Successful return of prestigious Iggy Fulham tournament
A clairvoyant present in Milltown on June 5, 2019 who predicted that a mystery virus would mean a gap of three years before the Iggy Fulham Memorial Primary Schools Tournament could be staged for the 12th time would have been severely frowned upon!
Indeed, the oft-used words over the years of the MC for the first 11 stagings of the event, the late and much-lamented Ned Flynn, to those with whom he disagreed on a GAA-related topic spring to mind. “Keep taking the tablets,” would have been the advice of the Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall legend to such a clairvoyant!
However, Covid-19 managed to deprive children, teachers and parents of this wonderful event for both 2020 and 2021. Accordingly, there was a great buzz in Sean Doolin Park last Wednesday from early morning until the formalities concluded around 2.30pm, occasional rainfall and unseasonal wind failing to dampen the enthusiasm of the large crowd present.
The following six schools participated in the main event, the Iggy Fulham Memorial Tournament: Ballymore, Ballynacargy, Educate Together (Mullingar), Milltown, Sonna and Taughmon.
Every team played five round robin games (all on a seven-a-side basis with unlimited subs) with Milltown (previously the champions in 2009, 2013, 2017 and 2018) and Taughmon (first-time finalists) qualifying to meet in the decider. The green and white-clad side ended up as comfortable victors by 4-8 to 0-3 in a match refereed by Damien Maher, thereby securing a fifth title for the local school.
In the Iggy Fulham Memorial Shield, the following six schools competed: Boher, Emper, St Mary’s (Finea), St Mary’s (Rathowen) St Michael’s (Castletown-Finea) and St Thomas’s (Rathowen).
When the round robin games in this exciting competition were completed, Emper and St Mary’s (Rathowen) emerged to contest the final. Emper won their fourth successive title (the last, obviously, in 2019) on a scoreline of 8-3 to 3-3, with Declan Campbell in charge of the whistle.
In memory of Ned Flynn’s enormous contribution to the competition, a new Cic Fada (Long Kick) competition was on the agenda last Wednesday. Each school had a representative and it resulted as follows: 1st Taughmon, 2nd Ballynacargy, 3rd Boher.
The changeable weather dictated that most of the post-tournament formalities were held indoors, but this failed to dampen the enthusiasm of all those in attendance.
Westmeath Examiner columnist, Gerry Buckley, a supporter of the tournament in a journalistic capacity since its foundation, acted as MC and started by asking for a round of applause for his late predecessor “and close personal friend” in the presence of Ned’s brother, Tom Flynn. He also asked those present to remember the late Claire Maher, the wife of Damien, another man involved in the competition in various capacities over the years.
Gerry expressed his delight at the return of the competition after the unforeseen delay. He thanked Milltown GAA club for the use of their splendid facilities and Westmeath Games Officer, Darren Magee, and his team for their input. Also, the pupils, parents, referees and caterers, in addition to the media covering the event. He was thrilled with the presence of organisers-in-chief, PJ and Maureen Fulham, and their granddaughter Denise, whom he commended for her pre-match renditions of Amhrán na bhFiann in TEG Cusack Park.
Moate All Whites and Westmeath star, Robbie Forde, handed over most of the various trophies and medals, with Denise Fulham doing the honours for the Shield plaque, and Daithí Ó Fiaich in charge of the special Cic Fada statuettes. Other inter-county players present were footballer Kieran Martin (Maryland) and hurler Tommy Gallagher (Castlepollard). Gerry lauded the hurlers for their recent excellent display against Laois and wished the footballers all the best in their Tailteann Cup semi-final with Offaly.
And just to ensure that Ned Flynn was remembered from start to finish, Gerry concluded: “Those of us who had the pleasure of getting phone calls from Ned over the years know that he always finished with the same catchphrase. So it may only be June 8, but I wish you all a Happy Christmas!”