Oileaín Árainn secure Comórtas Peile title

It was a weekend of highs and lows for the Galway teams competing in Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta last weekend. Clubs from around the country descended upon Maigh Cuilinn for the annual competition in search of being crowned the All-Ireland Gaeltacht champions of 2014.

With five trophies up for grabs in men’s and ladies Senior and Junior competitions, as well as a ladies Intermediate cup, teams from the Connemara Gaeltacht were victorious in three grades. Oileaín Árainn won the men’s Junior competition while Bearna and Maigh Cuilinn took home the ladies Intermediate and Junior cups respectively.

There was heartbreak for Galway clubs at Senior level as sides in both codes fell to strong teams from Donegal. Mícheál Breathnachs lost out to Cill Chartha in the men’s final while An Tearmann beat An Fhairche in the ladies decider.

The Senior final proved to be a step too far for Mícheál Breathnachs as the physical toll of a long weekend of football seemed to hold them back in Monday’s game. There can be no doubt that the Galway team were given the tough side of the draw as they were forced into playing a game more than most of their opponents.

Their weekend got off to a tough start on Saturday as they faced off against the champions of the last two years, Gaoth Dobhair. A late point from Maidhc Ó Conghaile was enough as Mícheál Breathnachs scraped by in a bruising encounter, 1-11 to 2-7, before requiring extra-time to get past Cill tSeadhna of Mayo later that evening. The Connemara side needed to come from behind again to see off An Ghaeltacht of Kerry in Sunday’s semi-final.

By the time the Senior final kicked off on Monday afternoon, the effort of a fourth taxing game in 48 hours looked to be beyond Mícheál Breathnachs. Already without Peadar Óg Ó Gríofa, Kevin Walsh’s men also had a number of walking wounded heading into the final. When midfielder Tommy Ó Conghaile was stretchered off 10 minutes into the Monday’s game, things looked bleak for Mícheál Breathnachs, not only in terms of the game they were playing, but also with an eye on the opening round of the football championship this weekend.

All this being said, most teams at full strength would have had difficulties beating a hugely impressive Cill Chartha side. Their starting 15 had a number of Donegal stars, past and present, as well as youngsters who will surely represent the Tír Conaill men in the future. The spine of the Cill Chartha team was featured county star Ryan McHugh, his All-Ireland winning brother Mark, and former-Donegal player Michael Hegarty.

Extended report in this week’s Connacht Tribune.