Went to the 7's competition in Ratoath on Saturday. Absolute feast of football on a brilliant day! Congratulations to Don-Ash on a brilliant victory and equally to Ratoath for staging such a great tournament. It was a wonderful occassion and finally fills the void left between the Kilmacud and St. Judes 7's competitions. I greatly look forward to next years tournament.

meathexile (Meath) - Posts: 7 - 22/09/2008 11:40:16    104330

Was there many Meath teams in it? Any big names playing in it?
Is anyone doing up a report on the tournament?

The Count (None) - Posts: 74 - 22/09/2008 11:53:46    104362

Don-Ash, Clan na Gael, Nobber and Curragha. I think Geraghty was playing for the Gaels. Don Ash had a very young, fit side which is the reason they won if you ask me.
I'd imagine a report will eventually be sent in. Game of the tournament was the quarter final between Fingal Ravens and Maryland (winners of celebrity Bainisteoir). Went to extra time with Ravens winning in the end.

meathexile (Meath) - Posts: 7 - 22/09/2008 12:48:28    104466

thought Ravens would be thereabouts, who beat them? was brian farrell playing for nobber?
who did Don/Ash play in the final

The Count (None) - Posts: 74 - 22/09/2008 14:47:59    104623

Was there myself, great day out, lovely weather, brilliant football, and a brilliant setting. Credit must go to Ratoath for staging such an event. Some craic in the bar towards the end when some teams that had stayed on were singing and cheering!!
Don/Ash beat St. Farnan's(I think of Sligo) in the final in a landslide really, the young fit fast players really told by the end,a dn possibly the fact that their semi was first might have helped too. Geraghty and McArnarney were playing for CnaG, Gero actually missed a penalty in one of the games, and Brian Farrell was playing for Nobber.

updaroyal (Meath) - Posts: 1132 - 22/09/2008 15:00:05    104641

just a note to say how dissappointed i am in the commitee who organised the 7's tournament in ratoath.im from tyholland in monaghan and we were invited to play in the competition by way of winning our intermediate championship.we arrived through the gates at half 9 in the morning to be told we were not on the list.subsequently a new draw had to be made to rectify this error.we played 4 matches winning 3 to come 2nd in our group finishing on 6 points which,as we thought,would put us through as best runners up.when we went back to the clubhouse to see who we had drawn in the quarter final,we were surprised to see that the team from sligo went through as best runners up ON 5 POINTS,owing to the fact THEY HAD SCORED MORE than us!!!!!!unbelievable.great facilities ratoath but whole day left sour taste in my mouth...good luck to the royals in 2009

j coote (Monaghan) - Posts: 7 - 29/09/2008 21:19:07    110608

It's the first year of the competition so there was obviously going to be a few teething problems but I, for one, was amazed at how smoothly the whole day went. And the weather played ball for once as well.
As for the Tyholland incident, from what I heard your club's secretary rang the night before the competition and apologised that Tyholland wouldn't be able to compete. Tyholland then (as you said) turned up at the gate that morning and had to be accomodated.
As for the points issue, I did think it was a strange way of deciding who qualified as the best runner up but I suppose it encouraged more attacking football. But I do believe it was fair that St. Farnans qualified as best runner up. They played 3, won 2, drew 1, lost none and amassed 5 points from a possible 6. Tyholland played 4, won 3, lost 1 and ended up with 6 points from a possible 8.
As far as I know the powers that be in Ratoath are already looking into ways to make what I feel was a fantastic day out even better next year.

Ratoath Royal (Meath) - Posts: 1466 - 02/10/2008 09:46:29    112406

JCoote - what rubbish - were you actually there?? Everyone from Tyholland knew what they needed to do going into your last game - win by as big a margin as possible - including all your players and manager. It wasn't the committee's fault that you conceded 4 goals in that match! Average score difference was was only way to decide when there were groups of different sizes - as the previous poster pointed out you played 4 matches and the Sligo team only played 3 - of course you are going to have more points!
Congratualtions to all from Ratoath who hosted a great event - heres hoping it goes from strength to strength.

Irishguy (Meath) - Posts: 27 - 02/10/2008 14:47:04    112662