This week I am taking a back seat role in the blogging department and instead handing it over to guest blogger Marty Morrissey. Keep an eye out for him at the Crossbar Challenge over the course of the year and at other Bord Gáis Energy Under 21 Hurling events.
- Joe
The medical experts say stress is bad for you so allow me to get something off my chest! Who in their right mind wanted to get rid of the Under 21 Championship?
I understand fully the need to condense the Championship season to allow the club….which is the epicentre of the GAA world…to flourish but really, as John Mc Enroe used to say….you can’t be serious?
A few seasons ago the continued existence of the Under 21 Championships looked in serious doubt but last years hurling and indeed football Championships demolished that proposal for ever…I hope !
The quality of the two All-Ireland Finals between Cork and Down in football and Clare and Kilkenny in hurling will be remembered for decades to come. They were that good!
Ger Cunningham, Marty Morrissey and Joe Canning
The Bord Gáis Energy All Ireland Under 21 Championship Final is going to be played under lights in Semple Stadium on the second Saturday in Thurles, thereby getting a massive marketing boost by Saturday night Television viewing.
There is nothing wrong with our underage structures as the Minor and Under 21 Championships have served the GAA and the counties of Ireland well.
2009 will be remembered for instance in my county of Clare as a memorable year beyond belief as for more than half of 09, the Clare sporting car was clearly displaying a petrol gauge of more half empty than half full! In other words, as I call it, the Sacred Heart light was on as the county hurling journey was going nowhere….fast!
Incredibly our year turned around in quite dramatic style as an unknown Under 21 team brought unprecedented glory and honour to the county.
Remember this was a year when further internal rumblings between senior management and players coincided with relegation to Division Two and subsequent average performances in the Munster Championship.
2009 Clare captain Ciaran O’Doherty celebrates 2009 Munster final win
Out of nowhere came a Clare team of Under 21 hurlers that had been blaguarded out of a first Munster Under 21 title in 2008 by inept refereeing, only to bounce back to win on the 13th attempt that elusive first Munster on a beautiful evening in Fraher Field, Dungarvan. It was July 2009.
Who will ever forget last year’s All-Ireland Under 21 Championship Semi Final in Thurles? A game surely worthy of the title, Match of the Year.
Final score was Clare 3-23 vs. Galway 5-15
To win an All-Ireland is special but to beat the greatest hurling county in Ireland to win your first All-Ireland title ever was just simply awesome.
Clare manager John Minogue celebrates at the final whistle after winning 2009 All Ireland final.
The Clare Management team of John Minogue, Cyril Lyons, Sean O’Halloran and company are back to retain their title with more than six of last year’s squad. The good vibe feeling continues with the appointment of Ger “Sparrow” O’Loughlin and nine of that All-Ireland winning Under 21 team making their Munster Senior Championship debuts against Waterford last Bank Holiday Monday.
Clare supporters celebrate 2009 victory in Croke Park
Ah…yes…it’s great to be alive and from Clare…..and it’s all down to the Bord Gáis Energy Under 21 Hurling All-Ireland Championship.
- Marty
And for anyone that didnt already know, Marty is a prety nifty hurler himself as this video from last years ‘pass it on’ campaign clearly shows!
- Joe
Tags: blog, Camogie, Clare, cork, Crossbar Challenge, Down, John Mc Enroe, Kilkenny, marty morrissey, pass it on, Semple Stadium, Under 21 Championship, Under 21 Football Championship