Clonduff were inaugural winners of Mark Mooney Memorial Cup
What a showcase for Ladies Juvenile Football in Clonduff Park on Saturday 8th June, when eight young teams converged to compete for the inaugural Mark Mooney Memorial Cup and Shield.
It was an 11-a-side tournament – the eight teams: St John Bosco, Annaclone, Ballymartin, St Paul’s Hollywood, Bryansford, Castlewellan, Drumgath, and of course Clonduff competed in two groups of 4, each getting 3 x 20 min games, with four games ongoing simultaneously on the top and main fields. The top two teams from both groups went into the Cup Semi Finals with the other four teams playing off for the Shield.
In the Cup competition Annaclone defeated Drumgath to set up a final with Clonduff who had defeated St John Bosco in the other Semi Final; In the Shield semis Bryansford and Ballymartin played their way to victory over St Paul’s and Castlewellan.
The two finals were again played simultaneously on the main field and the Cup Final had everything that is good about Juvenile Ladies Football – evenly-matched teams, wonderful tackling, great passages of play, stout defending – so much so that only one goal each was scored – most unusual in juvenile Ladies Football! Clonduff emerged winners 1-3 to 1-2! Congratulations to both teams on such a fantastic display and such great sportsmanship! The Shield Final was a more one-sided affair with Bryansford emerging victors over Ballymartin.
Bryansford who won the inaugural Mark Mooney Memorial Shield
Club Secretary Anita Brannigan introduced the Mooney Family to the crowd and thanked them for sponsoring the tournament; she thanked all the teams who participated and particularly mentioned St Paul’s Hollywood who were delighted to make the long journey to take part. She urged other clubs to take up the mantle and start promoting the Ladies Game in a similar manner. She especially thanked Kelley and the hard-working Ladies sub-committee for organising the event, Damian and his group for setting up the pitches and Damian for coordinating the schedule and keeping track of scores; Glynn for time-keeping; Shauna for organising the clubrooms, Goretta, Noleen and Alison in the shop, Dermot, Laurine and James in the burger bar, the parents for the eatables, Shereen for the photos and most importantly Willie Fitzpatrick and all the Clonduff volunteer referees, lines-people, umpires, runners and of course the mini-tidier-uppers all who made the event run so smoothly and finishing exactly on the predicted time! Well done everybody!
Ryan Arthurs spoke on behalf of the family and thanked the club for putting on such a great show in honour of his father; he then invited the teams forward – the Shield runners-up and winners’ medals were presented by Ryan’s children (Mark’s grandchildren) Odhrán and Aodhán with the Shield presented by Mark’s sister Elaine to the Bryansford Captain. The medals in the Cup competition were presented by Elaine’s son Thomas. Mark’s mother Eileen had the honour of presenting the Cup to her granddaughter Aimee who was the Clonduff captain for the day! A truly wonderful family occasion. Ryan rounded off the afternoon by informing the assembled crowd that it was Anita’s birthday and there was a resounding rendition of Happy Birthday in her honour to round off what was a truly memorable day!
Clonduff team and officials: Back row (l-r) Gary Farrell (Coach), Hannah Brown, Cara Cole, Jessie Maginn, Niamh Morgan, Eimhear Bennett, Sophie-Rose Parr, Lily McPolin, Maria McPolin, Rosie McPolin, Aoife Murphy, Alana Morgan, Geraldine McPolin (Children’s Officer), Anita Brannigan (Secretary); Front row (l-r) Nuala Morgan (Coach), Katie Farrell, Kelsey Quinn, Annie Fegan, Aimee Kenny (Capt), Saoirse Kelly, Bella Kelly, Bella Malcolmson, Holly McShane, Paul Maginn (Coach)
