Fifteen teams from Down, Armagh, Tyrone, Derry, Louth, Meath Dublin and Kildare participated in the 39th Gary Murray Tournament on Saturday 14th June – the finalists are pictured above.
However, the day was good and the football was even better. At the end of the event Rossa Óg Magherafelt and Clane of Kildare contested the Cup Final which was won by Rossa Óg; two Dublin teams Kilmacud and Balinteer contest the Shield Final with Kilmacud emerging the winners; the Plate was a shoot out between Saval and Burren with Saval coming out on top.
Presentation of medals and trophies were made by members of the Murray Family, including the Lily Murray Cup to the ‘Player of the Tournament’ Ryan Lennox of Rossa Óg. Cathal Murray also presented trophies to the Referees for the day – Mickey McShane (Dundrum), Paula Cairns, Bernard Branagan and Barry O’Hagan (all Clonduff). He especially thanked the organisers and co-ordinators, the tea, sandwich and burger makers, the shop attendants, Sean Cairns for setting up the pitches and the clubs, mentors and players of the clubs who attended.
It’s unfortunate that the Primary Schools Finals were scheduled for the same day causing five teams to withdraw – The Youth Committee and the Murray Family will be looking at the scheduling of future tournaments as this was a repetition of what also happened in 2013.
