Dublin Féile "Fantastic" says supporters
- Apr 19,2010
The Féile was fantastic said supporters out in St Sylvesters. So here is a summary of events in case you happened to miss this milestone in Dublin
Saturday17th April
The Chairman of the Weather Committee declared that he had done his job and delivered a fine weekend.
Indeed he did and so too did the 33 teams who delivered a feast of football in the Everbuild Féile Átha Cliath 2010. We counted the girls on the programme and a record 762 were kitted out and took tothe playing fields of St Peregrines, St Sylvesters, Ballyboden St Enda’s and Kilmacud Crokes on a very sunny Saturday – 17th April.
There was a riot of colour everywhere and parades were held in the venues before the first games of the day. The catering provided by the host clubs was superb with the tea and coffee flowing freely all day for the relief of parents and friends. Needless to say, the orange squash was much in demand by thirsty players as the sun climbed higher in the sky!
In Division 3, twelve teams competed for the semi finals. Na Dubh Ghall, Ballyboden St Endas ‘B’ and Whitehall Colmcille came through their groups to claim a semi-final place on Sunday but the 4thgroup needed extra time to decide between St Maurs and Round Tower Clondalkin.The honour went to the Clondalkin girls.
Division 2 was an 11 team contest where Clontarf pulled away in the group of three in St Peregrines. In St Sylvesters the other eight battled it out in two groups. With just three groups the clear winners went through to the semi-finals with the No 4 spot going to the best runner up in the groups of four. Both St Judes and O’Tooles claimed the 9 points on offer and it fell to the home side, St Sylvesters and last years Div3 winners St Annes to have a play-off for spot No 4. Although St Annes campaigned hard, there efforts didn’t pay off which put St Sylvester’s through to the semi-finals.
10 Division 1 sides entered the competition and played in three venues who were also hosts to Féile. The group of 4 in Kilmacud Crokes provided some excitement when the home side had a drawn game with Foxrock Cabinteely. It might have gone to a ‘three-way-play off’ but Castleknock pulled ahead of the Foxrock side to claim the runners up spot witha 3-3 to 2-2 win. Over in the other venues – St Peregrines and Ballyboden StEndas, the deciders were easy enough. Home side ‘Boden saw off the challenges easily. The St Peregrines home side tucked one win under their belt but neighbours St Brigids saw off their challenge to claim the right to travel to the semis.
Sunday18th April. The Semi Finals
Throw-in on Sunday was set for 11am in Silver Park and the Division 3 sides got down to the business of deciding the finalists. Although it was a hard game, Whitehall Colmcilles were up for it in the end and pulled away from Na Dubh Ghall. Both these Clubs are working hard to develop Ladies Football and it is a tribute to them to have reached the Semi Final. On the other pitch, Ballyboden’s second team dismissed Round Tower Clondalkin. These games were followed by the Division 2 semi-finalists playing ‘back-to-back’. First up was St Sylvesters and St Judes. The St Judes side had distinguished themselves on Saturday by claiming all 9 points on offer while St Sylvesters had 6 and a play-off to decide their fate. So, although the odds might have looked to be in St Judes favour it was the Malahide side which claimed the first Final place in their division. O’Tooles and Clontarf took to the field then to determine the 2nd finalist. This game was going Clontarf’s way til about ½ way through the second period. But O’Tooles dug deep and put in a lovely goal. They followed with another shortly after and the game was over. It was a rematch of the Saturday round again. The questions were being asked if O’Tooles could snatch a victory from St Sylvesters? Meanwhile in Glenalbyn, the Division 1 Semi Finals had commenced. Kilmacud Crokes were first out against St Brigids. This was a lively game in which both sides played so great football. The home side had some great support and got to grips with the game and picked up the first spot in the final. Next up Castleknock were out against Ballyboden’s first squad and the first half was a real ding dong game which finished a draw. But the ‘Boden machine got into gear for the second period and there was no more question about it. Ballyboden were setting their eyes firmly on a ‘5 in arow’ Div 1 Féile title and they made sure of it before the final whistle.
The Finals
Hosts Kilmacud Crokes had laid on a piper and before each final the teams paraded onto the pitch. This created a great atmosphere. Each game was well attended and there was much cheering from the crowds. The Division 3 finalists Whitehall Colmcille and Ballyboden St Endas took their place behind the piper and marched out just after 2pm. The game started well and both sides took their chances. But the Whitehall girls were the more skilful in the front than the ‘Boden defence and it began to show on the scoreboard. It continued this way til the end and it was the Whitehall Colmcille captain who received the cup from County Chairman, Camillus Kilpatrick.
The piper next lead out St Sylvesters and O’Tooles who had been groupmates in the deciding rounds on Saturday. O’Tooles had won the round. St Sylvesters had to fight for the semi-final place. The game started. It flowed up and down the park. Both sides were tenacious. Both sides were equally good. Both sides were level at the final whistle – a draw. Extra time was required to decide the outcome and when the 10mins were up O’Tooles had their first Féile cup with a score of 5-5 to 3-5.
After the Division 1 parade was done and the piper had played Amhrán na bhFiann the serious business of the final was athand. The first half went Ballyboden’s way and they put 1-3 on the board withoutreply. It was not for
The want of trying on Kilmacud’s behalf but all their efforts were wide of the mark, or the ‘Boden keeper thwarted their efforts. But the Kilmacud girls found their range and accuracy in the second half and began to pop the points over the bar from the off drawing level with about 5 minutes left on the clock. There were two opportunities for Kilmacud goals just after that which were scrambled out of the danger zone by a resolute defence. The atmosphere in the huge crowd was electric. Back at the other end ‘Boden put the finishing touches to their game with two points and claimed their ‘5 in a row’.
County Chairman, Camillus Kilpatrick thanked the host clubs, the officials, the organising committee and the sponsor Everbuild for making the weekend so special for the teams and players. He introduced Matt O’Dell of Everbuild to present the winners with a cheque towards their travel expenses to National Féile in Derry this summer. The Emma Jones Memorial Trophy was given by her family to the Dublin Féile in 2009 and Camillus asked Mrs Jones to present this cup to the Ballyboden captain. There was a poignant moment when she remembered that this would have been Emma’s Féile year. The crowd was hushed and we all remembered Emma at that time. Her memory will live on in Dublin through the Trophy and in the spirit of the competition that is Féile.
And so it was. More records broken in Dublin Ladies Gaelic Football. Another Féile finished and a success all round.