CAU Indoor 7s Competition
The first football competition of the new term was held on Wednesday 24th September 2008 at the fantastic new indoor facility at the University of Ulster Jordanstown.
The competition was organized by Ulster Council Third Level Development Officers Paul Rouse, Gary Mallon and recent All Ireland winner Ryan Mellon, who presented the awards.
The Senior sevens competition is a new event on the calendar, and is aimed towards the elite players, men and ladies at the three universities in Belfast with F.E. College Belfast Met making up the fourth team. The ladies competition took place first with the three Belfast universities taking part, first up was UUJ taking on and beating St Mary’s, this was followed with UUJ having their second win of the day against Queen’s. St Mary’s then progressed to the final with a victory over the Queens outfit. In the final UUJ proved too strong for the St Mary’ team, with their fast moving give and go style of football and clinical finishing more superior.
The ladies panels were as follows:
Queens: Laura Willigham, Emma Mulhurn, Caroline O Hagan, Ciara Higgins, Michelle, Cousins, Fen Connell, Catherine Mc Alinden and Niamh Hughes.
UUJ: Adele Gallagher, Nina Murphy, Aoife Mc Donnell, Maebh Moriarty, Eimear Teague, Sinead McVeigh, Neamh Woods, Sinead Cooney and Derbhla Mc Callan.
St Mary’s: Patricia Melanaphy, Anna Nugent, Sinead Mc Hugh, Helen Ward, Ciara Mc Keever, Joanne Donnelly, Grainne Mc Clean, Sarah Rafferty, and Terri Cassidy.
Well done to all the girls for a very entertaining morning’s football.
The men’s competition was fast, competitive and at seven minutes each half showed some great levels of fitness (and exposed some). There were great moments of teamwork and good organization, and individual brilliance. St Mary’s CJ Mc Gourty hammered a low shot to the corner of the net when everyone was expecting him to tap a free over the bar, UUJ had a tenacious leader in Thomas Mc Cann showing great power and speed, Barry Mc Kevitt looked fresh and very fit for the Met, while Luke Horward commanded the back line for Queens.
Team’s and results.
Queens: Luke Howard, Charlie Kielt, Benny Martin, Ruairi O Neill, James Loughrey, Deaghlan O Hagan, Paul Courtney, Cathal Crilly, Joe Ireland, Conall Mc Cullagh.
St Mary’s: Kevin Niblock, Brian Og Maguire, Mark Digney, John Kelly, Michael Pollock, Gareth O Neill, Martin Murray, Conor McGourty, Barry McGoldrick, Paul Carville.
UUJ: Brendan Boggs, Blain Gormley, Thomas Mc Cann, Peter Hughes, Donal Morgan, Ciaran Donnelly, Darren Hughes, Jason McAnulla, Greg McGovern, Colin Harkin.
Belfast Met: Sean O Neill, Conor O’Donnell, Niall Kerr, Barry Mc Kevitt, Darren O’ Hanlon, Ronan O Neill, Paul Tierney, Niall McGinn, Mathew Brady.
Results:
QUB 0-8 St Mary’s 2-8
UUJ 0-11 Belfast MET 1-8
QUB 2-7 UUJ 2-9
St Mary’s 1-10 Belfast MET 2-6
QUB 0-10 Belfast MET 1-12
UUJ 1-9 St Mary’s 1-10
The final was played between the top two teams which were St Mary’s and Belfast Met who beat UUJ on goal difference. Fitness and better organization showed in the final as St Mary’s accounted for the Met. A big thank you to the referees John Conlon and Ray Mathews who both did a great job.
We hope we can build on a very successful day of football and look forward to making this an annual event. For All CAU competitions check the Ulster Council website www.ulster.gaa.ie, or contact any of the above officers.
