Ferbane/DSB win National Féíle Division 2 Title Páirc uí Chaoimh – July 2nd 2011

For the second time this year, the streets of Ferbane were thronged in celebration after the underage footballers of West Offaly brought joy and pride to the town with their achievements on the field of play.

The girls of Ferbane/Doon/Shannonbridge were the heroes of the hour this past weekend after they showed courage, togetherness and plenty of skill to win the All Ireland Division 2 Féile title in Cork, winning all five games and capturing the admiration of both travelling supporters and local Féile followers in the process.

Ferbane/DSB were representing Offaly for their very first time in Féíle na nÓg and were drawn to be hosted by the Beara club in Castletownbere for the weekend, over two hours from Cork City. Subsequently, the girls played their first match against their host club in Bishopstown, in order to be close at hand for the parade afterwards.  Goals from Aoife Corbett and another from Ellee McEvoy in the 1st and 4th minute of the second half put Ferbane/DSB in a great position but Beara replied with two quick goals of their own in the 7th and 8th minutes to ensure a tense finish. However Ferbane/DSB stepped up another gear and further goals from Kathlyn Rigney and Ellee McEvoy (2) ensured a 5-5 to 2-1 victory.

From there both teams made their way into Cork City for the spectacular Féile parade where 178 teams of boys and girls from all over Ireland, UK and the USA took part. The Ferbane/DSB and Beara teams started early in the event to facilitate their quick departure to West Cork where their host families awaited.

The Friday schedule commenced with Ferbane/DSB’s second round match against Kinsale who had been comprehensively beaten by their own visitors the previous afternoon. The Offaly Girls looked very impressive with the ball in hand and ran out 6-4 to 1-0 winners, setting up a showdown with Emyvale of Monaghan in the group decider.

In their toughest challenge of the year so far, Ferbane/DSB dug deep to produce their best performance yet, keeing their dream alive for at least for another few hours. Early scores from Roisín Egan and Rachel Seery got F/DSB into the game and on ten minutes, Karen Pillion and Rachael Seery combined to find Aoife Corbett in space and the young athlete made no mistake, crashing the ball to the net. Roisín Egan struck a further 1-2 before half time to give Ferbane/DSB a ten point half time lead. Second half goals from Elle McEvoy and Ava Flynn ensured two late Emyvale goals had no chance of spoiling the Offaly party and the match finish Ferbane/DSB 4-4, Emyvale 2-1.

As the teams moved towards the dressing rooms, the spirit of the Féile was embodied by the Emyvale team and mentors who provided a guard of honour for the Offaly girls as they left the field.

Caherlag, home of the famous Erins Own club in Glounthaune, was the venue for the semi-final against Cahir, of Tipperary. As both teams wore green usually, the Ferbane/DSB girls wore the Beara club jerseys who had all come to support their new friends from the midlands. The writing was on the wall in the early stages as Cahir powered into a 1-3 to 0-1 lead, but Elle McEvoy turned the game before half time with a brilliant solo goal.

A point from Aoife Corbett and a second McEvoy goal made it 2-2 to 1-3, but Cahir once again took control and entering injury time, they led by two points, 1-7 to 2-2. However an injury time free from Roisín Egan was hit home off the left hand post and the girls travelled back to West Cork for another night of celebration.

High noon in Cork on Saturday, July 2nd would saw the girls from Ferbane/DSB take on a Boherbue team from the Cork/Limerick border. A large contingent of Offaly supporters made their way to the Centre Park Road venue to cheer on their representatives, while in the true spirit of Féile, the full Beara team and mentors travelled with their visitors for the final.

Boherbue looked the bigger and stronger team early on and took the first two scores of the game. The Ferbane/DSB girls were having to work hard simply to stay in touch but they battled ferociously and got their reward just before half time when Aoife Corbett struck for a goal that put the visitors a point up at the break.

The Offaly girls didn’t waste that momentum and a superb goal from Kathlyn Rigney two minutes after the restart put Ferbane/DSB into a great position. Emer Nally and Rigney again both hit the crossbar as the Boherbue defence crumbled with wave after wave of Offaly attack. The two sides traded frees but the Ferbane/DSB defence held firm and after the longest seven minutes any player or supporter could imagine, the final whistle sounded and confirmed an historic 2-1 to 0-3 victory.

The Ferbane/DSB Ladies GAA Club would sincerely like to thank everyone who supported them in this year’s Féíle Peil na nÓg. Club sponsors, supporters, parents and the senior clubs all played a part, as did those who helped with the wonderful homecoming event. Special thanks go to Beara who provided accommodation, entertainment and friendship for the entire weekend that will never be forgotten, particularly not by those girls who will forever be All Ireland Féile champions.

Ferbane/DSB Panel

Natasha Lynam, Ffion Boland, Georgina Buckley, Aoife Corbett, Rachel Doyle, Casey Dunican, Róisín Egan, Tara Egan, Sinéad Egan, Stacy Egan, Saoirse Egan, Ciara Flynn, Eimear Flynn, Ava Flynn, Amy Galvin-Mangan, Anna Grehan, Áine Guinan, Shauna Heffernan, Amanda Keena, Gráinne Kenny, Jennifer Lynam, Elle McEvoy, Gráinne Murray, Emer Nally, Karen Pillion, Kathlyn Rigney, Rachel Seery, Avril Spain

Team Management:

Tony Guinan, Pete McEvoy, KP Egan, Padraig Malone, Carol Flynn