The inaugural Munster U21 Club Championships proved a major success at Garryduff on Saturday, with Bandon’s women and C of I’s men taking the overall honours.
The brainchild of Munster Branch PRO and Ireland U16 assistant coach Andy Gray, Saturday’s competition saw 10 teams converge on the Rochestown venue for a full day of short matches in a 9-a-side, full-pitch format with the increased space and relaxed atmosphere yielding plenty of goals and open hockey.
While there was disappointment that some of Munster’s bigger clubs did not enter, it is hoped that will be remedied in 2014 as the competition is set to become a regular fixture in the calendar at Christmas time.
A powerful Cork C of I side claimed the men’s crown, winning each of their four games and getting a walkover from UCC, who were unable to field late in the day due to players’ work commitments. Simon Wolfe’s tally of six goals gave him the top goalscorer award, and his late winner in a 2-1 success against East Munster proved vital.
Limerick ran them close with David Cardy starring throughout, earning himself the title of tournament MVP (most valuable player), chipping in with four goals. The Villiers-based side’s progress, which has seen them competing for both the Div 2 and Div 3 titles, was evident for all to see with the likes of Calum Morrow and Andrew Tutty also shining.
UCC and Bandon were also well in contention, both using “borrowed” players to good effect with Mark Holland among the goals for College while Julian Dale shone alongside his Bandon Grammar schoolmates for the west Cork club.
An East Munster side comprised of players from Waterford, Kilkenny and Midleton started slowly but grew more powerful as they familiarised themselves with each other, Sam Butler (UCD) and Andrew McGregor (Midleton) in particular standing out.
A youthful Ashton found the going tough against C of I but were otherwise competitive, and unlucky to lose out to East Munster; 16-year-old goalkeeper Steven Scanlan had a sterling tournament however and was rewarded with the best GK award.
Bandon emerged as women’s champions, hardly surprising given the increasing depth of young talent in their ranks. Ireland underage international Saoirse O’Leary claimed the MVP prize while Doris Obialor, guesting for her old club, earned the top goalscorer award.
They defeated a game Limerick side, who experimented with nine outfielders but paid the price whenever their circle was breached, 4-0 in the decider, the highlight a delightful between-the-legs deflection goal from 15-year-old Katie Desmond. Laura Costello had a superb tournament for Limerick, providing their main attacking threat, with Annie O’Gorman finishing off the chances nicely.
Ashton claimed third as Michelle Barry, Karen Coombes and Lorna McCutcheon returned from first team duty – they lost 4-1 to Catholic Institute – in time to see off Team Southern Fried Hockey in the bronze medal playoff. Earlier, Diane Fitzgerald’s goals and the strong running of Alex Duboy and Ali O’Shea had stood out for them.
The latter, an invitational side made up of players from different clubs and schools, acquitted themselves well considering they had no player older than 15 in their ranks. Regina Mundi schoolgirl Hillary O’Donovan claimed their two goals while their Munster U16 netminder Kaitlyn O’Callaghan was named goalkeeper of the tournament.
with Bandon emerging as women’s champions; Saoirse O’Leary (Bandon) and David Cardy (Limerick) were named as tournament MVPs with Simon Wolfe (C of I) and Doris Obialor (Bandon) taking the top goalscorer crowns. Teenage goalkeepers Steven Scanlan (Ashton) and Kaitlyn O’Callaghan (Team Southern Fried Hockey) were named as the tournament’s best netminders.
Munster U21 Club Championships 2013 (9-a-side) results
Men: Cork C of I 1 (Simon Wolfe) Bandon 0; Limerick 3 (Glenn Morrow, Nathan Eacrett, David Cardy) Ashton 0; Cork C of I 2 (David Lynch, Simon Wolfe) East Munster 1 (Eamon Walsh); UCC 3 (Mark Holland, John Sweetnam, Gary Wilkinson) East Munster 0; UCC 3 (John Sweetnam 2, Mark Holland); Limerick 3 (David Cardy, Nathan Eacrett, Andrew Tutty) Bandon 1 (Julian Dale); Cork C of I 3 (Simon Wolfe 2, Richard Sweetnam) Limerick 0; UCC 1 (Gary Wilkinson) Bandon 1 (Scott Sullivan); Limerick 1 (David Cardy) East Munster 2 (Brendan Dowling, Alan Sheehy); Bandon 3 (Mark Kingston, Ricky McMahon, Julian Dale) Ashton 1 (Paul Holland); Ashton 0 East Munster 1 (Sam Butler); UCC 0 Limerick 2 (David Cardy, Calum Morrow); Cork C of I 5 (Simon Wolfe 2, Richard Sweetnam, Richard Lynch, David Lynch) Ashton 0; Bandon 1 (Scott Sullivan) East Munster 0; C of I w/o UCC scr.
Standings: 1 C of I; 2 Limerick; 3= UCC; 3=Bandon; 4 East Munster; 5 Ashton.
Women: Ashton 2 (Diane Fitzgerald 2) Team SFH 1 (Hillary O’Donovan); Bandon 2 (Loraine Copithorne 2) Ashton 0; Bandon 3 (Jenny Buttimer 2, Saoirse O’Leary) Limerick 1 (Laura Costello); Limerick 3 (Annie O’Gorman 2, Laura Costello) Team SFH 1 (Hillary O’Donovan); Team SFH 0 Bandon 3 (Doris Obialor 2, Ingrid Burns); Limerick 1 (Sinead O’Regan) Ashton 0. 3rd place playoff: Ashton 2 (Orla Nation, Michelle Barry) Team SFH 0; Final: Bandon 4 (Doris Obialor, Katie Desmond, Saoirse O’Leary, Ingrid Burns) Limerick 0.
MVPs: David Cardy (Limerick) & Saoirse O’Leary (Bandon); GKs of the Tournament: Steven Scanlan (Ashton) & Kaitlyn O’Callaghan (Team SFH)
*Pictures with thanks to Ondine Roche, more of them to follow!
A powerful Cork C of I side claimed the men’s crown, winning each of their four games and getting a walkover from UCC, who were unable to field late in the day due to players’ work commitments. Simon Wolfe’s tally of six goals gave him the top goalscorer award, and his late winner in a 2-1 success against East Munster proved vital.
Limerick ran them close with David Cardy starring throughout, earning himself the title of tournament MVP (most valuable player), chipping in with four goals. The Villiers-based side’s progress, which has seen them competing for both the Div 2 and Div 3 titles, was evident for all to see with the likes of Calum Morrow and Andrew Tutty also shining.
UCC and Bandon were also well in contention, both using “borrowed” players to good effect with Mark Holland among the goals for College while Julian Dale shone alongside his Bandon Grammar schoolmates for the west Cork club.
An East Munster side comprised of players from Waterford, Kilkenny and Midleton started slowly but grew more powerful as they familiarised themselves with each other, Sam Butler (UCD) and Andrew McGregor (Midleton) in particular standing out.
A youthful Ashton found the going tough against C of I but were otherwise competitive, and unlucky to lose out to East Munster; 16-year-old goalkeeper Steven Scanlan had a sterling tournament however and was rewarded with the best GK award.
Bandon emerged as women’s champions, hardly surprising given the increasing depth of young talent in their ranks. Ireland underage international Saoirse O’Leary claimed the MVP prize while Doris Obialor, guesting for her old club, earned the top goalscorer award.
They defeated a game Limerick side, who experimented with nine outfielders but paid the price whenever their circle was breached, 4-0 in the decider, the highlight a delightful between-the-legs deflection goal from 15-year-old Katie Desmond. Laura Costello had a superb tournament for Limerick, providing their main attacking threat, with Annie O’Gorman finishing off the chances nicely.
Ashton claimed third as Michelle Barry, Karen Coombes and Lorna McCutcheon returned from first team duty – they lost 4-1 to Catholic Institute – in time to see off Team Southern Fried Hockey in the bronze medal playoff. Earlier, Diane Fitzgerald’s goals and the strong running of Alex Duboy and Ali O’Shea had stood out for them.
The latter, an invitational side made up of players from different clubs and schools, acquitted themselves well considering they had no player older than 15 in their ranks. Regina Mundi schoolgirl Hillary O’Donovan claimed their two goals while their Munster U16 netminder Kaitlyn O’Callaghan was named goalkeeper of the tournament.
with Bandon emerging as women’s champions; Saoirse O’Leary (Bandon) and David Cardy (Limerick) were named as tournament MVPs with Simon Wolfe (C of I) and Doris Obialor (Bandon) taking the top goalscorer crowns. Teenage goalkeepers Steven Scanlan (Ashton) and Kaitlyn O’Callaghan (Team Southern Fried Hockey) were named as the tournament’s best netminders.
Munster U21 Club Championships 2013 (9-a-side) results
Men: Cork C of I 1 (Simon Wolfe) Bandon 0; Limerick 3 (Glenn Morrow, Nathan Eacrett, David Cardy) Ashton 0; Cork C of I 2 (David Lynch, Simon Wolfe) East Munster 1 (Eamon Walsh); UCC 3 (Mark Holland, John Sweetnam, Gary Wilkinson) East Munster 0; UCC 3 (John Sweetnam 2, Mark Holland); Limerick 3 (David Cardy, Nathan Eacrett, Andrew Tutty) Bandon 1 (Julian Dale); Cork C of I 3 (Simon Wolfe 2, Richard Sweetnam) Limerick 0; UCC 1 (Gary Wilkinson) Bandon 1 (Scott Sullivan); Limerick 1 (David Cardy) East Munster 2 (Brendan Dowling, Alan Sheehy); Bandon 3 (Mark Kingston, Ricky McMahon, Julian Dale) Ashton 1 (Paul Holland); Ashton 0 East Munster 1 (Sam Butler); UCC 0 Limerick 2 (David Cardy, Calum Morrow); Cork C of I 5 (Simon Wolfe 2, Richard Sweetnam, Richard Lynch, David Lynch) Ashton 0; Bandon 1 (Scott Sullivan) East Munster 0; C of I w/o UCC scr.
Standings: 1 C of I; 2 Limerick; 3= UCC; 3=Bandon; 4 East Munster; 5 Ashton.
Women: Ashton 2 (Diane Fitzgerald 2) Team SFH 1 (Hillary O’Donovan); Bandon 2 (Loraine Copithorne 2) Ashton 0; Bandon 3 (Jenny Buttimer 2, Saoirse O’Leary) Limerick 1 (Laura Costello); Limerick 3 (Annie O’Gorman 2, Laura Costello) Team SFH 1 (Hillary O’Donovan); Team SFH 0 Bandon 3 (Doris Obialor 2, Ingrid Burns); Limerick 1 (Sinead O’Regan) Ashton 0. 3rd place playoff: Ashton 2 (Orla Nation, Michelle Barry) Team SFH 0; Final: Bandon 4 (Doris Obialor, Katie Desmond, Saoirse O’Leary, Ingrid Burns) Limerick 0.
MVPs: David Cardy (Limerick) & Saoirse O’Leary (Bandon); GKs of the Tournament: Steven Scanlan (Ashton) & Kaitlyn O’Callaghan (Team SFH)
*Pictures with thanks to Ondine Roche, more of them to follow!