Poc Fada results
August 25, 2014
M. DONNELLY POC FADA CRAOBH NA HEIRANN FINALS 2014.
Poc Fada Records Smashed at Annaverna.
The M. Donnelly Poc Fada All Irelands went ahead at Annaverna Mountain on the refixed date of Sunday , 24th. August. Due to adverse weather conditions and with the health & safety of Competitors , Spectators and Officials in mind the traditional date of the August Bank Holiday Saturday had to be abandoned at short notice.
22 of the 23 Finalists in all three grades made the return journey on Sunday and were rewarded with a clear rain-free day although some wind was present particularly at the "Ravine " section of the Course. Stephe Clynch [ Meath ] was a late withdrawal following an injury in a Club Match .
The results in both the U.16 Boys and the Camogie Finals were literally decided by the longest Final Poc and distance past the End Line .
The outgoing U.16 Champion Jack Coyne lost his title to Donal McKernan from Antrim by a mere 7 metres with both finishing on 26 pocs.
Patricia Jackman [ Waterford ] won her 6th. National title in a row with a massive final shot which left her on 29pocs 62 metres , 47 m ahead of Catriona Daly [ Galway ] and 57m ahead of 3rd placed contestant Martina McMahon [ Limerick ]. Patricia Jackman extended her record to 6 Titles in a row and in her early twenties has the determination , skill and strength to stay at the top though she was pushed to the limits at Annaverna on Sunday.
Brendan Cummins [ Tipperary ] retained his title with a score of 54 pocs 63m , followed by Ruairi Convery [ Derry ] on 57 pocs 65 m and Eoin Ryan [ Laois ] in 3rd. Place on a score of 57 pocs 30m. B.Cummins is now the holder of 8 Poc Fada titles with Sundays win exceeding the existing 7 titles record set by Cork`s Ger Cunningham 1984 - 1990. Still on the right side of 40 Cummins is as enthusiastic and determined as he was when he created a new Course record of 48 pocs [ unmatched to date ] on his first title win back in 2004.
In the Juvenile Skills Competition 15 young Competitors faced their own mountain and at 6 years of age Paul Cummins was attempting to follow in the steps of his father Brendan by giving the Course a shot. . The event with Competitors from 6-12 competing was well contested and alll competitors received a Poc Fada medal.
G.A.A President Liam O``Neill and Armagh Camogie Chairperson Paula McGuigan were both present at Annaverna and spoke prior to the start of the Competitions. Each competitor received an inscribed Crystal vase . International Piper Patrick Martin led all contestants to the start line and prior to playing Amhrain na bhFiann delivered an emotional " slow air " in memory of recently deceased friends of the Poc Fada . M.C was Pat Hamilton who introduced all Contestants and also thanked the Local Press and Radio for their ongoing assistance and support in promoting the Poc Fada concept..
L.O`Neill G.A.A President paid tribute to the National Committee who brought the Competition to the Final stages and the Louth-Armagh Committee who ensured that all preparations were in place to host 3 excellent finals which no doubt would be keenly contested . Both L. O`Neill and P.McGuigan [ Camogie ] paid tribute to the Sponsor Martin Donnelly who was involved for 18 years with one of the longest running G.A.A Sponsored Competitions . The 22 Players present were dedicated , determined and great G.A.A ambassadors , with the example of Dublin representative S.Carthy on competing in Poc Fada went on to represent Dublin v Laois in the All Ireland I.C.Championship.
M.Donnelly reiterated the role of the Players in Poc Fada at all levels and praised the efforts and sacrifices they made to be here for the refixed Finals. He was delighted to be associated with Poc Fada for 18 years and thanked all the unseen workers who continually delivered a first class Final Venue the competition deserved. He welcomed the 1964 Poc Fada winner Oliver Gough on his return today to Annaverna.
Humphrey Kelleher thanked all who made the event a landmark and wished the Competitors every success on the day. Dundalk Racing Stadium were thanked for readily making the All weather Track and facilities available as "Plan B" if required . Tom McArdle from Carlingford Adventure Centre and more recently "Skypark" provided a shuttle service from the car parks to the base.. this was really appreciated. The local land-owners who provided Car Park facilities were also thanked by H.Kelleher who made a special Presentation to his predecessor Donie Nealon.
Full details & individual Scores attached.
Poc Fada 2014
Main Event Result 1st 2nd 3rd 4th
Contestants An Ceide Carn na Mhadaidh An Gabhan Ceann Scribe Place
1 Kevin Walsh - Kilkenny 17p 37m 43p 28m 51p 91m 58p 4m 7th
2 Alan Dolan - Dublin 16p 72m 41p 21m 49p 45m 58p 59m 5th
3 Nigel Daly - Galway 19p 54m 45p 3m 52p 30m 62p 86m 11th
4 Eoin Reilly - Laois 16p 40m 41p 22m 48p 50m 57p 30m 3rd
5 Patrick McKillion - Tyrone 17p 10m 43p 21m 51p 6m 60p 1m 10th
6 Patrick Kelly - Clare 17p 15m 42p 26m 49p 25m 58p 5m 6th
7 Stephen Clynch - Meath Injured unable to take part
8 Andrew Fahy - Clare 17p 78m 41p 14m 48p 30m 58p 87m 4th
9 Donal O Brien - Mayo 17p 72m 43p 31m 50p 30m 60p 20m 9th
10 Ruarí Convery - Derry 16p 40m 40p 3m 48p 88m 57p 65m 2nd
11 Stevie Brenner - Waterford 17p 28m 43p 69m 50p 50m 59p 28m 8th
12 Brendan Cummins - Tipperary 15p 17m 38p 26m 45p 72m 54p 63m 1st
Poc Fada 2014
Camogie Results T/P Final Result
1 Catriona Daly - Galway 17p 7m 29p 15m 2nd
2 Aoibheann Murphy - Armagh 23p 29m 37p11m 6th
3 Louis Dougan - Derry 20p 17m 32p 3m 5th
4 Niamh Mackin - Louth 23p 23m 38p 24m 7th
5 Stephanie Carthy - Dublin 19p 36m 32p 21m 4th
6 Martine McMahon - Limerick 18p 27m 29p 5m 3rd
7 Patricia Jackman - Waterford 18p 51m 29p 62m 1st
Poc Fada 2014
Results
Contestants U16 T/P Final Result
1 Alan Kelly - Laois 17p 38m 27p 12m 3rd
2 Barry Kenneally - Cork 17p 49m 28p 16m 4th
3 Donal McKernan - Antrim 16p 28m 26p 7m 1st
4 Jack Coyne - Galway 16p 1m 26p 0m 2nd
