Junior A League

Intermediate Championship

12th April

Moorefield 2-4 vs. Naas 1-16

7pm

Round 2

19th April

Celbridge (winners) vs. Moorefield

7pm

Round 3

26th April

Moorefield vs. Kill (Called Off)

7pm

Round 4

Moorefield Bye

Round 5

10th May

Arclough (Winners) vs. Moorefield

7.30pm

Round 6

17th May

Moorefield vs. Maynooth

7.30pm

Round 7

24th May

Sarsfields vs. Moorefield

7.30pm

Jakie Donnelly

 
What did it mean to you for hurling in Moorefield that they were entering a junior team this year?

For me it meant progression and sustainability, being able to fill a junior team and win out
the championship, just shows that hurling in Moorefield has come a long away
and it’ll be around for another while yet.

When did you begin your training for this year? What kind of training did
you start with?

I started back in the second week in December, with circuit training 3 times a week, and a
fitness assessment on the weekends. Then I progressed on to the training field
with the team on the first week of March.

Were you worried about being able to field a team at all in the junior grade?

No, not once. I knew we had a lot more players this year who were new to the club and they
would grab any chance to show the selectors what they had to offer, as well as
the rest of the senior panel who were eligible to play junior.

Did you have confidence that the team could/would perform at this grade?

Oh definitely, we have a lot of young skilful hurlers in the club and to bring them together with
the older players I knew we would have a decent team and we would be able to
contest the championship.

Did the misfortune of the senior hurlers this year affect/motivate you in
any way?

Yeah it did, it was a big blow for me personally, because I’ve been playing for the club all my
life and to reach this level and have the team plagued by injuries and work
commitments was a hard thing to take. But it made me want to succeed even more
and show people that hurling isn’t dead in the club.

What do you think was the key to success for the junior boys?

I think it was the experience of the background staff and the older players along with the influx
of new players to the team, because it made people knuckle down and fight for
their place on the team during every training session and every match.

Will Moorefield be able to field an intermediate and junior hurling team
this year?

Yes, we’ll have a strong panel of players to pick from this year so I’m sure that those on the
junior team will be looking to break into the intermediate team.

Can you see any of the junior hurlers from this year progressing onto next
year’s intermediate team?

Yes I can, the final against Sarsfields just showed the skill and determination the players on
the junior team have and I’m sure the management of the intermediate were
looking at this a warm up match for next season.

 

 

 

Who was your childhood hero?

Liam Dunne, Wexford hurler. He made me my first ever hurl and also gave me his jersey from the 97’ All Ireland semi-final! Loved his
style of play on the field too.

Who’s your best friend on the team?

I get on with all the lads really, it’s one thing you can say about the team, we all get on great and that’s what brought us together to
win the Intermediate championship against the odds last year.

Who’s the tough nut of the team?

2 horse race between Kevin Corry and Chrissy Reilly, with Kevin winning after taking Chrissys head off!!

Who’s the quickest?

Paul Dawson hands down.

Who’s the Joker of the team?

Between Dave McElroy and Matthew Kemmy, you won’t find too bigger dossers but it’s all great banter!

Who’s the most skilful?

Dave Smyth is a class hurler, very unfortunate not to have been starting on the Kildare team this year, hopefully next year.

Who’s the most intelligent?

Dave McElroy again, was able to tell us why they put the lime in the corona bottle there recently, very impressive!

Who’s the least intelligent?

Easily Niall Kennedy. Used to own a Ferrari though, so doesn’t do too badly for himself all the same.

Who’s the best trainer?

In terms of attendance Matthew Kemmy, never misses one. Paul Dawson is probably the best trainer, incredibly fit man.

Who’s the worst time keeper on the team?

Unfortunately, I put myself forward here, I have been working on it though….and getting nowhere really!!

Who is the best dancer?

I’m sure everybody in Moorefield would agree Mark Sexton is, never seems to off that podium in Swifts!

Who is the worst dancer?

Dave Barrett has a few jigs that are laughable, they have rubbed off on all of us, I’m sure we look the part!

Who’s the best player you have played with?

Mick Moloney is still lethal to this day, despite being 42 (I think), can’t imagine what he would have been like in his prime. Martin
Fitzgerald of Ardclough and Kildare who would make it on most county teams is another.

Who’s the best player you have played against?

Played against Tony Browne during his Carlow I.T stint, he actually marked me for a little while, was brilliant getting to play against a
man who has done it all but win the All Ireland, most people describe him as the best player never to win an All-Ireland.

Who’s the biggest whinger on the team?

Dave Smyth and Mark Doyle are fairly bad, but if you were to ask the others they’d say Gavin Sunderland, don’t really know him though so won’t comment!!

Finally, who’s the manager’s pet??

John Sheehan, never trains but seems to always play. Think he does be down in Jims for a cup of tea every now and then!!

Date: TBC

They take on Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final.