Mick Shannon Under 10 Tournament 2008
Last Saturday saw Father Tierney Park play host to the under 10s of Aodh Ruadh, Bundoran, Melvin Gaels and Erne Gaels as they competed in the annual Mick Shannon tournament. It was a warm day and the few spots of rain that fell did little to diminish the enthusiasm or excellence of the play. TG4 also added a bit of colour to the occasion when they landed to film a piece on Aodh Ruadh club man and Ulster Council President, Tom Daly. They asked for a backdrop of kids shouting and roaring. It would be fair to say they might have got a bit more shouting and roaring than they bargained for!
Aodh Ruadh, Bundoran and Melvin Gaels competed in the 'B' tournament with Ballyshannon and Kinlough contesting the final. The final turned out to be a very cagey affair with no score in the first half of play. In the second Aodh Ruadh's defence held firm while the forwards were able to register 1-2 to clinch the 'B' title. It was tough on a very good Melvin Gaels side, bravely captained by Michelle Connolly, who seemed to tire a bit in the second half. With the rain persisting the presentation took place in Aras Aoidh Ruaidh. Mick Shannon's wife Noreen was on hand to present runners up medals to a gallant Kinlough contingent while Aodh Ruadh 'B' captain, Garbhán McCloskey, was the happy recipient of the Mick Shannon plaque.
After a tight and competitive round robin section in the 'A' tournament Aodh Ruadh topped the table with Bundoran second, putting the pair through to the 'A' final. The pair had fought out a match of particularly high quality in the round robin section, which Ballyshannon were lucky to win by a one point margin. The final promised to be a tightly contested affair and was keenly anticipated by the large crowd assembled. With the match barely a minute old a rapid Bundoran move was slammed to the net by their captain, Timmy Govorov, to give the seasiders the ideal start. Aodh Ruadh steadied the ship for a short period, but Bundoran were dominant and soon added a point in the fourth minute. Ballyshannon were prodded into life by that score and Daniel Warnock was at the end of a fluid interpassing move to finish the ball to Bundoran net to get Aodh Ruadh off the mark. For the remainder of the first half the Ernesiders were on top, Brendan Gillespie was gaining greater control around the half back area and giving the Ballyshannon forwards a platform to build on. On the ninth minute Shane Dorrian swung over a point and a minute later Ryan Gallagher executed a marvelous chip lift before clinically shooting a brilliant point to fire Aodh Ruadh into a 1-2 to 1-1 half time lead.
With a point in it there was everything to play for in the second half. The Ernesiders started the second half the smarter with Garreth Sheerin chipping over a minute in, but Bundoran soon pegged them back with a free from Niall Carr. The seasiders now moved into the ascendancy and seemed on top everywhere and they made their supremacy count when Kelvin Mulhern drilled home a wonderful goal to send Bundoran into a two point lead. The goal animated the crowd, but more importantly, it animated Ballyshannon. Captain Shane McGrath was everywhere rallying the Ernesiders and within a minute of Mulhern's strike Garreth Sheerin had crashed the ball to the Bundoran net. That was followed by the score of the final when Ryan Gallagher rifled over a wonder-point off the outside of his left boot. Aodh Ruadh Nathan Boyle's tagged on another to give the Ernesiders a one goal cushion. It didn't last long though as Bundoran quickly plundered a goal. They were a awarded a free close in and the Ballyshannon defence were caught napping when Niall Carr went short and the ball was fired to the net to level the match.
The teams went toe to toe in the closing stages. With three minutes left Shane Dorrian pointed to give Ballyshannon the edge, but a free to Bundoran with a minute left was pointed to leave the scores at 2-6 to 3-3. As extra time loomed a Bundoran player was blown up for a pick-up off the ground and Garreth Sheerin stepped up for the free. It was a good distance out and a pressure shot, but Sheerin was ice-cool as he drilled the ball over the bar to give Aodh Ruadh a dramatic victory.
Final score: Aodh Ruadh 2-7, Bundoran 3-3
Teams
Aodh Ruadh: Oisin Rooney, Oisin Kerr, Barry Kelly, Brendan Gillespie, Patrick Harron, Shane McGrath (captain), Nathan Boyle (0-1), Ryan McKenna, Gareth Sheerin (1-2), Shane Dorrian (0-2), Ryan Gallagher (0-2), Daniel Warnock (1-0), Caelán Drummond, Stephen Anderson, Ciaran Meehan.
Bundoran: Conor Carty, Megan McGee, Paul Murphy, James Steward, Brian McHenry, Nathan Cassidy, Cian McEniff, Niall Carr, Alanah Ward, Kelvin Mulhearn, Michael McCaughey, Cody Granaghan, Timmy Govorov (captain).
With the weather now dry and pleasant the presentation took place on the field. Once again Noreen Shannon did the honours and presented runner up medals to Bundoran, before presenting the Mick Shannon trophy to the winning captain, Shane McGrath of Aodh Ruadh.
Aodh Ruadh would like to extend their sincere thanks to Noreen Shannon for making the medal presentations, to the participating teams, to those who officiated the matches, those who provided the refreshments, the stewards and to all those who gave of their time and effort to make the event such a success.
| 'A' Section Round Robin Results | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Father Tierney Park | |||
| Aodh Ruadh | 3-2 | Melvin Gaels | 0-0 |
| Bundoran | 1-7 | Erne Gaels | 0-1 |
| Aodh Ruadh | 4-4 | Bundoran | 4-3 |
| Melvin Gaels | 0-4 | Erne Gaels | 1-0 |
| Aodh Ruadh | 4-4 | Erne Gaels | 1-1 |
| Bundoran | 4-4 | Melvin Gaels | 3-0 |
| Round Robin League Table | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Won | Lost | Points |
| Aodh Ruadh | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| Bundoran | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Melvin Gaels | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Erne Gaels | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Mick Shannon 'A' Final | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Aodh Ruadh | 2-7 | Bundoran | 3-3 |
| 'B' Section Round Robin Results | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Father Tierney Park | |||
| Aodh Ruadh | 4-0 | Bundoran | 0-0 |
| Bundoran | 0-1 | Melvin Gaels | 1-1 |
| Mick Shannon 'B' Final | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Aodh Ruadh | 1-2 | Melvin Gaels | 0-0 |
The Aodh Ruadh 'A' team which took part in the Mick Shannon under 10 tournament in Ballyshannon last Saturday.
The Aodh Ruadh 'B' team which took part in the Mick Shannon under 10 tournament in Ballyshannon last Saturday.
The Bundoran 'A' team which took part in the Mick Shannon under 10 tournament in Ballyshannon last Saturday.
The Bundoran 'B' team which took part in the Mick Shannon under 10 tournament in Ballyshannon last Saturday.
The Erne Gaels 'A' team which took part in the Mick Shannon under 10 tournament in Ballyshannon last Saturday.
The Melvin Gaels 'A' and 'B' teams which took part in the Mick Shannon under 10 tournament in Ballyshannon last Saturday.
A TG4 presenter starting to think that maybe this wasn't such a good idea.
Aodh Ruadh's 'B' team celebrate after victory over Melvin Gaels in the Mick Shannon under 10 tournament.
Aodh Ruadh's winning captain, Shane McGrath, receives the Mick Shannon trophy from Noreen Shannon.
The victorious Aodh Ruadh's 'A' team and mentors after triumph over Bundoran in the Mick Shannon final last Saturday.
Report Filed: 15 June 2008