John West Féile
na nGael is a Club festival for Hurling, Football, Camogie and Handball at Under 14 level, involving teams from across the Association. The John West Féile na nÓg National tournaments this year will be held in Kerry, West Cork and West Limerick this weekend the 24th – 26th June 2016.
Representing Monaghan this year will be Donaghmoyne and Clan na Gael (Toome and Oram)
Both will play in divisions composed of 16 teams – 8 host clubs, and their 8 visiting teams.
Since 2014, Féile na nGael has introduced both Cup and Shield competitions in each Division. To facilitate this each division of 16 teams is divided into four groups (Groups A – D) of four teams (two host clubs and their visiting clubs). Each team plays each other team on a round robin basis. Upon completion of the three group games teams are ranked 1 – 4. Teams ranked 1st and 2nd proceed to the Cup quarter finals, while teams ranked 3rd and 4th proceed to the Shield quarter finals. Therefore, each participating team is guaranteed a minimum of four games – three group games, and either a Cup or Shield quarter final.
Thereafter, knockout quarter finals, semi-finals and finals take place in each of the Cup and Shield competitions.
Donaghmoyne will be competing in Div 4c and their host club will be Buttevant. On Friday evening they will take on Naomh Mairtín (Louth) and Clyda Rovers and then on Saturday morning their opposition will be their host club Buttevant from Cork. Games after this point will depend on results .
Clan na Gael are competing in Div 7B and are hosted by Clondrohid in North West Cork, who are a strong division 2 team. Note that there are around 16 divisions in Cork football! They start against Dreadnots from Louth at 5:45pm on Friday evening in Clondrohid. They are unbeaten all year and will provide a stern challenge. Next up is a quick turnaround against another strong Cork team, Kilmurry at 6:30pm, while they face our hosts on Saturday morning, before a cup or shield quarter final on Saturday afternoon.
Their panel consists of 14 Toome men: Cian Watters, Sean Callan, Oran McEneaney, Joseph McMahon, Tom(red) McMahon, Andrew Connolly, Eoin Gorman, Liam Murphy, Patrick McMahon, Cormac McDonnell, Patrick McGinn, Shane McCooey, Fionn McCabe and Liam Óg Mulligan, while 4 strong men come from Oram: Conor Hamilton, Conor McKernan, Ciaran McBride and Jason Irwin. Sean Callan captains the team, while Ciaran Watters manages the team, with the he lp of Martin Aherne, 3 time All Ireland winner with Crossmaglen Rangers.
Good luck also to Donaghmoyne ladies who compete in Division 2 B and who will be hosted by the Mallow GAA Club
Monaghan GAA wish all teams the best of luck.
By Majella Boyd Fri 24th Jun
