Clanns win inaugural memorial tournament

Fittingly Clann Eireann Ladies won the prestigious Marie Hoye Cup which resulted in a mixture of celebration and emotion.

The host club organised the competition in memory of two of its members – Marie Hoye, who was the founder of Clann Eireann ladies football and who died after a long battle with breast cancer in 2006, and young club star, 16-year-old Caitriona McKeag, who died from meningitis in 2007.

While Clann Eireann triumphed in the cup final, Cavan side Lacken won the Caitriona McKeag Shield, defeating Glen by five points.

Clann Eireann topped their group to qualify for the quarter-final of the Marie Hoye Cup, defeating Crossmaglen and Lacken on their way.

In the quarter-final, they recorded a victory over Carrickcruppen while, in the semi-final, they beat Donaghmoyne.

In a closely-fought final, UUJ were ahead by just two points at the interval. But credit must go to the Armagh club who had a very strong second half, and who were able to find the target, popping over 1-4 unanswered in the last few minutes for victory. It was an emotional captain, Meabh Moriarty, who received the Marie Hoye Cup.

Clann Eireann Ladies would like to thankallthe local businesses and gaelic clubs for their generous sponsorship of the tournament.

There was also had a Breast Cancer Awareness Challenge which raised just over 800.

The main sponsor of the tournament was Murphy’s Law Irish Bar in Florida, a bar owned by Caroline Malaugh, a dear friend of both the Hoye and Henderson families.

The Hoye and McKeag families proudly presented the trophies in a mixture of celebration and emotion.

A spokesman for the organisers said: “Thank you everyone who had an input into helping us launch this very special tournament in honour of Marie and Caitriona whose names are now synonymous with Ladies Gaelic Football throughout the county and beyond.”