the start of the under 8/9 Super leagues. Nicholas Bond and the coaches from the 8 and 9 groups had done a great job in getting this super league up and running. As the Sharks, Lions, Wolves and Tigers gathered in their groups, the nervous tension was evident… and that was only the coaches! 

Jim Cashman, the head of his pack of Wolves was concerned at the choice of referees. Fergal Ryan, the referee reassured him that he would look after things. As this game finished at 5 goals and a point each to the Tigers and the Wolves, there may have to be a GPC inquiry, although there is no video evidence available that we know of. 

The two games were quite brilliant, with some very good hurling indeed and outstanding commitment from all four teams.  Only one point separated the Sharks and the Lions in a full-blooded encounter, with Brother Patrick as the man in the middle!  This is one league that people should go and see, the greatest hurling show in town. (after looking at Limerick and Waterford later in the day, there is no contest) 

Again a huge crowd, with all the groups buzzing after the Bank Holiday layoff, all fresh and ready for action. The new under 6 group is really coming together and already last year’s babies are showing dramatic improvement. There is real substitute for a young fellow having the hurley in his hand as much as possible, practice makes perfect and hurling skills do not come easy! 

It had been a good morning around Church Road, the pavilion was packed afterwards, a strange tenseness in the air, The Championship game between Cork and Clare on peoples minds, will we do it to-morrow?  Even some of our Tipperary coaches wishing Cork well!! There is a quiet confidence around; Wayne had been over earlier in the week belting a sliotar off the car-park wall, already “ in the zone”.  Ireland was being hammered in the Rugby game with the Aussies. Thurles tomorrow, our whole summer depends on a hurling match with Clare.

Would we want it any other way?

Well, what a contrast!

Beautiful sunshine and everyone with a bounce in their steps. Although we expected a small crowd as the First Holy Communions in the area are taking place over 120 young Rockies turn up ready for action. The coaches as usual are brilliant with all groups quickly covered and the place buzzing by 10.15.

The under 8s with Tom Daly, Jimmy Tyner and Jim Cashman were getting some great work done with their smaller group this morning. They seem to be coming along nicely, with skill levels improving all the time. Hurling is a slow game to learn and like all true art is difficult to master, the patience and the commitment necessary remains elusive to many, but once understood is a friend for life.

To walk around Church Road on a Saturday morning is to see and understand the gradual progression of the young Rockies through the skills as they themselves grow and develop. Some give up, but for those who continue to listen, learn and do, the perfect connection of sliothar on the hurley is a joy to feel.

Each group has strong and weak hurlers, already one can see the guys who practice every day and one can see the lads who look for their hurley in the boot of the car each Saturday morning. Yet it is great fun for all the lads and they come if they enjoy the session. We can worry about All-Ireland medals later on! Just keep hurling lads!

Saturday Morning Diary 3rd May 2003.

Washed out! Sorry all you young Rockies.

Back from the Easter break. Weather cold and showery although the sun shone for our young hurlers. Despite the ongoing Easter holiday and the families on their way to Toulouse to witness the heartbreaking one point defeat again, almost 150 youngsters turned up. Everybody knows where to go now and the place settles down very quickly. Coaches and children getting into the coaching rhythm, which usually indicates that, everybody is enjoying themselves.

It is a real challenge for coaches to ensure that children of these ages are kept interested in playing for an hour at a time, without losing concentration. Try it sometime! Would coaching the Cork team be easier? Anyway the under 7 group was in particularly good spirits this morning and it was adamant that Christy Ring was the very "best hurler in the world". Even the fact that one of their coaches had often played with and against the said Ring did not faze them one bit. The group had major internal disagreements when it came to a certain Mr. Beckham, so Ring continues to be their number one hurler. Amazing! In the match afterwards young David King really played very well and is a potential future star!

Back at the under 6s Daire and Conor O' Brien were really having a great time, younger brothers of Colm and Eoin who have themselves developed into fine hurlers in the juvenile section. Thankfully the sun still shone at 11 o clock, well done everybody.

Dull, overcast morning with a bitter easterly wind, sweeping in over Cork Harbour. Yet, our first arrivals, young 5-year-old Dylan and Gavin Burke arrived full of energy at 9.30 ready for action, hurleys primed. Young Luke Hogan also arrived for his first morning with his Mom Joy Hennebry. Joy also helped out with Joe and Paul s group. Proud Granddad Jim looked on, delighted with young Luke's progress.

All round Church Road, young Rockies and their frozen parents arrived. Charlie Barry joined in with the under 6s and has the buzz again. John Kennedy limped in after falling at the St. Patrick's Day parade, who says hurling is dangerous? Back at his group, Peter, Jody and Jimmy were very busy with the under 7s. Tom Daly and Sean Logue were working away with the 1995 group, which appeared to be very energetic and active. Two matches were under way here.

Nicholas and Killian had a really great match in progress, it is amazing how the young fellows are growing, these were the "baby Rockies" a few years ago, now they are driving the ball 50/60 yards. The sliotars were flying over in JPs group also and one would not want to hang around behind the goal for too long if you wished to hold on to your head, given the speed the balls were coming in. Richard, Kieran Tim and JP have these in great shape.

The place has really settled down now, with the young Rockies getting to know their groups and coaches. Back in the pavilion, Lillian, Eithne and Noel were busy with the teas and coffees, which have brought a great reaction. The registrations were still coming in to Seamus and Brendan, while the hurleys were flying out from Pat Roche. The pavilion was busy with a fantastic buzz around; Kevin Cummins was in great form.

Coaches gathered in the pavilion in groups making plans, discussing tactics, young lads performances being analysed, sorting out improvements to be made. Young Gavin and Dylan arrived in and were just so happy after their exertions. What would we do without sport, balm for our souls?

After the horrific images of war, which filled our TV screens all week, somehow sport becomes even more important to our lives.

Its that time of the year again, early morning dew on the grass, Church Road looking resplendent in the Spring sunshine, the new trees outside the pavilion beginning to bud (well done to the Grounds Committee). Hurling was invented for mornings such as this. By 9.30 the place was already buzzing with excitement as the first of almost 50 adults that now make up the Saturday morning team began to arrive.

First morning jitters, have we enough balls, cones, tyres and hurleys? Will there be enough space, coaches, and facilities? The pavilion was also opening up, as post-coaching refreshments would be available for the first time thanks to the vision of Noel Carroll. The apparent chaos takes shape; the clusters of eager Rockies begin to gather around their coaches. Eamonn, busy is organising, sorting out hurleys. Jimmy Brohan, cheerful as ever gathers his gang. Joe Phipps and Paul O'Callaghan collect the very small Rockies and the sounds of happiness rise from the southwestern corner. There are the usual first morning tantrums in places but young Rockies are tough lads and get on with it.

The anxious faces of Moms when their little baby Rocky thunders into his first clash and winds up sprawled on the grass, picks up his hurley and gets up for more, is a photographers dream.

It is John Cormacks first day as a Rocky coach, and he comes through with flying colours. Allan Russell, senior selector, has joined the new under 6 group with John and is delighted to be hurling again. All over the old ground, children are now hurling, almost 250 in all, which is a fantastic sight. The coaches are in great form.

Eleven o clock comes far too soon for most, first day over, it was a good one! The animated telling and retelling of the near miss, the great save and the super goal scored, adorned the conversations at the lunch tables. The wonder of it all and the joy of hurling at Church Road! May it ever be so!

- Ger O'Mahony