This morning, Shamrocks welcomed Broadford GAA to Kilcullen GAA grounds (Páirc 1). While the forecast was for rain and cloud, it turned out to be another fine sunny autumns morning. Ideal for an entertaining morning.

It was expected to be a tough game especially after Broadford U14 beat Shamrocks U14 the night before at a wet and miserable Athgarvan GAA & LGFA. Those thoughts were deeply etched in the minds of those who were involved from the U12 camp.

From the outset it was shoulder to shoulder which slowed the game down with a lot of ground play from both sides. It took 5 mins of hard play with some wides before Shamrocks finally put the first score on the board with a fine goal by Rory Aylward.

Scores were sporadic throughout the first half but shamrocks held Broadford to a 3-4 to 0-0 with the third goal coming right on the halftime whistle and again by Rory Aylward.

The second half started off similarly to the first half. Slow shoulder to shoulder and while entertaining didn’t provide much in the line of scores with the tally for the second half being 0-4 to 0-1 in favour of Shamrocks.

Broadford GAA were missing a few of their players this morning but with what they did bring, they put up a strong fight right the way through the game. The final score was 3-8 to 0-1 to Shamrocks.

Fulltime scores came from Rory Aylward (2-3 Kilcullen), Dermott McGreevy (0-1 Athgarvan), Adam Farrell (1-0 Two Mile House), Cian Brennan (0-1 Athgarvan), Ely Dunne-Weir (0-1 [free] Two Mile House) and Odhran Macdonald (0-2 [0-1 free] Athgarvan).

Today brings us halfway through the league leaving three games to go against St.Laurences GAA, Athy GAA and Confey GAA.

Next outing for the U12 will be this Saturday at home to Moycarkey-Borris (Tipperary) in a challenge game. This is the first inter-county game for the team. Moycarkey-Borris have a long and distinguished career in hurling and so this challenge game is expected to really test the might of the Shamrocks…

Finally, best of luck to the Shamrock U14 team who play Maynooth GAA this Wednesday 7th September @ 7pm in Athgarvan GAA & LGFA and in particular to Dermott McGreevy, Harry O’ Sullivan, Odhran MacDonald, Cian Brennan, Davin Maguire and Tadgh Giblin who are part of the U12 panel.

*** Today's pictures were taken by Brian Byrne and Liam Mullen ***