FORMER DUBLIN DEFENSIVE star Keith Barr was at the helm as St Brigid’s claimed the prestigious Division 1 Boys title in the final of this year’s All-Ireland Féile na nÓg competition in O’Moore Park in Portlaoise yesterday afternoon. St Brigid’s, who were crowned Dublin senior county champions last year, demonstrated that the underage section of their club is in fine health, by securing the crown with a 1-6 to 0-0 victory over the home side Portlaoise.
Elsewhere in the finals of the boys competition, which was hosted this year by Laois and Offaly, there was a notable triumph for New York in the Division 2 final as they defeated Down outfit Burren by 1-7 to 0-4 in O’Moore Park. The Division 3 and 4 finals both took place in the Portlaoise GAA grounds with Wexford’s Naomh Eanna the victors in Division 3 with a 1-4 to 0-3 success over Ballyroan Abbey. In the Division 4 decider, Killoe Óg from Longford got the better of Newtown Blues from Louth on a scoreline of 2-3 to 0-5. In Division 5 there was glory for Ennistymon from Clare as they narrowly prevailed by 1-5 to 1-4 against Warwickshire. The final boys final in Division 6 saw Gloucestershire succeed against Delaware Gaels by 3-3 to 0-5.
Meanwhile in the girls competition, the Division 1 honors went the way of St Ciaran’s from Offaly who overturned Galway club Claregalway by 0-6 to 0-3 in an all-Connacht decider. The Division 2 accolade was awarded to Simonstown from Meath who bettered Lurgan from Cavan by 1-2 to 0-5. In the Division 3 final, Kilkenny City defeated The Downs of Westmeath by 1-5 to 1-1 while the Division 4 showdown saw New York beat Bredagh from Down by 0-3 to 0-1.