Tag Football Finals, kindly reported on by Barry Henriques.Enjoy the read...... Peil Abú, a terrific final!. The new Gaelic Football concept really finished on an unbelievable high in John Locke Park on Wednesday evening last when the Shield final and the Tournament Final were played out on the enclosed astro-turf surface under the floodlights. As you now know, the game is all about fun, non- contact, and played with seven a-side of mixed gender—there must be at least two players on each team female. Eight teams went into the second half of the Tournament, and after sixteen games the competition was reduced to four teams, two qualifying for a Shield Final and the remaining two semi-final winners qualifying for the Final proper. The driving force behind this Tournament was Paul Morrissey. He worked so comprehensively to make the thing work. His organisational abilities were supremely competent, and the entire operation of the Tournament ran like a well-oiled Rolls Royce engine. Every team was well aware of their schedule, their times, and their progress, being kept very well informed by Paul. The success of the venture was primarily of his expertise and attention to detail. It is quite conceivable that the John Lockes Club is certainly the only GAA Club in the County-if not in the Province- who have embraced this new GAA initiative. It is hoped that the venture will start afresh early in the New Year. In the Shield Final, Brett Brothers of Callan defeated the Cotterstown Legends quite convincingly. The Cotterstown lads went all out for the Tournament, buying their own set of Green and Gold jerseys. They were badly hampered by the loss of James Mackey who suffered a leg injury in the semi-final. Nevertheless the likes of John “Schillaci” McKenna, Frank O’Brien, Noel Smith, Sandra O’Keeffe, PJ Barron and Luke Dunne never took a backward step in their efforts to get over the line in front. They found the Brett Brothers team in inspirational form with the likes of captain Sean Hogan, his daughter Rachel, Jimmy Corcoran and his son Jason, Catriona Maher, Ann Marie Kennedy, Kevin Fitzpatrick and Derek Holden pulling out all the stops in their attempts to be in the winner’s enclosure. The Final proper was an excellent exhibition of the game as it is envisaged. The winning team, for many the real hotshots of the Tournament all through, were very impressive. In the O’Meara clan (Brian, Grainne, and captain Sean) they certainly had players prepared to go the full nine yards. Add in the likes of the livewire Pat Croke, the energetic Edward O’Brien, Alan Walsh, and Bill Tobin, it was obvious that their attitude and approach to the game was certainly of a formidable nature. But in the opposite corner, they faced a determined, focussed Callan Autos team who knew a few things about winning. Why wouldn’t they. Their captain was the legendary John Leahy, and he was ably-very ably- assisted by Graig Ballycallan’s Tommy Dermody, Deirdre Dunne, Sarah Lawler, Richard Adriano, the mercurial Davey Pat O’Brien, and Declan Mc Namara. Three times the sides were level. Dermody bagged two splendid goals. Grainne O’Meara, and Ann Marie Croke got a brace for their side. Points flowed with the frequency of the falling rain drops, but in the end, despite the herculean efforts of Mr.Leahy and all his gallant foot soldiers, the Over the Border team (O’Mearas, Crokes et al) won on a Final score of 2-34 to 3-23. It simply was tremendously entertaining. Chairman of the County Board, Ned Quinn, obliged the host club by presenting the winner’s cup to Sean O’Meara. He also received a voucher (€150) for a meal in either of the Café Sol Restaurants, sponsored by Manager Dick Minogue. Ned offered congratulations to the John Lockes Club for their industry and courage to go with the Peil Abú concept. “It was great to see the game in the flesh”, he said. “It is my first time to see it, and I think that it embraces the GAA ethos of enjoyment, camaraderie, and inter-club connections. I found it very entertaining, and I can see how the concept could grow in popularity”. He applauded the efforts of the likes of Paul Morrissey, Barrie Henriques, Derek Holden and Bosco Bryan. Ned also presented the Shield to Sean Hogan, captain of the Brett Brothers team. Treasurer of the County Board, Barry Hickey was also present on the evening. A delightful array of fine food was provided by the Ladies Committee, including Jackie Jackman. A few hours were indulged in convivial conversation with the Tipperary lads, and all were wholesome in their praise of the new venture.
Posted on: Fri, 26 Dec 2014 10:47:18 +0000
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