Busy weekend of GAA locally
ON Friday evening Sligo/ Leitrim hosted the Poc Fada and for the first time in Sligo it was done over a mountain. It proved to be a massive success as the Senior and u16 competition took place at the Knocknarea mountains. In the Senior event there were five from Sligo taking part, Keith Raymomd, David Collery, Frankie O’Flynn, Sean Quinn and Georoid Brennan were the ones taking part and testing out there hurling skills against the mountain. The mountain was asking plenty of the players as the ball was rolling down at times after shots which meant that wasn’t easy for the players to ensure the ball was in good position. It was a close competition the end where Calry/ St. Joseph’s got the better of Coolera Standhill as Keith Raymond retained the Michael Galvin Poc Fada title but just only just ahead of Frankie O’Flynn as the Cork native done his best to take the title away from Keith Raymond . Both men now progress to the Connacht Poc Fada.
In the U- 16 competition there were also six competitors taking part Patrick O’Connor, Ethan Scully, Fionn Moylan, Owen Row McGovern, Michael McCardle and Nathan McCardle in another close contest it was eventually Fionn Moylan who came on top after a playoff with Patrick O’Connor. Fionn Moylan will join Keith Raymond and Frankie O’Flynn in the Connacht Poc Fada . Big thank you to Benny Kenny and Liam óg Gormley for organising Sligo Poc Fada.
At the weekend Féile Na nog took place in Cavan, Fermanagh and Monaghan Sligo had three teams with St. Mary’s, Calry/ St. Joseph’s and Enniscrone/ Kilglass all three teams gave a great account of themselves before St. Mary’s and Enniscrone Kilglass just left short at the Quarter Final stages. Also at the weekend Sligo hosted the division 1 competition where Benbullan Gaels won the plate competition beating Four Masters in the final. County Scene Sligo will take travel to Navan next Saturday in the next round of the qualifiers while on Wednesday Sligo minors are in the Connacht Semi Final against Leitrim in MarkieviczPark at 7.30. While on Saturday the county hurlers take on Fermanagh in the u- 21 championship at Markievicz Park. Best of Luck to the three teams at the weekend.
On Saturday, Sligo hosted this year’s national regional Feile division 1 and proved to be a massive
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cess with the best teams from around Ireland coming to see if they could win at u- 14 level. During the morning Oxfield was used as venue which proved to be enjoyable for everyone involved with a real sense of community at the Drumcliffe venue. Also in the afternoon Ransboro Park was used with most of the action taking place it the Sligo centre of excellence. National Feile Chairman Martin Skelly praised Sligo for running a super event and thought the Sligo centre was real joy to be seen and really worked well for the Féile competition.
The Final group took place in Oxfield where Cork Douglas, Corofin from Galway and Sligo’ s Benbulben Gaels were placed in a group to see who would make the cup semis. The opening game saw the home side Benbulben Gaels take on Galway side Corofin but the Sligo side competed well for long periods but goals were the killer. The Cork side Douglas who hadn’t lost a game in four years showed their strength to beat Corofin easily 4- 7 – 0- 1 that meant Benbulben Gaels would play the final game of the group against the Cork side. Benbulben Gaels just couldn’t get a goal when they were on top which meant Douglas went forward to the semis .
The plate Semi Finals were first game to get underway as it was all Donegal semi final as Four Masters took on rivals St Eunan’s and just like they did in Donegal it was Four Masters who came out on top by just two points to book a place in the final where they would face Sligo side Benbulben Gaels who were easy winners against Salthill- Knocknacarra who book a place in the final scoring 2- 12 in that Semi Final. In the Plate Final it was a successful end for the Sligo lads as Benbulben Gaels had too much for Four Masters which is a massive boost for the young footballers of St Molaise Gaels and Drumcliffe Rosses Point. They proved they can compete with the best around Ireland. Benbulben Gaels ran out winners in the end 2- 11 – 3- 1.
Overall all the teams were very pleased by way the competition went and that is due to the organisation of Liam Óg Gormley’s committee along with Joe Murphy, Padraig Clancy and Pat Conway for ensuring it went off such a success. Féile was also a boost for the county as quite number of hotels did well out of it and was also great to see so many people talk about Sligo and for most it was their first time in the county. INSET: David Collery during the Poc Fada.