subject: Burren, An Riocht And Drumaness Come Out On Top In Down Football Feile [print this page] Over 500 U14 Gaelic football players and 24 teams from all over County Down descended on Newry for the 2012 Down GAA Football Feile on Easter Monday. The competition organised by Down GAA Bord na nOg saw over 60 games take place at three venues throughout Newry - St Colmans College, Abbey CBS and Pairc Esler.
The competition was split into three sections with the group stages of Section A taking place in St Colmans College, Section B in the Abbey and Section C at Pairc Esler. The semi-finals and finals of all three sections took place in Pairc Esler.
Bredagh, Bryansford, Carryduff, Castlewellan, Downpatrick, Saul, Ballyholland, Burren, Clonduff, Mayobridge, Rostrevor and Shamrocks all took part in Section A of the competition. After the group stages Carryduff, Clonduff, Rostrevor and Burren all qualified for the semi-finals in Pairc Elser. Carryduff defeated Clonduff, while Burren overcame Rostrevor.
Carryduff looked the better side in the opening stages of the final, but Burren stuck to their task and started to get on top at midfield and within the forward line and in the opening stages of the second half fired over a few points and a goal to run out 1-06 to 0-03 winners. Burren now go on to represent Down in the All-Ireland Feile Peil Competition which is due to take place in Laois/Offaly on the weekend of 22nd, 23rd, and 24th of June.
In Section B Liatroim, Warrenpoint, Clann Na Banna, An Riocht, Glenn and Kilcoo all took part with An Riocht beating Liatroim and Warrenpoint defeating Glen in the semi finals. In the final An Riocht beat Warrenpoint by two points 3-02 to 2-03 in a game which could have gone either way right to the final whistle.
Atticall, Aughlisnafin, Baileghlas, Drumgath, Drumaness and Longstone all took part in Section C with Atticall, Drumaness, Drumgath and Longstone all making the semi-final stages. Drumaness and Longstone qualified for the final where Drumaness overcame Longstone by 2-06 to 1-02 to claim the title.
Down GAA County Board and Down GAA Bord na Og would like to thank all the teams and mentors who took part in the competition in what proved to be a great days festival of football, full of skill and played in a very sporting manner throughout. Thanks to the three venues for facilitating the competition St Colmans, Abbey and Pairc Esler, and to all the referees and officials who officiated throughout the day. Special thanks to Bord na Og members and competition coordinators Diarmuid Cahill, Paul Rooney, Danny Talbot, Niamh Murray, Orla Flanagan, Amanda Maginn, Jody McGovern, Martina Flanagan, Seana Talbot and Sean Og McAteer.
