Armagh Minor Hurling team had a challenge game arranged for 19th May which fell through and at 24 hours notice a few clubs , mainly St Finians of Swords, Skerries Harps and St Maur’s assembled a group of minor hurlers to step into the breach. A return match was organised and Armagh played a Fingal selection in the new St Finian’s pitches in Rigewood in Swords on Saturday 2nd June.
The All-Ireland C competition is organised on a blitz format with 2 groups of 4 and Fingal were accepted into the competition. They qualified for the final with wins over Tyrone, Monaghan and Louth at the blitz in Monagahan on 28th July. The final is v Cavan in Ashbourne on Saturday 8th September 2012 at 3:30 p.mThe players are managed and coached by Willie Bourke who managed Final Senior team to Kehoe shield success in 2012 as well as winning NHL Division 3A when the final v Monaghan did not take place. The clubs supplying players to the fingal squad are St Brigids (8 players), St Finian’s (7 players), St Sylvesters (6), Skerries Harps (4), Castleknock (3),St Maur’s (2) and St Pat’s, Donabate (1). The other clubs in the general Fingal area with minor hurling teams, namely Setanta, Naomh Barróg and St Peregrines all supported the idea but did not manage to get players this year for the squad.
The enthusiasm and committemnt of the players would have to be seen to be believed as very few have missed any of the 20 plus training sessions held over the summer. Cavan have been together as a squad since the new year, we understand, so it remains to be seen how the standards compare.
