No joy for Westmeath in All-Ireland Scór final

The curtain fell on a very successful Scór season on Saturday evening last, when the All-Ireland Final came to a close in Killarney. Westmeath had three groups representing the county in the ultimate round - Mullingar Shamrocks in the Tráth na gCeist (Question Time), Ballycomoyle balladeers and Bunbrosna set dancers. A large Westmeath contingent made the trip down to the Kingdom to support their respective clubs with high hopes of achieving success.

Mullingar Shamrocks were first up for the Lake County, taking part in the preliminary round of the Tráth na gCeist which was held prior to the stage competitions. This experienced team consisted of Tom Hunt, Conor McKenna, Richard McKenna and David Gavin and they were against the top three teams from all four provincial finals. The Mullingar outfit made a strong start and didn’t put a foot wrong, leading with a perfect score after six rounds. As the final round came to a close the Shamrocks team missed out on a place in the stage final by the narrowest of margins of a single point.

They finished in joint fourth with an impressive fifty five points, giving way to the teams from Cork (the eventual champions), Kerry and Offaly. This was a very impressive end to a successful year for the team and no doubt they will be back on the national stage in the not too distant future.

Ballycomoyle were the first Westmeath club to take to the stage in the INEC on Saturday in the ballad group category and made their All-Ireland debut as a group. Representing the north Westmeath club were Zara Geraghty, Naomi Fitzpatrick, Aoibhínn Dolan, Clíodhna Daly and Bláthnaid Daly. They built on the momentum sustained following their Leinster win and gave a flawless performance of their two songs ‘Clay’ and ‘Passage West’.

The group faced strong opposition from Newport, Tipperary, Abbeyknockmoy, Galway and Omagh St. Enda’s, Tyrone. Following a very entertaining competition the girls narrowly missed out on victory, with the title heading west to Galway.

This group has had a tremendous year winning both county and Leinster titles, whilst also making their All-Ireland debut.

Bunbrosna closed out the clár on Saturday evening with rousing footwork in the set dancing competition. The blue and white cladded dancers included Susan Eades, Veronica Moran, Orla Cleary, Sandra Eades, Seamus Moran, Chris McCormack, Eoin Clarke and Kenny Murphy.

This group are no strangers to the INEC stage and danced two brilliant figures of the Claddagh set. Despite a flawless performance, the home side Spa claimed victory at the expense of Bunbrosna, Clonduff of Down and Mayo’s Abbeyknockmoy.

In what was a most entertaining final, our Leinster counterparts from Wicklow won the Novelty Act category for a second year in a row and Birr claimed victory in the figure dancing, following many close encounters in recent years.

Scór now comes to a close for yet another year. Success came in both Scór na nÓg and Scór Sinsir which saw the county claim six provincial medals.

Thanks to all who made it such a success, especially clubs and participants.

The Downs GAA hosted both competitive county finals. St Joseph’s GAA hosted the senior Tráth na gCeist which saw six clubs take part. Scór na bPáistí made a welcome return with great participation from all the schools around the county and provided tremendous entertainment throughout all the rounds.