Festival of U12 football and hurling a big success
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The Clann na Gael U12 team that played in the hurling competition at the recent festival in Cusack Park.Image 2 of 12
The Castletown Geoghegan U12 team that played in the hurling competition in Cusack Park.Image 3 of 12
The St Vincent's U12 team that played in the hurling competition in Cusack Park.Image 4 of 12
The Clonkill team that played in the hurling competition in Cusack Park.Image 5 of 12
The St Brigid's U12 team that played in the hurling competition in Cusack Park.Image 6 of 12
The Delvin U12 team that played in the hurling competition in Cusack Park.Image 7 of 12
The Raharney U12 team that played in the hurling competition in Cusack Park.Image 8 of 12
The Na Piarsaigh Reds team that played in the U12 hurling competition in Cusack Park.Image 9 of 12
The Oliver Plunketts Whites team that played in the U12 hurling festival in Cusack Park.Image 10 of 12
The Cullion team that played in the U12 hurling competition in Cusack Park.Image 11 of 12
The Na Piarsaigh Purples team that played in the U12 hurling competition in Cusack Park.Image 12 of 12
The Oliver Plunketts Greens team that played in the U12 hurling competition in Cusack Park.Friday May 31, Saturday June 1, Monday June 3 and Sunday June 9 will be days long remembered by over 1,000 eleven and twelve year old boys from every football and hurling club in the county as they participated in the Westmeath Minor Board’s Festival of Hurling and Football in Cusack Park.
The brainchild of minor secretary Peter Collins, the festival proved to be a resounding success with hugely positive feedback from players, parents, mentors and clubs. The idea was to have every under 12 player in the county in both codes sample action in the county’s headquarters with matches organised between evenly matched sides based on performances in phase 1 of the Under 12 leagues.
The excitement levels among the participants was heart warming and every player gave his all throughout the 50 minutes of action. To cap it all, each footballer received a brand new football emblazoned with the Westmeath crest and name while each hurler left Cusack Park on Sunday last with a new grip and size 4 sliotar. The under 12 grade in both codes is about providing games for our youngsters and there are no championships or trophies contested in either phase 1 or in phase 2, which will get underway towards the end of June.
The key elements in this grade are skill development, team work, representing their club and most importantly, fun. These qualities were on display in every match across 24 games which were refereed by the recently qualified new cohort of club referees and it was a first outing in the middle of Cusack Park for these new whistlers and they excelled in their duties.
Parents, siblings and grandparents attended the matches in great numbers to show their support. The minor CCC has 11 members, Peter Collins (Lough Lene Gaels): Barry Kelly (St Oliver Plunketts), Michael Kelly (Delvin), Declan Leonard (Clonkill), Sinead Shine (Garrycastle), Paul Doolin (Mullingar Shamrocks), Ronan Farrell (Maryland), Shane Briody (Killucan), Gerry Walker (Tubberclair), Pat Collins (Mullingar Shamrocks) and Richie Heffernan (Turin). This dedicated group showcased the spirit of volunteerism that has underpinned the success of Gaelic games for decades.