IN MEMORY OF CLUB LEGEND

The inaugural seven-a-side ladies tournament is in memory of the late Marie Hoye.

Marie is fondly remembered both within Clann Eireann ladies football circles and in the wider Armagh ladies family as a true legend and a unique person.

Marie was the driving force behind the establishment of what was to become one of the most successful ladies football clubs in the county and further afield.

Clann Eireann was one of the first clubs in Armagh to embrace ladies football and indeed Marie herself was one of the first players to wear a club shirt.

She drove forward with unsurpassed determination, passion and dedication, taking a team from infancy through to an All-Ireland final.

She did this despite her long battle with cancer which finally took her on June 28, 2006, after an eleven year battle.

She had a very special love of sevens competitions and it is for this reason it was decided that a sevens tournament would be the most appropriate and fitting tribute to Marie.

Marie’s influence was also clearly visible at county level when Armagh Ladies defeated Sligo in the All-Ireland Final in the autumn of 2005. Six of her club mates wore the orange jersey that day and never did Marie more clearly demonstrate her courage than on that glorious occasion. Having just completed a course of treatment, she defied her body’s weakness to join her girls in celebration on the Croke Park turf.

The BBC also recognised the quality of Marie’s work and commitment when she was named as their ‘Sports Personality of the Year Unsung Hero’ for 2004.

Marie’s legacy lives on in the continued success of the Clann Eireann Ladies teams, both at senior and at underage level.

Just nine months after Marie Hoye’s death and with Clann Eireann still openly hurting, tragedy again befell the ladies football family.

In March 2007 Caitriona McKeag, 16 years old and a hugely promising talent, was a victim of meningitis.

Caitriona’s talent became obvious to Marie at an early age, and she watched with pride as Caitriona developed her sporting and personal skills. So it is particularly fitting that a cup bearing her name forms part of the Marie Hoye tournament. This will be presented to the Shield winners of the competition.

Caitriona was actively involved in many sports, principally Gaelic football and volleyball, representing Armagh at football and Northern Ireland at volleyball.

Though clearly versatile, her first love was Gaelic football. Caitriona played with Clann Eireann through the underage levels and at the time of her death she was playing under 16, minor, and had been recently introduced onto the senior panel.

The organisers would like to thank their main sponsor, Murphy’s Law, Irish Pub, Florida, and also all the local businesses from around the town for their support.

On the day there will be a Silver Crest cancer challenge. Instead of charging for entrance the organisers will be asking for a donation for the breast cancer campaign and hope to raise over 500.

Refreshments will be supplied on the day and entertainment afterwards in the Clann Eireann Social Club will be provided by Hyland Paddy, Down To Earth and a disco.

Games start at 10.30am and will run throughout the day with the Cup and Shield finals in the afternoon.