A BRIGHT FUTURE! Celtic Challenge champs honoured with special night

at Jacob’s Well, Rathdrum THE victorious Wicklow team who claimed a superb victory in the Celtic Challenge earlier this year gathered in Jacob’s Well in Rathjdrum recently to celebrate the wonderful victory.

A lavish meal was laid on for the under-17 hurlers who left nothing on the field in Kilkenny and who brought back glory to the Garden county thanks to their spirited hurling and never-say-die attitude in what wasa difficult year for underage hurling in the county, especially Minor.

The Celtic challenge was an All- Ireland competition set up for under-17 hurlers nationwide.

It saw Wicklow playing against counties like Laois, Wexford North Dublin South and Kildare in the group stages.

Wicklow qualified for a semi-final match against West Limerick which turned out to be a cracking game which saw Wicklow come out on top by three points 1-16 to 1-19

The final was against a highly fancied Westmeath team and Wicklow put on a fantastic display to emerge victorious on the day and secure a nationa title for County Wicklow.

“The competition has been a vital part of these players development as they ant not allowed to play in adult competitions,” said team manager Sean Hayes.

“It has brought a great sense of unity and friendship to these young players and will stand to them going forward as players of the future.

“The GAA has to be praised for holding this tournament and it will be running again in 2017 which is great news for our under-16 hurling panel this year which won the under-16 shield final this year also.

Sean Hayes also wished to pay tribute to Kilkenny legend Michael Kavanagh for all his work with the panel and he wished to thank the staff and owners of Jacobs Well for putting on a wonderful spread and helping provide the talented hurlers with a great evening.