By Kevin Herron
All-County Féile football champions St Brigid’s will be driven to succeed and get to the later stages of this weekend’s All-Ireland tournament in order to come up against siblings in neighbouring counties according to Féile co-ordinator Una McGurk.
Naomh Brid will participate in Division Two – Group C alongside host club St Fechin’s, Louth; Westport and Crossmaglen Rangers and should the Musgrave Park side progress through the weekend they may encounter Ulster opposition in the form of Burren and Clan Eireann with the possibility of coming up against family members from both clubs says McGurk.
“On 29th June 2018 the boys will take their place in the group stage matches along with the county champions from Mayo, Westport; their hosts St Fechin’s, Louth; and, Crossmaglen Rangers, Armagh, who will have home advantage on the opening day” McGurk revealed.
“The results of the Division 2 group games may mean some of the Naomh Bríd players will have the opportunity to play against cousins from Burren, Down and the Armagh County Féile winners, Clan Eireann, Lurgan on Saturday and Sunday. The prospect of those quarter final or semi-final games will spur the boys on in the group-stage matches”.
Naomh Brid clinched their first Féile success against St. Paul’s at Coláiste Feirste in April – despite losing out in a keenly contested group stage game against the Shaws Road side in the earlier round of the competition, before defeating South West champions Cargin in the All-County final to book their place in the All-Ireland series this weekend.
Success has not arrived overnight though as McGurk explains that the side has been a work in progress for six years.
“The 2018 Naomh Bríd U14 boys football team are delighted to be representing their club and county at the Féile Peile na nÓg 2018” insists McGurk.
“This team came together at U8 level in early 2012. Since that time the boys have become great team mates on and off the pitch. Winning the South Antrim final against St Pauls and the county final against Cargin, becoming county Féile A-team winners for the first time, were proud days for the squad and their coaches”.
Success at Féile often comes at a cost to clubs and St Brigid’s and the Féile team and mentors were actively busy in the aftermath of their victory over Cargin in fundraising towards their trip this weekend and McGurk outlined some of the fundraising activities that the club and the players and mentors undertook.
“It has been a busy time for the squad since the final against Cargin at Coláiste Feirste on 15th April 2018 with fundraising activities to help with their trip to Termonfeckin, Drogheda” McGurk admits.
“The boys hosted a ‘Guest Tea’ for family and friends, where they took part in a question and answer session about their matches and training in preparation for the Féile. When asked about the South Antrim and County finals many boys said they recalled advice they got many times from their coaches, such as: “keep your eyes on the ball, not the man” and “leave everything on the pitch,” and they all agreed that in the Cargin match they “left everthing on the pitch” that day”.
“They also ran a ‘Big Breakfast’ at Harlequins, Deramore Park and were delighted that many club members, senior ladies and men’s team players, families and friends attended and gave generously to their fundraising – even though there were no bacon or sausage sandwiches left for the boys themselves by the end of the morning!”
“They have helped produce a commemorative programme, featuring pen pics of each player; notes from their coaches; and, a short history of the host club, St Fechin’s GAA and Naomh Bríd GAA. Each player was kindly sponsored by local businesses who feature in the programme. They finished off their fundraising activities at a church collection at St Brigid’s Church, Derryvolgie on Sunday 24th June 2018, where no member of the congregations at the 4 Masses was allowed to leave without a commemorative programme!”