Keady claim Aodh Ó Dálaigh title
Under 12 hurling
24 September 2017
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We hosted our annual Aodh Ó Dálaigh under 12 Tournament on Sunday last. Despite a number of late withdrawals we still had a great day of hurling in memory of the late Hugh Daly. The four clubs who took part were Keady of Armagh, Loch Mór Dál gCais from Antrim, Saint Eunan's and ourselves.
The tournament was played in a round robin format. Round one saw the meeting of Saint Eunan's and Keady and Aodh Ruadh taking on Loch Mór Dál gCais. These games saw big wins for the Armagh and Antrim lads, even at this early stage the Keady boys looked a seriously good outfit.
Round two saw Keady up against Loch Mór Dál gCais, while Saint Eunan's and Aodh Ruadh met in a Donegal derby. Keady proved too strong for the Antrim lads while the Donegal teams couldn't be separated as the game ended in a draw.
The final round of games saw places in the Aodh Ó Dálaigh Final at stake, Saint Eunan's and Loch Mór Dál gCais went into battle and it was the Antrim lads who came out on top. Keady had a convincing win over Aodh Ruadh. The stage was now set for our two finals with Keady and Loch Mór Dál gCais battling it out for the Aodh Ó Dálaigh Shield while Aodh Ruadh and Saint Eunan's renewed their rivalry in the Primary League Final.
Loch Mór Dál gCais gave Keady their closest game of the tournament in the final, but there was to be no denying the boys from Armagh who claimed their first Aodh Ó Dálaigh title. In the Primary League Final it took extra time to separate the Donegal teams before Saint Eunan's, making their first appearance in this tournament, claimed the title.
The presentations took place in beautiful sunshine at Father Tierney Park. Juvenile Hurling Chairman John Rooney thanked all the teams who had taken part. He spoke of the late Hugh Daly and the great contribution he had made to the GAA in Aodh Ruadh and Donegal and how his family had inherited his great love of the GAA and were all involved in promoting Gaelic Games. He spoke of how this tournament had been in existence since 1982 and he spoke of the late Billy Finn who had passed away recently who was one of the main founders of this tournament. He paid tribute to the contribution Billy and others like Seamus Grimes, Pat Butler and Owen Roe O'Neill had made had in keeping hurling alive in Aodh Ruadh.
He called on Hugh Daly's daughter Breege Scott to make the presentation. Breege spoke as Gaeilge agus Béarla, she welcomed all the teams and thanked them all for coming. She spoke of the great skills of the game of hurling and complimented all the teams on the great display of hurling they had put on. Assisted by her sister Anne she presented the trophies to the winning captains and medals to all the players. John Rooney concluded proceedings by thanking referees and officials Peter Horan, Mike Lynch and Denis Daly for all their help on the day he also thanked all the mothers for the great spread of food they had put on for everyone.
Last modified: Monday, 1 June 2020 at 8:02pm