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Ratoath Harps

 Under 9’s Invitational

Saturday 23rd June 2007

Skryne Road

Harps duo Alan Murphy and Padraig McMahon came to the conclusion that with the end of the league they didn't have enough stress in their lives. To fill the void (and nothing at all to do with avoiding the grass cutting, painting and in-laws visiting) that accumulates during the football season they decided to organise Ratoath Harps first ever under 9's Invitational Tournament. Teams from local clubs Ashbourne, Dunsaughlin and Cloghertown were invited to play against Ratoath's finest.

The idea was simple, 2 teams from each club meet on a Saturday afternoon for a few games of football. Simple ideas can remain simple only as long as they remain ideas but the practical application is something else again. Suffice to say that the event could not have taken place without the assistance and support of many people not least of all self styled “King Harp” Darragh O'Neill who prepared the 2 pitches to Premiership standard.

Contrary to Met Eireann's predictions the day dawned bright and cloudless. The organisers know the dawn was bright and cloudless because that's when they were on-site making a start on the final arrangements. The morning stayed bright and the sun even shone as the teams arrived for their 1 o'clock registration. Rain jackets were discarded and umbrellas left in cars, summer was here at last.

There were 2 teams from each club so each was allocated to a league X or Y to keep them separate until the the final round. Each team was to play 3 matches in the first round with the top 2 from each league going into the semi-finals. Between matches for the players, their brothers and sisters (and occasionally parents when they thought no one was looking) Harp's Damian Ward had arranged for 2 bouncy castles.

Counsellor Nick Killian opened the Tournament welcoming the teams and thanking the Club for hosting the event. A special thanks went to Ashbourne Gardai who supplied the trophies for both winners and runners up as well as 2 special plaques.  After the formalities the day's serious business got under way with Harps X meeting Ashbourne X and Cloghertown Y facing Dunsaughlin Y. Referees for the day were veteran Shane Kavanagh and his apprentice John Kearns. The standard of football was high with the 7 minutes each way concentrating minds and leading to fast and fluid games. No time for defensive football as all teams pushed for goals.

The weather played along too until just after the second matches kicked off. The skies first darkened and then opened up. The deluge was biblical and spectators looked around for those umbrellas and possibly even the nearest ark. The players didn't notice or even slow down, Meath teams take their football very seriously! During the rest of the day the weather sometimes improved but only in the sense that occasionally you could see as far as the other end of the pitch. The Ref's once or twice halted the games but soon realised that there is a point beyond which you can't get any wetter and play continued.

Imelda Gorman (or The Lady Imelda as one young player insisted on calling her) was the score co-ordinator taking the results of each match and marking them up on the big board. The Board was very popular with all teams regularly visiting to work out the permutations and combinations as the games progressed.

The first round games ended, the scores were totted, cross-checked and announced. The 4 teams into the semis were, from league X, Ratoath X and Dunsaughlin X and, coincidently, from league Y, Ratoath Y and Dunsaughlin Y also were through.  Tension notched up as clubmates and school friends were pitted against each other and managers tried to pretend it was still only fun.

As expected both matches were well played with Dunsaughlin X beating their clubmates to be first into the finals. The Ratoaths match was incredible with the teams evenly matched throughout. With the final score at 2 - 2 the game moved to penalties , 5 each. Ten very tense shots later, the scores were still level and we now moved to the heartbreak of sudden death. It would be unfair to relive the event for the players, particularly the loneliest men on the pitch, the 2 brave goalies Pat Roche and Andrew Gibson. Someone had to win and Ratoath Harps Y joined Dunsaughlin X in the final.

The final was everything you'd expect with both teams pushing hard for victory. Play moved from end to end with Ratoath probably making more opportunities but Dunsaughlin using theirs slightly better, finishing 2 – 1 up. Even the rain couldn't couldn't hide Ratoath's disappointment.

Mary Wallace, Garda Colm Curran and FAI's Regional Development Officer Paul Smith presented the awards including the 2 special awards. Throughout the day the Ref's had been choosing 2 players from each match and at the end of the day Dunsaughlin's Matthew Bridgett won the Fair Play plaque while Ratoath's Graham Reynolds took home the Best Player award.  Unfortunately, the ever present rain quickened the awards ceremony with most parents just wanting to get home and dry out. All the players got a medal and a goodie bag (lovingly packed at 4am 2 mornings previously). In spite of the weather most participants went out of their (damp) way to thank the organisers and ask to be invited back next year.  Will the organisers run it again next year....well there is the small matter of a not so small cup on its holidays in Dunsaughlin.

Like every local event up and down the country there is a considerable amount of behind the scenes work and support. In particular thanks are due to (and apologies in advance for not mentioning everyone):

Ashbourne Gardai, Garda Colm Curran, Mary Wallace TD, Counsellor Nick Killian, Paul Smith,

Ratoath Harps, Managers, Parents, The Lady Imelda, Andrew Gorman, Darragh 'King Harp' O'Neill, Shane Kavanagh, John Kearns, Gary O'Connor, FAI, Umbro, The Auld Stand, the Carpenter Inn and, most importantly,  8 Great Teams.