All Ireland Feile 2012
On the week-end of 22nd to 24th June Clara took part in Division 1 of this year’s Football Feile which was hosted by Laois/Offaly. The Clara club hosted the O’Donovan Rossa club from Belfast and all the players & mentors stayed with host families in Clara for the week-end. O,Donovan Rossa players & mentors arrived in Clara on Friday at 1.30p.m. and were met by Club Chairman Michael Sheridan who welcomed them to Clara. The Clara & O’Donovan Rossa teams were then brought to Scoil Phrionsias & Scoil Bhride where they were welcomed to Clara by Ms. Kenny & Ms. Kavanagh. Then it was on to Pairc Phroinsas where the 1st round game took place between Clara & O’Donovan Rossa. Clara led at half time by 2-03 to 0-03 and won by 2-06 to 0-05. In the other game in our group which was played in Ferbane, St. Brigid’s from Dublin defeated Ferbane/Belmont by 3-08 to 2-03.
The players had some food & then it was off to Portlaoise for the Feile Parade which commenced at 7.00p.m. All the teams paraded through Portlaoise and after the parade both teams came back to Clara where the Belfast team were introduced to their host families.
On Saturday morning all 4 teams arrived at Pairc Phroinsias at 9.00a.m. and The Clara Town Band and the 4 teams paraded round the field before the band played The National Anthem. The games commenced at 10.00a.m. with St. Brigid’s playing Clara. St. Brigid’s were leading by 2-03 to 0-00 at half time & eventually won by 3-07 to 0-02. In the next game Ferbane/Belmont defeated O’Donovan Rossa. Next up was the skills competition where each of the 4 teams had one player representing their club in a number of skills and time was also important. David Falsey representing the Clara club just missed out by 1 point from progressing to the semi final which was held later that evening in Gracefield.
At 12.30p.m. the games resumed with St. Brigids defeating O’Donovan Rossa to guarantee their semi final spot in Gracefield. In the final game Ferbane/Belmont & Clara played a very exciting game which ended in a draw, 2-06 to 1-09. All the players were treated to hot food and all parents & family received tea/coffee & sandwiches. At this stage, St. Brigid’s travelled to Gracefield for the semi final and the Clara & O’Donovan Rossa boys went to the local swimming poolwhere they had good fun. Then it was back to the Convent for a disco & barbeque. Before the end of the disco, presentations were made by the O’Donovan Rossa club to Clara and by the Clara club to O’Donovan Rossa. The Clara club also received some plaques to pass on to the host families and the 2 schools, and they also made a presentation to Carthage Buckley who was our Feile Co-Ordinator.
On Sunday morning both teams went to 10 o clock mass & this was followed by a hurling match at mid-day which was won by our visitors. Both teams & mentors then had food before they set off for Belfast.
The Clara club would like to thank all the panel & management team of Tony Egan, Greg Tierney, Mark Murray, Robert Dunne & Mel Doyle, the host families who looked after the team & mentors from Belfast, anyone who brought sandwiches on Friday & Saturday, everyone who helped in feeding the players & parents. We would also like to thank our Feile Official Brian Gavin, the people who were umpires, linesmen & stewards, the Clara Town Band, and a special thanks to our Feile Co-Ordinator Carthage Buckley and the Bord na nOg committee and anyone else who helped make this a week end to remember by one and all.
