Sun shines in Milltown for 13th staging of Iggy Fulham tournament

The much-maligned number 13 proved to be lucky in Milltown last Wednesday as the 13th staging of the Iggy Fulham Memorial Primary Schools Tournament was held in ideal conditions for participants and spectators alike.

Last year saw the competition resume after an unfortunate hiatus due to Covid-19 in 2020 and 2021, and Sean Doolin Park was buzzing again last Wednesday. Thankfully, unlike last year when inclement weather dictated otherwise, all the post-tournament formalities were held outdoors.

As ever, everything was splendidly organised by the Fulham family, particularly PJ, Maureen and Denise, in memory of Iggy (Ignatius) who died aged just 52 back in 2008.

The following six schools participated in the main event, the Iggy Fulham Memorial Tournament: Ballymore, Ballynacargy, Dalystown, Educate Together (Mullingar), Milltown, and Sonna. Every team played five round robin games (all on a seven-a-side basis with unlimited subs) with Milltown (previously the champions in 2009, 2013, 2017, 2018 and 2022) retaining their title with a 5-6 to 1-3 win in the final against Ballymore in a match refereed by Johnny Greville (Raharney), a man hugely regarded inside and outside Westmeath as a hurling and camogie coach.

In the Iggy Fulham Memorial Shield, the following six schools competed: Boher, Emper, St Mary’s (Finea), St Mary’s (Rathowen) St Michael’s (Castletown-Finea), and St Thomas’s (Rathowen). It was Boher and St Mary’s (Rathowen) who met in a closely-contested final, with Boher ahead by 2-4 to 1-3 when Michael Gordon (Shandonagh) blew the final whistle.

The inimitable Ned Flynn, sadly now deceased, had been MC for the first 11 stagings of the tournament, and the Cic Fada (Long Kick) competition honouring his memory resulted as follows: 1st Educate Together, 2nd St Thomas, 3rd Milltown.

Ned’s successor as MC, Westmeath Examiner columnist, Gerry Buckley, a supporter of the tournament in a journalistic capacity since its foundation, opened his contribution by asking the adults to applaud the children for their efforts, and the children to reciprocate.

THANKED

On behalf of the Fulham family, he thanked Milltown GAA for use of the pitch, and the organising committee, led by Westmeath Games Officer, Darren Magee. Gerry made a point of sympathising with long-time committee member Michael McHugh (who was in attendance) on the death of his daughter Gráinne last year. He also lauded the caterers, especially Sally, Carmel and Claire, who had fed all and sundry throughout the morning and early afternoon.

Maryland and Westmeath star Kieran Martin, along with the aforementioned Darren Magee, handed over the various trophies, with all participating players receiving a medal for their invaluable input.

Gerry asked for a show of hands from the boys and girls as to who played soccer, and then mentioned that he had recently sent Maureen and Denise a photograph of Iggy in a soccer team in which they had both played.

In this regard, he recalled Ned Flynn’s typically-blunt attitude to a young lad who refused to play Gaelic football in a team Ned was coaching on the basis that he was concentrating on soccer and “might be spotted”, to which Ned replied: “The only time you’ll be spotted is if you have measles!”

PJ Fulham took to the microphone to round off proceedings and he spoke emotionally about his love for his departed son Ignatius, recalling the great work the latter did as a coach, referee, player and administrator until his untimely death almost 15 years ago.

PJ also thanked the large number of people who make the tournament possible every year. He concluded by making a special point of thanking the soon-to-retire Jim and Sally Dalton for their immense work over the years before and during the tournament, and in many facets of Gaelic games in and around Milltown.