Cavan in the medals in Community Games
It was a long and tiring but rewarding two days at the University of Limerick campus last weekend at the Community Games national finals with challenging weather conditions for athletes on the Sunday. Hundreds of Cavan participants were among the competitors in athletics, football, soccer and even spikeball! It was a rollercoaster of emotions for parents and children from nerves, elation, disappointment, relief, heartbreak, exhaustion, sheer joy and, above all, pride.
Dylan O'Reilly (6) from Lurgan was one of the youngest competitors in the country to win a medal placing second and taking silver in the U8 boys 60M sprint. His achievement is all the more remarkable given that he will still be U8 next year.
Apart from Dylan, Kate Donohoe from the St Felim's club was the only other Cavan athlete to take home a medal from the track and field events. She claimed silver in the U16 Girls 100M Sprint.
This is Kate's final year in Community Games having competed in swimming and athletes, both track and field events, down through the years and has now earned a silver to add to her bronze and platium medals from previous years. "I'm delighted and it's great to finish on a high note," she told the Celt.
There were plenty of winners from the Breffni county when it came to the team sport events in particular Gaelic football. St Patrick's area, Cavan, took home gold medals for two events - U10 Mixed Football and U12 Boys Soccer.
Packie Graham was one of the coaches involved with both teams. "This was a serious achievement for these lads and for cavan Town All-Ireland soccer and GAA in one weekend. This is the first time to win soccer for St Patrick's and first gaelic win since 1993."
He congratulated the competitors who had been training hard for five months and also thanked their parents for their support. Packie also thanked the other coaches Marty Sherlock, Pauric Byrne and Fergal Brides.
Some Cavan athletes did qualify in their heats and semi finals to make the final cut - just narrowly missing out. Ultan O'Reilly from Erne Valley made the final of the U12 Boys 100M sprint; while the Erne Valley U12 Boys Relay team of Tadhg Shiels, Ciaran Sharp, Emmet Reilly and Ultan O'Reilly came in fifth overall just out of the medals.
For more photos, see this week's Celt.
CAVAN WINNERS:
U8 60M Boys Sprint
2nd, Dylan O'Reilly, Lurgan
U16 100M Girls Sprint
2nd Kate Donohoe, St Felim's, Cavan
U12 Gaelic Football Girls
2nd, Erne Valley, Cavan. Team: Hannah Brady, Kate Fegan, Fainche Higgins, Emma Mulligan, Ciara Baxter, Niamh Beatty, Eimear Boylan, Kyra Comaskey, Julie Corr, Clara Loughran, Katie Moynagh, Emilia Mussi, Emily O'Reilly, Keira O'Reilly, Aoibhe Reilly and Phillipa Smith.
U14 Gaelic Football Girls
3rd, St Patrick's, Cavan. Team: Kayla Bartley, Rebekah Boyle, Katelyn Brady, Sarah Clarke, Naoise Dempsey, Ailbhe Kennedy, Leah Lynch, Orla McCabe, Alannah McPhillips, Leanne Murphy, Eve Murtagh, Ella Noonan, Cait O'Reilly, Lauren Sheridan, Derbhla Smith
and Sorcha Smith.
U10 Gaelic Football Mixed
1st, St Patrick's, Cavan. Team: Cian Brides, Zach Byrne, Eli Clarke, Aaron Gaffney, Sennen Graham, Exceedingly Imade, Excel Imade, James Kelleher, Lorcan Lynch, Rory Mc Donald, Ryan Mc Williams, Cameron Mcgovern, Sean Moran, Nathan Sherlock, Jude Shiels and Adam Wikzynski.
U12 Boys Soccer
1st, St Patrick's, Cavan. Team: Cormac Brides, Paddy Brides, Alex Cawley, Samuel Clarke, Finn Crowe, Conor Doyle, Charlie Fallon, Faolan Graham, Bobby Hanley, Lucas Hanley, Ordhan Lee, Lashawn Lombard, Cian McConnell, Freddie McGuigan, Daniel Noonan and Killian Reilly.
U14 Spikeball Boys
4th, Cuchulainns, Cavan. Team: Noah McCormick, Ben Mulligan, Evan Power, Adam Smith and Jack Teelin
U14 Spikeball Girls
4th, Cuchulainns, Cavan. Team: Katie Brady, Mia Farrelly, Dayna McGoohan, Leah Miller, Muireann Monaghan, Deirdre O'Reilly and Siofra Smith.