Scór – All Ireland Finals – Report
None of the five Leitrim clubs in the All Ireland Scór finals in Killarney came home with success. It was a big disappointment to find that for the second year in a row the County had five qualifiers for the Finals but none of them came out winners. On the law of averages it was a surprising outcome. However, none of the Leitrim entries were out of their depth or anything like that, it was simply that the standard was high and even all-round and none of them came out of the adjudicator’s hat.
In Trath na gCeist, Bornacoola were particularly unlucky as the lost by two marks and the difference in a christian name between Frederick and Frank was the winning and losing in the finish. It is quite possible that other results were as close as that also. In Nuachleas there were two acts that were decidedly streets ahead of the rest and these were Seán O’Heslins and Killyclogher, Co Tyrone, but the decision went to Tyrone.
In Rince Foirne Glencar/Manorhamilton were pipped once again by St Edna’s Omagh who won two years ago but could not have been far off the mark. In Ceol Uirlise Leitrim Gaels were also competing against Mullaghbawn from Armagh who won two years ago also. St Mary’s sang excellently in Bailéad Ghrúpa where the winners were St Enda’s Tyrone.
Overall it was Ulster’s day as five of the eight titles went to Ulster. Apart from the results it was again a great weekend with the Leitrim contingent occupying their favourite room in the Gleneagle on the Saturday night and the music and song went on to the small hours of the morning, which helped greatly to soothe the disappointment of the results. Yes, the whole spirit of the occasion was played out to the full by competitors and supporters and no doubt in 2009, which will be the 40th year of Scór, Leitrim will be there stronger than ever and on the winners rostrum too.
28-Apr-08 by Sean O Suilleabhain
