Thursday 22nd March saw a fitting finale of the Faythe Schools Lunch Time Gaelic Football League when eventual winners, Cork, faced off against Kerry in a closely fought thriller.
Since January 100 boys and girls, divided into ten teams competed in a tournament organised and run by teachers Lar Whelan, Kevin Murphy and Eoin Doyle. Running in tandem with the Wexford County Boards GAA Coaching Scheme the tournament was designed to get as many children as possible playing Gaelic Football and the ‘all weather’ pitch in the school is perfectly suited to this end.
Following the group stages where every team played at least four matches and hard fought semi-finals the two finalists emerged. Unfortunately the scheduled final was rained off but a large crowd of parents turned up for the re-fixed final last week.
Jimmy Stafford, Trevor Doocey and Paul Carty from the St. Mary’s of Maudlintown GAA Club who sponsored the competition were also in attendance as was the recently appointed Community Garda, Barry Brennan. Mr. Whelan refereed with Mr. Murphy keeping score with Mr. Doyle in charge of First-Aid if required.
Following a very sporting, hard fought match that saw Cork snatch victory from Kerry with a last minute goal on a 4-8 to 3-10 scoreline the Faythe School Perpetual Gaelic Football Cup was presented to winning captain Emma Busher while the captain of the runners-up, Emily Quigley, was presented with ‘The Player of the Tournament’ trophy.
The winning Cork team were Emma Busher, Kelly Ann O’Farrell, Caoilfhionn Doyle, Tiana Smith, Deimante Danileviciute, Mark Heneberry, Callum Doyle (substituting for Dawid Godula), Klaudia Czuba, Emma Downes (substituting for Evey Roche and Sara Betlejewski while the very gallant Kerry team were Emily Quigley, Katlyn Fitz-Harris Byrne, Caitlin Culleton (substituting for Mary Connors), Claire Downes, Rachel Healy, Luke O’Rourke, Conor Kehoe, Kamile Miranaite, Chloe Fortune and Nicola Pitman McCleod.
