May
Steele Ladies Invitation Sevens on Saturday 2nd August - 24/07/03
By Crilly, Ciaran
Large turnout of teams expected.
The fourth Annual Invitation seven-a-side ladies football competition will be
held in Castlewellan on Saturday 2nd August 2003. The May Steele Perpetual Cup
has been donated for the competition by the Steele family in honour of their mother
May who was the founder and President of ladies football in Castlewellan as well
as being a life long Gael and tireless worker for the St Malachy's Club.
We have a proud tradition of Sevens Football in County Down and run a very successful
senior men's All-Ireland Invitation Sevens in Castlewellan in September every
year (now in its 24th year). The ladies competition is modeled on the men's with
similar rules of play applying.
Last year 18 teams from Ulster and further
a field took part in this prestigious competition and this year the number is
expected to exceed 24 teams with entries received so far from Counties Antrim,
Armagh, Cavan, Donegal, Down, Dublin, Louth, Monaghan and Tyrone. Clubs thinking
of still entering or who have not yet returned their entries are reminded that
entries will not be accepted after Saturday 27 July as draws will then be made
and forwarded to the Press.
The teams will be divided into groups of
four teams that will play-off on a league basis at four venues in Castlewellan
and Newcastle thus guaranteeing each participating team a minimum of 3 games.
The group winners and runners-up will then play the final stages of the competition
in St Malachy's Park on a knockout basis.
The competition will commence
at approximately 10.30am with team registration between 9.30am and 10.00am. The
quarter finals should commence about 2.30pm with the final scheduled to take place
between 5.00pm and 6.00pm the same evening. The presentation of the May Steele
Perpetual Trophy to the winning team together with individual 'TS Foods Castlewellan'
sponsored Belfast Crystal trophies to the winners and runners up and a special
Belfast Crystal sponsored award to the Player of the Tournament as well as a Gaelic
Gear sports voucher compliments of Gaelic Gear will take place after the finals.
The event is more than a sporting occasion, it is also a great social event with
dinner and disco in the St Malachy's GAA Centre and Social Club following the
presentations. Many of the visiting teams opt to make a week-end out of it and
stay over in some of the town's hospitable guest houses and family run hotels.
Enquiries welcome via our email service at castlewellangac@gaelmail.com
or telephone Roisin 028 437 71034 or Catherina 028 437 71874 for further competition
details or enquiries.
