Images and Report courtesy of www.aodhruadh.org
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In section one Dungiven set down a marker with their 7-7 demolition of Castlebar Mitchel’s. The football played by the Derry lads in this game was first rate and they quickly marked themselves out as early favourites for the title. Castlebar bounced back with a good win over the other Donegal representatives, Naomh Conaill. The final game of the section saw Dungiven effectively finish the game in the first half. They had travelled with 34 players and in the second half they played with a very different team, an alteration which Glenties were able to take advantage of, winning the second half well. However it was to be Dungiven against Easkey in the Sean Slevin final.
Dungiven showed their full power in the final as they overwhelmed Easkey. Easkey had a lot of good footballers, but Dungiven simply had even more and they played like a group of players who knew each others game intimately.
After the final the presentations were made on the pitch.
Bord na nÓg chairman Shane Toolan was master of ceremonies for the presentations. He began by praised the standard of football on the day. He thanked all the teams for travelling so far to contribute to what had proved an excellent tournament. He thanked everyone who officated on the day, and the parents for once again providing a great spread of food and drink throughout the day. He then recalled the enormous contribution of Sean Slevin to football in the club at all levels, thanked the Slevin family for attending and called on Sean’s son Donagh to present a plaque and medals to the Castlebar Mitchel’s shield winning side and Aodh Ruadh as shield runners up. Donagh also presented runner’s up medals were to Easkey. Then Sean Slevin’s son Ciaran came forward to present the player of the tournament award. This went to Dungiven midfielder Pauric McNicholl. He was very definitely a star for the Oak Leafers, orchestrating everything on the pitch and with his running, vision, tackling and passing he is a very complete footballer. Certainly a name to keep an eye out for in future. The last act of the day came with Sean’s daughter, Shauna Slevin, presenting the Sean Slevin trophy to the Dungiven captain, Conan Feeney. Conan made a very gracious speech afterwards and closed by calling for three cheers for Easkey.
Dungiven 7-7 Castlebar 2-1
Castlebar 2-10 Naomh Conaill 1-6
Dungiven 2-6 Naomh Conaill 1-3
Sean Slevin final
Dungiven 8-9 Easkey 0-3
