TADHG na Gael – a combination of Tadhg MacCarthaigh and Clann na nGael – is on the upward curve.

The club recently contested its first finals since being formed three years ago.

First up was the U16 team in the U16 Rebel Óg West Division 2A Championship Shield final against Clondrohid in Newcestown.

Playing with a strong wind in the first half Tadhg na Gael showed some rustiness having not had a game for five weeks. Points by Sam Kingston, Stephen O’Neill and Jack O’Donovan, And a goal finished off by Dylan O’Donovan saw Tadhg na Gael leading by the bare minimum at half time.

In the second half we saw a much-improved performance against the elements with some excellent scores including points for Fionan Bohane and Stephen O’Neill, and an excellent goal by Sam Kingston.

Clondrohid kept battling and a goal on 50 minutes brought them back to within one point. But Tadhg na Gael finished strongly to win by three points, 2-7 to 1-7.

Joint captains Dara Hurley and Jack O’Donovan accepted the shield on behalf of Tadhg na Gael, the first silverware won by the club in its three years in existence.

The history-making Tadhg na Gael squad included Dara Hurley, Timmy O’Donovan, Micheal McCarthy, Marc O’Donovan, Oisin O’Driscoll, Bobby O’Sullivan, James Quinn, Jack O’Donovan (0-1), Tadg Crowley, Stephen O’Neill (0-2), Kaelan Twomey, Jack Coakley, Sam Kingston (1-2), Dylan O’Donovan (1-0), Fionan Bohane (0-2), Bill Kingston, Aaron Deasy, Conor Lennon, Colin Kingston, Darragh Keating, and Oisin Keane.

Unfortunately, Tadhg na Gael’s minor team were not so lucky, losing out to a strong Kilmurry team, 1-19 to 1-8.