Knockbride clinch Nicola Barry trophy
KNOCKBRIDE Ladies GFC from Cavan were crowned the Nicola Barry Memorial Tournament winners on sunny afternoon in Stabannon last week.
In almost perfect conditions for football 12 teams descended on Stabannon at 1pm to take part in the third Nicola Barry Memorial Tournament. The tournament is organised by Stabannon Ladies GFC in honour of their team mate and friend Nicola Barry who lost her battle with cancer on 1st August 2014 at just 26.
The host club Stabannon were defending their title having won it in 2017 and were competing with the Geraldines, St. Fechins, Louth Development Squad A, Noamh Fionnbarra from Louth and Portobello from Dublin in Group 1.
In Group 2, it was Knockbride and St. Killians from Cavan, Dee Rangers and St. Colmcilles from Meath, along with Louth Development Squad B and Glyde Rangers from Louth. All teams had five games to play with two teams from each group qualifying for semi-finals.
In Group 1 it was St. Fechins, Stabannon and the Geraldines who were emerging as strong contenders for semi final positions with all teams winning four games and losing one, Portobello followed behind winning two games and losing three.
As the final games were played, Portobello, Louth Development Squad A and Noamh Fionnbarra were ruled out as semi final contenders and it was all to play for between St. Fechins, Stabannon and the Geraldines. In the end it came down to score difference with Stabannon emerging on top of the group followed by St. Fechins, with the Geraldines losing out on score difference.
In Group 2, Knockbride, Dee Rangers and St. Colmcilles started strongly, and not before long it was evident that these three teams from this group would be the semi final contenders. In the end Knockbride emerged winners of the group followed by a strong Dee Rangers team.
The semi finals saw Stabannon take on Dee Rangers which was a repeat of the 2017 final and Knockbride versus St. Fechins and it was the hosts and Knockbride who emerged victorious.
A large crowd had gathered for the final which was refereed by Stabannon clubman Aidan Shevlin. Both teams gave it everything and there was nothing between the teams with some excellent passages of play from both sides and at the interval there was only two points separating the teams in Stabannon’s favour.
However it was all to play for in the second half as both teams were determined to get their hands on the cup. It was point for point until Knockbride got a goal to edge them ahead and with 3 minutes to go and that proved decisive.
The Player of the Tournament was selected by referees during the day and the overall player of the tournament went to Stabannon’s Anne Marie Lynch. Laura Barry, mum of Nicola, presented Anne Marie with her trophy.
John Barry, Nicola’s dad, presented the Nicola Barry Memorial Cup to Tina O’Reilly, a delighted captain of Knockbride GFC.
Each player on the winning team was then presented with a training top sponsored by FanFruit by Teresa Hanratty from the organising committee. It was a fantastic end to a fantastic day with football being the winner on the day.
A great mix of teams from within and outside the county took part ensuring that the standard of football played during the tournament was high and matches were competitive giving teams everything to play for during the group stages.
A special tribute to Nicola was paid at the end of the tournament and as the organising committee released three balloons, each one representing a decade of Nicolas life as Nicola would have been 30 on 7th June if she was still with us. It was a special tribute to a special player and friend who is