Larrybo Cusack and Rolo Corr Tournament

24 June 2008

Another year and another very successful and enjoyable youth tournament took place on Saturday at Felix Hamill Park. Teams from Wolfe Tones, Madden, St Paul’s, St Mary’s Aghagallon, St John’s Annaghmore, Derrytresk and hosts Maghery took part in our annual 'Larrybo and Rolo Memorial Tournament'.

The cold and damp weather didn’t take away from the great spirit that enveloped the games, during which all players and mentors displayed excellent sportsmanship.
As usual, Dixie Robinson made sure the days proceedings went over smoothly and effectively. He was ably assisted by his team of helpers and our club secretary Claire Forker.

The club extends a huge thank-you to these members for all the hard work that went into making this annual tournament such an all-round success. A special word of mention and thanks to the main sponsor of this tournament, Forkers Peat Products.

How the teams fared:

THE LARRYBO CUP
Group A teams played out their matches as follows:
Maghery v St Pauls (Maghery win)
St Johns v St Marys (St Marys win)
Maghery v St Johns (Maghery win)
St Marys v St Pauls (St Marys win)
Maghery v St Marys (Maghery win)
St Pauls v St Johns (St Johns win)

Group B teams played out their matches as follows:
St Peters v Derrytresk (St Peters win)
Madden v Wolfe Tones (Wolfe Tones win)
Derrytresk v Madden (Madden win)
Wolfe Tones v St Peters (Wolfe Tones win)
Derrytresk v Wolfe Tones (Wolfe Tones win)
St Peters v Madden (St Peters win)

Then it was on to the semi final stage, with the winners of Group A (Maghery) playing the runners up of Group B (St Peters). This was a very competitive game with a great display of football served up by both teams. Unfortunately for the host side, they fell short by just a point to the Lurgan children, who progressed to the final with this narrow victory.

Semi-final number two was played out by the winners of Group B and the runners up of Group A, namely Wolfe Tones and St Marys Aghagallon respectively. The two teams provided another highly contested game, with the Derrymacash children eventually emerging comfortable winners.

And so the stage was set for an all-Lurgan showdown between St Peters and Wolfe Tones. And it was 'The Tones' who did better on the day and put their name on the 'Larrybo Cusack Cup'. The cup was presented to the winning captain by a very proud Mrs Bernie Cusack, wife of the late Larrybo, who was in attendance with her two sons, senior team players Stephen and Eamon, daughter Nicola, and the newest edition to the Cusack clan, grandson Ronan.

Both the winning team and the runners up had their trophies and medals presented to them by Maghery and Armagh player, Stefan Forker.

THE ROSEMARY CORR CUP
Teams from St Pauls, St Peters, Wolfe Tones and Maghery took part in this competition. St Pauls won their game against St Peters, but couldn’t get by Maghery or Wolfe Tones. St Peters drew with Wolfe Tones in their first match, but were edged out in their other two games by Maghery and St Pauls.

Wolfe Tones experienced all 3 possible results – a win over St Pauls, a defeat by Maghery, and a draw with St Peters. To the delight of the local supporters, a composed Maghery team played exceptionally well and won all of their games comfortably.

And so it was on to the semis, with the first between Maghery and St Pauls and the other between St Peters and Wolfe Tones. It was Maghery who got the better of St Pauls and Wolfe Tones out-scored St Peters. For the first time in 5 years, since this competition was first held, Maghery won 'The Rolo Cup' and in doing so denied a gallant Tones side from completing a tournament double.

The cup was presented to the winning captain by Rolo’s sister Cathy, and niece Katie McCann, with Frances, Rosemary’s mother, looking on proudly.

WELL PLAYED AND MANY THANKS TO ALL PARTICIPATING TEAMS FOR PROVIDING A VERY ENTERTAINING MORNING AND AFTERNOON OF GAELIC FOOTBALL.