Clanns win prestigious tournament

The annual Pearse Og tournament attracted 28 teams drawn from all over the country.

The competition involved four groups of seven teams and culminated in knockout stages of quarter-finals, semi-finals and a final. Clann Eireann had previously won this tournament in 2006 and 2009.

Drawn in a tough group along with prominent clubs Coalisland Fianna, Truagh and Armagh Harps, the players lost their first match to Truagh but bounced back to win the next five matches, leaving them a tough match against Middletown to force a three way tie in the group.

They rose to the occasion and with the back line of Conor McKeegan, Sean McKeown, Oscar McKeagney and Ronan Leathem refusing to give anything away, they emerged victorious on a scoreline of 0-4 to 0-0.

This put them into a play-off with Truagh and the boys made up for the earlier defeat by winning on a scoreline of 0-3 to 0-1. The middle of the field of Brendan O’Shea and Tiernan Kelly had found their feet while Ruari McDonald was taking breathtaking scores from all over the field.

In the quarter-final the Clanns needed a Tiernan Kelly free to send the game against Clan na Gael into extra time. The game was decided by a brace of fine points from Ruari McDonald and Michael O’Shea, 0-5 to 0-3.

Next up was a strongly fancied Carrickmore side but Sean Magee, Callum Magee, Chris McAlinden and Daire Fitzpatrick took full advantage of superb build up play to send Clann Eireann into the final on a scoreline of 0-5 to 0-0.

The final was a tight run affair against a fancied Shane O’Neill’s side.

Clann Eireann raced into an early lead and with Jack Conlon securing the midfield, this left Tiernan Kelly, Ruari McDonald and the superb Michael O’Shea to build up a healthy lead going in at half-time, 0-6 to 0-2.

Shane O’Neill’s got three quick points but the Clanns did not panic and Micheal O’Shea and Callum Magee scored great points to ensure the Donal Powell cup returned to the Shore Road by 0-12 to 0-7.

A superb team effort was well rewarded and as an added bonus Michael O’Shea was awarded the player of the tournament trophy.