Inisheer (Inis-Oirr) Win all Islands Football.
The Winning Inisheer team on Bere Island. Photo by Helen Riddell
The 2010 All Islands Gaelic Football Title will be heading to Galway this year as Inis Oirr claimed the title with an impressive win over fellow Aran Islanders Inis Mor in yesterday’s final. Both these teams played some excellent football in Saturday’s group stages and were deserving finalists. Inis Mor went in at the break with a 6 point lead after playing with the aid of a stiff breeze. Inis Oirr made short work of cutting into the deficit and were back on level terms ten minutes into the second half. They took the lead shortly after and a goal with 5 minutes remaining was the icing on the cake for the Oirr men.
Hosts Bere Island failed to progress from the group stages. A last minute David Elphick penalty earned them a point in their final game versus Clare Island but it wasn’t enough to get them through to the knock out stages.
The Bere Island Ladies team fared better and claimed the Ladies title in thrilling fashion against Cape Clear. It was nip and tuck throughout the match with never more than a point between the teams for the first three quarters of the tie. Two late goals from Cliona O’Sullivan and Joanne Sullivan sealed the win for the Bere Island ladies much to the delight of the partisan home crowd. Emma Harrington deservedly collected the Player of the Match Trophy after a commanding display in the middle of the field.
Overall the 2010 tournament was a tremendous success with the newly refurbished Bere Island GAA grounds proving popular with both players and spectators.. 9 teams took part in the men’s 11-a-side event with representation from islands off Cork, Galway, Mayo and Donegal. 7 teams competed in the Ladies 7-aside tournament.
