Report: Gary Duffin
Pics: Elaine Kelly
Moneyglass u14s travelled to Mayo on Friday morning to the All-Ireland feile finals in hope rather than expectation.
The fact that most of their team was made up of u12s just left everyone thinking they were just down for the experience but how wrong they proved everyone to be.
The first game on Friday evening was against Swinford.To the Mayo contingent’s surprise Moneyglass came out of the traps fast and played a fast running game that the Mayo lads couldn’t cope with and Moneyglass won the game comfortably.
Next up came St Colums Kealkil from from Cork. This was a tight frantic affair with the Cork lads being very physical Moneyglass battled away and couldn’t seem to get a break or a decision and lost narrowly to the Rebel county men. So after the game the lads were whisked off to their hosts homes by their adopted parents for the weekend.
I don’t know what the lads were up to on the Friday night but they landed at Kilmeena pitch on Saturday morning looking bleary eyed and they never got going. They allowed their host club to dictate the pace of the game and that was the route to the shield decided.
The next game saw the lads travel into McHale Park in Castlebar, for the shield quarter final against a powerful Naomh Padraig side. Moneyglass knew there were no more second chances and worked tirelessly to ensure a six point victory and a place in Sunday’s semi- final.
Sunday saw the boys on the road again and made the journey to Islandeady to face Galway side, Dunmore McHales. This proved to be a feisty affair with the Connaucht men trying to bully their opposition but it was Moneyglass who were playing all the football.
They took all the Galway men had to throw at them and powered their way to the feile final.
The final was played in Westport and what an occasion it proved to be. The lads lined up for the National Anthem and the final note was greeted by a huge roar from the large Moneyglass support which had swelled by the arrival of the girls team to cheer on their club mates.
The lads were told not to miss this opportunity and to start fast. This they did and had a 12 point advantage at half time.
Erin’s St Pats hit back with 2 goals in the second half to keep the St Ergnat’s boys on their toes. Unfortunately for them Moneyglass weren’t going to let this one slip and ran out All Ireland shield winners by a 7 point margin.
This brought an end to a brilliant weekend for the lads with their hosts Kilmeena GAA all showing up for the final to cheer the lads to victory.
A great experience and one to live long in the memory.
