Kilmac land crown
Hollywood take the runners-up spot
KILMACANOGUE GAA capped off an excellent year for the club by winning the Scór na nÓg Tráth na gCeist county final in Ballinakill Centre of Excellence on Friday night last.
Due to a format change, this was the second Tráth na gCeist final of 2019. In January, this youthful Kilmacanogue team had belied their tender years and acquitted themselves very well amid tough competition. They left that night disappointed but also vowed to return and have another tilt at the title.
Less than 11 months later, they were back and were the standout team, leading from babhta a 2 all the way to the end, beating Hollywood and 2019 champions, Coolkenno into second and third place respectively.
At the end of Babhta a 1, all of the teams were level on two points each after a series of questions on Peil na mBan and Peil na bhFear. Babhta a 2 was all about Iomáint and Camógaíocht and the eventual winners stole a march on their rivals in this round, scoring 4/6 to move clear. It was a lead they wouldn’t relinquish, consistently scoring well on challenging questions.
At the end of ten rounds, Kilmac led the way on 27 points with Hollywood second on 23 and Coolkenno in third on 22.
Under new competition rules introduced earlier this year, the top three teams at the end of the 10 rounds now go through to a final four rounds of five questions which are answered on stage by the competitors.
Each correct answer for the on-stage competition is worth two points.
The winner is the team with the highest aggregate score over the two stages. After these four rounds, there was no change in the standings as the top three matched each other score for score. This meant that Kilmacanaogue were Scór na nÓg
Tráth na gCeist Champions for 2019/20. Comhghairdeas leo!
Hollywood were beaten into second place for the second county final in succession but may have been somewhat consoled with their prize – copies of Wicklow GAA Yearbook 2019.
Champions just 11 months ago, Coolkenno had to be content with third spot this time. Next up for Kilmacanogue are the Leinster finals which take place on January 12 in Drogheda.
Before that though, they can bask in the glory of a well-deserved county title, safe in the knowledge that they’ll all be young enough to return next year and go for two in a row.
Ba mhaith le Coiste Gaeilge agus Cultúir buíochas a ghabháil le Liam O’Loughlin a chum agus a chuir na ceisteanna do Thráth na gCeist.
Bhí na ceisteanna casta go leor ach tá an caighdeán an-ard ag léibhéal an chúige.
Ba mhian linn buíochas a ghabháil leis na baill foirne san Ionad
Barr Feabhais i mBaile na Coille, go háirithe Sandra O’Shaughnessy. Chomh maith leis sin, bhí an Coiste Caidrimh Phoibí ina chabhair mhór ó thaobh na poiblíochta de.
Go raibh maith agat le Seán Hayes a sholáthair an fhuaim. Bheadh dul amú orainn gan buíochas a ghabháil leis na tuismitheoirí agus na páistí iad féin a ghlac páirt sa chomórtas seo i mbliana.
Go n-éirí go geal le Cill Mhocheanóg i mBabhtaí Ceannais Laighean.