Clg Uladh an Chomhdháil Bhliantúil 2019 Cluichí | Cultúr | Teanga 25Ú Eanáir 2019 Óstán Na Cille Móire, an Cabhán Annual Convention 2019
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CLG ULADH AN CHOMHDHÁIL BHLIANTÚIL 2019 CLUICHÍ | CULTÚR | TEANGA 25Ú EANÁIR 2019 ÓSTÁN NA CILLE MÓIRE, AN CABHÁN ANNUAL CONVENTION 2019 05 TUARASCÁIL AN RÚNAÍ These are changing times in the GAA of a female referee to take charge and GPA, and published in September, world. As I write this report the five of a major inter-provincial final in found that some inter-county players experimental Gaelic Football rules 2018. In 2017 Cavan’s Maggie Farrelly can devote up to 31 hours per week are being trialled in the pre-season took charge of the Ulster Club Junior to their sporting commitments competitions and this comes on the Football Final - the first female and sacrifice other aspects of their back of significant changes in the referee to take charge of a provincial lives to do so. While the majority of inter-county football and hurling club final – and Maggie added to respondents also reported significant championships which came into her impressive list of refereeing benefits from their involvement at being, albeit on a three-year trial accolades in 2018 when she became inter-county level, we must be careful basis, in 2018. the first female referee to take that our expectations and demands charge of an inter-county provincial we put on players do not exceed For the first time since 2014 an Ulster final when she took charge of the what should be realistically expected county contested the All-Ireland minor decider between Monaghan from them. Senior Football Final and while there and Derry. was to be no luck for Tyrone on this 2018 GAMES ACTIVITY occasion there was success for the The GAA’s success story is undisputed In 2018, the Anglo Celt Cup was O’Neill County earlier in the year with but none of what has been achieved reclaimed by Dún na nGall for the Moy Tír na nÓg taking the honours would ever have happened without first time since 2014. in the All-Ireland Intermediate the countless hours of voluntary Club Championship. effort that has been amassed across The Ulster Club Championships the Association over the last 134 continue to enthuse our players The Red Hands had further success years. The GAA’s contribution to Irish and spectators. Ruairí Óg, St. Galls when they captured the All-Ireland life has been immeasurable but it and Castleblayney collected the Ladies Intermediate Football title is important, and more so now than respective titles in hurling and and I mention this in the context of ever, that the selfless efforts of the congratulations to all involved. the roll-out of the 20x20 initiative volunteer are not taken for granted. The Ulster Hurling Club Final between during the past year. This is an While there are many positives from Ruairí Óg and Ballycran took place in all-inclusive campaign to change volunteering, there are also many the Athletic Grounds with over 3,700 perceptions to women’s sport on the demands, both from within our spectators in attendance. island of Ireland with the aim by 2020 great Association and from outside to achieve a 20% increase in media it as well, so the message must be 2018 marked 50 years of the Ulster coverage of women’s sport in Ireland heard loud and clear – that message Senior Football Club Championship and to increase both participation is that we must have realistic and this year’s final saw the unique and attendance levels for women’s expectations of our volunteers and pairing of Gaoth Dobhair and sport by the same levels. It is an it is in the long-term interests of Scotstown. At this year’s final we exciting initiative and we all have a no one to over burden them with invited representatives from all 18 part to play in helping this ambitious increased bureaucracy and increased clubs who had previously won the target to come to fruition. expectations. They are too valuable a Seamus MacFerran Cup to attend, resource to be taken for granted. along with members of the MacFerran Ulster GAA has over many years family. The clubs were presented had a successful relationship with Equally our players, and particularly with specially commissioned plaques the Ulster Ladies Gaelic Football our inter-county players, must be which were warmly received by all Association and the Ulster Camogie treated with dignity and respect. The our previous winners. 2018 saw Gaoth Association and on many occasions sacrifices they make to play the game Dobhair become the 19th club to win Ladies’ games have formed part of they love are akin in many instances it as they became the second Donegal a double-bill with our main games. to that of some professional club to lift the Seamus MacFerran Cup. But that is not where our innovation sportspeople. Research undertaken Comhghairdeas Gaoth Dobhair. Well ended. This has never been more by The Economic and Social Research done to Naomh Éanna and Red Hugh’s exemplified with the appointment Institute (ESRI) on behalf of the GAA who collected the Intermediate and Junior titles respectively. 38 AN CHOMHDHÁIL BHLIANTÚIL 2019 ANNUAL CONVENTION 2019 2018 saw the seventh year of the counties. An Cabhán secured for their continued sponsorship of this Táin Adult Club Hurling League. promotion to Division 1 albeit at important competition in the Ulster This initiative saw a total of 22 teams the expense of Dún na nGall. Ard GAA calendar. compete from across the province of Mhacha defeated Fear Manach in Ulster, as well as teams from Louth. the Division 3 Final with both teams SENIOR FOOTBALL The Connacht clubs who originally being promoted, with An Dún CHAMPIONSHIP competed were again incorporated dropping to Division 3. Doire were The 2018 Ulster Senior Football into the Connacht section. There were disappointingly relegated to join Championship commenced at Pairc a total of three divisions. Keady (Ard Aontroim in Division Four. MacCumhaill on Sunday 13th May, Mhacha), Sean Treacys (Ard Mhacha) where Dún na nGall overcame An and St Feichin’s (An Lú) emerged as On the hurling fields, An Dún reached Cabhán 2-20 to 1-15. The following the Division 1- 3 winners respectively. the AHL Division 2 Final where they weekend, Fear Manach defeated Ard This competition is littered with lost out to Maigh Eo at Kingspan Mhacha by 0-12 to 0-07 at Brewster the non-fulfilment of games and is Breffni Park. In the Nicky Rackard Park and Muineachán edged out Tír in need of a major overhaul. This is Final, Dún na nGall overcame Eoghain by 1-18 to 1-16 in an exciting currently being examined. Warwickshire on a 2-19 to 0-18 tussle at Healy Park. One week later, scoreline. Well done to all involved. An Dún overcame Aontroim at Páirc The Ulster Football Club League in Esler on a 1-18 to 0-14 scoreline while 2018 saw a total of 44 clubs involved, BOI DR. MCKENNA CUP Dún na nGall beat their neighbours with 18 teams in senior and 26 teams In our first competition of the year, Doire at Celtic Park on a 2-16 to 0-16 in intermediate. This was the highest the Bank of Ireland Dr. McKenna Cup, scoreline. The great All-Ireland number of entries in a number of Dún na nGall broke the dominance winning Down team of 1968 was years which illustrates that clubs are of Tír Eoghain by defeating them in honoured by the Ulster Council at keen for games at this time of year. an entertaining final at the Athletic the game in Páirc Esler. Eoghan Rua Coleraine (Doire) and Grounds by 1-16 to 1-12. I wish to Laragh United (An Cabhán) won the compliment the understanding In the first semi-final, played at Healy Senior and Intermediate finals, with from our counties and universities Park on Sunday 3rd June, a last gasp both finals being great spectacles. during the campaign as weather paid Eoin Donnelly goal saw Fear Manach This competition again provided havoc with the schedule. Getting shock Muineachán by 1-08 to 0-10 clubs with competitive action at it completed on schedule was a to secure the first Ulster Final place. their appropriate level prior to the major achievement and I commend The following Sunday in St. Tiernach’s commencement of their internal the counties and colleges for Park, Dún na nGall powered past An county games programmes. their tolerance and understanding Dún to ease to a 2-22 to 1-12 win. The Allianz Football League had throughout the campaign. I also contrasting fortunes for the Ulster extend my gratitude to Bank of Ireland ANNUAL CONVENTION 2019 39 ANNUAL CONVENTION 2019 05 The Ulster Final took place two weeks for a well deserved success. at Navan, while An Cabhán won in later where Dún na nGall and Fear The 2018 Ulster Senior Football Wicklow and Ard Mhacha won away Manach met at St. Tiernach’s Park, Championship was played over to An Iarmhí. Clones on Sunday 23rd June. 28,778 a shortened period with the four spectators attended the Final on an quarter-final games taking place In Round 2 of the Qualifiers there historic day. The occasion of unique over two weekends and counties were wins for four of our counties, final pairing was added to by the were playing every two weeks albeit the An Cabhán victory came attendance of the DUP leader Arlene as they remained in the hunt for at the cost of An Dún. Muineachán Foster at the game. the Anglo Celt. Sunday 23rd June won easily away in Port Láirge, Tír seemed an early conclusion to our Eoghain won in Ceatharlach and Ard The Ulster Senior Football Champions Ulster Championship but is a positive Mhacha emerged 1-19 to 1-13 winners from 25 years previous, Doire were development for all our clubs.