Ties forged on magical day!
AGB host Birmingham club
ARKLOW GERALDINES BALLYMONEY welcomed St. Brendan’s of Birmingham to their Ballymoney Complex on Saturday last.
A momentous occasion saw AGB’s under-14 juvenile boys team play a match against their St Brendan’s counterpartrs and what a game it was!
The St Brendan’s club was founded in 1958 after recognising there was an ever-increasing influx of Irish immigrants in The Kings Heath, Birmingham.
St Brendan’s GAA club officially went into operation at the start of 1959, initially as a Junior club.
Over the years, the club has built up a reputation of being one of the leading Gaelic football clubs in Warwickshire, with many players going on to play at county Level.
The link to Arklow Geraldines Ballymoney was made through former AGB player John Lawlor who played with St. Brendan’s in his younger days.
St Brendan’s had arrived safely on the Friday night and spent it in the Arklow Bay Hotel, who were very generous in their hospitality to the team over the weekend.
Saturday morning began with a warm welcome for the St Brendan’s team from the Arklow side as they arrived in Ballymoney pitch.
After an introduction to the clubhouse and a pitch warm up both teams togged out and were walked in a parade onto the pitch. An excellent game of football pursued where both teams really showed their skills, and love of the game.
AGB finished victorious but a sense of friendship was created on the field between both teams making the score irrelevant.
Following the match the teams were then welcomed in the AGB clubhouse and where they and their supportors were treated to a delicious lunch.
AGB’s Chairman, John Murphy, then began official proceedings and welcomed the team and thanked them for their visit and the challenge game they had played.
The Juvenile Chairman of the club, Aidan Ward, continued with the speeches and presented the St Brendan’s
Management with a plaque to mark their visit to Arklow. AGBs Secretary James Dunne spoke too on the great friendships created from this special visit and congratulated with teams on making such a special occasion for both clubs. AGBs Senior Player and former
Wicklow GAA star Ciaran Hyland then spoke to both teams, and provided great praise and encouraged them all to continue to play GAA. St Brendan’s Management then thanked Arklow Geraldines Ballymoney for their hospitality and generosity. They congradulated the
AGB U14 team on their Féile victory and noted how privileged they felt for the AGB team to play them during their preparation for Féile 2019. Presentations were then made to the young players on each team.