St Enda's
After the promise of an Intermediate Football final appearance and an Ulster Hurling League victory last year, both of our senior teams failed to extend the expectations on their shoulders, and made respective first round exits in the Championship. The footballers lost narrowly to Ballymena All Saints, only to avenge the defeat a week later in the league, whereas the hurlers were comprehensively beaten by a well organized Rasharkin team who are to compete the County Final.
The focus of the clubs aspirations this year then fell to the juveniles who delivered in abundance. A decision by the club to enter our juveniles into the additional divisional boards has certainly reaped rewards. The success of the hurlers in recent years in North Antrim, was complimented by the juvenile footballers maiden year in South West,with final appearances and silverware delivered by our young Gaels. Another focal point of 2008 was the excellent development work undertaken at juvenile level, with successful Cul Camps and weekly year round training, however the highlight of the year was the clean sweep at the Aldergrove / Glenavy Go Games where our U8 s A Team and B Team both won their competition as well as the U10 s A Team and B Team both winning their competitions, as well as the U12's winning a 32 team competition held in Armagh, defeating teams from Antrim, Down, Tyrone and Armagh, remaining unbeaten throughout the day. To complete a perfect day St Endas Conor Doran received the top accolade winning player of the tournament!! Another highlight was the Under 14 footballers winning the South West league.
COUNTY MINORS
The excellent work conducted throughout our juvenile structure benefitted the county minors this year, with Brendan McGivern bringing great pride to the club, as well as an Ulster championship medal, the first since Philip Curran in 2002. We had two minor football representatives as well, with both Martin Morgan and Conor Devlin, making their county debuts. We also wish young Conor, son of club stalwart Kevin, well in his new career, having been signed to Manchester United School Boy Academy in June.
UNDER 12 FOOTBALL : HISTORY MAKING SOUTH WEST CHAMPIONSThe season got under way with an away fixture to St Comgall's of Antrim ,with James McAuley becoming the 1st player in club history to register a score in this division!
St Enda's showed their intent for the year by overwhelming the Antrim youngsters, with all but one of the outfield players scoring in the opening encounter. This win was followed by victory against Creggan as St Enda's played their first home game of the season. The next game against Stinsons really tested St Enda's progress with several players missing , resulting in a narrow defeat in a close encounter in Ahoghill. This was to be the only time the Glengormley youngsters lost on the field all season with St Enda's returned to winning ways against Cargin the following week, still several players short.
Further victories followed with St Endas's youngsters playing football to the highest standard, as they outplayed a Ballymena 15 to every ball and finished the game 11 point winners. Two further victories ensured St Enda's a place in the semi final against Aghagallon which resulted in a first ever league final in an incredible debut history making season.
The final was played on a wet September evening in Randalstown with St Enda's pitted once again against Sean Stinsons, a team going for 3 in a row at u12 level. Nerves got the better of the St Enda's team in the first period trailing by 1-2 to 0-2 at half time. However the second half was to demonstrate the team spirit and resolve outscoring Stinsons by 1-7 to claim an historic league title. It is a measure of the squad's depth of talent, and a fair system of rotation, that in the 17 games played 28 players played matches with only one player fielding in all games.
St Endas ; C Lusty, F Eastwood, K Hillen, C McCarragher, E McNulty, C Morgan, P Healy, C Doran, R Scott, P Mc Diarmuid, O Eastwood, J McAuley, E Nulty, A Curran, M Crangle, G Morgan, R Morgan, A O'Kelly, D McNulty, D Walsh, D Clarke, T Eastwood , N McKeown , C Eastwood, H Griffen, C Lyttle , A Turner, O O'Connor.
St.Enda's U14 Hurlers fell in the last quarter of extra time to St Brendan's in the North Antrim U14A Hurling Championship Final on Saturday at a sunlit Glenariffe. Having reached the final with crucial wins over Loughiel and Ballycastle, St Enda's were forced to field without influential captain Rhys Montgomery.
Early scores from Cormac Ross, including 100% free taking accuracy and a 65 from John McGoldrick saw the Hightown Gaels level at the break, St.Brendan's 1:04 St.Enda's 0:07. Scores from play and dead balls from Ross as well as a deft point from the end line to the right to level the scores yet again from skilful full forward Niall McGivern, who immediately gained possession on the 40' and soloed through to pop over another inspirational point to give the Glengormley side the lead in the 41st minute. Ross then put St.Enda's 0:10 to 1:05 in front going into the last quarter however somewhat against the run of play, St.Brendan's full forward line produced the goods and goaled in the 50th minute to give them the lead of 2:05 to 0:10. Ever accuracy from Ross and McGivern pegged St Enda's back forcing ghe issue to extra time with the full time score line; Naomh Eanna 0:12 Naomh Breandan 2:06
EXTRA TIME
St.Enda's: Aaron Goldring, Stephen Burns, Michael McQuillan, Terence McNamara, Matthew O'Hare, John McGoldrick (Captain), Ruairi Diamond, Niall McCollum, Rian Gillan, Jack Arthurs, Cormac Ross, Eoin Conlon, Michael Morgan, Niall McGivern, Michael O'Boyle, Conor Scott, Sean Monaghan, Nathanial Johnston, Joe Maskey, Aidan Doyle