Brilliant Day at Croke Park for Rising Stars
What a day for our young stars as the U8s took full advantage of Leinster GAA's invitation to an Activity Day at Croke Park. Over 30 of O'Loughlin Gaels best set off from St. John's Park on Tuesday afternoon accompanied by mentors, Brendan O'Leary and Brian Fox and a host of equally excited parents. It was a day for big kids as well as small kids.
The Journey Was Calm..as can be expected!!......
On arrival proper studs had to be checked, extra hurls accounted for and hurls gripped before entering the field of play...
Then on to the big accasion...and into the dressing rooms... These moments were way too tense for photgraphs and the management wanted no distractions so all press and media were asked to wait outside while the Deise man and the Tipp man gave our heros a pre match talk (....was there no one else!!!)
Then out of the dressing rooms and into the tunnel under the Cusack Stand ..the butterflys were building but the sight of club support in the stands helped to ease any nerves before the boys burst onto the the pitch.
Then out of the dressing rooms and into the tunnel under the Cusack Stand ..the butterflys were building but the sight of club support in the stands helped to ease any nerves before the boys burst onto the the pitch.
Great moments as our boys enter the arena.....
On to the pitch so...get a few of the formalities out of the way...team photo, shaking hands with the dignitaries.. sponsors ..all that other stuff that hurlers don't want. These boys just want to hurl...so when the whistle sounded they were off and everything you'd expect of a Gael was demonstrated by these lads on the Croke Park sod. ..lovely hurling.
Once the games ended it was on to the Hogan Stand podium for the end of match presentations. The team loving every minute of it. All those present witnessed an image as rare as a sighting of Big Foot in the Himalayas ...a Waterford man on the steps of the Hogan Stand!
A big thanks to sponsors Liitlewoods Ireland, organisers Leinster GAA and Croke Park for a brilliant opportuity for our young players. As always thanks to our juvenie sponsors MacDonagh Junction Shopping Centre for kitting our boys out.
Days like this are what dreams are made of and hopefully this expereince will stand to some of our boys in the future. Thanks to the parents who are always on hand to help when asked and a special thanks to the mentors on the day Brendan and Brian who have great energy for O'Loughlin Gaels GAA.
Lovely Hurling