Back from left: Tim Healy, mentor; John Ahern, Adam Healy, Darragh Kelly, David Moriarty, Cathal Brosnan, Freddie Galway, Jack Moriarty, Paddy Howard, Raymond O’Neill, John O’Connor, John Curtin and Tone Brosnan, mentor.
On Friday the Currow U-14 team and their supporters left the village at 9am bidding to retain their John West Féile Peile na nÓg title in Co. Monaghan.
By Con Enright PRO
That evening in Ballybay we played two game against Lámh Dhearg of Antrim and Ballybay Pearse’s Brothers of Monaghan.
Antrim Opposition
The first game was against the Antrim opposition where our boys got off to a winning start beating Lámh Dhearg on a score line of 3-12 to 0-1.
Our second game was against the home side Ballybay. In this game Currow proved too strong for their Monaghan counterparts and won on a final score of Currow 4-14 to Ballybays 0-1.
After the game we continued our journey to Derrynoose, Co. Armagh to our host club, where we were given a fabulous reception by their players and supporters.
Good Sporting Contest
On Saturday morning we played the host club at 11:30am. In a good sporting contest Currow had the upper hand on the opposition and went on to win on a score of Currow 1-8 to Derrynoose’s 1-4. After the game Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney gave a lovely speech to both sets of players and supporters in which he gave us good advice on how to continue improving on our football skills.
Having won our three games and topping the group it was onto Ballybay yet again for the quarter final where Currow’s opponents were to be Grangenovlin of Kildare.
At half time Grangenovlin were ahead on a score of 2-3 to Currow’s 0-4 but in the second half Currow came back into the game with points from Justin McCarthy, Jack and David Moriarty.
John O’Connor’s Pivotal Goal
The decisive moment of the game came in the eighth minute when Currow’s John O’Connor scored the pivotal goal to put us into the semi finals.
The game ended with Currow victorious on a score of Currow 1-9 to Grangenovlin’s 2-4.
When we arrived back to Derrynoose a great evening of entertainment was provided for us, a barbeque, a trip to the local bowling alley for the Derrynoose and Currow players and music for all. Also on the night, Currow and Derrynoose players made some presentations to one another.
Currow secretary, Sean O’Connor thanked Derrynoose for their warm welcome and for their hospitality.
On Sunday morning we said our goodbyes to our host club Derrynoose Blues and headed for Inniskeen, Co. Monaghan for the semi final against Seán Mac Cumhaill of Donegal.
Three Vital Goals
Our team proved to have the upper hand on the opponents and we scored three vital goals during the game which came from Jack Moriarty and and two from David Moriarty. We went on to win the contest on a score line of Currow 3-8 Seán mac Cumhaill 1-1.
Next up was the final. This took place in the same venue, where the opposition would be Clann Na Banna of Down.
Currow lead at half time on a score of 1-7 to 0-1 – with the goal coming from full forward, Justin McCarthy.
In the second half, Currow kept tipping over their scores and, in the seventh minute, centre forward David Moriarty put the game beyond doubt with Currow’s second goal.
The final whistle blew and Currow were yet again Feile champions emerging victorious on a score of Currow 2-10 to Clann Na Banna of Down 0-5.
Time to Head Home
The John West Féile Peile na nÓg Cup was presented to Currow captain, David Moriarty and then it was time to head home.
We arrived in Currow at 10pm to a huge bonfire, flags and posters and we were given a rapturous welcome home by many Currow supporters and the team members were presented with their medals.
A massive congratulations to the Currow team and their mentors Tone Brosnan, Tim Healy and Con Enright who worked hard preparing the them for the competition.
A big thank you to Paudie Collins of Collins Bus Hire for organising and driving the bus to the Feile.
Also thanks to Jennifer Ahern for arranging the gear for our players and mentors and Maureen Kenny for organising the hotel for the Currow supporters.
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