This proved a brilliant footballing weekend for St Marys when our boys Feile squad won the county title and our Ladies proved perfect ambassadors for Club and County in the style by which they won through their Connaught Intermediate Championship semi final.

The final of the U13 Feile competition was at 11 on Sunday in Scarden and our lads did not disappoint with a fantastic display which captured the championship over a gallant Coolera team. We chose to play with a strong wind in the 1st half, and built a 6 point lead despite some resolute defending by Coolera. Each team then scored goals in quick succession around the 20 minute mark and despite us adding on another point, Coolera ended the half in the ascendancy and would have been reasonably pleased to only be 7 behind with a strong breeze to come in 2nd half. A fast start by Coolera looked to have been the trigger for a comeback but the St Mary's lads dug deep and playing fast possession football scored 3 goals in quick succession to build a convincing lead that they never looked like relinquishing.  Joint captains Saeedi Tumeheirwe and Cathal Shovelin accepted the cup in front of a large band of St Mary's Supporters.   Well done to the guys and to team management and their reward is participating in the Feile which is a career highlight for anyone lucky to have participated.   That same morning, the U16 lads had a well deserved treat following winning their B1 Championship when everyone went surfing, great time had by all and we can look forward to 2018 with confidence.

Victory on Sunday afternoon means the Ladies squad have a Connaught final to look forward to when they meet Moycullen of Galway at the start of November.   In a high-tempo semi-final, they matched Western Gaels (the Roscommon champions) before taking charge mid-way through the second half with a display of perfect play and a total winning resolve.    Western Gaels started the better side and had an early 5 point lead, asking serious questions of the Marys girls, who answered emphatically through determined defence, fluid passing movements and complete belief in each other.   Attacking options were everywhere and a wonderful move down the left wing led to Sarah McMoreland yet again proving her presence at full forward to score a goal to put St Marys 3-06 to 2-04 ahead.   Seconds later Sarah was taken down for a penalty, which was not converted and from the kickout Western Gaels worked the ball downfield to get a score with the last kick of the half to narrow our lead to 2 points.   From the restart the Roscommon team took control and scored 1-01 in the first minute again stretching away from our girls.   Then St Marys hit another gear and kept creating point scoring chances from play and frees.   An unusual refereeing decision of a yellow card to Amy Gerrity threatened to derail the match, but if anything this stiffened our girls’ resolve and an incredible display throughout the team left us leading when Amy rejoined the game and from then there was only one winner.   The margin of victory stretched to 8 points on the final scoreline of 5-15 to 5-07, which included continuous scoring from our impressive forwards and a quality goal from Emma O’Connell.    It was a total team performance, with backs repelling Western Gaels and incisive play from our forwards terrorising their opponents.    Well done to all and best wishes to everyone in the final.

We wish to express the condolences of St Marys to Ruth Breheny, her children Cian, Erin, Kayla,  Tara, Anna and Jack and to the extended O’Hara family on the death of Ruth’s father and the children’s grandfather Jackie O’Hara, may he rest in peace.