Tullysaran Poc Fada
Tullysaran 2014 Poc Fada will take place on Sunday 16 th March commencing @10.45/ 11 am. The on road course, which is 1.2 miles long, will run from Drumsallen Church to O’Connell’s GAC clubrooms. This is the third year of the Tullysaran Poc Fada and it is growing in popularity and is now a key event in the club calendar.
The 2014 Poc Fada launch was held recently at O’Connell Park in Tullysaran. Cuchulainn and Armagh hurlers Chris Coulter and Philip Duffy attended the launch and Tullysaran and county camogs Eimear Hayes and Dervla Mallon attended and brought along the Fr. Tom Soraghan Shield. Tullysaran camogs won the 2013 Senior County Championship for the first time in club history and it was fitting to have the shield included in the group photograph at the launch.
The event organisers Clodagh and Jason are keen to point out that all competitors struggle in their efforts to get the on road course covered in the fewest pucks and they encourage everybody to enter the competition. Competitors don’t need to be a star hurler or camog and there is now a section to suit everyone.
This year there will be 4 sections which are – Men’s section; Ladies section; Mix and match section (whether it be 1 adult 2 juveniles etc. or non hurling people who are just out for a bit of fun), and then the Juvenile Section which is from under 12/14 up to 16. The cost of entry is £10 per adult and £5 per juvenile and teams will consist of 3 people per team.
This is a fascinating event and once again the Poc Fada is expected to attract large numbers of local footballers, hurlers and camogs from various clubs including representatives of the GAA fraternity from Armagh, Tyrone and Cork.
The banter and craic between the competitors is massive and the event is expected to be fiercely competitive. The Middletown men are going for 3 in a row and the talk is that the lads from Keady and Cuchulainns are out to stop them achieving this. The presentation of awards will take place in Mary Ann’s with soup and sandwiches for all contestants followed by an evening of entertainment. A raffle will take place and the prizes include a signed Cork jersey; a meal for 2 in Portmor; a county jersey of your choice and also a gift voucher for Armagh Sports.
The sponsors of the 2014 Poc Fada are Armagh Bearing Supplies; Gerard Mallon, motor mechanic; Setanta Fitness; Cross County Fuels; Mary Ann’s Bar; Colin Donnelly Transport; Hi-tec tiling; V&S Bouncys,Avolon blinds and Buy and Sell Store NI and Paul Diamond of Star Sliotars has agreed to sponsor the sliothars for the event. The generosity of all the Poc Fada sponsors is much appreciated and the organisers are very grateful for their support.
The competition only takes a couple of hours to complete and everyone is very welcome to enter this gripping event. The Poc Fada is a fascinating and enjoyable action packed day out and remember that the main emphasis is on fun! O’Connell’s GAC is celebrating our 125anniversary this year and the Poc Fada on St. Patrick’s Eve’ is a great event to get the celebrations started. All proceeds of the Tullysaran 125 Poc Fada are in aid of underage development in Tullysaran. Teams must be entered on or before March 1 st .
To enter a team or for further information contact Jason Cahill Mob. or Clodagh Doyle Mob. 0.
Back row left to right – Cuchulainn and Armagh hurlers Chris Coulter and Philip Duffy; Clodagh Doyle, coach and Poc Fada organiser; Pearse Donnelly, Tullysaran senior football management; Ryan Conlon, Tullysaran senior football team captain.
Front row – Jason Cahill, Tullysaran coach and Poc Fada organiser; Eimear Hayes, Armagh and Tullysaran camog; Dervla Mallon, Armagh and Tullysaran camogie team captain; John O’Neill, Tullysaran and Cuchulainn.
