Youth Interprovincials/Olympics Feb.

People:from Dingle to Derry Gorey to Galway

Duration:
Ballycastle 10-12
Waterfoot 6-10
Benone 10-12
Tide:
Ballycastle Falling
Waterfoot Rising
Benone Ebbing

Weather:Wet and windy

Bait:Varying with rag, lug maddies and black wraps and tipped with the finessshht mack

Rigs:Various 3 hooks

Results:
Ballycastle 2 fish
Waterfoot 17 fish plus a fair few undersize
Benone Blankity Blank



Report: Well I woke up on Friday at 2 o clock in d morning with a horrible sick head on me sinus' and all. Only a few hours sleep that night. Kept the orgainaistion going anyway and trekked around gathering bits and bobs and pounds. Trekked off then in the two seater puegeot van for fish fish and morefish with 12 hours fishing and 40 plus hours of craic and sleep awaiting me. The wind was so bad the side of the van was heard blowing in near Leopardstown. With enough drugs to conk me out for years, i slept my way in the car while the father talked to himself with the radio broke...sure he couldnt talk to a nicer person I heard later. Arrived and got a bita grub in the fantastic hotel. the weather was still bad but hoping for the best tomorrow. Checked the few gear in and then had a good auld catch up with the men and a meeting. Drew Peg 19, 13, 3. Team meeting and get the gear finally in order. Relaxed and in tuned for a nights sleep.

Woke up got some breakieee and headed up to Ballycastle straight away. The views were just breath taking along the way. Arrived with a huge surf and the waves nearly coming right onto the bank of the beach. Pegged up soon after though and got on track. Fishing started slow but managed two get two flatfish out of the waters a 19 flounder and 19 turbot. My first turbot too. Suprisingly enough, i was in 4th or 5th position needed to keep it up though. Searched through the vallies and the glens of the lands for a place to eat then and came across a neat lil bistro in Cushendall or cushendon well it was one of them and kept on moving to Glengariff and waterfoot beach. Caught the 2nd half of the rugby match in a wee pub called the Saffrons was mighty craic there continued back to the fishing and this is where the olympics bit kicked in. I was in a constant system of 7 minute casts after the fog horn blew catching fish consistently. Now if I knew I was going to do that running before I arrived i would have the brought the gaa gear with nics and a jersey. I had no track of even how many fish i had caught. paul, leinsters trainer, kept me in top gear moving. Good few coalies flats and all ended up with 17 and 5+ undersize that were not recorded. In parts i was that jitterey i was searching for things to do when i didnt have a bite. Kept the form up anyways. Fell into bed and had some morphine to keep me down sorry i mean actifed.

Woke up brekkie quickly to be dammed and then headed to Benone. Beautiful scenic sites absolutely fantastic. The waves werent as bad as ballycastle and set up straight away. I kept trying and trying for the whole 4 hours but didnt get a fish was determined to stay positive despite getting caught 4 times...once caught in 3 rigs. No luck but thats fishing disappointed i was but still i was delighted with the whole event. Back to the hotel and after a few hours the results were announced.

U16s
1.Connaught
2.Munster
3.Leinster
4.Ulster

u21s
1.munster
2.leinster
3.ulster
4.connaught

I think those are the right orders. Dont know all the individuals so wont name but absolutely delighted for anthony me friend who has been a fantastic fisherman for the whole leinster league along with this weekend. I was nearly more nervous than him during the announcement of the results. Got home with a happy head on me after 4 hours. By the way, a puegeot van can go through 4 hours of driviong in under 1/2 a tank of oil....just saying.....

It was an absolute fantastic event well run, co ordinated by everyone. It was just superb and a lesson for me of course with me picking up several lessons along the way. The craic was absolutely mighty and thank the lads that organised it including Paul and Eamon and I am sure that the 10 lads can bring home gold for Ireland in june after the home nations in derry. well done connaught and everyone!!!!time for bed.....

well done watched you all weekend you fished very well look forward to seeing at the leinster comps this tear

Great report man! Well done the lads for sticking it out!

great report THJ. i'm glad you had an enjoyable trip up these parts. just sad we missed you at waterfoot. we were up with the connaught lads in waterfoot. i was so happy the wind died down and the rain only came on for a bit during the session as it had been a bit mad leading up to the saturday sessions. and never worry about blanking at benone. i think we blank at that mark more often than we catch

Nice read Michael. You did very well getting up there feeling sick. And put up a good fight too lad.

Thanks lads once again it was an absolutely fantastic experience and the whole weekend is one that I wont forget!

Just saw there the results. I was eighth overall a good starting point no doubt.

was a very well run event, really enjoyed it! thanks to everyone involved!