Tom Daly Uachtaran Comhairle Uladh and Chairman Jim McCormack launched the first Keady Hurling Club Midnight Hurling League recently. We in Keady think that this is the first time this innovative intiiative has been tried within the GAA anywhere in Ireland and we see it as a way of providing teenagers with a worthwhile activity on a Friday night, while at the same time getting new recruits for our club and helping community spirit.
The Pat Cunningham Memorial Cup is up for grabs in a 'midnight hurling league' organised by Keady Lamh Dhearg and will run for 5 consecutive Friday nights on the floodlit astro-turf at St Patrick's High School. The idea of Lamh Dhearg's Development Committee, it aims to provide competitive hurling in a fun environment for hurlers aged 15-19 as well as providing them with a safe social outlet on a Friday night. These same young men also had a very positive input to the rule making and organisation of this tournament, which is the first of it's kind in the GAA.
The teams are made up of 8 players – one of which is a Keady Senior player who must remain in goals – and games are 5 a side, lasting 4minutes per half. 2 Running subs are allowed and encouraged in what is a fast paced high intensive spectacle. Playing rules have been conditioned to one catch of the sliothar only and puck outs/sidelines can be taken using a hand pass or a strike in order to keep games flowing as much as possible. Goals are the only way to score and there is a bonus point if any teams hit 4 or more.
As part of Keady's contribution to the ongoing Armagh Hurling Development programme, each of the 8 teams taking part are allowed 2 'guest' players from neighbouring clubs and the teams have also recruited new or past players back to the local hurling scene.
The Keady club is inviting all hurling enthusiasts to its new initiative on every Friday night in February, up to 'Finals Night' on the 26th February, where the first winners of the Pat Cunningham Memorial Cup will be crowned.
The Pat Cunningham Memorial Cup is up for grabs in a 'midnight hurling league' organised by Keady Lamh Dhearg and will run for 5 consecutive Friday nights on the floodlit astro-turf at St Patrick's High School. The idea of Lamh Dhearg's Development Committee, it aims to provide competitive hurling in a fun environment for hurlers aged 15-19 as well as providing them with a safe social outlet on a Friday night. These same young men also had a very positive input to the rule making and organisation of this tournament, which is the first of it's kind in the GAA.
The teams are made up of 8 players – one of which is a Keady Senior player who must remain in goals – and games are 5 a side, lasting 4minutes per half. 2 Running subs are allowed and encouraged in what is a fast paced high intensive spectacle. Playing rules have been conditioned to one catch of the sliothar only and puck outs/sidelines can be taken using a hand pass or a strike in order to keep games flowing as much as possible. Goals are the only way to score and there is a bonus point if any teams hit 4 or more.
As part of Keady's contribution to the ongoing Armagh Hurling Development programme, each of the 8 teams taking part are allowed 2 'guest' players from neighbouring clubs and the teams have also recruited new or past players back to the local hurling scene.
The Keady club is inviting all hurling enthusiasts to its new initiative on every Friday night in February, up to 'Finals Night' on the 26th February, where the first winners of the Pat Cunningham Memorial Cup will be crowned.