Saturday Morning Diary 2004

Saturday morning 22^nd May 2004.

Lovely summer morning, the 8s and 9s are missing this morning due to their impending trip to Dungarvan to take on Dungarvans finest. (Pat Curran you are a saint!).

Major panic, “I never knew about this trip”, “my hurley is chipped, will I be able to play”, “and are we stopping in Supermacs?” Most problems resolved eventually.

This morning the huge six year old group was humming, 4 full matches going on at the same time and my God there was no holding back! Is this the chaotic bunch that only came together six weeks ago? Well done Brendan, Tim, John Vaughan and John                           

And Donal O’Leary and David O’Shea who have also joined in.

The sevens are flying also and the drills and skills were being done with the gusto of the youth. A good morning’s play!

Saturday morning 1^st May 2004.

Pleasant morning, a bank holiday weekend, yet over 180 youngsters appear, however a relaxed mood to match the weather. Some serious games over in the six yearold group section.

Ben Shanahan was adamant, that sliothar was not going to go past him no matter what happened. He would rush out of goal and grab the ball placing his tiny fingers into a sea of swinging hurleys. His dives to protect the ball when it approached the vicinity of his goal area caused grown adults to avert their eyes in fear of the consequences should a hurley come swinging in. 

He was wonderful in his ability, total comittment and innocence. What a goalkeeper!

Saturday Morning 24^th April 2004. 

Young Cian Adams looked extremely concerned, it was his very first Saturday morning hurling in Church Road and he did not know where to go. He is 8 years old and from Scotland. His granddad Quentin reassured him that everything would be all right. Following an introduction to under 8 coach Jimmy Brohan, Cian and Jimmy began discussing shinty and the differences between the two games and suddenly everything was all right with the world.

Later on May O Brien was very worried, how was she to decide on the best-dressed young Rocky. She could not make up her mind, she had great excuses, “there are 250 of them around, how am I going to decide”, “that lad there in the 5s is just so cute”, “what about that fellow over there with the green band on the hurley?”  “ there’s a fellow on the back field”. “those two guys there are lovely”

Yes it was a hard station but no one said it was going to be easy.

Eventually Alex Kelly and Stephen Corbett were the lucky recipients of beautiful hurleys.

A beautiful sunny morning, Church Road resplendent in the sunshine, the cherry blossom at the entrance to Willow bank in full bloom. The pitches covered in young Rockies.

Let the hurling begin!

Saturday 17^th April 2004.

The rain begins at 9.45.  Sorry young Rockies, we had to cancel!  Next Saturday will be fine.

Saturday April 3^rd 2004.

9.25 am.

 Sid Hassett arrives to register as a Rocky, accompanied by Neil and Declan. He is ready for action, a look of expectation tinged with slight apprehension tinged on his young hurling helmeted face. A man already in the zone!

Sid later links up with new six-year-old panel, which comes together for the very first, time this morning. Almost forty 6 year olds assemble, as do the coaches Brendan Cunningham, John O’ Brien, Tim Mullane and John Vaughan. Parents circulate with cameras, video cameras, picture phones; this morning is going to be captured for posterity. The youngest children playing one of the worlds oldest games, beginning their journey in sport!

Some day soon these youngsters may hurl together for Blackrock, under 8, 10, 14, juvenile and even senior. Perhaps a few will one day wear the red jersey of Cork!

Lifelong friendships, the pain and joy of sport and life may have started this morning in our field of dreams.

Is there anything more important that to witness children with dreams, as adults we are enriched by the experience? We must ensure that Sid and his 6-year-old friends have the freedom to dream for as long as possible.