19 SALTHILL-KNOCKNACARRA GAA ADULT FOOTBALL: The jewel in the crown of SKGaa football success this year was the capturing of the senior county championship in Pearse Stadium on October 14th. The squad didn't feature well during the lengthy league campaign finishing in the lower recesses of Division A but dispelled all doubts when they twice beat St. Michaels. ; Gerry Hughes' panel then upped the pressure to beat Carraroe before dethroning reigning champions, Killererin in Tuam Stadium, thus clearing the path to a mouth-watering encounter with hotly tipped favourites Tuam Stars. This was a fantastic match, where both sides gave their all but SKGaa denied the most crowned team in Galway their day and won on a margin of 0-12 to 0-7. Hopes were high for the city team for a good display against the reigning Connacht champions but Nov 11th in Pearse stadium proved to be our nemesis and St Brigids of Roscommon advanced on a 7 point margin. SKGaa fields three other teams at adult level, no mean feat in a city club where the inevitable competing sporting distractions are compounded by emigration and college absences. The Intermediates, Junior A and C adult football both retained their status for the 2013 season, the former finishing mid table in their respective leagues. Minor Footballers enjoyed an excellent run through the County league [West] topping the A division but unfortunately lost the County final to the North board champions, Corofin. JUVENILE FOOTBALL: By far, the largest section of our multi-code club, the juvenile football division went from strength to strength this year, with an enormous growth in numbers particularly at U6,7 & 8 stages, under Donal O'Connell's guidance where the teams relished GoGames blitzes both in house and against local teams. U9 & U10 participated in Annual Street Leagues in addition to matches against Tuam, St. James, St. Michaels, Barna and visitors from Dublin and Mayo and took in a trip to Aran Islands. U11 boys also benefitted from similar events and their season was bookended by an excellent 8- team ATAK Tournament in Pearse Stadium/Prairie including teams from around Galway and Dublin while towards the end of the season, they visited Dublin and Crossmaglen. The boys U12 won the U12 City and County League [West], were finalists in the U13B city league and won the U13B County League [West]. Aside from their inter-club local games and Volov Ocean Race Exhibition blitz, they also played Ratoath of Meath, St. Vincents Dublin, Westport GAA and St Brigids Kiltoom and headed to Croke Pk for the Dublin-Mayo All-Ireland Semifinal, playing St. Sylvesters GAA of Malahide en route. Work down over the years at primary school ages reaped rewards at teenage years, as Sean Murphy's U13 boys clinched the A County League title to add to their Austin Stacks- Lee Strand Title won in September in Listowel while the U15 panel at present are awaiting their final against Moycullen in the division A city league. Padraig Dempsey's squad, with some tight victories over Ballinalsoe, Kilconly and Mountbellew were worthy 1 pt winners over Moycullen in the U16A County final. The U14 boys exceeded all expectations when they won the County Féile title, topping their qualifying group before dispatching Barna GAA in the semi-finals and beating Claregalway in the final in Tuam Stadium. The team had some intense weeks ahead of the All-Ireland Féile final as they continued with their league matches, eventually taking the U14A league title, beating Annaghdown in the process. At the All-Ireland Féile, SKGaa U14 were hosted by St Pauls, GAA Emo, Co. Laois in June and performed well in opening games but eventually lost to the Derry Champions Dungiven. Back at home, Anthony Finnerty's boys suffered a glitch in championship but re-grouped and won the Championship Shield title, beating Caherlistrane before rounding over an excellent year of football with an U15B city league title thanks to a one point win over Spiddal. Juvenile Football Director, Brian Muldoon was therefore delighted to accept 2012 Galway Juvenile Club of the Year, on behalf of all the football managers and mentors at the Awards Ceremony in Loughgeorge, on November 26th. HURLING: Adult hurlers had a long year on the pitches, commencing with wall-ball training in early February ahead of the City league matches. A good run in the qualifications unfortunately ended in Pearse Stadium in July when a physical Spiddal team beat SKGaa hurlers in the Junior City league final, despite the city team staging a comeback rally in the second half. They again topped their group in Junior B championship played on a league basis but exited at semifinal stage courtesy of Ardrahan. Once more, a semi-final defeat came in Junior 1 Championship, this time from the hurls of the eventual winners Skehana and the squadpresently await their opponents in Junior County League quarter finals. Juvenile hurling in Salthill-Knocknacarra enjoys high participation levels [130+] from U6 to U10 and the highlight for the miniplayers is the annual Ardilaun Sponsored Street Leagues held in April with hosts of girls and boys all battling for glory over a 4 week period, The season proper opened with an U12 Inter-County Tournament in Pearse Stadium between SK hurlers and teams from Tipperary and Dublin while during spring, the U14 started their season well but departed championship at quarter final stage losing to the finalists Sarsfields. The end high spots of an action packed season was some excellent displays by Edel Murphy's U11 hurling panel in the Autumn season of tournaments while the U10s put in great performances in St. Mary's College Centenary Tournament. LADIES FOOTBALL: Junior ladies retained their status this year, finishing mid table in the league while the minor girls, having lost their opening match exited the shield championship at semi-final stage when they lost to Caltra. U14s girls hosted Cuala of Dublin early in the year and travelled to Foxrock-Cabinteely at the end of the summer. They too, finished mid table in the A league and unfortunately lost the championship A semi-final replay to Killanin. U12 girls had by far the best year, winning the County A league against Corofin and the younger players then capped that by winning the U11 West Board Shield title in July. Championship for this age group was played over a league basis and while the girls fared well, they were not in the running for medals. Paidi O'Sé U10 panel also played in the West Board tournament and enjoyed some Go-Games blitzes home and away to Killannin, taking the laurels on both occasions. CAMOGIE: Junior camogiers were finalists in County Junior A Shield and at juvenile levels, it is all action with numerous go-game blitzes played against neighbours, Liam Mellowes, Castlegar and Turloughmore among others. At city league, the U9 team, after a mammoth series of blitzes reached the finals against Carnmore. U11 camogiers also reached the finals stages yet to be played, while there was good development at U13 & U15, despite the girls not collecting gold medals. U16 camogiers relished their weekend at the Pan Celtic Cup, turning in excellent performances over the two days tournament, the U12 girls, with manager Richie Marnell had a fun day out in Croke Pk at the Camán to Croker CAMPS AND FUN EVENTS: Again in 2012, juvenile boys and girls in each codes availed of the annual County Board Cúl Camps, sponsored by Kelloggs while there were five additional internal Club Camps during the Easter and Summer holidays for football, ladies football, hurling and camogie. Gym and circuit training for teenagers is ongoing and steps up for the winter, while there were Club came out proud in its colours at the St. Patricks Day Parade and the Club Quackers Duck Race in October along the canal.
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