Above – The Naomh Padraig team who won the Under 16 Hurling League Division 2 this season.
Back row – (left to right) – John Og Darragh, Oliver Henry, Rhys Murray, Patrick McClean, Caleb McCaughan, Micheal McAlonan, Jake Feetham, Liam McCelland, Ben Linton, Killian Cassidy, Malachy McSparren, Ollie Joe McAlonan, Billy McCelland (Coach)
Front row – left to right Conrad Bailey, Cormac Bailey, Daniel Murray, Shane McCelland, Cillian Bellew, Lorcan Kinney, Declan McCaughan (Manager) Team mascot – James McClelland
Naomh Padraig seal the Under 16 hurling division two league title.
There was a sense of inevitability about this team from early in the season with performances that blended talent with fierce determination and saw them going unbeaten throughout the season. Their physicality and intelligent hurling marked them out as contenders, but it was their consistency that ultimately separated them from the chasing pack. Match after match, Naomh Padraig showed they could win in different ways — grinding out tight contests, blowing teams away with scoring bursts, and defending with a maturity well beyond their years. Considering several of the panel are still U14 with the majority of the panel still having another year to play at U16.
The final decisive game against Naomh Eoin played at Corrigan Park had all the ingredients of a classic: tension, expectation, and a fiercely contested battle in which Naomh Eoin matched Naomh Padraig stride for stride, refusing to yield an inch and ensuring every score was earned the hard way.
Winning a league title at under-16 level is more than a trophy — it’s a signpost. It hints at what’s possible as these players move up the ranks. The coaching staff spoke of the team’s work ethic, their bond, and the pride they bring to the club. Parents and supporters echoed this sentiment, celebrating not just the title win but the spirit in which it was earned.
