The John West Féile na nGael, played in Connacht venues, was an outstanding success. Thanks to all host clubs, volunteers, coaches, referees and most importantly the players for a brilliant festival of handball.
The following round-up covers the 40x20 grades; wallball round-up to follow!
Boys Div 1
The famous Talbot’s Inch club from Kilkenny retained their Division 1 crown with a terrific victory in a very strong division, played in Moycullen.
The winning team was Andrew Brennan, Rian Dowling, Conor Deegan, Dan Carroll and Joe Dowling. Talbot’s Inch and Micheál Breathnachs from Galway had won a game apiece when they met in the first round and the final was similarly well-contested with an excellent standard of handball on display.
Andrew Brennan won the Skills title, the first time the club has landed that particular accolade.
Results:
Clooney dft Breacach 2-0
Kells 1 Micheál Breathnach 1
Clooney 2 Kells 0
Micheál Breathnach 1 Talbot’s Inch 1
Breacach 1 Kells 1
Clooney 1 Talbot’s Inch 1
Final: Talbot’s Inch dft Micheál Breathnach 5-13, 21-9
Boys Div 2
Inis Mor HC from Co Galway claimed the Boy’s 40x20 Division 2 title. In the final, they saw off the Kilkishen club from Clare in two very close games, reversing the first-round result between the teams.
The winning team was Eoin Ó Dioráin, Dominic Ó Conghaile, Cian Ó Duilleain, Diarmuid Ó Dioráin and Bertie Ó Donnchadha. The skills winner on the day was Liam Murphy from Kilkishen.
Results:
Kilkeshin dft Inis Mór 16-11; 21-8
Greencastle dft St Mellans 17-14: 21-0
Inis Mór dft Greencastle 11-14; 21-5
Kilkeshin dft St Mellans 21-5; 21-4
Inis Mór dft St Mellans 18-16; 21-4
Kilkeshin dft Greencastle 21-12; 16-13
Final: Inis Mór dft Kilkeshin 14-12; 18-14
Boys Div 3
The Boys Division 3 40x20 grade was played in Abbeyknockmoy and featured the host club as well as Toonagh, Nenagh, Mallow and Kells (Kilkenny).
The final was between the Waterford and Kilkenny lads and Kells came out on top. The Skills winner was Nicky Healy from Kells. The winning team was Joe Sheridan, Conor Dillon, Darragh Lyons, Sean Sheridan, Hugh Healy and Nicky Healy.
Results
Carrickmore v Abbeyside (6-21,15-18)
Toonagh v Abbeyknockmoy (4-21, 0-21)
Mallow v Kells (2-21,4-21)
Carrickmore v Nenagh (11-10, 21-12)
Toonagh V Mallow (21-11,15-7)
Abbeyknockmoy v Kells (4-21, 3-21)
Abbeyside v Nenagh (21-5,12-12)
Abbeyknockmoy v Mallow (19-18,13-21)1-1
Toonagh v Kells(7-21,21-10)
Final: Kells dft Abbeyside 15-15, 21-8
Boys Div 4
The Division 4 40x20 boys title went to the Rebel County as Liscarroll HC came through a quality field which also included Greencastle, Moycullen, St Mellan’s, Loughmacrory and host club Newport.
The Liscarroll team of Jack Hennessy, Sean Dee, Will Egan, Micháel Enright and Connie O'Neill defeated Loughmacrory (Tyrone) in the final following earlier wins over Moycullen and Greencastle. Jack Hennessy was particularly impressive and was awarded the Division 4 Féile skills title across the day.
Final: Liscarroll dft Loughmacrory
Boys Div 5
There was more success for Cork in the Boys Division 5 competition as Boherbue emerged victorious, defeating Culohill from Laois in the final in Salthill.
The winning team was Tadgh O Connor, Ciaran Ahern, Cathal Aherne, Eoghan Ahern and Aaron Breen, with the talented Eoghan Ahern winning the skills competition.
Final: Boherbue dft Culohill
Boys Div 6
The Division 6 competition, also hosted by Salthill, was won by Carrick-On-Suir from Tipperary. They played Drumcliffe, Monavea and Boherbue in the group, Abbeyknockmoy in the semi-final and Carrickmore in the decider.
Alex O’Dwyer won the Skills and was joined on the winning squad by Jack Walsh, Eoin Connolly, Alex O'Dwyer, Craig O'Donnell and Billy Murphy.
Final: Carrick-On-Suir dft Carrickmore
Girls Div 1
The final of this grade, played in Claregalway, was an all-Tyrone affair as Greencastle and Breacach faced off, with the girls from Greencastle taking the spoils on this occasion.
The winning squad was Alice McGlinchey, Maryjo Morris, Grace Teague, Aimee Fox and Emma Conway, with Alice winning the Skills title.
Final: Greencastle dft Breacach
Girls Div 2
This grade was also played in the excellent facility at Claregalway and saw two Kilkenny teams advancing to the final. In the end, Galmoy pipped county colleagues Kells in the decider.
The winning team was Orla Duggan, Niamh Drennan, Mairead Duggan, Isabelle Murphy and Ray Ryan.
Final: Galmoy dft Kells
Girls Div 3
The Girls Division 3 grade was hotly contested, with Moycullen taking the honours. The winning team was Stephanie Walsh, Aoife Walsh, Laura Cronin Doherty and Chloe O'Donnell.
The Skills winner on the day was Stephanie Walsh.