Great day for Poc Fada on Hen Mountain!
In the U16 Boys section Rhys Ward retained his title beating off challenge of Charlie Carr and Patrick Branagan by one puck. Cassie Fitzpatrick also retained the U16 Girls title seeing off the challenge of young Molly Brown.
Orla Maginn was thwarted in her attempt at four in a row. Following the trek around the the mountain Orla, Kitty Fegan and Debra Murray finished level and the winner was decided with one last long puck. Kitty was first to go and though it veered off course slightly neither of the other two could match the distance.
In the men’s event Damien Farnon and John Murphy had accompanied the U16s around their course and were later setting off than the other contenders. Andy Quinn was the best of the bunch and for a long time it looked as if an upset was on the cards – three times winner John Murphy appeared to have lost the sliothar but eventually located it and finished the course one puck ahead of the target set by Andy.
Great credit has to go to Damien Farnon who has been organising this event since its inception seven years ago. Not only does he organise it, he sets up the course as well. Damien actually did the course three times on Monday – setting up, accompanying the U16s and then competing in men’s event. Would there be a Pic Fada without Damien?
Thanks also to Paddy and Marie Murphy who collected the flags at the end saving Damien a fourth trip around the course!
Clonduff Wellbeing Initiative
Meanwhile as the Poc Fada was concluding a number of our members, Marie Milligan, Susan Campbell and Rena Haughian were involved in the organising and running of the very successful Health Fair held in the Youth Club. This is a community initiative in which our members are involved
Boley Inaugural One-Wall Handball Blitz
The sun shone and the new wall at St Patrick’s Primary School was the focal point of Clonduff Club Boley Activities.
The afternoon got under way with a few practice sessions which the adult novices insisted upon under the guidance of clonduff Senior players/coaches – Colin Shields, Des McNeill, Paul Shields, Eddie Clancy, Sean Cowan and County Handball Chairman (Clonduff Player and All Ireland One Wall Golden Masters Champion) Sean McNally.
First competition of the day was the Novice Men’s Doubles featuring Aidan Brown & Tooter Murnin v Ross Carr & Mo Brown. The ‘hinges’ may have been a wee bit rusty but they dished up a great game and Tooter is certainly the man of the moment – he (with Aidan) collected his third Clonduff Boley title of 2013 narrowly defeating Ross and Mo.
Then it was the turn of the Adult Ladies with three quarters of the quartet straight back from the Poc Fada but you would never have guessed except that Orla seemed to leave her voice on the mountain. Kitty Fegan was partnered by young Cassie Fitzpatrick (Adult and Junior Poc Fada winners) defeated the fleet-footed Shereen Lyness-Feenan and Orla Maginn.
There there just two U14 girls – Molly Brown (also participated in the Junior Poc Fada) v Clara Cowan with the well-rested Clara taking the honours (both girls had participated in the Girls Football Boley Cup on Sunday)
The U14 Boys was very competitive – the final game was contested between Conor Milligan and Oran Wilson with Conor emerging the winner. There were some great shots and rallies throughout the competition.
The U12 Boys demonstrated probably the best Handball of the the day right the way through. Padraig Clancy came from 5-0 down to beat Patrick Cowan in the Final 7-6 – great game!
The U8 event was mixed boys and girls. Many of the competitors were having their first ‘go’ at Handball and unsurprisingly it was the ‘veterans’ Ellen Shields and Eddie Clancy (Jnr, of course). Ellen had beaten her sister Blaithin in the Semi Final and she, as the slightly more experienced player went on to lift the title.
The rest of the afternoon belonged to the ‘Nursery’ Camp under the guidance of Colin Shields and Sean Cowan, and included their two little sons, James Shields and Sean Óg Cowan, both under three years of age!
A big thank you not only to those who participated or supported, but particularly to the organisers, those who worked so hard to have the new wall ready, and St Patrick’s Primary School for permitting the wall on their premises – it will undoubtedly be a great asset to both Clonduff Club and the Primary School.
Clonduff Club Officers present at the Grand Boley Opening were: Anita Brannigan (Secretary), Jimmie Cousins (Cultural and Community), Ross Carr (Coaching Officer), Teresa Carr (Children’s Officer) as well as St Patrick’s Primary School Principal Mrs Kathleen Cousins.
Clonduff Handballers send their thanks to all for attending and to John Wilson and Boley Fair Committee for providing plaques for winners and to Clonduff GAA Club for the medals which all the participating children received
