Easkey claim Alan Ryan title
Under 16 Hurling Alan Ryan / Seamus Grimes Tournament
4 May 2015
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On Monday we hosted the annual Alan Ryan / Seamus Grimes under 16 tournament. In existence since 1998 this tournament is one of the most prestigious tournaments in Ulster. Five teams took part in this year's event, Cushendall (Antrim) Abbeyknockmoy (Galway) Éire Óg (Tyrone) Easkey (Sligo) and Padraig Pearse's (Roscommon), the weather was very poor over the weekend and this tournament was played in Páirc Aoidh Ruaidh and Bundoran. We were very grateful to be able to get the use of Bundoran's pitch for this tournament. We had five teams, so the format was round robin with each team playing each other, and the top two finishers playing off for the Alan Ryan cup, while 3rd and 4th play off for the Seamus Grimes trophy.
Round 1 saw wins for Cushendall over Abbeyknockmoy and Easkey over Carrickmore.
Round 2 saw a draw between Pearse's and Carrickmore while Cushendall had a narrow win over Easkey 1-5 to 1-3.
Round 3 saw Easkey continue their good form with a win over Abbeyknockmoy, and the men from the Glens of Antrim, Cushendall had their third win of the day over Pearses.
Round 4 had a big win for Cushendall in their final group game over Carrickmore, while Pearses had a very important win over Abbeyknockmoy.
The final round of the round robin section saw wins for Easkey over Pearses and Abbeyknockmoy over Carrickmore.
The stage was now set for our two finals, the Seamus Grimes final saw a Connacht derby between Abbeyknockmoy and Padraig Pearse's. The Galway lads managed by former Galway All-Ireland Medal winner and current Leitrim coach Michael Coleman, started the game in a very determined fashion and hit the Roscommon lads for three quick goals, their dominance continued in the second half but great credit to Padraig Pearse's who Ó Dálaigh winners Easkey in a brilliant final. As the weather deteriorated these two very evenly matched sides produced a classic. There was very little between them as Easkey led 0-4 to 0-2 at half time, the west Sligo men got a great goal early in the second half but Cushendall replied very quickly with a goal of their own. It was nip and tuck from there to finish. Cushendall were very unlucky to have a ball cleared off the line and at the final whistle Easkey were narrow but deserving winners 2-5 to 2-3 and so the curtain came down on a great day's hurling.
From the battle field of Páirc Aoidh Ruaidh it was up to Aras Aoidh Ruaidh where the Ryan and Grimes families had laid on a mountain of food for all. Chairman of Aodh Ruadh Juvenile Hurling Committee John Rooney welcomed all, he thanked the Ryan and Grimes families for all their support with this tournament, he thanked all the teams who took part and complimented them on their displays throughout the day. He thanked Aodh Ruadh Park Committee for the use of Pairc Aoidh Ruaidh and he thanked Bundoran for providing their pitch at very short notice. He thanked all who had worked from early in the morning especially PJ and Orlaith Gillespie in an effort to make Father Tierney Park playable. He called on Eddie Grimes son of the late Seamus to present the Seamus Grimes Trophy. Eddie spoke of how proud his family are of this tournament, of the high standard of hurling and he thanked all involved in organising it, he then presented the trophy to a delighted Abbeyknockmoy captain. John Rooney thanked the referees John Doyle and Peter Horan who he said did a great job, he thanked Pauric Keenaghan and Mike Lynch who did great work co-ordinating the games in Bundoran and umpiring same, he also thanked all who had acted as linesmen and umpires in Ballyshannon. Martin Ryan father of the late Alan, thanked all the clubs who attended and said all were winners on the day, he thanked all who had organised the day and thanked all the ladies who had catered for all the teams. He then presented the runners up medals to Cushendall before presenting the Alan Ryan Cup to first time winners Easkey, and so came an end to another great days hurling to remember two former club men and their families.
Last modified: Monday, 1 June 2020 at 8:44pm