The National u14 Feile na nGael championships this year will see two hurling sides from Mayo taking part in Dublin from July 5 to 7. Tooreen will represent Mayo in division four, as they are hosted by the Naomh Mearnog Club in Portmarnock. The side are also grouped with Tomas Davis in Tallaght and Dungannon (Tyrone ). The Tooreen side go to the festival in high hopes of progressing out of their group, with one eye also on the division four final in Croke Park. Tooreen’s last national title was in 2004, as they overcame Middletown of Armagh in the division three final in Navan to claim the Michael Cusack Trophy. Many of that Feile na nGael winning side are now members of the Tooreen and Mayo Senior Hurling teams.
Caiseal Gaels will make history in Dublin, as they represent Mayo in division five. The club, formed in 2008, now gets its first chance on the national stage, after seeing massive growth and support within the Carracastle Parish over the past four years. Caiseal Gaels will be hosted by Good Council in Drimnagh, while they are also grouped with St Maurs (Rush ) and Aodh Ruadh (Ballyshannon ). Massive hurling coaching and growth has been evident in the local national schools in recent years, with past and present players from Carracastle NS, Brusna NS, Kilmovee NS, and Derrynabrock NS all featuring on the side.
Connacht Puc Fada
The Connacht GAA Senior and u16 Puc Fada competitions will be hosted by the Tooreen Hurling Club on Monday, July 16, at 7.30pm. Mayo will be represented in the Senior competition by Donall O'Brien (Ballyhaunis ) and Kenny Feeney (Tooreen ). In the u16 competition - representing Mayo will be Evan Summerville (Moytura ) and Shane Fleming (Caiseal Gaels ).
Keith Raymond (Sligo ) will be looking to retain his Senior title - with the winner and runner-up from both Senior and u16 competitions going forward to represent Connacht at the All-Ireland Puc Fada Championships in the Cooley Mountains in Louth in August. For more information visit www.anpocfada.net
Connacht club Feile
The Inaugural Connacht u13 Hurling interclub Feile takes place this Saturday, July 7, as three teams from Mayo make the journey to Padraig Pearses in Woodmount (Roscommon ). The three Mayo clubs taking part in the festival are Westport, James Stephens, and Ballyhaunis, in a competition which will see young hurlers from all five Connacht counties taking part. In group one Westport have been grouped with Ballinasloe (Galway ), Four Roads (Roscommon ), and Tourlestrane (Sligo ). In group two James Stephens take on Tuam (Galway ), Oran (Roscommon ), and Coolera-Strandhill (Sligo ). In group three Ballyhaunis will play Skehana (Galway ), Athleague/Tremane (Roscommon ), and St Mary’s (Leitrim ). The festival is a 13-a-side competition with games commencing at 11am. The festival is being run by Connacht Coaching under the supervision of Damien Coleman - Connacht GAA hurling administrator.
