The annual Parish Sports evening was held Thursday 13th June at the GAA complex. Thankfully, the weather was fine and a large crowd of excited children attended.
The evening commenced with Tiny Tots race and went the whole way up to U13 100m sprint. For the U13 boys sprint, there was an epic battle between Daire O Donnell and Tadhg O Donnell with Daire just taking the tape to win the Brinsley Lowth trophy.
In the girls U13 sprint, again a very close race with Molly Gilmartin winning the Eileen O Reilly Memorial trophy. This was the inaugural presentation of the trophy, with Eileen’s daughter Liz Moynihan presenting Molly with her trophy. Eileen O Reilly was a terrific role model for female participation in sport, with her involvement in athletics and Ballytarsna AC, camogie, squash, tennis and racquet ball. Mollie’s mother Eva and Liz are old school friends, which made the presentation even more poignant and special.
While the sprints were ongoing, Ailbe O Dwyer, PJ O Donnell and Albert Maher ran off the boys’ and girls’ long puck competition.
Once the sprints were completed, the comedy element of the evening began with the three legged races and the sack races!
Then the fiercely contested school relay race took place with one team each from Ballytarsna and Dualla schools and two from Boherlahan. A very close race ensued, with the Ballytarsna team of Sam Doyle, Fiona Maher, Doireann Ryan and Daire O Donnell retaining the trophy, just ahead of the Boherlahan team of Eimear Dwan, Cian Fitzgerald, Molly Gilmartin and Tadhg O Donnell.
The final event of the evening was the inter schools Tug-of-War competition. Semi Final one was between Dualla and Boherlahan 1 team – best of three pulls. These were extremely close with Dualla just managing to win out. Semi Final two was between Ballytarsna and Boherlahan 2. Boherlahan 2 won out setting up the final against Dualla. The Final was extremely close with huge excitement and encouragement from the crowd. Boherlahan 2 team was the victors with their team comprising of Rachel Ryan, Ben Kirby, Sean Moynihan, Eimear Dwan, Molly Gilmartin, Ella Coppinger, Cian Fitzgerald and Tadhg O Donnell.
The field was set up in the morning by Aine Crosse, Corrie Dwyer, Thomas Quirke, PJ O Donnell, WJ Dwyer, Jimmy Fitzgerald and John Foley.
On the night, there were many helpers including Finish Line – Annette O Donnell, Brian Heffernan, John Maher, Austin Lawrence and David Ryan. Announcer – Neville O Connell, PA System – Garret McLoughlin. Registration and recording of medalists – Caroline Ryan, Elaine Fitzgerald (photos), Mary O Donnell and Annemarie O Dwyer. Start line and race organization Corrie Dwyer, Aine Crosse and Karen Heffernan. Tug of War – Austin Lawrence, Ailbe O Dwyer, Karen Heffernan and PJ O Donnell. The Ladies Football club kindly ran the shop.
Sean Trainor, Chair of the parish council thanked the GAA for the use of the complex, and thanked all for attending and helping. The overwhelming response from the children was positive and enthusiastic – thanks to them and their parents for such an enjoyable evening. Roll on next year………..
Results:
Tiny Tots Boys
1. Rian Harrington
2. David Leamy
3. Sam Hogan
Tiny Tots Girls
1. Niamh Delahunty
2. Amy Meehan
3. Grace Hickey
U5 Boys
1. Fiachra O Connor
2.Tom Fahey
3. Luke O Connell
U5 Girls
1. Lucy McCarthy
2. Sarah Fogarty
3. Fiadh Maher
U6 Boys
1. Jacob Baronitis
2. James Ryan
3. Eanna Moynihan
U6 Girls
1. Cameron O Connor
2. Ora Krasniqi
3. Aoibheann Lacey
U7 Boys
1. Cian O Donnell
2. Adam Kearney
3. Luke Keane
U7 Girls
1. Rebecca McLoughlin
2. Aoife McLoughlin/ Nicole Flanagan
3. Amelia Gleeson
U8 Boys
1. Cian Fogarty
2. Albert Maher
3. Jamie Maher
U8 Girls
1. Leah O Connell
2. Triona Heffernan
3. Kate Brown
U9 Boys
1. Harry Ryan
2. Bobby McLoughlin
3. Ronan Devitt
U9 Girls
1. Aoife O Donnell
2. Leah O Connell
3. Abbie Morrissey
U10 Boys
1. Michael Delahunty
2. Conor O Donnell
3. Rhys Coppinger
U10 Girls
1. Abbie Horgan
2. Sophie Moynihan
3. Sarah Meehan
U11 Boys
1. Michael Delahunty
2. Oisin O Driscoll
3. Rion Krasniqi
U11 Girls
1. Doireann Ryan
2. Mollie Maher
3. Sophie Moynihan
U12 Boys
1. Daire O Donnell
2. Aaron Twomey
3. Sam Doyle
U12 Girls
1. Fiona Maher
2. Doireann Ryan
3. Alice Watchman
U13 Boys
1. Daire O Donnell
2. Tadhg O Donnell
3. Muiri Lambe
U13 Girls
1. Molly Gilmartin
2. Ella Coppinger
3. Eimear Dwan
Long Puck Boys
1. Brian Keane
2. Charlie Ryan
3. Bobby Power
Long Puck Girls
1. Abbie Horgan
2. Eimear Dwan
3. Sarah McLoughlin
U9 Three Legged Boys
1. Harry Ryan, Darragh Crosse
2. Niall Quirke, Albert Maher
U9 Three Legged Girls
1. Leah O Connell, Aoife O Donnell
2. Chloe Tobin, Kate Maher
U13 Three Legged Boys
1. Daire O Donnell, Sam Doyle
2. Conor Kennedy, Brian Devitt
U13 Three Legged Girls
1. Molly Gilmartin, Ella Coppinger
2. Leah O Connell, Aoife O Donnell
U9 Sack Race Boys
1. Harry Ryan
2. Jack Maher
3. Ronan Devitt
U9 Sack Race Girls
1. Aoife O Donnell
2. Kate Brown
3. Leah O Connell
U13 Sack Race Boys ( 2 races)
1. Charlie Ryan, Tommy Breen
2. Daire O Donnell, Muiri Lambe
U13 Sack Race Girls (2 races)
1. Molly Maher, Florinae O Donnell
2. Alice Watchman, Avril O Dwyer
Schools Relay
1. Ballytarsna – Sam Doyle, Fiona Maher, Doireann Ryan, Daire O Donnell
2. Boherlahan – Eimear Dwan, Cian Fitzgerald, Molly Gilmartin, Tadhg O Donnell
Tug of War
1. Boherlahan – Rachel Ryan, Ben Kirby, Sean Moynihan, Eimear Dwan, Molly Gilmartin, Ella Coppinger, Cian Fitzgerald, Tadhg O Donnell