St Sylvester’s claim O’Neills All-Ireland Senior Club 7s title

DUBLIN’S St Sylvester’s were crowned O’Neills All-Ireland Senior Club 7s champions on Saturday.

Managed by Peter Clarke, and with a host of household names in their ranks, Syl’s stormed to glory at the home of neighbours Naomh Mearnóg.

Back in 2008, Naomh Mearnóg and St Sylvester’s teamed up to win the cup but as the gap back to that previous success was bridged, this was Syl’s as a standalone outfit claiming glory.

Syl’s stormed to a 5-2 to 0-2 final victory over Tyrone outfit Killeeshil in the final, with former Dublin star Nicole Owens helping herself to a brace of goals.

Current Dublin ace Kate Sullivan scored 1-1, with Tipperary pair Anna-Rose Kennedy and Angela McGuigan grabbing a goal each.

At half-time, Syl’s were 3-1 to 0-1 ahead, Owens opening the scoring with a point before Sullivan, Kennedy and Owens netted.

Killeeshil’s solitary point in the first half came from a Gráinne McErlean free, and she also registered a point from play in the second period.

Goals from Owens and McGuigan in the second half put the end result beyond any doubt, before Sullivan completed the scoring with a late free.

Syl’s also had Dublin legend Niamh McEvoy in fine form in an unfamiliar goalkeeping role. As the winners came through the stern challenge of Leitrim’s Glencar-Manorhamilton, McEvoy pulled off some brilliant saves, including a penalty.

Syl’s won that semi-final by 4-2 to 0-2, as Killeeshil stormed past the challenge of Antrim’s St Ergnat’s Moneyglass, 8-3 to 4-6.

McEvoy smiled: “We didn’t have far to come out of our beds this morning! We just wanted to make sure we were working on everything that we’ve been working on with our new management. We really wanted to come out and enjoy day – but delighted to win.

“It’s nice to start off the year, going into (club) championship with a bit of silverware. We didn’t have any easy games out there. We nearly lost out first game and we had to up the ante and reassess our tactics. As we got into the day, we got into the running to win it.”

In the Senior Shield final, Timahoe from Laois got the better of Monaghan’s Donaghmoyne in a thriller, 5-7 to 5-6. The Intermediate cup final went the way of Galway’s Oughterard after extra-time, as they defeated Louth’s Glen Emmets by 8-8 to 5-9.

The Intermediate Shield final was won by Offaly’s St Manchan’s, who overcame Walterstown in the decider by 3-10 to 1-14.

Junior Cup honours went to Kildare outfit Milltown, who defeated St Brigid’s of Limerick by 4-9 to 4-3. And the Shield went the way of hosts Naomh Mearnóg, who defeated St Tiarnach’s Clones (Monaghan) 8-8 to 3-10 after extra-time.

About O’Neills:  O’Neills is Ireland’s largest sportswear manufacturer and distributor, employing over 1,000 staff throughout the company, and supplying clubs, teams and sporting Associations worldwide, from their state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Strabane, Co. Tyrone. The company’s association with the LGFA goes right back to the inception of the organisation. O’Neills has very proudly designed kit and leisurewear for teams throughout Ireland and worldwide, including several All Star tours. The full complement of O’Neills products can be accessed at https://www.oneills.com/