Granard schools combining in hurling

Granard Schools have reached a North Leinster Junior Hurling Final.
By Cian O'Connell

These are encouraging times for schools hurling in Granard.

Cnoc Mhuire Secondary School and Ardscoil Phádraig have combined to reach a North Leinster Junior D decider.

Several of the panel are involved in Longford development squads so there is a sense of hope and optimism to attached to a talented crop of players.

Teachers Niamh Kiernan and Claire O'Reilly have collaborated with Longford GAA staff to ensure a competitive team has been stitched together.

JP Bracken, Longford GAA's Hurling Games Development Administrator, is delighted with the response. "For them to be in the North Leinster Final, it is great," he says.

"I train them, and turn up for the matches. You've a good bunch of lads, who'd be in Longford development squads at U15 and U17. They'd have won All-Irelands last year in the Celtic Challenge and Hibernia Cup.

"I'd build it into my programme for the week, and I'd try to get to St Mel's. I'm starting to see a lot more of the lads, I only started in June, I'm meeting them with the schools and the development squads when I help out on a Friday night."

It is a positive development with Longford GAA Games Manager Damien Sheridan optimistic about the future. "Ciarán MacEochaidh, he was working with us, he is from Ballinderreen originally, he was our hurling GDA," Sheridan explains.

"So, he'd have been dealing with these young lads at club and county squad level. There was a good bunch in first and second year in the Granard schools.

"He went to the schools and said he'd like to do a bit of hurling. That started it. The kids had an interest, but could we put a team into a Leinster competition? So, they did that last year and it carried on."






It is an encouraging time for schools hurling in Granard.
That Bracken has continued to make progress which pleases Sheridan. "We got JP Bracken, who came across from Westmeath," Sheridan adds.

"In September, JP made contact with the schools, who'd already committed to taking part in the Leinster Junior.

"JP started working and coaching, as soon as he got in there, he knew there was quality for the level they'd be playing at."

"He is a Longford GAA GDA now. He started with us at the end of June. A couple of female teachers co-ordinate the team, he does the coaching with them.

"He's involved with St Mel's, who're in the other semi-final. It could be an all Longford north Leinster final in that. Mel's and the Drogheda team are due to play this week."

"The hope is that it will extend out to senior in the years ahead. Probably from next year on, the hope would be that they'd be able to play at senior.

"The schools came together for this. The community has bought into it, they're getting a bit of sponsorship for gear coming into the final, that is all good."

Bracken is hopeful that Longford schools can make further progress. "St Mel's are in the semi-final, they've Martin Feeney involved, he's a Leitrim senior hurler," Bracken says.

"Mel's have a senior team. Oisín Gately, a Tipperary man, he's a teacher in Ballymahon, he plays senior hurling for Longford.

"He's getting Ballymahon going this year, he knows he's the makings of a half decent team for next year. The secondary schools are trying to get going."