Another great wall ball challenge yesterday. This was the largest attendance to date with 50 players over the two age groups.

It was a day of firsts for the challenge; our first ever competitors from outside of Dublin, both lads from Lorrha in Tipperary and our first ever  girl, Hannah from the Man O War club in North County Dublin.

The under 10 challenge started at 10am with six players taking part at once. For the first time we used both sides of the wall. Drill Sergent  David Needham ensured players and refs did their duties in an efficient and  timely manner. Under Davids command 30 players performed both games twice
in less than one hour.

The winner on this competition was Rory Flannery of Kilmacud Crokes. The refs all commenting on his beautiful striking action. Second was Conall
Criostóir also of Crokes and third was Jaki Houlihan of Lorrha.

The under 12 competition was up next. We returned to our more traditiona format of three players at a time. The standard this year was as high as
ever. The 12s are like mini adults with the top players hitting in and around 40 strikes in one minute.

Three lads battled it out in the final. Matthew Coughlan of Castleknock ; Conor Kennedy of Lorrha and Ryan Markham of Raheny Gaa.

It was a very intense in the end, with the three lads all on the frees. In the end Joseph got the winning strike with Matthew in second and Ryan in third.

As ever the wall ball challenge cannot take place without the club rowing in behind it. Many thanks to Ray, Dec, Damian, Enda, Andy, Timmy and David for giving up their morning.

Final thanks to our sponsors, Pat Kearney. Pat has now given the club over 100 wands over the years of the challenge. Without Pat there would no prizes and probably no competition, so many thanks for your support.