ST. FARNAN’S LADIES                          

The Intermediate team received a boost ahead of the championship when they won the shield competition in the inaugural Michail Cawley Co. Sligo Sevens which were recently held in Castleconnor. The event, hosted by Eoghan Rua and the local GAA Club, was a great success and a fitting tribute by a community to a local man who did an enormous amount of work in the promotion of ladies Gaelic football in his area and beyond. As a result of county players being ineligible to play most of the ten competing teams were of a similar standard thus making for exciting and competitive games throughout. Our girls emerged unbeaten from the group stages with victories over Calry / St. Joseph’s, Geevagh and Castleconnor, a side made up of players who played on teams managed by the late Michail himself, and duly qualified for the semi-finals as one of the top four teams. The semi final draw paired us against the hosts, Eoghan Rua, with the winners going on to the final and the losers claiming a place in the Shield Final. With the home side proving too strong we had to settle for a place in the Shield Final where we faced Geevagh for a second time and with only a point separating the sides in the previous game the scene was set for a mouth-watering clash. The sides certainly didn’t disappoint and a closely fought game which could have gone either way ended with the ‘Farnan’s girls, managed by Martin McHugh and Johnny Sheridan,  claiming victory on a scoreline of 4-7 to 1-12. Scorers - I. Mcnulty ( 2-3), L.Kelly (2-2), G.Ruane (0-2). Panel : I McNulty, V.Mulligan, F.Mulligan, C.Kilgannon, E.O’Connor, C.Hannon, C.Kearins, C.McCloat, A.Hanley.

Another great result for the club followed just three days later when the U-14’s defeated Calry / St. Joseph’s in the “B” League Final in Kilcoyne Park, Tubbercurry, in conditions more akin to November than July. The side were well on their way when they led by 3-5 to a single point after the first period and they pushed on from there in the second half to record an emphatic win on a final scoreline of 7-8 to 1-4. In truth the game wasn’t nearly as one sided as the scoreline might suggest as the North Sligo girls gave as good as they got for long periods, especially in the first half, but inaccuracy in front of the posts was to prove their undoing. After the game Marie Clancy of Sligo Ladies Co. Bd. presented the cup to St Farnan’s captain, Emer Kearins, who had led her side by example from start to finish, covering every blade of grass in the process. The side was managed by Deirdre Kilgannon with Aoife Connolly and Paul O’Brien assisting. Team : E.McGowan, N.Muldowney, C.Connolly, Siobhan Lang, C.Dunne, H.Davis, E.Kearins, R.McHugh, A.Cunnane (3-4), R. O’Brien (2-3), K.Golden,  C.McCloat, Shona Lang (1-0). Subs (all used) : A.Brady (0-1), A.Hallinan (1-0), L.Lang, C.McGee, C.Hynes, S.Cunnane, C.Evans, A.McAndrew, K.Hallinan, A.Colleary, H.KIlcullen.

Disappointment was the order of the day for Jacqui and her colleagues on the Sligo Ladies team following their defeat by a much sharper looking Leitrim side in the Connacht Intermediate Final in McHale Park on Sunday. The side now must take the Qualifier route in the All –Ireland Series. Lets hope for better luck for the Mens Senior and Minor teams, and especially to the local players involved, in their respective Connacht finals on Sunday next in Hyde Park.

Well done to all those from the area who enjoyed considerable success at Provincial level in both the Connacht Fleadh Cheoil and the Community Games Draughts recently.

Congratulations to Cathriona Feeney and Colin Lynott who were married on Saturday last. 

Sympathy is extended to the Tully family , Dromore West on the occasion of Pat Melvin’s passing. Ar dheis Dé go raibh sé.