Connacht win
THE finals of the Martin Donnelly GAA Wheelchair Hurling / Camogie All-Ireland Championships were held in Abbotstown recently with a number of local competitors on the Connacht side, captained by Owenmore Gaels’s Stephen Melvin. Pat Carty (Tourlestrane) and Calry’s Aidan Hynes were also part of the team.
Connacht played Munster first in a very competitive game with the score being level on three occasions and finished level at 3 goals each.
Leinster then narrowly defeated Ulster with the third game seeing Connacht play Leinster.
This was a physically demanding encounter with every ball keenly contested, and finished with Leinster winning 3-2.
The fourth game involved Munster V Ulster and Munster won by 3-2. The fifth game saw Connacht take on Ulster and the intensity and commitment was clearly evident once the ball was thrown in.
Ulster went ahead after five minutes with a splendid goal and followed up a few minutes later with another spectacular goal. Connacht were hurling well but the Ulster goalkeeper was in top form and made some brilliant saves. But with a few minutes remaining Aidan Hynes chipped the goalie and scored a wonder goal.
This gave renewed confidence to the Connacht team and Aidan Hynes scored two more goals winning the game 3-2.
There were great scenes of jubilation and joy among players and supporters after the game. The sixth and final game saw Leinster edging out Munster on a score-line of 4-3.
The top two teams qualified for the final and Leinster were first, and Connacht were on level points with Munster for second place, and it went down to goal difference, however Munster qualified as they scored one more goal than Connacht in their previous three games. Connacht qualified for the Shield Final against Ulster and after another tenacious and battling performance the Connacht team were winners on a score of 5-2.
Leinster v Munster in the final was a magnificent spectacle. Leinster the reigning All-Ireland Champions claimed the prestigious trophy.
Uachtarán Cumann Luthchleas Gael, John Horan, presented the All-Ireland Trophy to the Leinster captain Paul Tobin.
Tim Hynes, Chairman of Sligo Games for All thanked everyone who supported the games, including the National Games for All committee and the Connacht Council.
Tim congratulated all of the players, managers, coaches and supporters for their brilliant erformances.
The Connacht GAA Wheelchair Hurling/camogie Shield Final winners: Pat Carty (Tourlestrane), Aidan Hynes (Calry), Stephen Melvin (C) (Owenmore Gaels), Sarah Cregg (Western Gaels), Shane Curran (Moycullen), Liam O’Boyle (Knockmore), Peter Egan (Kilmovee), Tom Fleming (Charlestown). Managers: Adrian Hession, Taidg Morley and Tim Hynes.