St Rynaghs Of Offaly win first feile title

St Rynaghs Of Offaly win first feile title.

St. Rynagh’s ladies football club are celebrating All-Ireland success this year, after emphatically claiming the All-Ireland Feile na nGael Division 3 Under 14 honours. The parents, supporters and friends will certainly be as proud as punch after the Rynagh’s girls bagged an impressive 25-43 over the weekend.
On the weekend of the 3rd, 4th and 5th of July the Rynagh’s girls travelled up to Kildare and headed for the direction of Moorefield G.A.A. grounds. Although the host team didn’t make the group decider, they were all there to cheer on their new friends in Sunday’s final.
It all started on Friday the 3rd of July. The girls made the journey to the Kildare club, Moorefield, and they were our first opponents. The settings were perfect for the girls and when the ball was thrown in the Rynagh’s girls journey had begun. From the starting whistle the girls gather early momentum and produced an array of fine scores and as the half time came about the girls were 3-5 to no score in front. The girls started the game off with continued possession and the fast tempo and aggression played it’s role. As each half was 15 minutes it was important to gather early momentum and the girls certainly did. The Moorefield girls played their part too but the girls from Rynagh’s won out in the end to a 4-9 to no score. With one victory in the bag, and following an enjoyable parade before 10,000 people at Newbridge on Friday night, it was all systems go for Milltown on Saturday morning. After the game the girls headed to all their host families for the night and rested for what was to be a long and draining second day.
An early start beckoned on Saturday morning, as the girls first match was on at 9.30. This time it was the turn of the Milltown girls to play the Offaly feile champions. The girls seemed to shine in the wet conditions as they rallied together and produced clinical finishing to win the game 7-5 to no score. Yet again the girls dominated possession and combined a series of skilful scores to leave nothing for granted.
The group decider was on the third game. It was St. Michaels of Sligo turn to try and stop the girls for Rynagh’s. From the throw in the Sligo team gathered the ball and a big kick bounced in front of the goals and lobbed the goalie. From then on the Rynagh’s girls knew that they were in a game. They hassled and hassled for every ball and their technique was a joy to behold. Their continued support play for each other was amazing at times and it showed what a team could produce when playing as a team. The Rynagh’s girls never looked back and overwhelmed St. Michaels to win the match 6-16 to 2-1.
The girls now reached the semi final and had to play St. Ciaran’s of Roscommon. This time the match was in Leixlip at 6 o’clock and memories were brought back to last year where the girls had won the pre Leinster feile in the same grounds. Nerves were definitely there but quick goals from the Rynagh’s gave the girls a belief and yet again they showed off in style and left their supporters speechless at times. They seemed to have more energy and desire than their opponents and ran out comprehensive victors in a scoreline of 5-8 to 0-1. After the match in the girls the dressing room the Roscommon manager let the girls know how ‘he had never seen such an awesome team display’. He commented on the ‘continually work ethic and support play’. Also he added that he couldn’t see us been beat by any team’. These breathtaking comments gave the girls a greater belief but the girls knew that no final especially an All-Ireland final was going to be won easily so their feet certainly stayed on the ground.
Sunday the 5th of July was the big day. The match was in the St Conleth’s Park in Newbridge at 10.30 and the opponents were Cahir of Tipperary. They would certainly be hard opponents as they had been in two previous division 3 finals and won it in 2004. There was also a history between the two clubs and at that time Cahir ran out the winners. It was an early start indeed but the girls realised what was ahead of them. A big crowd supported the girls and the array of blue and gold ran throughout the stand. In the dressing room there was a deafening silence. Of course the girls were so nervous and rightly so, it’s not every day you get to play an All-Ireland final. The girls had to wait patiently outside the pitch to get things going and you could see the emotions in every girls face.
As the final whistle blew for the previous match on the field the girls took to the field and a gathering of people took photos of this great team. What seemed to run throughout the weekend the girls from the throw in took off like lightning. They combined with each other in a fast pace and their tempo at times was awesome. From 1 to 22 each girl gave it their all. In the final the girls produced an amazing first half to lead 3-4 to 0-1. Although it could have been different but for the Rynagh’s goalie that saved vital shots in the first half. The second half saw a quick score from the Rynagh’s girls and inevitably that was to be their final score of the game. The Tipperary girls gathered momentum and got some good scores. As time went by the Rynagh’s girls held their own and battled hard and fair for every fifty fifty ball. As the final whistle blew the emotions ran wild and the Rynagh’s girls had won the final. The final score was Rynagh’s 3-5, Cahir 1-5. All players and mentors alike couldn’t believe that their dreams had come through. For anyone who had seen the girls the whole weekend, the girls had produced the best football seen for a long time. The whole panel played as one and continued to score freely and make decisive moves. As the girls and mentors left the pitch to receive the cup the supporters gathered together to congratulate the girls terrific achievement. The feile cup was lifted by captain Emma Corcoran and the crowd went mad. Even the three manager managed to lift the prestigious cup from the podium. All the pressure and hard work had finally paid off. Relief was evident and the girls had reached their own and mentors dreams. One of the managers stated before the final ‘When ye pass that white line it is up to ye’. It certainly was and by God did the girls do it in style. Every girl gave it there all and became the All-Ireland Feile champions. Even today shock is still probably inside every person at what has happened but believe of not the girls are the All-Ireland feile Champions of 2009. It was 6th time lucky for the Rynagh’s girls who came so close in previous feiles. However in 2009 they had made it an historic occasion.
The reception that the girls got in Cloghan and Banagher was terrific. Everyone was so pleased for what the girls had achieved. They had reached the promised land. Here’s to everyone that helped immensely and supported the girls. Girls ye did everyone proud and ye definitely are a special team. The memories of the weekend will certainly live on in times to come and now the Rynagh’s girls can sit back and say ‘we did it’.
By: Patrick Kelly
Panel: Tara Dooley, Sarah Horan, Helen Dolan, Michelle Kenny, Grainne Dolan, Sinead Daly, Emma Dolan, Mairead Daly, Ciara Mc Cormack, Ann Daly, Emma Corcoran(captain), Edel Flynn, Erin Pender, Aoife Corcoran, Danielle Gaughan, Siobhan Kelly, Yvonne Ryan, Ciara Mc Loughlin, Kathlin Cahillane, Elana Cahill, Christine White, Aoife Troy.
Managers: Mary Kelly, Eddie Higgins, Patrick Kelly.

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