Marchshowcase11

I started playing hurling about 6 years ago. I never really planned on playing
hurling until one night I was sitting down watching television. I then got a phone
call and was invited to join the under-12s team. From then on I have had a
great love for the sport. When I started off I was originally a half back until we
entered a blitz, which is a competition. The first two matches I played half back
winning the first match and drawing the second. However we still had three
matches to play and our keeper was injured. Without a keeper, I volunteered
to play the remainder of the tournament as a goalkeeper. Naturally I was very
nervous as I had never really played in goal but things went well and from then
on I have been the Round Towers keeper.

The first two years playing in goal were very mixed. Some matches would
go well but others would be dreadful. Now I was under-14 and I was beginning
to improve a little. I then joined the Moyle Park hurling team which was
managed by Miss Jordan. I played out field, then, which was a huge change
having spent two years in goal. However one of my biggest memories of
hurling is when the ball dribbled across the box and I tapped it in. This was a
terrible goal but for a keeper it was amazing. Even with my outstanding goal
we did not make it to the knock-out stages. In third year we were under new
management as Miss Jordan had left. Mr Sheehan took over. I was back in
my position. We had a really good team that year with players like Jack
Whelan, Alex Darby, Cillian Nolan and Brian Gregg. We beat teams such as
Saint Marks in Tallaght and went all the way to the semi-finals; but that was
as far as it went. I am in now in 6th year and we have not had a hurling team
since I was in third year. This, I find, is disappointing as hurling was once
very important to the school and very important to those who play it. Hopefully.
soon enough, there will be a hurling team and it can grow to be important
again.

When I played under-15s for Round Towers. I was called up for the under-16s
team as they did not have a keeper. We had an outstanding team that year
with huge wins. We were on a winning streak and when the championship
started we were unbeaten. When the final came around we were off to a bad
start with 3 goals going past me. It looked like we would lose again but with
goals from Shaun Leonard we won by about 10 points. This was a huge win
for us as we achieved the double - going unbeaten within the league and
championship. The next year I was captain for the under-16s team. This was
a hard league for us as we had a very young team with the under-15s team
supporting us. Having said that, we made it to the final against Liffey Gaels
which was a good match; but we lost. The worst thing about that day was
watching Brian Gregg lift the cup. Now I am a minor hurler and we now play
Division 2.

This will be a huge test for us as there are huge teams within this league. We
got off to a brilliant start this year with a huge win against Finbars. This was
a huge boost of confidence and we now have a upcoming match against
Ballyboden Saint Endas. This will be a hard match but we have been training
a long time so I think we will come out with a victory.

Our team now trains with the intermediate team with a new trainer. This has
improved our team greatly as we are getting bigger and fitter. Division 2 is a
huge commitment with regular training sessions which can be a bit
demanding but, in the in the end, it is worth it. Hurling in our club is starting to
improve and is almost as popular as Gaelic football. Because of this, we are
getting a new hurling wall, a sand based pitch and an all weather pitch. This
will have a huge effect on our club as we will have the training facilities to
improve our skill levels.

Stephen O'Brien 6th Year