JOHN WEST REGIONAL HURLING FÉILE IN CLONDUFF
Saturday 24th June may have started damp and dismal but by the time proceedings got under way in Clonduff Park with Naomh Olaf (Dublin) taking on Castletown Geoghegan (Westmeath) on the main pitch and Bannagher (Derry) v Ballycran on the top pitch the sun had come out to witness a fabulous Festival of Hurling. Clonduff v Gortnamona (Belfast) and Ratoath (Meath) v Celbridge (Kildare) played in the second round of games. Each team played three group games to decide the Cup and Shield semi final placings. Clonduff played the big strong Naomh Olaf lads in their Shield semi final; the Dublin side went on to beat Ratoath in the Shield Final – Ratoath had defeated Ballycran in the other semi final. Clonduff Club secretary Anita Brannigan presented the plaque and the medals to the captain of the Naomh Olaf team Luca Manicle who made lovely speech thanking Ratoath, his own mentors and team mates as well as the hosts Clonduff.
In the Cup semi finals Bannagher faced Celbridge in a rerun of last year’s final – Bannagher avenged their narrow defeat in 2022 to set up a final v Gortnamona who had defeated Castletown Geoghegan in their semi final. The Derry boys put on a strong showing to run out comfortable winners and collect the silverware.
Clonduff Coaching Officer and Féile Coordinator Shane Quinn, thanked all the clubs who had taken part and the honour it was to host such an event before he presented the silverware to Fionn Cartin captain of the Bannagher side. Fionn couldn’t contain his glee during his winner’s speech.
Clonduff Club would like to sincerely thank the Senior Hurlers who turned out in force to help steward the event, Club Referee Paddy Branagan who along with Eamon Mulvenna, Lorenzo McMullan and David Carr took charge of the games; Goretta and Noleen in the Club Shop, Dermot and Ally and their team on barbecue duty – all the visiting clubs were highly impressed with our club setup and the hospitality that was afforded them throughout the day.
Clonduff team: Back row: (l-r) Ryan McPolin, Danny Doyle, Conrad Moan, McKenzie Sheffield, Eoghan Rooney, John Joe Boyle, Eoin Crosbie, Eddie Clancy (capt), Thomas Kenny, Eoin Campbell, Jamie Coulhon; Front row (l-r)
Brendan Quinn, Lorcan Matthews, Sean Carvill, Conal Gallagher, Jimmy Haughey, Shaun Rice, James Matthews, Niall Murtagh
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