The
curtain came down on the 22nd National Féile Peil na nÓg
underage Football Festival at Pearse Stadium on Sunday when in a
trilling Division 1 Boys final Kilmacud Crokes, the Dublin Champions
edged out the gallant Mayo representatives Castlebar Mitchell's.
In the semi-finals Kilmacud defeated last year's winners Errigal
Ciarán from Tyrone while Castlebar defeated Kilrea from Derry.
In the Division 1 Girls final Beara from Cork scored a convincing
win over their neighbours from Kerry, Southern Gaels. There was
another top class game in the Division two final with St. Peter's
of Dunboyne Co. Meath coming from behind to beat St. Bronagh's,
Rostrevor, Co. Down.
The first game of the day, the Division 3 final also went down to
the wire, with Scotstown from Monaghan holding off a late challenge
from Ahane of Limerick. The most comprehensive victory of the day
was recorded by Del La Salle from Waterford in the Division 4 final
over Eire Óg from Carlow.
The Division 5 final brought together a unique pairing, the Aran
Islands, competing in their first Féile against New York.
The visitors winning out in the end after a fine game. There was
also an International dimension to the Division 6 final where Lancashire
defeated Brussels.
It took extra time to separate the girls teams in the Division 2
final with Dromcollogher/Broadford from Limerick defeating the Banner
from Clare by the narrowest of margins. The Division 3 girls final
was also a close encounter with Garrycastle from Westmeath edging
out Ardara from Donegal.
In the skills event Galway boys filled three of the first four places.
In first place was Matthew Finn from the Monivea/Abbey Club, in
3rd place was Paul Conroy from Renmore while Luke O'Brien from Caherlistrane
took the fourth position. The girl's event was won by Tréas
Marron from the Curry Club in Sligo.
In a spectacular event on Friday evening all 128 teams involved
in the Féile assembled along the Promenade and paraded through
Salthill to Pearse Stadium where they were introduced to the President
of the G A A Mr Sean Kelly and the President of the Ladies Gaelic
Football Association Ms Geraldine Giles. The Parade was led by a
colour party from the Western Command, Dun Ui Maoilíosa Renmore
and eight Bands accompanied the Parade through Salthill to the Pearse
Stadium. Mr Kelly later addressed the boys and girls and also the
large attendance that had assembled at the Stadium to greet the
teams.
The Mayor of Galway Ms Terri O'Flaherty, The Bishop of Galway Very
Rev. James McLoughlin, Noel Grealish T. D. and a host of other dignitaries
were also present on the reviewing stand. Each captain was presented
with a pennant by the President to mark the occasion.
After the initial series of games on Friday where the home team
played their hosts, all the other group games were played on Saturday
morning with the semi-finals taking place on Saturday evening. The
beautiful weather over the week-end added greatly to the enjoyment
of all the participants and supporters. Both presidents visited
many of the Club grounds throughout the County during Saturday.
From an organisational point of view the Féile was a major
success with everything running smoothly and to time and this was
just reward for the months of preparation put in by the Galway organising
committee and the Clubs. All the visitors were loud in their praise
of the warm reception they received from the Galway Clubs during
their stay.
Next years Féile will be held in County Tyrone.
Séamus
O'Grady
Treasurer
Féile Peile na nÓg Gallimh 2003
