BY MICHAEL O’LEARY
All going well, the annual Young Irelands U-12 Tournament will take place in Castle Ellis next Saturday, and this year’s Tournament will honour the memory of Charlie Carter Senior and also John and Kathleen O’Neill.
Eight Teams from across the county will compete with Cup and Shield competitions up for grabs.
The Cup competition will honour Charlie Carter Senior who was a long serving Young Irelands stalwart. Charlie gave trojan service to the Club as a player and mentor, and he was always an ever present as a supporter at Young Irelands matches.
In 1996, he was a selector on one of the greatest days in Young Irelands history as they won their very first County Senior Championship, while in 1992 he was sub-goalie on The Young Irelands Team that won the Intermediate County Final.
Meanwhile, the 2002 County Senior Final win was very special for Charlie and his wife Stella as their three sons Ollie, Martin and Davy all featured in that famous triumph, while Charlie’s nephews Charlie Junior, Cathal and James also featured in that win as Young Irelands defeated Dunnamaggin.
Martin is actually managing The Young Irelands U-12s this year, and Saturday’s tournament will attach extra significance as it will honour his Dad’s memory.
The Shield competition will honour Kathleen and John O’Neill who were staunch hurling followers, and they were often went to Young Irelands and Kilkenny matches especially when their son Pat was playing.
Kathleen was from Dunnamaggin originally and they defeated Young Irelands in The County Final in 1997 with Pat playing for The Gowran men, while her brother Tommy Brennan was a highly successful showjumper and eventer who acheived International success and he was part of The Ireland Team that won the Gold Medal at The Eventing World Championships in Burghley in 1966.
