On Saturday 29th May, a sun-drenched Clonduff Park welcomed eight teams for the 47th running of the Gary Murray Memorial Tournament which was re-organised for age 12.5 – Gary was an U12 player with Clonduff when he lost his life. The tournament is sponsored by the Murray Family and was attended by Gary’s father Cathal, Gary’s twin brother Damien, younger brothers Cathal (Jnr) and Ciarán and their families.
Player of the Tournament for the second year in a row Ethan Harty, pictured with his Head of PE in St Colman’s College Cathal Murray
The eight teams – Clonduff, Mayobridge, Ballyholland, Burren, Annaclone (all Down) with Killeavey (Armagh), O’Donovan Rossa Magherafelt (Derry) Fr Rocks Cookstown (Tyrone) – were divided into two groups, each getting three group games to determine the knockout stages for the Cup and the Shield. In the Semi-finals of the Cup Burren defeated Clonduff and Fr Rocks defeated Mayobridge; in the shield semi finals Annaclone defeated Ballyholland to set up a final v O’Donovan Rossa who had defeated Killeavey with the two Down clubs emerging as winners.
Club Chair Ross Carr thanked all for attending and those involved in organising; Cathal (jnr) on behalf of the Murray Family congratulated all involved and spoke of his dissatisfaction and disappointment with the recent developments that have emerged in relation to Juvenile Tournaments.
The event, which had begun with Amhrán na bhFiann sung by Clonduff’s Kayleigh McPolin ended with the presentations to all four finalists and the Player of the Tournament to Ethan Harty (Burren) who had won it in 2022 when it was an U11.5 competition (one to watch in the future).
Many thanks to the wonderful turnout of adult and juvenile volunteers – gate people, car parking attendants, umpires, linespeople, referees, shop personnel, kitchen attendants, BBQ cooks and servers, Damian, Shauna, Christine and their assistants who helped with the smooth running of the event.
