Success for Garrycastle boys as girls also enjoy Féile festival

Garrycastle made the journey to the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence, just outside Ballyhaunis, on Saturday, to compete in this year’s Region 2 Féile Peil na nÓg finals.

On a perfect day for football, which was calm and dry with just a slight breeze, the team embarked on an exciting and memorable campaign.

Garrycastle faced a strong challenge in the group games, facing off against Islandeady (Mayo), Arva (Cavan) and St Mary's Athenry (Galway). Our lads hit the ground running in all three of their group matches, using their energy and intensity to control games from an early stage. With 12-minute halves and mandatory substitutions at 8 and 16 minutes, early momentum proved key. While all of the group matches were competitive, the Islandeady team from Mayo pushed Garrycastle hardest, forcing the lads to dig deep for a deserved win.

Having won all three of the group games, Garrycastle qualified for a semi-final vs Granard (Longford). This game was a dramatic and physical contest. Granard’s dominance in the middle third caused early problems, but Garrycastle’s defence stood tall, with excellent work from Daniel Crosbie, Aaron Mulvihill and Eoghan McCormack helping to keep them in the game.

Trailing 0-3 to 1-1 at half-time, Garrycastle continued to battle. As the game ebbed and flowed, Luke Stankard scored a superb team goal to keep the sides close. In the dying moments, with Garrycastle two points behind, Cristian Necil kicked a massive two-pointer into the breeze to tie the game at 1-7 to 2-4, sending it to extra-time.

The Granard team started extra-time strongly, scoring three unanswered points. But the lads refused to yield, and kept pushing for the needed scores. Tadhg Mulvihill pulled one point back, and as the seconds ticked away, Daniel Murphy found Shane Glennon, who fired an unstoppable shot into the top corner through a crowded area, giving Garrycastle the lead for the first time.

Garrycastle then won the next kickout and earned a free, which was kicked dead as the final whistle blew, sealing a stunning comeback. Final score: Garrycastle 2-8 Granard 2-7 (AET).

The reward for this win was a final vs. Michael Glaveys/Éire Óg (Roscommon). Riding high after the semi-final, Garrycastle started the final with purpose. The defensive unit, Daniel Crosbie, Aaron Mulvihill, Darragh Donegan, and especially Eoghan McCormack at corner-back, were outstanding throughout the tournament. Caleb Lynch, Daniel Sleator, and Jan Pozarowski also impressed with strong contributions.

The forward unit of Robert Connor, Senan Kelly, Conor McCormack, Brendan Nally, Sheriff Bamidele, Casper Joyce, Shane Glennon and Daniel Murphy worked hard and didn’t give the opposing defence any opportunity to work the ball out with pressure being applied.

In attack, Tadhg Mulvihill struck early, capitalising on a misjudged kickout to score the opening goal. Garrycastle led 1-3 to 1-1 at half-time. The second half saw a slick team move end with Senan Kelly slipping inside his marker to score a goal with a composed finish.

Despite some signs of fatigue and cramp after more than 130 minutes of football played across the day, the Garrycastle lads held strong to see out a fantastic victory. Final scoreline: Garrycastle 2-4, Michael Glaveys/Éire Óg 1-1.

This was a true squad performance. Every player played their part, with substitutions making key impacts at decisive times and their strong teamwork was the driving factor behind every result. Parents, coaches, and supporters were rightly proud of a group that continues to improve with every outing. Well done all on a fantastic day!

Féile Tournament panel: James Cahill, Daniel Sleator, Caleb Lynch, Eoghan McCormack, Daniel Crosbie, Aaron Mulvihill, Darragh Donegan, Tadhg Mulvihill(c), Cristian Necil, Robert Connor, Senan Kelly, Luke Stankard, Casper Joyce, Sheriff Bamidele, Conor McCormack, Tyler Gallagher, Jan Pozarowski, Shane Glennon, Brendan Nally, Brian Feeney, Jay O’Brien, Owen Kelly, Joseph Cox, Aidan Martin, William Redmond, Daniel Murphy, Adam Naughton.

LGFA Under-15 Féile

The Garrycastle under-15 girls made the long trip north to Owenbeg in Co. Derry to take part in the Féile LGFA Division 1 finals. Placed in a very strong group comprising St Sylvester's (Dublin), Glanmire (Cork) and Charlestown Sarsfields (Mayo), the girls found the going tough in the group games, coming closest in the game against the Mayo team when losing out by just a single point.

As a consequence of the group stage, the girls were drawn in a semi-final against a New York team that had just a little too much for the girls, who put up a spirited fight, but it was to be in vain, and they exited this year’s competition at the semi-final stage.

Many thanks to all involved, especially to Jonathon Sweeney, Brian Murphy, Brian Ganly and Rhoda Costello.

Féile Tournament panel: Orlaith Galvin, Zara Henson, Aoife McHugh, Matilda Moore-Lewy, Ellianna McManus, Drew Dunphy, Alanna Gaffey, Erin McHugh, Rionagh Costello, Olivia Collins, Wiktoria Wziatek, Mikaela Greene, Freya Shine, Isabelle Kearney, Aimee Greene, Aoibheann Galvin, Leticia McGee, Laoise Glennon, Aoife Clyne, Eirinn Gaynor, Moya McHugh, Lillyrose Galvin, Kayla Duffy and Madison Browne.