Header

Castlewellan Sevens


Team

Score
 Team

Score
St Gall’s (Antrim) 6-05 Carrickcruppin (Antrim) 0-08
Glassdrumman (Down) 2-06 Combined Universities (GB) 1-02

2009 Semi Finals


Team

Score
 Team

Score
Castlewellan (Down) 0-09 Glassdrumman (Down) 0-12
St Gall’s (Antrim) 2-09 Longstone (Down) 0-05

2009 Final


Team

Score
 Team

Score
St Gall’s (Antrim) 4-09 Glassdrumman (Down) 2-07

Competition Winners 2009-St Gall’s Antrim

2008 O’NEILL’S INTERNATIONAL SPORTSWEAR
INVITATION 7-ASIDE GAELIC FOOTBALL COMPETITION


Team

Score
 Team

Score
Tourlestrane (Sligo) 2-08 Coalisland (Tyrone) 0-05 0-05
Bellaghy (Derry) 2-06 Glenullin (Derry) 4-05
St. Gall’s (Antrim) 2-08 Castlewellan (Down) 2-04
Longstone (Down) 4-11 Bryansford (Down) 0-16

2008 Semi Finals


Team

Score
 Team

Score
Tourlestrane 2-08 Glenullin 0-09
St. Gall’s 1-06 Longstone 1-05

2008 Final


Team

Score
 Team

Score
Tourlestrane 3-05 St. Gall’s 3-10

Competition Winners 2008-St Gall’s Antrim

Castlewellan O’Neill’s Irish Sportswear Sponsored 29th Annual Invitation Sevens took place on Saturday 6th September with 16 teams from Down, Derry, Antrim, Armagh, Tyrone, Fermanagh, Louth and Sligo taking part. A number of other teams had to withdraw at the last moment due to Championship or league commitments the following day. A special word of thanks to our main tournament sponsors O’Neill’s Irish Sportswear, and ‘Player of the Tournament’ sponsors ‘Emboidit’ of Newry.

A number of county stars were on show in what proved to be a very competitive days sevens and the fact that Paddy Bradley came straight from his trial for the compromise rules team to play for Glenullin in the knock-out stages of the competition shows the esteem in which the tournament is held. Eight teams from 5 Counties contested the quarter-final stages with Tourlestrane (Sligo), Glenullen (Derry), St Gall’s (Antrim) and Longstone (Down) all winning places in the semi-finals. In the final St Gall’s from Antrim retained their crown after beating new -commers to the competition Tourlestrane from Sligo with St Gall’s Kevin McGourty picking up the Player of the Tournament award. Kevin now joins his brother Ciaran and father Sean on the ‘Player of the tournament’ Roll of Honour. Ciaran won the award in 2004 and again in 2007 while their father Sean Og McGourty (also St Gall’s) was the first recipient of this prestigious award when it was introduced into the Castlewellan Sevens competition in 1983.

It was great to see a number of new teams compete this year including Tourlestrane and also great to see past winners St Mary’s of Sligo and Bellaghy of Derry back again this year. Next year 2009 St Malachy’s GAC will host their 30th consecutive annual invitation sevens and the Club intends to mark this significant milestone in a memorable way. Hopefully all past winners of the tournament (see Roll of Honour) will be in attendance including many of the clubs that enter the competition each year. Entry to next year’s competition will be restricted to 30 teams played for the first time over 6 venues in the town, with the quarter-final semi-finals and final once again played in St Malachy’s Park.

Special commemerative prizes will be commissioned for this anniverary event along with other special prizes and incentives for Clubs and further details about all of this will be published when the sponsorhip details for 2009 have been fialised. In the meantime we would welcome expressions of interest from clubs who would be keen to enter. All email enquiries will be acknowledged and recipients will be kept informed about details of the competition. Email An Runai Ronan King

O’Neill’s Irish Sportswear Invitation Sevens Tournament Castlewellan

O’Neill’s Irish Sportswear28th Annual Invitation Sevens organised by St Malachy’s GAC Castlewellan took place on Saturday 1st September In Castlewellan with teams from Down, Antrim, Armagh, Tyrone, and the four universities of Queen’s, St Mary’s UUJ and a combined British Universities team from England, all competing in this one day competition.

The early games were played at the Bann road and Annsborough Council pitches, with each venue returning 4 teams to compete in the quarterfinals at St Malachy’s GAA Park in the town. The referees returning from the venues reported some great open football, played in a great atmosphere. A crowd of several hundred turned out to watch the final games. In the first quarter final, Castlewellan defeated Stewartstown of Tyrone, to reach the semi-final. An unsavoury incident between Kilcoo of Down and Moy Tir Na nOg, in the second quarter final led to Tyrone inter-county referee, Dessie Slatter red carding both teams which disqualified them from the remainder of the competition thus leading to Castlewellan gaining a place in the final. In the other quarterfinals, St Gall’s defeated Killeavy from Armagh, while Carrickmore defeated Clonduff. 

In the semi-final St Galls defeated Carrickmore by a two-point margin, to set up a meeting with the host team. In the final, Castlwellan were defeated by a a much superior St Call’s side on a score line of 0.7 to St Gall’s 1.10. The Castlewellan side were essentially a very young team consisting of a number of last year’s minor team. The strength of the panel reduced due to the previous evening’s league game with An Riocht. Nonetheless what this young team lacked in experience they more than made up for in speed and agility and put in a magnificent performance throughout the day winning every game until the final. Colm ‘Oggy’ Crilly had a brilliant game in goals with great performances by Eamon Hardy, Kevin Duffin, Liam Mc Kibben, Barry Travers, Aidan Brogan, Rory Brogan, Cahal Crilly, and Caolan O’Hare. It was former minor All-Ireland medallist Kevin Duffin’s father Paul Duffin now managing St Gall’s who encouraged his team to enter the competition this year that dashing Castlewellan’s chances of going the whole way with a great performance by Belfast team. Player of the tournament was deservedly won by St Gall’s goalkeeper in the competition Ciaran Mc Gourrity, the second time he has won this awardr. Ironically his father has also won this honour twice as well.

Club Secretary Ronan King thanked everybody for making the day such a success, “To get the day to run the way it did, we used the services of at least one hundred people’, Ronan said ‘It was a resounding success, just a pity we were beaten in the final. I would like to congratulate the referees for their fair marshalling of the games and their high standard of refereeing some of them travelling from as far as Derry, umpires, co-ordinators, those who worked at the venues and provided the meals and snacks throughout the day. A special word of sincere thanks to the competition sponsors O’Neill’s Irish Sportswear without whom the competition would not have been possible.

2007 Quarter Finals


Team

Score
 Team

Score
Castlewellan
(Down)		 4-09 Stewartstown
(Tyrone)		 2-08
Moy Tir Na nOg
(Tyrone) 		disq Kilcoo
(Down)		 disq
Carrickmore
(Tyrone)		 2-09 Clonduff
(Down)		 2-04
St Gall’s
(Antrim)		 2-10 Killeavey
(Armagh)		 1-14

2007 Semi Finals


Team

Score
 Team

Score
Castlewellan Disqualified as above
Carrickmore 0-07 St. Gall’s 1-10

2007 Final


Team

Score
 Team

Score
Castlewellan 0-06 St. Gall’s 2-09

Competition Winners 2007
St. Gall’s Antrim

Congratulations to Longstone 2006 Champions.
The 27th All-Ireland invitation sevens was won by Longstone, who retained the title, in a carbon copy of last year, defeating Castlewellan in the final. Player of the tournament was Barry Doran of Longstone. Whilst the weather at the outset of the tournament was terrible, the day brightened up and the large crowds at the three venues were treated to some brilliant sevens football. In the semi finals, Castlewellan defeated Bryansford, by the narrowest of margins in extra time, while in the other semi, Longstone defeated Loughinisland.
See the results below.

2006 Quarter Finals


Team

Score
 Team

Score
Castlewellan
(Down)		 4-03 Donaghmore
(Monaghan)		 1-04
Bryansford
(Down) 		2-10 Clonduff
(Down)		 1-09
Longstone
(Down)		 1-07 St. Galls
(Antrim)		 1-06
Kilcoo
(Down)		 1-07 Longstone
(Down)		 0-12

2006 Semi Finals


Team

Score
 Team

Score
Castlewellan 2-12 Bryansford 3-08
Longstone 2-06 Loughinisland 0-07

2006 Final


Team

Score
 Team

Score
Castlewellan 0-15 Longstone 2-14

Competition Winners 2006-Longstone





2005



2005 Quarter Finals


Team

Score
 Team

Score
Kilcoo
(Down)		 1-05 St. John’s
(Antrim)		 2-12
Coalisland
(Tyrone) 		2-05 Castlewellan (Down) 2-7
St. Gall’s
(Antrim)		 2-06 U.U.J.
(University)		 0-10
QUB
(University)		 1-04 Longstone
(Down)		 1-10

2005 Semi Finals


Team

Score
 Team

Score
Kilcoo 1-09 Castlewellan 1-11
St Gall’s 2-07 Longstone 3-3

2005 Final


Team

Score
 Team

Score
Longstone 2-07 Castlewellan 1-08

Competition Winners 2005-Longstone

2004
Eighteen teams from Antrim, Armagh, Down Dublin, Louth, Monaghan and Meath as well as an All-Star combined British Universities team took part in the ‘silver jubilee’ Castlewellan Seven’s on Saturday 11th September 2004.

Unfortunately a number of teams from accross the Country had to withdraw at the last minute because of important Championship games and we acknowledge their commitment to playing in the competition if circumstance had permitted. They include Queen’s and St Mary’s Universities Belfast, St John,s Belfast, Bellaghy Derry, St Mary’s Sligo, Clonakielty Cork, Kilmacud’s Dublin, Castleblaney and Scotstown Monaghan,, and St Euan’s and Gweedore Co Donegall.

With the backdoor system in the All-Ireland Championship, County Championship and League games have all been delayed and this has caused major problems for the organising committee over the last couple of years. So much so that the Club is now considering moving the 2005 competition either before the football season starts or until October – more details about this later.

Nevertheless the 2004 entries consisted of quality teams playing the art of seven-a-side at its best and in spite of the heavy rain of the previous few days, the threatening severe weather did not materialise on Saturday 11th September for the 25th Castlewellan Sevens. As in previous years all competing teams played a minimum of 4 games with all teams divided into groups of 4 playing each other on a league basis. Winners and runners – up from each group advanced to the knock – out stages played in St Malachy’s Park. In the quarter finals, the hoat Club St Malachy’s, St Gall’s Antrim, Kilcoo and Longstone Down eliminated Latton of Monaghan Thomas Davis Dublin, combined Universities team Britian, and Bryansford of Down. In the semi-finals Longstone and St Gall’s came out on top and in the final the Antrim team proved too strong for Down side Longstone trotting home easy winners on a scoreline of 2-10 to 1-07.

A liitle bit of history was created when the player of the tournament was announced. The unanimous choice of the judges was Ciarán McGourty of the St Gall’s Club. Ciaran’s father Sean Og McGourty won player of the tournament at the Castlewellan Sevens eighteen years earlier in 1986.

The magnificence ‘Pat Keown’ perpetual was presented to St Gall’s team captain with each team member receiving a Cuchullann statuette, and the winning club receiving £1,000 sports voucher for O’ Neill’s Irish Sportswear. Runners – up Longstone l received specially commissioned bronze trophies.

2004 Quarter Finals


Team

Score
 Team

Score
Latton
(Monaghan)		 0-05 Castlewellan
(Down)		 1-05
St Gall’s
(Antrim) 		2-09 Thomas Davis (Dublin) 0-5
Kilcoo
(Down)		 2-10 Dromintee
(Armagh)		 1-08
Bryansford (Derry) 2-05 Longstone
(Down)		 1-10

2004 Semi Finals


Team

Score
 Team

Score
Castlewellan 1-06 Longstone 1-10
St Gall’s 2-06 Kilcoo 0-6

2004 Final


Team

Score
 Team

Score
Longstone 1-07 St Gall’s 2-10

Competition Winners 2004-St Gall’s Antrim

2003 Quarter Finals


Team

Score
 Team

Score
Longstone
(Down)		 3-12 St. Mary’s
(Sligo)		 1-16
An Riocht
(Down) 		4-10 Thomas Davis (Dublin) 1-4
Loughinisland
(Down)		 0-14 Dromintee
(Armagh)		 1-4
Bellaghy (Derry) 3-10 Liatroim
(Down)		 2-5

2003 Semi Finals


Team

Score
 Team

Score
Longstone 0-14 Dromintee 0-10
Bellaghy 5-8 An Riocht 0-8

2003 Final


Team

Score
 Team

Score
Longstone 1-09 Bellaghy 0-11

Competition Winners 2003-Longstone

Longstone win The 24th annual invitation 7’s.
LONGSTONE, last years Down IFC winners wrote themselves into the club’s history records when they overcame 2002 (Castlewellan and Kilmacud) All-Ireland Sevens winners Bellaghy in the final of the O’Neills Irish Sportswear and Down Democrat sponsored Castlewellan invitation sevens.

In this the 24th year of the competition there was a record number of entries. Teams from Ulster, Leinster, Connacht, the four universities in Belfast and Dublin as well as a combined British Universities team made up the 26 teams taking part.

Played at three venues in six groups on a round robin basis, there was eight hours of brilliant football, excitement and entertainment. The winners and runners-up in the groups made it through to the quarterfinals. However, some well-known sides failed to come through including Round Towers (Dublin), UUJ, Queens University, Walters town (Meath), Emo (Laois) and Blessington (Wicklow).

The first quarterfinal saw Longstone overcome former winners St Mary’s Sligo after extra time by 3-12 to 1-16. An Riocht then met Dublin side Thomas Davis and won by 4-10 to 1-4 with Down county star John Clarke and Gary Cunningham getting two goals each. In the third quarterfinal former winners Loughinisland met an inform Dromintee (Armagh) who won by 4-6 to 1-4. The fourth quarterfinal saw Bellaghy overcome Liatroim by 3-10 to 2-5.

The scene was set for the semi-finals, which proved two real thrillers. Longstone, with Barry and Mark Doran, Ambrose Rogers and Michael Higgins in brilliant form, overcame Dromintee by 0-14 to 0-10. The second semi-final between holders Bellaghy and An Riocht saw the Derry side well in control and canters to a 5-8 to 0-9 victory.

The final itself between hot favourites Bellaghy and Longstone was a thriller all the way. Bellaghy powered by the four Doherty brothers Garret, Fergal, Kevin and Connor, found the Mourne side quite a handful.

The “Stone” tackled quickly, harassed their opponents and never allowed them to settle into their well-known style.

Points in the first half were exchanged at regular intervals with Fergal and Kevin Doherty and Francis Glackin pointing for Bellaghy and Adrian Traynor and Barry Doran for the “Stone” as the sides were locked at 0-5 each, seconds before half-time. With the last kick of the half Gavin Diamond pointed for Bellaghy as they led by 0-6 to 0-5 at the interval.

Twice within the opening minutes of the second half points were exchanged before Louis McPeake put Bellaghy two ahead.

The turning point came midway through the half when a defensive mistake let in Mark Doran for the Longstone goal to give them a one-point lead. Although Gavin Diamond levelled it was Ambrose Rogers who sent the Longstone followers into space with the winning point seconds from the finish.

Pat Rodgers our club president presented the Pat Keown memorial Cup to Longstone captain Michael Higgins and trophies to both winners and runners-up.
Castlewellan and Down keeper Mickey McVeigh handed over the player of the tournament to Longstone’s Barry Doran.

MATCH STATS
Longstone: M Higgins, B Doran (0-5), A Traynor (0-1), E Trimble, A Rogers (0-1), M Doran (1-2), J Traynor, P Traynor, J Cunningham.
Bellaghy: G Doherty, K Diamond, F Doherty (0-1), F Glackin (0-4), G Diamond (0-2), K Doherty (0-3), L McPeake (0-1), C Doherty, J Cassidy.

In a build up to the Club’s 2004 sevens silver jubilee, celebrating 25 years of the Castlewellan Sevens, the organising committee increased the 2003 prize fund to make it more attractive for competing teams. In addition to the generous sponsorship by the Down Democrat the Club attracted additional sponsorship from O’Neill’s International Sportswear which saw the winners Longstone receive an official team (25 players) strip of O’Neill’s Jersey’s shorts and socks in their Club’s choice of design. The winning team also picked up the magnificent ‘Pat Keown’ perpetual cup presented by Club President Pat Rodgers as well as individual players prizes of bronze Cuhcuhulain Statuettes which have long been a hallmark of this prestigious competition. Newly designed bronze individual prizes were presented to the runners-up supplied by the Medallion Centre Warrenpoint who this year also sponsored the ‘player of the tournament’ trophy. In addition the ‘player of the tournament’ received an O’Neill’s sports gear to the value of £200. The Club are also grateful to First Trust Bank, Down District Council and The Power House for their sponsorship of the annual sevens.

Next year 2004 St Malachy’s will celebrate 25 years of this successful annual event and the organising committee intend that this will be a very special and memorable competition for all the teams taking part and particularly the winners. If your Club would be interested in competing in the 2004 sliver jubilee sevens please drop a line to the Club Secretary or email us at castlewellangac@gaelmail.com giving brief details of your team achievements. Entries will be limited to 30 teams.

2002 Quarter Finals


Team

Score
 Team

Score
Castlewellan 5-10 Skyrne 2-5
Glen (Derry) 0-13 Sarrsfields (Armagh) 1-7
Bellaghy (Derry) 4-6 Cooley-Kichams (Louth) 1-8
Kilcoo (Down) 2-8 St Malachy’s (Down) 2-7

2002 Semi Finals


Team

Score
 Team

Score
Bellaghy 4-7 Castlewellan 2-10
Kilcoo 3-7 Glen 1-7

2002 Final


Team

Score
 Team

Score
Bellaghy 5-11 Kilcoo 1-7

Competition Winners 2002-Bellaghy

Bellaghy win 2002 Castlewellan and Kilmacud Sevens
Bellaghy from Derry got a real boost after their early exit from the Derry SFC at the hands of old rivals Ballinderry when they regained the Pat Keown Cup the prize for the Castlewellan Invitational All-Ireland Sevens in St Malachy’s Park Castlewellan on Saturday (after a gap of 5 years having last won the competition in 1997).

The big crowds enjoyed a feast of football both in St Malachy’s Park and the Bann Road playing fields where the preliminary round was played.

In the quarter final stages competition hosts Castlewellan met Skryne from Meath winning 5-10 to 2-5. Glen from Derry with Fergal McCusker and Enda Gormley on board were the next to advance when they beat Sarsfields Armagh on a scoreline of 0-13 to 1-7. Bellaghy had too much power overcomming Cooley Kickhams louth 4-6 to 1-8 and in the last quarter final Kilcoo overcame St Malachy’s 1-12 to 1-7.

The semi finals were evenly contested with Bellaghy squeezing out Castlewellan by 3 points 2-10 to 4-7 and Kilcoo of Down eliminating Glen 3-7 to 1-7.

Bellaghy claimed the title after a titanic struggle with Kilcoo on a scoreline of 5-11 to 3-7 to win the competition for the second time.

Former Down All-Ireland stars Paddy Doherty and Pat Rice had the task of judging the player of the competition. Their choice of Gareth Doherty of Bellaghy was a most popular choice indeed.

At the finish John McCartan, the Castlewellan chairman thanked all who took part and Terry McLaughlin editor of the Down Democrat presented the Pat Keown Cup and individual trophies to the winners and Belfast Crystal trunners up bowls to Kilcoo.

Two week’s later on the eve of the All-Ireland Football finals Bellaghy travelled to Dublin for the annual Kilmacud Sevens, where again they proved to be a formidable side beating all comers and adding the Kilmacud Sevens to their trophy cabinet for 2002.