Our U15 hurlers returned training in early December under the management of Tadgh Keogh and Barry Coffey, and they have been very busy since. They commenced the year with a night time hike in the 12 o’clock hills. To date the players have come together on 36 occasions for training and matches.

The first 8 weeks of training comprised of a physical training regime. This included a lot of strength & conditioning and lots of running. The lads were assessed for fitness by doing a beep fitness test and many 1-kilometre timed runs. They were also assessed for upper body strength and agility.

Physical training

Many thanks to Flan Keogh, Pat Gilligan and DJ Whitty for producing a state of the art adjustable pull up frame. The players have got great use out of it and as it’s adjustable, all age groups will get plenty of use doing pull ups, hang tough or many more exercises.

The players have been working on their agility by doing box jumps. Many thanks also to Padraig Flannery for making the box. This is also available to all age groups for training.

Jack O’Halloran working on his pull ups

Luke Deegan working on his agility

As the pitches were unavailable in December, January and February, the players continued with circuit training, wall ball sessions, Astro sessions in the school Astro and running on the track around the field. The players also trained on Friday nights in Wolfe Tones Astro pitch. Many thanks to Gareth at Sixmilebridge National School for the use of the school Astro and hall.

Yoga training

All this hard training was taking its toll and the players did three Yoga sessions led by Dawn Shanahan. Thanks so much to Dawn for taking the time to teach the players about the importance of core strength and recovery. The players presented Dawn with a club top to thank her for all her efforts.

Jack McCloskey, Donal O’Leary, Cian McInerney, James Lynch, Killian Downes, Darragh Whyte, Dawn Shanahan, Peter Gilligan, Cathal Aherne, Neil Forde, Patrick Lenane, Aidan Moloney, Cian Conroy and Zak Phelan display their best tree pose.

Dawn Shanahan is presented with some gifts from the squad by Jack McCloskey, Killian Downes, Peter Gilligan, Neil Forde.

Workshop from the community substance misuse team

As we all return to normality, there has been some controversial clashes with training sessions and discos. The lads were duly excused from training to attend such important events but only after Mike and Michelle from the community substance abuse mis-use team held a workshop in the school hall. This event was a huge success, the lads learned many valuable lessons such as the dangers associated with substances, looking out for each other and sticking together when out. As the championship has commenced, both Barry and Tadgh have agreed that there is now a disco ban in for lads!

Michelle and Mike discuss the importance of looking out for each other and sticking together when on a night out.

Pre-championship preparation

The U15A squad have been busy preparing for the championship and have played some challenge matches against Na Piarsaigh, Athenry, Ballina, Eire Og and Inagh Kilnamona. The Academy team have equally been busy preparing for their championship playing challenge matches against Na Piarsaigh, Newmarket on Fergus, Clooney Quin and SMB U13A team. The upcoming fixtures for the U15A and U15 Academy championship are listed below. Please come and support the lads!

Clare county development squads and club captains

Congratulations to our players who have been selected for the county underage development squads:

- Clare U15 development squad: John Deasy, Dylan Keogh, Mark Mullins, Cillian Murphy.

- Clare U14 development squad: Zak Phelan, Jack O’Halloran, Donal O’Leary, Stephen Gavin, Rory Chaplin.

Our captains were recently announced:

- SMB U15A: Mark Mullins (Captain), Cillian Murphy (Vice Captain)

- SMB U15 Academy: Killian Downes (Captain), Cathal Aherne (Vice Captain)

Congratulations to Thelma & Barry Coffey

Both players and the management team expressed huge congratulations to our joint manager Barry Coffey as he got married very recently. Barry showed his loyalties when he rushed back early from his honeymoon for the first round of the U15 championship. The players weren’t going to let him down and duly put in a fine spirited performance to overcome Doora Barefield on a score of SMB 2-08, Doora Barefield 1-08 in the opening game of the U15A championship.

Barry is presented with a club top and a gift from Cathal Aherne, Mark Mullins, Cillian Murphy, Killian Downes and Rory Chaplin.

Pre-Feile training

We recently attended a pre-Feile tournament in Na Piarsaigh. We played the hosts Na Piarsaigh, Toomevara and Dicksboro. This was great preparation for the upcoming Feile competition in Clare. Huge thanks to Na Piarsaigh for organising and especially for the generous refreshments afterwards also.

Stephen Gavin, John Deasy, Rory Chaplin, Mark Mullins, Aidan Moloney, Jack O’Halloran, Peter Gilligan, Cuan Mac Giolla Cearra, Conor Peacock and Jack McNamara put Na Piarsaighs post match refreshments through the taste test.

On Thurs 28th of April, we play Inagh Kilnamona in the quarter final of the Feile, the winners will then play the semi-final on Sat 30th of April at 11AM and the final will be held on Monday 2nd of May.

Bonding day

The squad recently had a bonding day out. This was well deserved as the boys are very committed and they continue to train very hard. The squad had a bus trip to Galway where we played Gort on the way to PureSkill in Galway city. The boys had a great day out building team spirit and creating lifelong memories.

Match reports U15A

Sixmilebridge v Doora Barefield

FT score: SMB 2-08 v Doora Barefield 1-08

HT score: SMB 1-02 Doora Barefield 0-05

Scorers: Stephen Gavin (1-01), Dylan Keogh 2007 (1-01), Cillian Murphy (0-06, 1 ’65, 0-04 from frees)

Team: Conor Keogh, Dylan Keogh (2008), Mark Mullins (C), Jack O’Halloran, Darragh Whyte, John Deasy, Luke Deegan, Cillian Murphy (VC), Aidan Moloney, Dylan Keogh (2007), Cuan Mac Giolla Cearra, Cian Conroy, Rory Chaplin, Stephen Gavin, Zak Phelan. Subs: Peter Gilligan, Neil Forde, Donal O’Leary, Peter Gilligan, Killian Downes, Cathal Aherne, James Lynch.

· Excellent performances from Cillian Murphy, Aidan Moloney and Stephen Gavin.

Sixmilebridge v Ballyea

FT score: SMB 0-05 v Ballyea 5-16

HT score: SMB 0-01 Ballyea 3-04

Scorers: Cillian Murphy (0-04 from frees), Dylan Keogh 0-01

Team: Conor Keogh, Dylan Keogh 2008, Mark Mullins (C), Neil Forde, Darragh Whyte, Jack O’Halloran, Luke Deegan, Cillian Murphy (VC), Aidan Moloney, Dylan Keogh (2007), Cuan Mac Giolla Cearra, Cian Conroy, Rory Chaplin, Stephen Gavin, Zak Phelan. Subs: Peter Gilligan, Conor Peacock, Donal O’Leary, Cathal Aherne, Killian Downes, James Lynch

Jack O’Halloran and Mark Mullins battled bravely to the end.

Match reports U15 Academy

Sixmilebridge v Kilmaley

FT score: SMB 2-03 v Corofin / Kilmaley 1-12

James Lynch, Oisin O’Brien, Cathal Aherne (VC), Conor Peacock, Jack McNamara, Donal O’Leary, Killian Downes (C), Neil Forde, Peter Giligan, Conor Fitzpatrick, Cian McInerney, Darratgh Sweeney, Charlie Keane, Patrick Lenane, Conor Gleeson. Subs: Cian Conroy, Dylan Keogh (2008), Paddy Lynch, Liam Sweeney.

Excellent performances from Cathal Aherne, Neil Forde, Killian Downes, Peter Gilligan and Conor Peacock.

Sixmilebridge v Corofin / Ruan

FT score: SMB 2-16 v Corofin / Ruan 1-06

Team: James Lynch, Paddy Lynch, Cathal Aherne, Conor Peacock, Killian Downes, Dylan Keogh (2008), Jack McNamara, Neil Forde, Conor Fitzpatrick, Darragh Sweeney, Cian mcinerny, Cian Conroy, Jack McCloskey, Darragh Leyden, Charlie Keane. Subs: Liam Sweeney, Peter Gilligan, Eoghan O’Leary, Oisin O’Brien, Dylan Tobin, Sam Sheppard.

There were great displays shown from Paddy Lynch, Darragh Leyden, Cian Conroy, Conor Fitzpatrick and Liam Sweeney.

The season is well underway, and the boys have had super days on and off the field with activities such as the 12 O’Clock Hills hike and the car wash day. There are many more days planned like these, and lots and lots of hurling too!

Thanks to the coaches for continuing to give their time to help the players develop, thanks to Tom Culbert for videoing our games and to Jean and Christine for capturing the stats on match days.

Huge credit must be given to the players for their continued commitment, good attitude and application when wearing the club jerseys. We look forward to the season ahead.