With the current Covid restrictions putting a halt to the annual coaches Christmas gathering, the U10 coaches had an end of year with a difference via a road hurling tournament. Course designer John Reddin used all his expertise in project management from working with InTouch (soon to be renamed to First Touch given Johns current hurling skill levels) to ensure a challenge was presented to all coaches on the day. While there were murmurings at the start line that Reddin had an unfair advantage given that he had a home overlooking the course this was quashed as the coaches presented themselves at the start line fully focused on winning with a mix of Ash, Bamboos and Plastic hurleys -

First up was Alan Ice Mulready who was recently named coach of the year for the second year running and his tee shot set the bar for all to follow. Controversy followed when one of the coaches produced a size 4 pink wall ball which was deemed against the rules and following a quick consultation with course referee Sean Lynch it was decided Murphy could continue with the handicap of a size 28" Hurley. Paul Fitz, the man that broke the Rockies hearts in 2002 was next up before the bookies favorites arrived out of Russells yard following their warmup.

Coach Conlon who following a session of early morning Yoga was so flexible he contemplated taking his tee shot standing on his head but opted for the traditional hurlers position with a rapid wristed C-Swing to get his show on the road. Next came the big hitters - Caimin Morey and Barry Loughnane who had played out a powerful Wall Ball Final on Christmas eve with Morey taking the win in a close encounter on that ocasssion.

The course while mainly downhill from Russells yard to Ballysheen graveyard included numerous hairpins which favoured the brave and on the day Loughnane had the bounce of the ball as his precision in cutting the corners paid off. He had a worrying moment with the finish line in site but found his ball within the deadline to avoid incurring a penalty and see him cover the course in a new record of 13 shots - 2 ahead of his nearest rival.

Loughnane who plays his hurling with Wolfe Tones has had a lot of slagging to put up with from his fellow coaches over the years but was very gracious in his winning speech. He spoke of how the time spent playing Crazy Golf in Salthill during his college days in Galway had helped him develop a unerring eye for curving his shots around corners, while a quick call with TV3 weather man Martin King this morning had prepared him for the changing wind directions. However the main difference he felt today was the new Bridge jacket (pictured above) he got for Christmas which he felt has given him superpowers in hitting the ball even further.

In the Junior section (confined to coaches kids), Liam Mulready was the winner when he defeated Blake Corbett by inches in a puck off after both had tied on 15 shots.

Congrats to Barry & Liam and well done to all and roll on 2021 when it is hoped the event will be ran again to a wider audience when restrictions are lifted.