Boherlahan Dualla Community Games have had a very successful few months with the resumption of events.

Initially, virtual events were held where we had medallists in Art, Handwriting, and Music – Oran Crosse won Bronze in U8 Boys Art, Clodagh Fitzgerald won Gold in U10 Girls Art, Dara Crosse won Silver in U12 Boys Handwriting and Niall Fitzgerald won Silver in U12 Music.

With the lifting of Covid 19 restrictions on outdoor sports, the competitions were announced for Athletics, Hurling, Football, Camogie and Ladies Football and Soccer. Thanks to the help of many coaches and volunteers, Boherlahan Dualla entered teams in U14 Camogie, U15 Girls Soccer, U12 Ladies Football, U12 Girls Soccer, U11 hurling and U10 football.

On the August Bank Holiday Monday, we had a very successful athletics evening in the GAA field in Boherlahan with enthusiastic participation at all age groups. This resulted in the selection of the following representatives at the county athletics championships.

U8 Girls 60m – Cora Leamy

U8 Boys 60m – Dylan Phelan

U10 Girls 100m – Triona Heffernan

U10 Girls 200m – Dearbhla Hickey

U10 Girls Hurdles – Aoife McLoughlin

U10 Boys 100m – Eanna Moynihan

U10 Boys 200m – Cian O Donnell

U12 Girls 100m – Sophie Moynihan

U12 Girls 600m – Aoife O Donnell

U12 Boys 100m – Harry Ryan

U12 Boys 600m – Albert Maher

U14 Girls 100m – Mollie Maher 

U14 Girls 800m – Ruth O Connell

U14 Girls Hurdles – Sarah Meehan

U14 Boys 100m – Conor Fogarty

U14 Boys 800m – Michael Delahunty

U16 Girls 1500m – Paula Quirke

U16 Boys 600m – Daire O Donnell

U12 Girls Call Throw – Leah O Connell

U12 Boys Ball Throw – Daniel Burke

U14 Girls Long Puck – Sarah McLoughlin

Boys U12 Long Puck – Bobby Mc Loughlin

Girls U14 Javelin – Roisin Heffernan

Boys U14 Javelin – Rory Crosse

The County Athletics were held on 14th August with great performances by all resulting in gold for Cora Leamy, Aoife O Donnell, Harry Ryan, Daire O Donnell, Silver awarded to Triona Heffernan, Cian O Donnell, Conor Fogarty, Michael Delahunty and Paula Quirke – these will all go on to compete in the Munster Athletics finals on 18th September. Bronze was awarded to Dearbhla Hickey, Sophie Moynihan and Mollie Maher. 

In the field events Gold was awarded to Roisin Heffernan and Sarah McLoughlin – they will go straight to the All-Ireland finals. Silver was achieved to Leah O Connell and Bronze to Bobby McLoughlin in their events. The U14 Boys Javelin County final is yet to be completed.

In the team sports, the first competition to be completed was Soccer. U15 girls team managed by Mark Phelan drew tough competition in Cashel in the first round, despite fighting back to 2-2 from 0-2 quick start by Cashel, unfortunately, Cashel prevailed to win 3-2.

At U12 level, a very strong team of girls beat Cashel in their first match and then beat Ballingarry to become South Tipperary Champions. They faced tough opposition in Cloughjordan in the county final, but a fantastic team display saw them win comfortably 6-2 in the final. Their field positioning and teamwork were a credit to the girls and their coaches Jimmy Murray, Derek Morrissey and Annette O Donnell.

In Gaelic Games, U10 boys coached by John Kennedy were unfortunately knocked out in the first round by Mullinahone. However, it was a great experience for the boys as for many, it was their first football game in a competition.

U11 boys hurling team have had fantastic team displays to win against Ardfinnan to set up a South Final against local rivals Cashel. A great display by all led to a great victory. Their coaches were Garret McLoughlin and Liam Burke.  The boys await to meet their opponents from North Tipperary for the County Final.

U12 Girls Ladies football coached by Marie Horgan and Mary Kennedy, showed from their first match that they were a very strong team. They beat Fethard and then New Inn to set up a South Final against Mullinahone. While Mullinahone provided a test for the girls, the team showed excellent skills to close out the game. They set up a County Final against Moycarkey.

U14 Camogie received a bye into the South Final against Mullinahone. The girls showed their class as despite playing their County U14 Championship final the previous evening, they put on a super display again to qualify for the County Final against Newport. They were coached by Seamus Hickey and Thomas Quirke.

On Sat 21st August, the County GAA finals were held in Moycarkey. First up were U14 Camogie. Initially the game got off to a nervy start, but once Boherlahan Dualla scored goals by Abbie Horgan and Mollie Keane, the team took off with fantastic displays from all players. So, this group rounded off a great week being crowned County U14 Community Games Champions. They will now represent Tipperary in the Munster Championships.

Straight after, it was the turn of the U12 Girls Football, where dual players Abbie, Neasa and Sophie had barely time to catch their breath. From the start, it was clear that Boherlahan were the stronger team and were very comfortable victors over Moycarkey. The U14 girls had remained on to support the younger players and the final photos of the two victorious teams were very special.

We look forward to upcoming Munster and All Ireland events. 

A huge thanks is owed to Annette O Donnell, who in her role as County Secretary for Community Games has put in countless hours of work facilitating the return to competitions and sports in these difficult times. Thanks to the members of the County Community Games committee for their hard work.

Thanks to Boherlahan Dualla GAA for the use of the field for the athletics evening and to those who set up the event.

Thanks to all our participants, committee,  coaches and mentors and parents for your enthusiasm and support.