Chair hosts reception in honour of Carrickmore U-14 Ladies

On 1 August 2019, the Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor Siobhán Currie, hosted a reception at The Grange, Omagh in honour of the Carrickmore Ladies Under 14 team.

Speaking at the reception, Councillor Currie said:

“Mar Cathaoirleach na Comhairle Cheantair Fhear Manach agus na hÓmaí, ba mhaith liom fáilte a thabhairt romhaibh chun oifigí Comhairle anocht.

Ba mhaith liom fáilte ó chroí a thabhairt roimh na n-imreoirí agus an lucht bainistíochta le foireann na mban faoi cheithre bliana déag, a bhuaigh an Grád Trí Corn Féile na hÉireann, agus tá an fáilte oifigiúil ann anocht ina n-onóir.

As Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, I would like to welcome you all to the Council Offices this evening.

I would like to extend a particularly warm welcome to the players and management of Carrickmore Ladies Under 14 team, who recently won the All Ireland Grade 3 Feile Cup and in whose honour this evening’s reception is being held.

It has been a very successful year for the team, culminating in an All Ireland title, and I understand that it is the second All Ireland title that some of you have won this year, following on from the County Under 14 team’s recent All Ireland Gold success at this age group.

While winning an All Ireland title with the county is a wonderful achievement, I believe there is something special about winning an All Ireland title with the friends you grew up with, started playing football with and went to school with.

The All Ireland Feile is a wonderful competition for both boys and girls and this year almost 350 teams took part in both the boys and girls competitions which was a significant logistical challenge for the organisers and features approximately 170 host teams from across the province of Connaght and 170 teams representing the other 27 non-hosting counties plus Britain, Europe, North America and Australia.

Carrickmore was entered into Division 3 of the Girls Féile competition and were drawn in Group D along with St Brigid’s Mayo, Carnacon also from Mayo and Derry representatives, St Martin’s of Desertmartin. In the round-robin group stages you defeated all three opponents and qualified for the cup quarter final having won all your matches fairly comfortably and left you going into the knockout stages fearing no one.

Victory over Wexford representatives, Kilanerin in the quarter final set up an all Ulster semi final with Carrickmacross Emmetts from County Monaghan. In what proved to be a close affair, you managed to see off your provincial rivals by two points earning you a place in the Division 3 Cup final against Cooley Kickhams from Louth.

Sunday 30 June 2019 will live long in the annals of Carrickmore ladies when following a titanic struggle you defeated the Louth team by the minimum margin at the Connaght Centre of Excellence to be crowned All Ireland Féile Division 3 champions.

Prior to this year, no Tyrone team had won a Girls Féile title at any level and only two teams from the County, Carrickmore and Killeeshil had contested a final in the history of the tournament.

2019 was however to prove a breakthrough year for Tyrone ladies teams as Aghaloo and Galbally joined you on the Feile roll of honour.

This year has already provided you with memories which you will never forget and it is not yet over. I realise many of you will be going up to the Under 16 squad for their competitions which start later this month and I would like to wish you well for the rest of the season.

In conclusion, it would be remiss of me not to pay tribute to your management team of Brian Gormley and who have freely given of their time and knowledge to mould you into the All Ireland winning team which you have become. Can I on your behalf and on behalf of the parents thank and congratulate them for all their hard work. It has certainly paid off.

Once again, thank you all for coming along this evening in such numbers. On behalf of the Council and on my own behalf, can I once again congratulate you on your success. You have been wonderful ambassadors for your club, your district and most importantly yourselves.