Claremorris and Caiseal Gaels meet today in historic decider
Aiden Henry
Contesting a county final is always a big occasion but for the Claremorris and Caiseal Gaels junior hurlers, today's junior B championship decider in Hastings Insurance MacHale Park (2 p.m.), Castlebar, is extra special.
For Caiseal Gaels it will be their first ever county final at this grade, while for Claremorris it is their first time in well over 50 years that they have a junior hurling side. Indeed, the Claremorris team only came together for the first time last February and to qualify for the final in the same year is some feat.
“Six months in and we have qualified for a county final. It is hard to believe that we only started a junior team just over months ago and now we are preparing for a county championship title,” said Claremorris manager David Hurley.
He added: “It is a great boost for the club and for all the young kids that are playing for the club as they now have a pathway for the future. From Under 8s, 10s, 12s and all the way up, these kids have now something to aspire too. It is also great for the team as they have had a few wins and they can see what a bit of hard work and dedication can achieve.”
David said the final is especially huge for the players. “The result is not the main thing,” he explained. “These players are in a county final and that alone is massive for them.
“There is not much between ourselves and Caiseal Gaels. We have played them twice and beaten them twice but both games were very close and it is also going to be very hard for us to beat a team three times.”
Norman Finnerty, Caiseal Gaels manager, has also enjoyed the journey to the final. “When Caiseal Gaels was formed back in 2008 and starting out at Under 12 level, it was always the aim to play in a big county final. Now that it has arrived it is great and there is a great buzz around our area.
"Getting the chance to play in Hastings Insurance MacHale Park is another huge factor. It is also great in that for our underage players it shows what can be achieved and it will certainly spur them on.”
The manager is a fan of the new structure as he allows a fledgling club have competitive games at their own level, and with no injury worries ahead of the decider, he hopes some silverware will be heading back to east Mayo.