Review of Féile 2008

  • May 05,2008

The Dublin Everbuild U14 Féile – Cumann Peil Gael na mBan - 2008 514 girls togged out for 23 teams from across the County for this showcase of Juvenile Ladies Gaelic Football. The Club Management at St Sylvester’s, Kilmacud Crokes and Ballyboden St Enda’s  made their facilities available to Dublin Ladies by hosting the event. It is a credit to them that nothing was left to chance and that everything moved along to schedule.  At the three venues the stage was set for the play-offs on Saturday. 8 teams competed in Division 1 and 15 in Division 2.

 Division 2

Saturday Out in Malahide, the teams in both groups making up the North County Division 2 played each other to decide the winner in each going to the semi-finals. The home side, St Sylvester’s couldn’t break through the Scoil Uí Chonaill side in a cliff hanger. The outcome 2-2 to 2-3 ensured a place in the semi-finals the next day. 

League table for Feile Division 2 North Group 1
 
Team P W L D Pts
Scoil Ui Chonaill 3 3 0 0 6
St Sylvesters 3 2 1 0 4
Fingallians 3 1 2 0 2
Raheny 3 0 3 0 0

__________________________________________________________________________

In the second group in Malahide, the Castleknock girls were unlucky to loose their first game and to loose star player Amy Doyle through injury early in the competition. But they overcame their problems and went on to win the next two games. However it wasn’t enough and Skerries Harps topped the group on 6 points and went through in their Centenary Year. 

League table for Feile Division 2 North Group 2
 
Team P W L D Pts
Skerries Harps 3 3 0 0 6
Castleknock 3 2 1 0 4
Lusk St Margarets 3 1 2 0 2
St Peregrines 3 0 3 0 0

__________________________________________________________________________

On the southside Division 2’s group 1 competed in Ballyboden. St Anne’s brought some fine skills to the field of play and put on an excellent display of football. Despite Frank Kinsella and Greg McKeown’s best efforts with the team, it wasn’t to be their day as Foxrock Cabinteely and the home side’s Second Team battled it out for the honours. The top spot in this group was eventually clinched by the visiting girls who beat the ‘Boden side by a single point.  

League table for Feile Division 2 South Group 1
 
Team P W L D Pts
Foxrock/Cabinteely 3 3 0 0 6
Ballyboden St Endas 3 2 1 0 4
St Annes 3 1 2 0 2
Ballinteer St Johns 3 0 3 0 0

________________________________________________________________________

Meanwhile in Kilmacud the other group were battling it out. There was a terrific match for the second place with Lucan Sarsfield’s shading it by a single point. The score line finishing at 0-3 to 0-2 indicates the pressure put on by both sides. Templeogue Synge St is already looking forward to next year. The home side went through with 3 wins in this group. 

League table for Feile Division 2 South Group 2
 
Team P W L D Pts
Kilmacud Crokes 3 3 0 0 6
Lucan Sarsfields 3 2 1 0 4
Templeogue Synge Street 3 1 2 0 2

________________________________________________________________________

Sunday Ballyboden St Enda’s hosted the semi-finals and finals on Sunday.  The top of each group were paired off for the Semi-Finals at 1pm. On the Cherryfield Pitch in Ballyboden, Foxrock Cabinteely played Skerries Harps for a place in the Final. As can be expected from both clubs, this was a great game with the North County girls edging out their southside rivals by a narrow margin. Across the road in Pairc Uí Mhurchú, Scoil Uí Chonaill and Kilmacud Crokes reversed the trend to ensure a Northside/Southside Final. The final at 3pm was as tight as they come. Neither side could claim to be the better team as the score board kept the tally more or less even throughout. In the dying moments a wonderful save by the Croke’s Keeper denied Skerries the winning goal and when the whistle went a minute or so later, Kilmacud Crokes came away with the gold medals.    

Division 1

Saturday

Both winners and runners-up in this division go through to the semi-finals so there was great excitement to see who met whom on Sunday. Down in Kilmacud, St Brigid’s were having a great day out losing only to Ballinteer St John’s to ensure trip to Ballyboden on the next day. 
League table for Feile Division 1 Group 1
 
Team P W L D Pts
Ballinteer St Johns 3 3 0 0 6
St Brigids 3 2 1 0 4
Na Fianna 3 1 2 0 2
Clontarf 3 0 3 0 0
 Cuala and Ballyboden St Enda’s are old rivals. Going back to 2004 these girls had to replay the drawn Championship Final at under 10! ‘Boden won out that cold February day down in Ringsend by 2 points. Could Cuala pull it off today? A quick look at the table will give the answer after what was the match of the tournament. Cuala were 3 goals down at half time and when ‘keeper Sally Kiernan came outfield in the second half there was no stopping the visitors. She slotted two past her opposite number between the ‘Boden sticks in the first 5 minutes. The ball seldom went past the half way mark in Pairc Uí Mhurchú. The game was 4-2 all with about 3 minutes to go. Still Cuala kept coming forward, still ‘Boden denied them a score. A flip back to about the 45 and Cuala put the ball way into the air. The umpires called the point and it was all over for ‘Boden. 
League table for Feile Division 1 Group 2
 
Team P W L D Pts
Cuala 3 3 0 0 6
Ballyboden St Endas 3 2 1 0 4
Naomh Barrog 3 1 2 0 2
Thomas Davis 3 0 3 0 0

 __________________________________________________________________________

Sunday The 2pm semi-finals were Cuala v St Brigid’s and Ballyboden St Enda’s v Ballinteer St John’s.  Cuala were still on a high from the Saturday play-offs and didn’t settle into their game against a strong St Brigid’s side. Cuala had lost the toss and because of a clash of colours had to put away the lucky jerseys! Such is life! St Brigid’s made every attempt count and when the final whistle went, St Brigid’s went across the road to the final. The Ballyboden St Enda’s v Ballinteer St John’s was a local derby as the neighbours met to decide a place in the final. Once again the home side were made to work hard to earn the honours. But the hard work eventually paid off and Robbie Murphy’s home side came through to play for the medals.The Division 1 Final between St Brigid’s and Ballyboden St Enda’s went the home side’s way. No matter what the Brigid’s girls did, ‘Boden guaranteed that there would be no repeat of Saturday’s little upset. At this point a special mention must be made about the referee in this game. One of Dublin’s newest recruits put on a magnificent display of refereeing at its best. She is a credit to herself and her club Kilmacud Crokes. Before she blew the final whistle, it was clear that St Brigid’s couldn’t turn the game and when the whistle went, Ballyboden St Enda’s had done the “three in a row”. 

At the presentation of the Cups, Camillus Kilpatrick County Chairperson thanked the sponsor, Everbuild for helping to make the festival a success. The Host Clubs; St Sylvester’s, Kilmacud Crokes and Ballyboden St Enda’s had done a magnificent job to ensure that all the players would have a day to remember. He said that the organising committee under the stewardship of Paul McLoughlin had put a great effort into co-ordinating the event, producing the programme, updating the website www.dublinladiesgaelic.ie ‘live’ and arranging referees and they deserved a round of applause for the success of the event. He wished both winning teams every success in Féile Laigheann, in Kildare and Ballyboden St Enda’s the very best as they represent Dublin in National Féile in Cavan on the first weekend in July. 

 Winners Division 2: Kilmacud Crokes

Kilmacud Crokes with club colours of purple and gold are one of Dublins largest GAA clubs with a history spanning over 40years.  The Ladies Football Section was established almost 12 years ago, and has continued to grow from the first blustery Wednesday night session in in 1996.
We now field 8 teams, from U10 up to Senior, and hold an U9 Nursery for our budding stars - with committed parents, as well as current and former players getting involved in the coaching.   Honours have been won at all levels, with our U10s bringing home the Championship silverware in 2007.  Our players have also represented the club at County level, and two of our U14s were on the All-Ireland winning Dublin team last year.  Kilmacud Crokes also hosts an All-Ireland U14 7-a-side competition on the eve of the Ladies All-Ireland with representation from 32 counties.

 Féile PlayersEmma Sheehy  Clare Byrne  April ODywer  Kate Hanrahan  Tara OBrien  Michelle OHurley  Sadhbh McLoughlin  Lianne Casey Jean Finlay  Emma Grogan  Lorna Fox  Hannah Collins  Siobhan Greene  Gabrielle Deeny  Molly Lamb  Michelle Davern  Kim Garth  Eabha Rutledge  Ciara Regan  Emer Sweeney  Iseult Reardon  Orlaith Byrne
Manager:   Moira Sheehy 

Winners Division 1 – Ballyboden St Enda’s

Following success by Loreto Primary School Pioneered by teacher Kathleen O’Sullivan in the Dublin Primary Schools competition and requests from a number of these players to play club football the go ahead was granted in 1993 with Bill Daly at the helm. Bill went on to develop ladies football in the club leading the Section for 11 years. In 1999 we won Div 2 league and were beaten by Portobello in our first Dublin Senior Championship Final. In 2000 Ballyboden St Endas won their first Senior Championship and have retained the title in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007. The following girls have the remarkable achievement of being on all eight winning teams, Sorcha Farrelly, Joanne O’Sullivan, Ashling Farrelly,  Gemma Fay, Martina Farrell and Louise Kelly. In 2001 Ballyboden St Endas Ladies Football Team won the Leinster Senior Championship with further wins in 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006  & 2007.                                                       In November 2004 with Bill Daly as manager, the ultimate accolade was achieved in winning our first All- Ireland and the prestigious title was retained by Pat Nash as Manager in 2005. As a Club growing from strength to strength, we are very fortunate to have so many committed Managers and mentors from juvenile to Senior level, our nursery has been the springboard for our success inspired and nurtured by Barry Coll who has contributed selflessly in this area for over 10 years. Our two full-time coaches in conjunction with our local schools are ensuring continuing success at under-age and senior level.  The current U14 team have tasted success at U10, U11 and U12 and it’s our third Féile Átha Cliath in a row. We have won the All-Ireland Féile Div 2 in 1996 and we were runners-up in Div 1 last year. In our short history we have won 37 County Championships and are looking forward to participating in future competitions. 

Féile PlayersAimee Drudy  Amy Murphy  Aoife OBrien  Aoife Alvain  Ciara Darker  Ciara Finnegan Ciara Kennedy  Claire King  Cliona OSullivan  Eimear Duffy  Emma Cooney  Kristina Healy  Jessica Nugent  Lauren Falconer  Maria McGrath  Maeve Scully  Megan Campion Niamh McMahon  Orlaith Keane  Rachel Owens  Rebceea Dalton  Sally Jones  Sarah Burns  Sinead Crowley Manager:  Robbie Murphy