Féile Champions – Tourlestrane – fly
the flag for Sligo at the National Féile U-14 Competition in Ferns in Co Wexford
over the weekend of 26th June.
After a 25 year wait, Tourlestrane claimed a National title
for Sligo winning the Division 10 Shield Final. Tourlestrane played 6 matches
over 3 days to emerge victorious in their group. Dynamic Tourlestrane fought
hard in a thrilling semi-final against Portlaoise, where they bounced back from
a 2 goal deficit at half-time against a strong breeze to eventually draw at
full-time. What followed was 10 minutes of epic football by the young
Tourlestrane men, who took the game to Portlaoise and were a point ahead with
seconds to go, when Portlaoise managed a shot on goal, but it was deflected
over the bar for a point resulting in yet another draw at the end of extra
time. The winners of the match had then to be decided by the best of 5 free
kicks taken from 30 metres. The tension and excitement was palpable as 5 young
Tourlestrane men stood forward to shoulder the responsibility for their club
and county. Ronan Walsh, Mark Fallon, Matthew Fitzsimons, Stephen Gavaghan and
David Brennan are now known as the Ferns 5 as they sealed Tourlestrane’s place
in the Shield Final.
Tourlestrane, still on a high from their semi-final victory,
regrouped and came out fighting and went into an early lead in the final
against Killdavin from Carlow. The Sligo boys put on yet another exceptional
display of teamwork, commitment and determination to emerge the deserving
winners of this All-Ireland Shield with a scoreline of 3-5 to 0-5.
This extraordinary weekend at Féile will live long in the
memories of the players and parents who travelled to Wexford. The warmth and hospitality extended by Tourlestrane’s
host club, Oylegate Glenbrien, was incredible.
This small rural GAA club epitomise the true meaning of GAA – community,
teamwork, friendship and an incredible ‘Cead Mile Failte’. The team and parents
were treated like royalty, and everywhere they went in the area, were welcomed
and wished good luck. Great fun was had, and lifelong friendships formed
between the two clubs. A big thank you to Oylegate Glenbrien GAA club and Keith
Whelan Féile co-ordinator for
organising and hosting Tourlestrane.
Team: John Tobin, Shane Deehan, Owen Walsh, Feidhlim
O’Donnell, Cian Durkin, Mark Fallon (C), Stephen Gavaghan, David Brennan, Matthew
Fitzsimons, Ronan Walsh, Daniel Cunnie, Kevin Brennan, Johnny Tracey, Conor
Surlis, Ronan Lang, Dara Feeley, Jack Lundy, Patrick Tobin, Ryan O’Hara, Niall
Carney, Luke Slowey
Mentors: Ray Tobin, Pat Feeley, Brendan Walsh, Christine O’Hara
Tourlestrane U-14
Féile Division 10 Shield Champions
Back Row L-R Niall Carney, Daniel Cunnie, Shane Deehan,
Cian Durkin, Stephen Gavaghan, Mark Fallon(C), Ronan Walsh, Owen Walsh, Matthew Fitzsimons, Feidhlim O’Donnell, John
Tobin,
Front Row L-R Ronan
Lang, David Brennan, Conor Surlis, Johnny Tracey, Patrick Tobin, Kevin Brennan, Ryan
O’Hara, Luke Slowey, Jack Lundy, Dara Feeley