Roundup of Boys Teams 2017:
This week we have a summary of team news including Under 6 Mixed, Under 8 boys, Under 10 Boys, Under 12/11 boys, Under 14 boys, Under 16/Minor boys. At the AGM 2017 a detailed report of all on field activities was giving by the secretary and each manager.
Under 6 Mixed:
Began the season with Approx. 10 players and by the end of the year we had 25 players and 15 players who were regularly training.
We have 6 Girls playing at u6. We started training in April in 2017 and this worked well as the weather was more suitable for this age group. All our training this year was in Caherslee. Sixteen of u6’s are now training in the complex as part of the Tralee Parnells academy.
We played the following teams throughout the year, mainly in the latter half of the year: Ballyheigue, Abbeydorney, Lixnaw and Causeway at home and Causeway and Abbeydorney away. These games were a success with a great turnout from players and parents.
We had enough for 2 teams at every game, unfortunately the opposition hadn’t. Our players are on a par skills wise with the opposition players.
In 2017 a lot of our players were 4/ 5 years of age, so we should have a very competent team in 2018 at this age. A total of 6 players will be progressing to U8’s in 2018. A big recruitment drive is necessary at u7s. Thankfully Caroline Somers, Niamh Daffy and Eoin Burns helped out on occasion. David Brick helped set-up the training area and helped out on most nights, Thank you David.
Under 8 boys:
The 2017 season was another very enjoyable and successful one for the U8 boys. 25 players registered with an average of 15 at each training session and games. The season began on Friday 7th April in Caherslee and finished on Friday 22nd September .
The impact of the training provided over the winter months was very evident when we started back in April. The skill levels of all players improved greatly throughout the season. During the season we played matches away to Abbeydorney,home and away to Causeway,and home to Ballyheigue. A big thanks to Fiona for organising these.
We also took part in a NK Blitz over 2 nights. In previous years a second blitz was organised but this did not happen this year. We travelled to Killeedy on the 12th August and a great day was had by all,thanks to Ger Donnelan for organising.
A special word of thanks to all the mentors, Brendan, Brian& John and parents who helped out with training during the season.
Under 10 Boys:
Club President, Chairman, Secretary and Executive Committee, here-in is the yearly report of the U10 Manager on Tralee Parnell’s U10 Boys Hurling Team 2017. Our season started in earnest in March with commencement of Friday evening outdoor training at the IT Complex. This was shortly followed by Tuesday evening outdoor training after our Hurling Academy indoor training program ceased for the year.
This year’s U10 panel was made up of 18 boys heading into their second U10 season and 10 boys making the step up from U8’s. Over the following month through new recruitment our U10 panel grew to a final end of year number of 30 boys.
To grow Tralee Parnell’s Hurling & Camogie Club we have to ensure that the kids enjoy hurling and find their Parnell’s experience fun.
As we all know if the kids enjoy something, parents and siblings enjoys the same experience and that establishes the club. I also believe that kids love games and that games improve the many skills of hurling.
That laid down my approach to the hurling season which I and my coaching team took. We ensured that we had games strategically placed throughout the season and with the experience of last season we ear marked various competitions which allowed my coaching team to assess the boy’s improvement.
We started with a home and away games against neighbours Abbeydorney. To supplement numbers for the Tralee Parnell U11 Team a number of the older boys from the U10 panel participated in this panel under the management of Ger Reidy and this resulted in Tralee Parnells reaching the Division 2 final v Ballyduff. Following this was the start of our main U10 focus of the year the North Kerry Blitz, taking place over three separate venues during the season.
We won Group A in Abbeydorney, on a day that ended with the team playing five games and winning all. For the remaining rounds of the NKB Blitzes Tralee Parnells fielded 2 teams, divided on the boy’s dates of birth. Next up was the 2nd Round of NKB Blitz in Ballyduff and Ardfert, where our Division 1 team finished in runner up spot and our Division 2 team partaking in a reduced blitz with only two games and being placed against very strong opposition.
The conditions were though on the day and these games stood to those boys. We took the panel on an away trip to play Kileedy / Tour in Co Limerick and enjoyed a mornings hurling playing the hosting team and Castlemahon.
As the last round of blitzes was not until September, we entered the panel into the Dr Bill Mangan Cup competition in August taking place in Killarney and Muckross Traditional Farms over two days.
Again we entered two teams and it was the coach’s hope that we could possible get the two teams qualified for the Cup and Shield finals. Again the teams were divided on date of birth and on the evening of qualifying our older boys qualified for the Cup final and the younger boys narrowly missed out on qualification for the Shield Final.
On our performances that evening it was clear that we had developed a strong panel with skill in depth. The final took place on Saturday August 26th v Rathmore in Muckross Traditional Farm with the whole panel in attendance.
In a very entertaining game in Parnells won out in the end to win the Dr Bill Mangan Cup for the first time on a score of 2-9 to 2-3. Every one performed to their best and it is of credit to them that any substation never weakens the team on the pitch.
The celebrations afterwards were a kin to winning the Liam McCarthy. It was back to Kerry club business where we produced our best hurling of the season for our Club Blitz and final NK Blitz in early September. The timing couldn’t have been better, winning Division 1 unbeaten and the younger boys performing bravely in Division 2 losing out to single scores of all teams. In all we played 37 U10 games.
To sum up our development, our team grew with every outing, their skill level improved and they showed great character to deal with the challenges we placed before them. They grew as a panel and it is great to see them take to the field against Limerick opposition, encouraging each other and more than holding their own against them.
We have a panel of boys presently at U10 that possess a very good standard and range of skills for their age group.
It’s great when the other club coaches approach you at the end of a mornings hurling and genuinely compliment your team, it is widely said and known amongst the other clubs that Tralee Parnells have the best U10 panel in the county for 2017.
More importantly they boys grew as friends. I would consider that my previously mentioned approach as having worked, the boys had fun and the games developed their hurling abilities aided with the work being done in the academy.
We are now very competitive at this age group and I anticipate that the U12’s will have a 100% progression from the U10 panel. With reference to the club plan from an underage development angle, we have to continue our Schools initiative in line with the currently academy and Tuesday evening training sessions.
This has led to our panel of 30 and our hurling development through the year. We need to keep promoting our club as a premier sports club in the town. This has to be done with an open and friendly approach.
We can be up there with the well-established clubs in the area and from recent feedback we have made huge strides in this respect in 2017. I do not at present suggest any changes to the club plan but ask that all management groups and club officers keep the plan active in their yearly planning.
Many thanks to my Coaches, Morgan O’Connell, Agnes Sheehy, Joe O’Mahony, Kieran Fitzgerald and Brian Shanahan, who were so committed to the whole year. Thanks to David O’Dea who’s input into the kid’s skill development is massive.
Thanks to the Club Chairman Dermot Reen who keeps you going and a huge thanks to Club Secretary David Brick, he’s always there, always encouraging and is a pro at setting out pitches. A big thanks to my family who washed jerseys and listened to “Davy again” for nine months of the year.
Finally thanks to the parents, you keep the boys coming, keep them encouraged and make Tralee Parnell’s an upcoming, great hurling club.
Under 12 boys:
U12 (Division 2) County Hurling League Phase 1, April, Div. 2; Games v Ballyheigue, Rathmore, Dr, Crokes, Kilmoyley and Lixnaw. Beaten in every game, some big losses incurred with the exception of the Dr Crokes game which we won.
Player turnout was poor for most games, struggling with 9-11 players depending on the day. North Kerry u12 Hurling Blitz. July, Div. 2; Games v Causeway, Ballyheigue, Kilmoyley and Lixnaw. Well beaten in all games, Only 11 players available on the day.
Munster Invitational Blitz, 25th July, Gaelic Grounds Limerick; We did not travel this year, due to a lack of available mentors and players. U12 County Hurling League Phase 2, August Div. 2: Games v Lixnaw, Abbeydorney and Causeway in which we were well beaten. Did not play the Ballyheigue game as this would have been certain defeat and a bad way to finish the season. Tralee Parnell’s Cul Camp; 8no. u12’s participated in the Cul Camp. Under 11’s; North Kerry Hurling League, May, Div. 2. Games v Ballyduff, Abbeydorney, Ballyheigue and Causeway. Beat all with the exception of Ballyduff who won the competition. 5no. of stronger u10’s playing on this team.
Under 14:
Mentors; Michael Cassidy, Ollie Broughton and Dermot Reen. Panel size was so tight initially applied to county board to amalgamate with Causeway but refused permission. With the return of a lapsed hurler and addition of some new hurlers panel grew to 17 in total however, commitment level was high.
Won all 3 competitions; Co league, County Feile B progressing onto national finals in Carlow winning two matches before being beaten by outright winners. North Kerry Div 2. Five players made county U14 squad. Also, attended All Ireland semi-final between Cork and Waterford.
Under 16 / 15:
2017 was a roller coaster of a season for the u15/16 squad. After a difficult start to the season, a dramatic turn around with the start of the North Kerry competitions. Victories over causeway, Kilmoyley and Abbeydorney (twice) were hard fought and highly deserved.
However, we were unable to complete a triple over Abbeydorney who defeated us in the final of the competition.
The backbone of this u16 squad had a number of u15 players who greatly benefited from the experience and indeed put this to good use in winning the prestigious Garry Scollard u15 tournament.
