Sands leads Portaferry camogs to impressive Feile Cup victory

Sands leads Portaferry camogs to impressive Feile Cup victory

29 April 2015

THE Down Feile came to the Ards Peninsula over the weekend. 

The annual event saw young handballers, hurlers and camogs from all over Down come together to show an appreciation and love off Gaelic games.

The event started on the Friday evening with the Primary Schools’ finals in St. Patrick’s Park, Portaferry. 

In the Division 2 camogie final St. Malachy’s, Kilcoo, were victorious over St. Mary’s, Kircubbin, on a score line of 4 goals to 2 goals. St. Patrick’s, Ballygalget, will have to wait for the chance to defend their title in the Division 1 camogie final as their game was postponed until a later date due to confirmation in Ballyholland.  

After the camogie final, the young skill stars gathered to take part in the annual primary schools and U-14 skills competition. The poor weather made conditions difficult for all the girls and weren’t conducive to displaying the girls’ true talent. 

Nevertheless, there was an excellent display of skills on show from all the girls. Portaferry captain, Saoirse Sands, took first place with Ballygalget’s Alannah Hagan as runner-up and Niamh Burns of Ballyholland in third place. 

In the primary school competition, very little could separate Beth Coulter of St. Patrick’s, Ballygalget and Ciara Doran of St. Mary’s, Portaferry, as they finished on level points. 

Another round of free taking resulted in Beth Coulter coming in first place with Ciara Doran finishing as runner-up.

Saturday morning saw St. Joseph’s Pipe Band lead the handballers, hurlers and camogs through the streets of Portaferry to St. Patrick’s Park. The soggy weather didn’t dampen spirits as the children sang their traditional club songs the whole way there. 

On arrival at St. Patrick’s Park, Mayobridge camogs were presented with the award of best dressed team. The hard work that Ballycran camogs had put into creating their club banner during their 75th anniversary year last year was rewarded when they received the title of best club camogie banner.

Once the formalities of Feile were over it was time for the games to commence. 

Portaferry, Ballygalget, Bredagh and Aghaderg stayed in St. Patrick’s Park to battle it out for the Feile cup. 

Portaferry were slight favourites going in as they had captured the Ulster Feile title the week prior. Some of the score lines may have indicated that the games were very one-sided, but they were all quite closely contested with the winners capitalising on their chances in front of goal. 

Portaferry went unbeaten in their games and so progressed to the final. Bredagh finished in second position on points and would have to face Portaferry once more. The final was an excellent spectacle with superb play all over the pitch. 

Portafery’s Saoirse Sands showed why she was the newly crowned skills champion with a sterling performance. Natalie Ennis and Gerra McGrattan ensured the forward line got plenty of opportunities to score with the amount of ball sent into them. 

When Bredagh attacked, Portafery’s full back ensured that the goal was kept safe. With fabulous play all over the field, Portaferry were deserved winners of the cup competition making it a hat-trick of trophies for captain Saoirse Sands in the last week.

The shield competition, hosted by Ballycran, was very closely contested this year, with nine teams divided into two sections. 

An Riocht, winners of section 1, proceeded to the final on score difference with the winners of section 2, Ballycran, just piping Clonduff to the final spot by a single point. 

The final also was a closely contested affair with the stronger An Riocht players monopolising on the the possession in front of goals. At half-time there was only a goal separating the teams and Ballycran had the wind at their backs in the second half, a factor that influenced most of the games during the day. 

An Riocht proved too strong and scored two fine goals in the second half to seal the victory and retain the shield.

An Riocht captain Claire Fearon was presented with the shield, which will take pride of place at Dunavil for the second year in a row.

Portaferry and Ballycran are to be commended for their hospitality and organisation over the weekend.

In a finely organised event thanks must go to the Feile committee and in particular Guinevra McGilligan who was the organiser of the camogie section. 

Congratulations to all the winners over the weekend and to all the children who represented themselves and their clubs so well.THE Down Feile came to the Ards Peninsula over the weekend. 

The annual event saw young handballers, hurlers and camogs from all over Down come together to show an appreciation and love off Gaelic games

The event started on the Friday evening with the Primary Schools’ finals in St. Patrick’s Park, Portaferry. 

In the Division 2 camogie final St. Malachy’s, Kilcoo, were victorious over St. Mary’s, Kircubbin, on a score line of 4 goals to 2 goals. St. Patrick’s, Ballygalget, will have to wait for the chance to defend their title in the Division 1 camogie final as their game was postponed until a later date due to confirmation in Ballyholland.  

After the camogie final, the young skill stars gathered to take part in the annual primary schools and U-14 skills competition. The poor weather made conditions difficult for all the girls and weren’t conducive to displaying the girls’ true talent. 

Nevertheless, there was an excellent display of skills on show from all the girls. Portaferry captain, Saoirse Sands, took first place with Ballygalget’s Alannah Hagan as runner-up and Niamh Burns of Ballyholland in third place. 

In the primary school competition, very little could separate Beth Coulter of St. Patrick’s, Ballygalget and Ciara Doran of St. Mary’s, Portaferry, as they finished on level points. 

Another round of free taking resulted in Beth Coulter coming in first place with Ciara Doran finishing as runner-up.

Saturday morning saw St. Joseph’s Pipe Band lead the handballers, hurlers and camogs through the streets of Portaferry to St. Patrick’s Park. The soggy weather didn’t dampen spirits as the children sang their traditional club songs the whole way there. 

On arrival at St. Patrick’s Park, Mayobridge camogs were presented with the award of best dressed team. The hard work that Ballycran camogs had put into creating their club banner during their 75th anniversary year last year was rewarded when they received the title of best club camogie banner.

Once the formalities of Feile were over it was time for the games to commence. 

Portaferry, Ballygalget, Bredagh and Aghaderg stayed in St. Patrick’s Park to battle it out for the Feile cup. 

Portaferry were slight favourites going in as they had captured the Ulster Feile title the week prior. Some of the score lines may have indicated that the games were very one-sided, but they were all quite closely contested with the winners capitalising on their chances in front of goal. 

Portaferry went unbeaten in their games and so progressed to the final. Bredagh finished in second position on points and would have to face Portaferry once more. The final was an excellent spectacle with superb play all over the pitch. 

Portafery’s Saoirse Sands showed why she was the newly crowned skills champion with a sterling performance. Natalie Ennis and Gerra McGrattan ensured the forward line got plenty of opportunities to score with the amount of ball sent into them. 

When Bredagh attacked, Portafery’s full back ensured that the goal was kept safe. With fabulous play all over the field, Portaferry were deserved winners of the cup competition making it a hat-trick of trophies for captain Saoirse Sands in the last week.

The shield competition, hosted by Ballycran, was very closely contested this year, with nine teams divided into two sections. 

An Riocht, winners of section 1, proceeded to the final on score difference with the winners of section 2, Ballycran, just piping Clonduff to the final spot by a single point. 

The final also was a closely contested affair with the stronger An Riocht players monopolising on the the possession in front of goals. At half-time there was only a goal separating the teams and Ballycran had the wind at their backs in the second half, a factor that influenced most of the games during the day. 

An Riocht proved too strong and scored two fine goals in the second half to seal the victory and retain the shield.

An Riocht captain Claire Fearon was presented with the shield, which will take pride of place at Dunavil for the second year in a row.

Portaferry and Ballycran are to be commended for their hospitality and organisation over the weekend.

In a finely organised event thanks must go to the Feile committee and in particular Guinevra McGilligan who was the organiser of the camogie section. 

Congratulations to all the winners over the weekend and to all the children who represented themselves and their clubs so well.