I haven't written a hurling update in some time because I have been just too busy and it slipped my mind to keep on top of the blog.
With that said we are down to the final four teams again this year.
County semi-final Friday night under the lights. Our whole team has gotten fitter and faster than last year when we were just starting off but it seems like everybody else has been putting in the work too.
Every game has been tough except against Barefield where we scored 9 goals and destroyed their whole defense. If was like playing against United. Every ball was a threat and we ran straight through them.
That was a few matches ago in the group stage but we have won our last two knockout games by a few points each and are up against Sixmilebridge who were in our group earlier in the year.
That was a tough, tough game which we scraped by just one point amid some tough tackling and a referee controversy that almost cost us the win. Two big calls actually that were so far wrong that it would have been theft if they had cost us our points.
This game will be just as tough and the bridge will be out for revenge after that result and after we knocked them out in the quarter finals last year by just a point after they missed a last minute penalty which i gave away.
We have almost a full panel for the game bar a couple of injuries which is always to be expected so our team will be highly competitive. Now that we have a full squad again I don't expect to see any game time myself but we all help towards the cause and I'll be togged out in case I get called on.
The weather isn't great. So it's going to be cold, wet winter hurling but hopefully we can get back to the final and make up for last year.
On another note our club shop has opened up just in time for some xmas shopping so we can top up our own collection and kit out the kids for next year.
Some of the gear is top quality and is a big part of supporting the club. Getting the kids all dressed up for games like this and showing your colors is part of the fun.
I've also been roped into getting my level one coaching badges over the winter which is 20 hours over six nights so that looks like it will be hard not to get involved with one of the underage teams next year.
I go with my own kids every week anyway and did want to jump in at some stage so when the club asked me to take the course it would be silly to say no. Especially when it's being run in my club this year and I won't have to travel far.
It's definitely no harm to start the process and learn more about the game from this angle which will help me to improve as well and keep my interest over the winter when all of teh playing stops.