Dungiven take Sean Slevin back to Derry

Under 14 Football
21 April 2012

Last Saturday was a wonderful day for the Sean Slevin tournament, and with six top quality teams coming from five counties the football was of the highest standard too.

Aodh Ruadh and Easkey of Sligo opened the competition in section one. The homesters built up a good lead in the first half with a following wind, but Easkey, Féile finalists in Sligo, reeling Ballyshannon back in over the course of the second half and took the win. Easkey then proceed to secure their place in the Sean Slevin final with an accomplished performance against Tyrone side, Dromore, fashioning an eight point win. With almost all of the Dromore team still underage next year, this was a learning experience for them. Easkey's two wins meant the game between Aodh Ruadh and Dromore would decide who would make it through to the shield final. Aodh Ruadh applied the lessons learned in the first game and went through.

In section one Dungiven set down a marker with their 7-7 demolition of Castlebar Mitchel's. The football played by the Derry lads in this game was first rate and they quickly marked themselves out as early favourites for the title. Castlebar bounced back with a good win over the other Donegal representatives, Naomh Conaill. The final game of the section saw Dungiven effectively finish the game in the first half. They had travelled with 34 players and in the second half they played with a very different team, an alteration which Glenties were able to take advantage of, winning the second half well. However it was to be Dungiven against Easkey in the Sean Slevin final, with Aodh Ruadh and Castlebar Mitchel's facing off in the shield decider.

The sheild final saw Mitchel's bringing greater hunger to proceedings and their men were always first to the ball. Castlebar were worthy winners on a score line of 3-7 to 1-1.

Dungiven showed their full power in the final as they overwhelmed Easkey. Easkey had a lot of good footballers, but Dungiven simply had even more and they played like a group of players who knew each others game intimately.

After the final the presentations were made on the pitch.

Bord na nÓg chairman Shane Toolan was master of ceremonies for the presentations. He began by praised the standard of football on the day. He thanked all the teams for travelling so far to contribute to what had proved an excellent tournament. He thanked everyone who officated on the day, and the parents for once again providing a great spread of food and drink throughout the day. He then recalled the enormous contribution of Sean Slevin to football in the club at all levels, thanked the Slevin family for attending and called on Sean's son Donagh to present a plaque and medals to the Castlebar Mitchel's shield winning side and Aodh Ruadh as shield runners up. Donagh also presented runner's up medals were to Easkey. Then Sean Slevin's son Ciaran came forward to present the player of the tournament award. This went to Dungiven midfielder Pauric McNicholl. He was very definitely a star for the Oak Leafers, orchestrating everything on the pitch and with his running, vision, tackling and passing he is a very complete footballer. Certainly a name to keep an eye out for in future. The last act of the day came with Sean's daughter, Shauna Slevin, presenting the Sean Slevin trophy to the Dungiven captain, Conan Feeney. Conan made a very gracious speech afterwards and closed by calling for three cheers for Easkey.

A great day of football, with a high standard of football were all the teams attending would have discovered a lot about their qualities and limitations, a valuable exercise ahead of what should be a long season for all participants.

Last modified: Monday, 1 June 2020 at 1:32pm