New York U-14 Feile girls’ trip to Feile 2008 in Belturbet, Co., Cavan

First stop was the home of it all – Croke Park. The group got the sense of the thrills and spills that have been so much a part of this wonderful arena. The group was ably led on their tour by Gearoid and experienced everything from dressing rooms to the view from a corporate box; from the ‘vision’ the media offer from their gallery to what a player must feel when they enter the ‘stage’. The New York U-14 Feile girls were so impressed you could see the hope in their eyes that they too might some day experience this same feeling.

After lunch it was all aboard our coach for our 1st port of call – Silverbridge, Co., Armagh home of the Traynor family. The New York team was met by their host families who led them off to get a few hours rest before their challenge game later that evening. Upon arrival at the Silverbridge GAA grounds we were first treated to a tour of their fabulous facility and then it was on to the playing field where the New York girls showed absolutely no signs of any jet lag. New York were on the scoreboard within minutes with a fine goal from C. Traynor assisted by N. Brophy and A. McGovern. She followed again with three unanswered points. New York’s defenses were never put to the test in the 1st half and their scoring continued with 3 more points from C. Traynor, 1-3 from C. Fitzgerald, 2-1 from A. Wheway, 0-1 from K. McCormack & 0-1 from J. Levine to the leave the 1/2 time score – Silverbridge 0-0 : New York 4-12.

The 2nd half started with a goal from Silverbridge which gave them a lift. It was followed by a point and then 2 fine points for New York by C. Traynor. At this point New York went into overdrive with J. Levine & N. Brophy both putting the ball in the back of the net. This was followed by 2 more points from Silverbridge and points for New York from A. Wheway, C. Fitzgerald & K. McCormack who put over 2 to leave the end result Silverbridge 1-3 : New York 6-18.

A wonderful reception, courtesy of the Silverbridge Club, followed the game with entertainment provided by a local DJ and presentations being made by both the teams and management.

Wednesday morning saw the girls say goodbye to their host families and board their coach to visit the city of Armagh where they stopped to visit the Navan Center and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. They had a few hours rest before heading to their 2nd challenge game against Carrickmacross in Pairc Emmet grounds, home also to one of our sponsors – Philip Traynor. Yet again the New York team put up a splendid display of fitness and ability as was seen on the scoreboard at half time – Carrickmacross 0-0 : New York 2-15.

The pace slowed a little in the second half with New York registering a further 1-5 and Carrickmacross scoring 0-1. The final tally was Carrickmacross 0-1 : New York 3-20.
Scorers for New York were: C. Traynor 1-6, C. Noonan 1-2, B. Tierney (C) 0-4, A. Wheway 0-3, N. Brophy 1-3, M. Hynes 0-1 & J. Levine 0-1.

Yet again we were treated to a wonderful reception by Carrickmacross with music provided by the club underage members. The teams and management here too exchanged gifts. It was also a pleasure to see referee, Pat McEneaney, in attendance along with a number of returned immigrants who came out to greet the New York contingent.

Thursday morning saw everyone out bright and early at our meeting point in Crossmaglen as we began our journey to our Feile host – Belturbet Co., Cavan. Before arriving we stopped @ Share Village in Lisnaskea Co., Fermanagh where we enjoyed a cruise on Lough Erne, had a bbq lunch and then watched the team as they partook in a team building activity – orienteering. They were split into 7 teams of 3 and each team member was connected to the other by balloons. Their task was to find each point on their map without breaking their ‘connection’. Needless to say within five minutes the 1st group was back to be ‘reconnected’! It was an enriching experience for them all and it was great to see how well they all bonded.

It was time to leave and head into Belturbet where the team met with their host families and went off to get settled in and relax in preparation for the weekend’s activities. It was also an opportunity for the traveling adults to collect themselves and for the Manager and Coaches to discuss tactics.

Friday dawned a beautiful day and the team met @ the Seven Horseshoes Hotel (home to the adults) and as the playing grounds were so close they walked to Rory O’Moore’s Park – home to the Belturbet Club. It was their little ‘Feile Parade’. At 2:15pm the referee blew her whistle and their first game of Feile 2008 was on. Belturbet underage program is in the beginning stages of redevelopment and 90 of their panel were featuring in their 1st Feile and therefore lacked the experience of the New York squad with over 50% of its team in their 3rd Feile. New York pounded the scoreboard in the 1st half leaving everyone with no doubt that they were well and truly over their ‘jet lag’ and meant business. They followed suit in the 2nd half leaving the Belturbet girls amazed @ their fitness and ability and also promising the New York girls that they would make every effort @ improving their own skills. The end result was Belturbet 0-0 : New York 6-21. The teams did not pay much attention to the scoreboard as it was all too obvious they were set on forging friendships that will hopefully last for years to come. Scorers for New York were – K. McCormack 1-2, B. Tierney 1-7, K. Weir 0-1, C. Traynor 1-8, A. Wheway 0-1, N. Brophy 0-1, J. Levine 1-1 and A. McGlade 2-0.
After the game it was off to Breffni Park for the Feile Parade which as always is a wonderful experience especially when you see the number of people who came out to cheer the teams on.
After the parade it was back to their host families in preparation for day 2 and to say a few prayers as the weather forecast was not good.

Saturday – day 2 – arrived and the forecasters were correct – RAIN!! But lo and behold it did not deter the New York team. Their first games of the day were in Pairc Gael Na Sionainne in Blacklion and their first game of the day was against the home team of Shannon Gaels. Despite the weather conditions New York were relentless in their attack. So much so New York hardly gave their back line a workout and by half time New York was up 4-8 to 0-0.
The rain eased somewhat in the 2nd half as did New York’s challenge but not after adding a further 1-3 to their tally to leave the final score – Shannon Gaels 0-0 : New York 5-11. Scorers for New York – C. Traynor 2-4, B. Tierney 1-2, K. McCormack 1-2, N. Brophy 0-1, M. Hynes 0-1, J. Levine 0-1, A. Wheway 1-0.
New York then got to take a break while they watched their host club, Belturbet, play Bennykerry, Tinryland from Co., Carlow who would be New York’s next challenge. Before New York’s next game Brianna Tierney (C) participated in the skills competition and much to their joy she came through to represent their division in the final the next day.
Following the skills competition New York and Bennykerry, Tinryland took the field. The heavens opened yet again. This proved to be a very exciting match and the eventual winners would proceed to the semi-finals. It was almost too much for the adults present too!! It proved to be the toughest game New York had played thus far and with the rain pounding down on them it put a fierce test on their skills and fitness levels. Both teams played extremely well through the conditions and the joy on the faces of the New York girls, the eventual winners, made the grey skies fade into the background as it meant they would proceed to the semi-finals.
The final score was Bennykerry, Tinryland 2-2 : New York 3-3.
Scorers for New York – K. McCormack 1-0, C. Traynor 1-2, B. Tierney 0-1 & C. Fitzgerald 1-0.
Refreshments & Irish music and dancing were provided by the Shannon Gaels club before we had to move on to the Drumlane GAA Club grounds – O’Connell Park in Milltown. By this time the weather had cleared up dramatically and the sun began to peak through the clouds.
The 1st semi-final saw New York come up against St. Paul’s of Belfast Co., Antrim who by all accounts remained unbeaten and had held all opponents scoreless. New York struggled through this game with a lot of missed opportunities which left the half time score – St. Paul’s 1-5 : New York 0-1.
The 2nd half proved a fiercely contested one with New York making changes to their line-up which proved successful but at full time they were defeated but relieved as they knew they still had one more chance to advance.
The final score of this 1st semi final was – St. Paul’s 1-8 : New York 0-3.

New York were up against it now as they had played three games and had one more to go in order to advance. This time they met Thomastown from Co., Kilkenny. During the break between games they obviously put their heads together and said – “Let’s go New York”. They came out from the start with an intensity and drive that you knew they were not giving up without a fight. They pushed on through the fatigue and by the half were up 2-3 to 0-2. They gave it one last push and emerged the eventual winners, which meant they had booked their spot in the final the next day by a final score of 2-8 to 0-2. Scorers for New York – C. Traynor 1-2, A. Wheway 1-2, N. Brophy 0-1, J. Levine 0-2 & B. Tierney 0-1.
At this point it was back to Belturbet to prepare for Mass and the evenings festivities provided by the Belturbet Club and then it was home to bed as they knew the final game would be tough as they would face St. Paul’s of Belfast again.

It was an early start on Sunday morning as the Division 4 Final was slated for 10:30am in Kingspan Breffni Park. The journey to the park was one of anticipation and hope. This was New York’s 2nd final in their three years of involvement in Feile. In its own right this is a marvelous achievement. Upon arrival in Breffni the team was taken to their changing room and then out onto the practice field to prepare for the task ahead. It was a moment of great pride to see our team take the field – all the months of training and preparation had finally come to fruition. Within minutes the whistle was blown and the game was on. New York came out strong and played with such pride and gusto that within five minutes they were up 1-01 to 0-0. St. Paul’s came back with 4 points in succession and the battle was on. Played went back and forth between both sides, some with missed opportunities and at the half the teams were level with a score of 1-01 to 0-4. The 2nd half started out hard with both teams making every effort to forge ahead. New York came up with the goods by converting a point. Then with minutes to go there was a scramble in the New York goal area as the whole New York contingent held their breath and then they saw the green flag raised. At this point the New York fans, which included their host club Belturbet and their 2007 host club Sean O’Heslins of Ballinamore raised the chant “Lets go New York” but time was not on their side as St. Paul’s converted another point to give them a 4 point advantage. Within minutes the final whistle was blown with the final score being St. Paul’s 1-06 : New York 1-02. The heartbreak on the New York faces told it all especially for those experiencing their final Feile. They graciously went to the podium for their presentation and then took a little time out to relax. Then it was back into the stadium to watch the rest of the day’s proceedings. That evening it was back to the Seven Horseshoes Hotel for a team dinner and then a relaxing evening of entertainment with the Belturbet club where we were pleasured with both clubs, parents and mentors putting on an exhibition of their singing and Irish step dancing talents. Even New York’s manager Kieran Traynor managed to provide a song. Both clubs and teams exchanged gifts, phone numbers, e-mail addresses and the hope that we would meet again. At this point it was back to their host families and to get ready for the journey back to New York the next day. The next morning outside the Seven Horseshoes Hotel saw everyone bid Belturbet a fond farewell and then they were off.

To say that the Feile trip was a marvelous experience is an understatement. It is amazing to see how well the girls bonded on the trip and on the plane heading back to New York were already preparing themselves for their upcoming trip at months end to Philadelphia to participate in the Continental Youth Championships.

At this point we would like to thank all of our Feile sponsors, as without them it would make participation much more of a challenge.

And to the parents of those involved you are owed a tremendous amount of gratitude as it is with your time and effort the girls are able to enjoy this life experience.

And to James, our coach driver, we couldn’t have had a better tour guide.

And so at this point we look forward to Feile 2009 which will be held in Co., Kildare.