GAA Handball's inaugural Softball Féile sponsored by John West has proved a tremendous success with 26 teams and 130 of the country's top young Under 14 Handballers displaying great skills for everyone to enjoy. Thanks to all the clubs who travelled in their droves to the venues in Wexford today. Whilst the main aim of this weekend is enjoyment and participation, Sunday’s evening/nights finals provided a fitting climax to the day.
Loughmacrory (Tyrone) are celebrating after almost twelve hours of play when they emerged victorious in the Boys Div. 1 Final in Taghmon. They overcame Kells (Kilkenny) in the final on a 39-12 score line to add the Softball Féile title to the 4-Wall Féile title they won back in June. Loughmacrory were the standout team in this event but there was very little between the other 5 clubs in Div. 1 with only a few points separating all the other teams.
In the Girls Div. 1 Final Lahorna (Tipperary) had a two-game victory over Kilkishen (Clare) on a final score-line 42-14. There was some excellent play throughout the day in St. Mary’s and Castlebridge but at the end of a long day’s play Lahorna captured the title to add to the 4-Wall Div. 1 title they won earlier in the year.
In the Boys Div. 2 competition, this was won by the St. Mary’s club Wexford when they overcame near neighbours Castlebridge 42-14 in the final after an action-packed day in Coolgreany. The home team took the plate final when they defeated Kilfane by two aces to claim the Bronze medals to the home crowed delight.
While the Girls Div. 2 Final was won by Windgap (Kilkenny), when they accounted for the Lahorna second team 42-25.
Finally, the Boys Div. 3 Final, this was won by the famous Talbot’s Inch club Kilkenny when they overcame the host club Ballymitty in a very tight final to win 26-22.
Hopefully this new initiative will bring a bright future to the many 60x30 clubs that exists throughout the country and that in future years we welcome even more of these clubs back that will make this event even bigger and better.
GAA Handball would like to thank all the Wexford clubs for their hospitality and especially all the volunteers at each of these venues that ran everything so smoothly on the day.
We also thank all the coaches, parents, the National and Local Féile organising committee’s, but most important of all we would like to congratulate all the players for contributing to such a brilliant day of Handball that will live long in their memories.
GAA Handball Softball Féile na nGael 2019 Results
Softball Boys Finals
- Div. 1: Loughmacrory (Tyrone) dft Kells (Kilkenny) 39-12
- Div. 1 (Plate): Moycullen (Galway) dft Friary/Abbeyside/Ballinacourty (Waterford) 28-27
- Div. 2: St. Mary’s (Wexford) dft Castlebridge (Wexford) 42-14
- Div. 2 (Plate): Coolgreany (Wexford) dft Kilfane (Kilkenny) 27-25
- Div. 3: Talbots Inch (Kilkenny) dft Ballymitty (Wexford) 26-22
- Div. 3 (Plate): Kilkishen (Clare) dft St. Joseph's
Softball Girls Finals
- Div. 1: Lahorna 1 (Tipperary) dft Kilkishen (Clare) 42-14
- Div. 2: Windgap (Kilkenny) dft Lahorna 2 (Tipperary) 41-25