Shamrocks young hurling stars told to work hard but enjoy themselves by Tipp stalwart

AN exciting young group of hurlers in Shamrocks GAA Club have been told to work hard to reach their potential but to remember to enjoy themselves and to have fun.

Tipperary star Jason Forde made the comments as he presented the 2023 Offaly U-13 Hurling Championship medals to Shamrocks.

Shamrocks' success in the U-13 Hurling Championship was one of the big feel good stories in the Offaly hurling world in 2023. A long time amalgamation of the former St Carthage's and Mucklagh clubs, Shamrocks' achievement in winning an A hurling title was a very significant one.

It was only their second A hurling title to win, joining the minor hurling one they won in 2002.

One of the few genuine dual clubs in Offaly, football has traditionally been the strongest game in Rahan parish but hurling also occupies a very cherished role and a lot of work has been put in during recent years.

As team manager Sean O'Rourke remarked at the presentation of medals in Rahan Hall on Sunday evening, those players didn't suddenly arrive on the scene and win this year. It was the culmination of a few years of coaching and effort and he saluted the successful players.

Shamrocks beat Tullamore in a thrilling U-13 hurling final earlier in the year. They displayed a great collective work ethic while the quality of some of the individual performances commanded complete respect.

The winning panel were introduced to a large crowd by Darren Buckley and earlier in the evening, underage players in the club were presented with a Shamrocks top sponsored by Gerry Buckley of NIS Ltd.

Forde remarked: “Just to congratulate the lads, it's obviously something really really special. Success breeds success, and you've had a taste of that. And if you ask any player who wins something what they get from that, it makes them want to go back training harder to experience that again. And as the lads will say to you, they're moving up to under 15 next year, it's another chance for you to compete and hopefully get a bit more silver again.”

The Silvermines club man talked about talent requiring hard work to go with it.

“If you're ever watching any sport documentaries or reading any biographies, it's always mentioned that talent can only bring you so far, you have to match it with a work ethic, and you get what you put into it out of it. They both complement each other, and they'll get you to reach your full potential.”

He stressed the importance of enjoying training and playing:

“I suppose the only advice I have for younger players number 1, is the enjoyment. Hurling is a fantastic sport there's so many different skills and bits and pieces in it, but as a player to actually enjoy the sport that you're playing, enjoy the team you're part of when you're playing with your friends, representing your club. So the enjoyment part is huge, if you don't have that it’s very hard to improve and stick at it.”

Forde also told players to listen to their coaches and advice.

“The second one is to be coachable as a player. What I mean by that is that you're willing to learn. All the boys here tonight obviously have really high hopes for you going forward, and I'm sure they are going to look after you really well, and the fact that they put in the strength conditioning and stuff like that, they're only going to want the best for you going forward and the best for the club, so take on what they're saying, be that coachable player, be willing to listen, be willing to improve. There’s nothing worse than seeing a young lad think they know more than they do. If you're that coachable player you'll reach the potential. Every player here is probably at a different level but if you're willing to be coachable and listen and try to improve, I guarantee you'll reach your potential

“Again thanks to the lads I wish you the best going forward to 2024.”

The Shamrocks panel was: Ben Boland, Michael Buckley, Kevin Cleary, Jack Cowman, Ryan Craven, Tim Cusack, Aaron Downes, Luke Daly, Noah Dunne, Adam Fox, Rory Grennan, TJ Gerasch, Zach Hamill, Brian Heffernan, Eoin Keyes, Conor McEvoy, Paddy O'Connell, Keith O'Rourke, Conal Minnock, Fionn Minnock, Cathal Monaghan, Darragh Monaghan, Dylan Moore, Cillian Moran, David O'Shea, Mark Reynolds, Dion Rock.