Fifty years on from our first trip and 30 years on from our most successful trip to Feile there was a great buzz around the club and village the last few weeks in anticipation of the boys of 2025 trip to Ferns in County Wexford. In the weeks leading up to the event the team had prepared diligently and when Manager Keith (Beefy) Walker said "no stone would be left unturned" in their preparation he wasn't joking as somehow Coach Caimin and his wife Mary managed to deliver their baby boy (due Feile weekend) early in the week meaning that the Dad and Grandad would be beaming on the sidelines in Wexford.
The team departed the 'Bridge on Friday morning heading for the Mount Wolseley Hotel & spa Estate in Tullow County Carlow. Upon arrival and check in the team were summoned to the lawn of the hotel for a stretching session with Coach Martin ...
While the boys loosened out after the 3 hour drive coaches Mike and Ruairi sat down for a nice swing in the garden for a chat to discuss how times have changed from the clubs first trip to Youghal in 1975.
Following a bite to eat and an early night the boys were up for Breakfast on Saturday morning and you could sense a mix of nerves and excitement as they boarded the bus for the 30 minute trip to the Wexford GAA Centre of Excellence in Ferns - and what a befitting location this was for the top U15 Hurling teams in the Country.
While the hurling was the priority on the day there was also a wonderful feel of community spirit amongst the parents and supporters who travelled in their droves to support the team. We knew there would be tough tasks ahead on the field of play but didn't expect the first one to be off the field ... the construction of the Gazebo which would provide protection from the baking Wexford sun. As the lads unboxed the Gazebo they all looked at each other to see who would project manage the job - Podge claimed he only worked with timber structures, Paul Fitz said he worked more in the design phase while Syl was gone for a measuring tape. John Toomey was elected as project manager as they reckoned if he was keeping planes in the sky he would surely keep a Gazebo in the sky for the day. Just as the job was finished Pat Hayes arrived and talks of a gig in the tent were scuppered as physio Helen muscled her way in with the treatment table and the Parents Catering Crew setup the food & hydration station -
Our first game was at 11:30 and the format for the day was 3 group games - 10 minutes per half. This meant that scores were going to be hard to come by so every chance was vital to convert. In our opening game we defeated Naomh Eanna 0-05 to 0-03 and this gave the boys a big boost and relieved a small bit of pressure that was builiding up as they waited around.
Next up we had the largest club in Ireland - Kilmacud Crokes of Dublin and despite a good start we were defeated by 2-06 to 1-02. One of the highlights of this game was the performance of our keeper Neil Óg with 2 outstanding saves and while the rebound from both ended up in the net this game was very close.
In our final group game we faced Kilkenny Champions St. Lachtains and while we dominated the game for the most part we failed to convert a number of scorable chances and this saw the Cats take the lead for the first time with 1 minute to go and win on a score of 2-04 to 1-06. While the boys were disappointed not to make the knockout stages of the Christy Ring Trophy there was a shield competition to take place.
As the team fed on lunch provided by the local Centra in conjunction with our sponsors O'Flynns Centra, the supporters took time to relax in the sunshine.
James Reddan and his brother reckoned the Wexford Strawberries were as good as what he had tasted on his trips to the Tennis in Wimbledon ..
While Tom Keogh was looking out to meet Wexford referee James Owens for an Autograph.
There were so many people who did jobs on the day including out Hurley Carriers
The girls who looked after water refills
and also to our umpires James Hassett and Sam Edbrooke and to Lily Flannery who did lines woman in the semi final.
Once the draw was made for the Shield semi finals the team were back into focus and determined to finish the day on a high. After a slow start and trailing at half time the team produced a super second half of hurling to run out winners on a score of Sixmilebridge 3-8 Monageer Boolavogue (Wexford) 2-5 and setup a final with Cashel King Cormacs of Tipperary.
In the mean time the Ballygunner (Waterford) defeated Michael Cusacks (Galway) and Ballinora (Cork) beat Dunloy (Antrim). In the end the Gunenrs were crowned All Ireland Champions.
At around 5:30PM we threw in for our final game of the day - the Bridge Ultras has assembled behind the goals almost hoarse at this stage but still chanting
The Bridge started very well and lead from start to finish on a score of 2-08 to 1-08 to jubilant scenes as they finished off a wonderful day of hurling with some silverware.
A big thanks to all our supporters who travelled to Wexford in such numbers ....
As the boys boarded the bus for the trip home, despite the sun burned faces and cramping muscles there was a great sense of achievement and satisfaction from their day of hurling knowing they played and competed with and against the top hurlers in the country.
Following a pit stop in the Portlaoise Plaza for Pizza the team arrived back in the 'Bridge around 9PM and as they dismounted the bus one of the players commented on how it was the greatest weekend of their lives .... Here's to the next 50!
