The Duggan Steel U-15 Hurling championships are on the horizon with the first game of the year being tonight (Wednesday) as Graignamanagh are due to take on Tullogher Rosbercon in what will be a keenly contested all south clash.
In the Kilkenny Honda Centre Minor leagues there was a couple of games played as Galmoy/Windgap just about got the better of Piltown 4-7 to 1-15 in a rather spritely affair. Dicksboro had a little too much class for Mooncoin when they gained a 3-13 to 0-10. In the other game of the week Graigue Ballycallan were more accurate in front of the goal as they overcame Conahy Shamrocks 2-16 to 2-15.
There was two back games played in the U-15 Duggan Steel league as Blacks & Whites overcame Slieverue 2-12 to 3-4 whilst Glenmore had too much fire power as they plundered a 5-20 to 4-11 win over John Locke’s.
One game of note in the U-13 league saw Danesfort gain second spot in the league after a rip roaring epic draw with Glenmore 6-8 to 7-5.
The development squads had another busy week as there was a first two victories for Kilkeenny U-14 Amber squad this year with hard fought victories over Laois and Waterford. The benefits of having the players regularly together over the last few months is starting to bear fruit with 16 clubs represented across the panel and the collective training is improving the standard across the entire panel. Michael Brennan & Joe Mulholland grabbed 1-1 a piece in the victory over Waterford whilst David Williams 0-3 against Laois proved to be the difference.
U-14 Black squad played 30 different players in their two games defeating Laois but found the challenge against Waterford a little more difficult but are building nicely towards the Sonny Walsh tournament.
Performance of the weekend must go to the Amber U-15 team who performed considerably well to dispatch Tipperary with an emphatic performance hopefully a sign of things to come next weekend as they dispatched the premier at their ease. Laois was up next and the O’Moore held the lead in the run up to the short whistle 1-3 to 0-5 but Kilkenny regained the lead which the never relinquished. Meanwhile the black U-15 squad came from 1-8 to 1-4 down at the break to gain a 3-13 to 1-10 win to qualify for the John Doyle tournament.
Pat Hoban’s charges in the U-16 black squad played Waterford first. It was a very strong wind with Waterford in first half giving them a 9 point lead at half time. It took a herculean effort in second half to come back and draw in a see saw bout which they could easily have won. They then tossed to see who played Clare first a toss they lost so they went straight into a game v Clare including 6 of their minor team. A savage battle ensued but in the end Clare pushed on and won by 7 but the game could so easily have swung either way.
By Mary Morgan Tue 13th Aug
