Clann Na Banna U10s can take pride from performance at tournament

With teams from Monaghan and Dublin as well as local teams from Armagh, Down and Tyrone this was going to prove a tough challenge for the Bann juniors.

Just meeting the quota of 15 players and no more, Bann got off to a thrilling start with a close knit enounter with Pearse Og. With two goals from Jack Moore and points from Keelan Quigley, Sean Casey and Eoin Scullion there was nothing to separate the sides at half time.

Two further points from Quigley and Moore meant it looked like Bann were on to their first win when a ball touched on the ground in the goal mouth saw them concede a penalty. Pearse Ogs pulled it wide but soon had another goal chance only to be denied by Eamonn McNally's fine save.

Facing a strongly fielded Killeavy in the second match was a daunting prospect. However with their tails up from the first win Bann saw points from Keelan Quigley, Odhran McMullan, Eoin Scullion, and Jack Campbell, combined with a terrific Quigley goal all go unanswered in the first half.

Killeavey came back strongly in the second half with four points. A free from Sean Casey towards the goal mouth saw an in form Quigley rise to fist to the back of the net.

The last of the table games saw Clann na Banna start to tire with no chance of resting given an absence of subs. The Mayobridge game got off to a difficult start with another handling error by Bann conceding a further penalty. This one found the target.

Keelan Quigley fought hard with three points against a strong Mayobridge side partnered with an equally determined Jack Moore with goal and point.

Unfortunately it was not enough to win. Despite the defeat, the Banbridge side were runners up in their table and through to the quarter finals of the shield. Here they faced Monaghan team MagheraCloyne and a relentless run of matches was starting to take their toll on the young Bann side.

They managed to score points from Keelan Quigley, Sean Casey, Jack Moore and Eoin Scullion, along with some fine clearances from U8 regular Helen Vaughan in defence; but the Monaghan opposition proved a litttle too strong.

This is a young Clann na Banna squad who can take great pride in their performance, working together as a unit and showing some fantastic Gaelic football skills.

Team: Eamonn McNally, Conal Diamond, Feargal Vaughan, Paul Ferris, Andrew Young, Jordan Campbell, Brandon Beattie, Sean Casey, Jack Campbell, Rory Masterson, Odhran McMullan, Helen Vaughan, Keelan Quigley, Eoin Scullion, Jack Moore.