Our U12 boys finally got to play their weather-affected series of games vs St. Andrews on Monday, 23rd of January 2023. A fixture on the schedule since early December had first fallen foul of heavy rain, then ice, then more ice (!) but we were delighted to get the all-clear and bring the two schools together in the end.
Our As and Bs did battle with their opposite numbers from St. Andrews – a few kids on each side known to each other from outside school and the pre-game atmosphere was exciting. Our A team started very brightly with a goal in the first 2 mins shaking St. Andrews early-on, but such an accomplished side was not going to be cowed by an early setback. If anything, that early goal spurred St. Andrews on and they equalized about 5 mins later through some very neat midfield play and a cracker of a shot from the top of the circle from their danger man. Our boys battled hard, with Eoin O’Connor leading the fight, capably supported by clubmate Patrick Brennan, industrious midfield colleagues Conor Daly, Matthias Ruiz and Angus Rohling. Although Rory English went close a couple of times, St. Andrews pulled away and finished out the game 6-1 winners.
In the B game it was a similar tale, several opposition goals to our single strike – but what a fine goal from St. Kilian’s courtesy of the deft touch of Oscar Chubb off the back of an attaching 4v3. Strong performances from Leon Bosak, Kai Burke, Noah Kinsella, Daniel Engel, Lucas McGough, and Luca Giromini kept the belief going all the way to the end.
First trip away from home for this group – and for several in the group, their first “official” game for the school, so although results were tough, there was a brilliant atmosphere and a genuine appetite for the next round of games.
Dave Broderick
Hockey Coach in St. Kilian’s
