Cumann na mbunscol

Bunscoil an Dúin - Patsy McArdle Shield for Boys Football.

The Annual Down INTO GAA 7 aside football final for boys was held in Annsborough Playing Fields on Wed. 6th May. Six teams qualified for this event as winners of regional heats throughout the county. In attendance were: St. Patrick's Boys' Downpatrick, St. Dallan's Warrenpoint, Carrick P.S. Burren, Ballyholland P.S. St. Patrick's Hilltown and St. Patrick's Legamaddy. This indeed was a real feast of gaelic football with the rules encouraging team play through the limited restriction on solos runs and also through the involvement of children from small rural communities as well as the larger urban schools. The sporting efforts of the children and the display of all relevant skills was a sight to behold and resulted in many close encounters as the results reveal. St. Dallan's Warrenpoint set down a marker in their opening game with a facile victory of St. Patrick's Boys' Downpatrick while Ballyholland squeezed passed Carrick in an epic and St. Patrick's Hilltown overcame St. Patrick's Legamaddy in a low scoring game. In the second round of matches, Carrick redeemed themselves at the expense of Downpatrick, Warrenpoint maintained their unbeaten run against Hilltown while Ballyholland overwhelmed Legamaddy.

In round three, St. Patrick's Downpatrick put up a valiant but unsuccessful effort against Ballyholland, Legamaddy gave Warenpoint a fright while Carrick and Hilltown had a super game before the Carrick lads accuracy won the day. Round four produced some spectacular and exciting football as Warrenpoint hung on grimly to overcome Ballyholland mainly thanks to some superb goalkeeping, Hilltown and Downpatrick played out a draw and Carrick put some further pressure by beating Legamaddy. Into the final round and with Warrenpoint and Carrick the main contenders for the Patsy McArdle Trophy, this game was kept as the final fixture. In the other games, Ballyholland beat Hilltown to claim runners up spot while Legamaddy had the satisfaction of beaten their neighbours Downpatrick. The friendly rivalry and competitiveness between the two local school Carrick and Warrenpoint was one more to the fore in a most exciting and entertaining final game. Right from the throw in, both teams revealed their determination to succeed and some brilliant blocking and defensive play ensured that neither team was going to succumb easily. When St. Dallan's secured a slender lead of two points, the Carrick boys, in true Burren tradition, laid siege to the Warrenpoint goal and only superb goalkeeping and gritty defensive work prevented their victory. Carrick made a supreme to bring the Patsy McArdle Shield back home to the school where Patsy was for so long principal but on this occasion it was not to be. After the final game, Paddy Hardy Leas Cathaoirleach congratulated all the children who had participated in the competition for their skilful and most sporting displays of all that is good in gaelic games. He thanked the teachers who had helped throughout the competition and presented the Patsy McArdle Shield to Aron D'Arcy captain of the victorious St. Dallan's team. Judging by the level of skills displayed by all these participating, it augurs well for the forthcoming leagues in this term.

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