Féile Fever - DLGFA Féile 2009
- May 08,2009
Féile Fever.
‘Rain, rain, go away…’ was probably the phrase on most people’s lips during the past week if they were in any way involved in the Everbuild Féile 2009. The
forecasts for the weekend were every bit as gloomy as the economy. The prophets of doom were predicting the worst case scenario. E-mails flew backwards and forwards amongst the Dublin Ladies Board Executive. All-weather pitches were in the news, the word cancellation was mentioned and Plan B got an airing. But why did we doubt? A new trophy had been donated by the family of the late Emma Jones of Templeogue/Synge Street, in her memory, and it seems that she was keeping an eye on the weather for us. Nothing was going to spoil this memorable occasion in her honour. The hosting clubs, namely Ballyboden St. Enda’s, St. Sylvester’s and Cuala along with back-up support from Lucan Sarsfields and Clanna Gael-Fontenoy made certain that everything ran smoothly. What’s more, the sun shone brightly and the football was exciting.
At the end of a cracking first day’s football twelve teams of the starting 26 had made it into the semi-finals fixed for Páirc Ui Mhurchú and Cherryfield on Sunday 3rd May. In total over 600 girls had represented their clubs in the opening day of the Everbuild 2009 Féile. St. Anne’s, Lucan Sarsfields, Craobh Chiaráin and Catleknock St. Thomas were the semi-finalists from Division 3 with the Bohernabreena girls taking on Castleknock in the final. Castleknock led by 1-2 to 0-2 at half-time having played with the strong breeze in the first. They held out under severe pressure until the last few minutes and then to quick goals swung it the way of St. Anne’s. The first of the goals came from Caroline Ward with the crucial second being scored by Karla McKeown. The final score was 2-5 to 1-3 in favour of St. Anne’s. Captain, Shona McNally, daughter of Alan, accepted the cup from Dublin Board Chairperson, Camillus Kilpatrick. This was St.Annes first ever win ever in a Feile competion.
The Division 2 semi-finals were very keenly contested with St. Brigid’s overcoming Ballinteer St. John’s and Ballyboden St. Enda’s B proving too good for Naomh Barróg. The final was full of excitement from the throw-in with St. Brigid’s dominating the hosts but failing to reflect in on the scoreboard. The two sides finished scoreless at the end of the first half. Ballyboden started the second half the better and things looked good as they opened up a two-point lead after eight minutes. St. Brigid’s responded immediately and put the Boden goal under pressure. Two minutes later it paid off when captain, Sarah Hawkshaw drove the ball hard and low the back of the net giving keeper Lisa Gillen no chance. Boden levelled matters within a minute with a very well taken point from Rachel Whyte and extra time loomed large. Then up stepped captain fantastic, Sarah, and drove the ball high and straight between the uprights for the winning score for St. Brigid’s with the final kick of the game. She too received the winners’ trophy from Camillus Kilpatrick. They also received a cheque towards their expenses for the All-Ireland Féile where they represent Dublin.
The Division 1 semi-finalists were the hosts, Ballyboden, Kilmacud Crokes, Na Fianna and St. Sylvesters. Both Boden and Crokes had comfortable wins in their respective semis to set up a mouth-watering final between last year’s Division 1 and 2 champions. The first half was a ding-dong affair with some superb flowing football, neat passing, great shadowing of opposition players and some superb finishing. Crokes captain, Molly Lamb along with Siofra Cléirigh Buttner, Eabha Rutledge and Kim Garth put eight points on the scoreboard for Kilmacud but the lethal finishing of Grace Kennedy ensured that there were only two points in it at half-time. Crokes led by 0-8 to 2-0. The second half was dominated almost entirely by Boden and Grace Kennedy continued to put Crokes to the sword. Grace scored all of her side’s goals as they gradually pulled away from their opponents. Crokes failed to score in the second half. Maria McGrath with two points and Aishling O’Leary and Aishling Scully with one each completed the point scoring for Boden. Jessica McGirr put the icing on the cake with the final goal. Final score - Ballyboden St. Enda’s 5-4, Kilmacud Crokes 0-8. Captain, Jessica Nugent, accepted the cup from Geraldine Jones, mother of Emma, who spoke proudly of her daughter and her contribution to Ladies Football. It was a very emotional occasion for the family who were all present to honour Emma. It would have been fitting if Templeogue/Synge Street had made the semi-finals but that wasn’t to be. They came oh so close. Matt O Dell of Everbuild presented a cheque to Ballyboden to help towards the cost of representing Dublin in the Féile.
And so a very successful Féile came to an end. Everbuild’s sponsorship was very much appreciated. The Organising Committee can be very proud of their hard work as can the Co-ordinators and the hosting clubs. The referees played their part in ensuring that the games were refereed to a high standard. Chairperson, Camillus Kilpatrick’s words of encouragement to the losing teams was well appreciated. The Jones family can rest assured that Emma’s memory will live on through Féile. Here’s to 2010. Good luck to Ballyboden and St. Brigid’s in the All-Ireland Féile.
More photos can be viewed and downloaded from
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26050454@N06/sets/72157617568341021/
and
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26050454@N06/3499573273/in/set-72157617676120856/
Match Programme can be downloaded by clicking here
Results
Saturday 02nd May 2009
Feille Division 1 Group 1
Team 1 Score Score Team 2 Venue Comment
Ballyboden St Endas 5-6 0-2 Thomas Davis
Kilmacud Crokes 2-9 2-1 Castleknock
Castleknock 0-6 5-3 Ballyboden St Endas
Kilmacud Crokes 3-7 1-0 Thomas Davis
Ballyboden St Endas 1-8 0-4 Kilmacud Crokes
Thomas Davis 1-4 8-5 Castleknock
Feille Division 1 Group 2
St Sylvesters 3-5 0-3 Scoil Ui Chonaill
Na Fianna 3-2 1-6 Clontarf
Clontarf 3-3 5-6 St Sylvesters
Na Fianna 4-5 1-3 Scoil Ui Chonaill
St Sylvesters 5-2 1-2 Na Fianna
Scoil Ui Chonaill 4-2 4-6 Clontarf
Feille Division 2 Group 1
Ballyboden St Endas B 5-7 2-1 Fingallians B
Skerries Harps 1-1 3-4 O Dwyers
O Dwyers 0-3 1-6 Ballyboden St Endas B
Skerries Harps 1-2 4-2 Fingallians B
Ballyboden St Endas B 4-5 0-0 Skerries Harps
Fingallians B 0-2 3-11 O Dwyers Cherryfield
Feille Division 2 Group 2
St Brigids 4-5 3-3 Foxrock/Cabinteeley
Cuala 0-0 3-5 Ballinteer St Johns
St Brigids 2-6 3-4 Ballinteer St Johns
Foxrock/Cabinteeley 3-2 2-0 Cuala
Ballinteer St Johns 2-2 5-2 Foxrock/Cabinteeley
Cuala 1-2 3-5 St Brigids
Feille Division 2 Group 3
St Peregrines 2-2 3-0 Templogue Synge Street
Naomh Barrog 1-1 2-14 Clannagael Fontenoy
Templogue Synge Street 2-3 2-5 Naomh Barrog
Clannagael Fontenoy 2-1 4-4 Templogue Synge Street
Naomh Barrog 3-2 2-3 St Peregrines
Feille Division 3 Group 1
St Annes 2-3 1-3 Na Dubhgall
St Annes 2-4 1-2 Craobh Chiaran
Craobh Chiaran 5-5 3-6 Na Dubhgall
Feille Division 3 Group 2
Lucan Sarsfields 4-3 1-0 Westmanstown Gaels 12th Lock
Castleknock B 7-3 2-0 Westmanstown Gaels
Lucan Sarsfields 4-3 1-0 Castleknock B
Sunday 3rd May 2009
Feile Division 1 Semi Finals
Ballyboden St Endas 1-16 1-1 Na Fianna
St Sylvesters 1-2 5-8 Kilmacud Crokes
Sunday 3rd May
Feile Division 1 Final
Ballyboden St Endas 5-4 0-8 Kilmacud Crokes
Feile Divison 2 Semi Finals
Ballyboden St Endas B 1-2 1-0 Naomh Barrog
Ballinteer St Johns 1-4 2-3 St Brigids
Feile Divison 2 Final
Ballyboden St Endas B 1-0 1-1 St Brigids
Feile Division 3 Semi Finals
St Annes 6-5 1-0 Lucan Sarsfields
Castleknock 5-3 0-3 Craobh Chiaran
Feile Division 3 Final
St Annes 2-5 1-3 Castleknock B