Birthday boy Joe (60) celebrates 4th Masters
THE fourth annual Joe McNally Invitational Masters Football 7s tournament took place on Saturday at St Anne’s GAA club Bohernabreena.
The annual tournament coincided with Joe’s birthday and was a tremendous success once again with over 1000 people in attendance.
16 clubs took part in the invitational, including several Dublin clubs such as Thomas Davis and St Marks, but also John Mitchel’s GAA Club of Liverpool who participated in the tournament for the first time.
At the quarter final stage, Shankill beat Ballinteer St Johns, John Mitchel’s beat St Kevin’s Kilian’s, St Marks got the better of St Laurence’s of Kildare and St Finian’s of Swords beat St Mary’s of Saggart.
John Mitchel’s impressive run ended at the semi final stage at the hands of St Mark’s, while there was drama in the other semi final as Shankill knocked out Finians on penalties after a last minute equaliser took them to spot kicks.
Mark’s defeated Shankill in the final to be crowned 2024 champions for the first time, with Collie O’Donoghue named player of the tournament after numerous impressive displays.
Glenda and Ann at the event in St Anne’s in Bohernabreena Photos by Paddy Barret
Previous winners of the tournament range from Baltinglass of Wicklow in 2019, St Mary’s of Saggart in 2022 and Railyard of Kilkenny in 2023.
The concept of the tournament is “to get lads back playing football and having the craic”, McNally told The Echo previously.
