Double Scor success for Saul at Ulster final

Double Scor success for Saul at Ulster final

24 February 2016

SAUL’S Gareth McGreevy has been crowned a double Ulster Scor champion and is now going for two All-Ireland titles this April.

At the Ulster Scor finals held at St  Patrick’s Grammar School in Downpatrick last weekend, Gareth was crowned the winner of the recitation category and was celebrating again moments later when the Saul ballad group, of which he is a member, was also crowned Ulster champions.

The Down Gaels were delighted to have been handed the honour of hosting the Ulster final in Downpatrick and were thrilled when two acts from Saul GAC made it through to the All-Ireland final on April 2 in Killarney.

For around 15 years Scor competitors from the Saul club have been training, preparing and putting in tireless hours of hard work for various Scor competitions and when Fear an Tí Ryan Doyle announced last Sunday that Saul were double winners the audience saluted what was a wonderful achievement. 

The standard of competition on the night was high calibre with representatives from clubs spread across eight other counties making their way to Downpatrick, with the audience treated to top class competition hosted in excellent  facilities. 

Every competition was highly competitive and claiming two Ulster titles on the same evening was a massive achievement for the Saul club. Gareth was joined in the ballad group by his sister Angela, long serving member Catherine McGrath, Grainne Laverty and Caithlin Denvir. 

Gareth said everyone is looking forward to the All-Ireland Final and admits while a lot of work still lies ahead, both he and the ballad group will be sticking to their tired and trusted methods.

“The club is absolutely delighted to have won two Ulster Scor medals,” said Gareth who is no stranger to cut and thrust of All-Ireland finals either. In 2009 and 2011 he coached Saul GAC’s junior ballad groups to All-Ireland glory and now hopes the Saul seniors can taste success.

“To win two Ulster medals last weekend was unreal. Everything came together for me during the recitation and for the ballad group singers. The ballad group made the Ulster final in 2000 and 2011 and last weekend it was a case of third time lucky for us. Now we are off to Killarney in April.”

Gareth said while there will be plenty of practising ahead of the All-Ireland final, the ballad group will not be overdoing it.

“We have a formula that got us to the County and Ulster finals and we won’t be changing anything ahead of the trip to Killarney. We will just keep on doing what we have been and not overdoing it. The key will be striking the right balance with our preparation and, the most important thing, enjoying ourselves.”

Gareth said the support the Saul singers received last week was fantastic with all the Ulster final competitors really enjoying a very special atmosphere at the Downpatrick venue.

He added: “It was great for me to leave with two Ulster medals after putting in so much hard work over many years and I know the other members of the ballad group are thrilled as well. We are looking forward to April 2 and hopefully Saul GAC can win a few more All-Ireland titles.”

At the conclusion of last weekend’s Ulster final, thanks were extended to St Patrick’s Grammar principal Sean Sloan and Stephen Brennan for the use of the excellent facilities, with Uachtarán Ulster Council’s Michael Hassin paying special thanks to the Down Cultural Committee for running such a wonderful event. Thanks were also expressed to all the Down clubs that help with running the event.

Tickets for the All Ireland final can be ordered by contacting secretary.scor.down@gaa.ie or Down County office.