Hurling tournament takes to the pitch in memory of Seán
St Mark’s players Roisín, Corin, Lilly, Ava, Alana and Faith enjoying the games

Hurling tournament takes to the pitch in memory of Seán

HUNDREDS have attended a hurling tournament in remembrance of the late Seán Bowden, a teenager who died after a battle with cancer, reports Hayden Moore.

The second annual Seán Bowden Memorial Tournament was held by St Mark’s GAA club, as six clubs battled it out, all in memory of their former player.

Aoife Doran was juvenile chairperson at the time when the club established the tournament in 2019 and following a hiatus due to Covid-19, it returned with a bang on July 2.

“A fantastic day was had by all at the annual Seán Bowden Tournament in St Mark’s GAA Club,” Aoife Doran tells The Echo.

“a cracking day of hurling took place with 160 children from six different clubs and eight teams competing.

“The day began at 9.45am with a piper-led parade, a minute’s silence in memory of Seán and Amhrán na bhFiann.

“Throw-in for the first games at 10.15am led to incredibly tight, tense, and skilful games.”

The late Seán Bowden

An Under 9 competition,  with teams from St Mark’s (two), Lucan Sarsfields (two), Good Counsel/Liffey Gaels, Commercials, Round Tower and Stars of Erin all taking part.

After finishing in a draw at full time games between St Mark’s and Commercials, and Round Tower and Stars of Erin, ended in golden score such was the closeness of the matches.

The Drimnagh club were crowned shield champions after defeating one of the host sides, while Towers seized the cup after narrowly beating Stars of Erin.

“There were about 300 adults in attendance to cheer the children on, including Seán’s parents, extended family, team-mates and many friends,” says Aoife.

St Mark’s, Bowden Trophy – Mick Bowden presents the Shield to Good Counsel Gaels captain Tyler

“The noise and excitement from the tournament could be heard all the way out on the bypass.

“A fitting tribute for a fine young man, taken too soon but never forgotten in St Mark’s.”

Seán, or “Bowdey” as he was affectionately called, played with St Mark’s GAA Club for several years up until his diagnoses with Acute Lymphoblastic Lymphoma in 2017.

After dealing with other complications, Seán’s cancer had gone into remission by January 2018.

Tishya, Luke and Samuel

With his health improving, Seán was able to visit Anfield to see his beloved Liverpool and even start back to school in Tallaght Community School in September 2018.

Two days after he started back in school, Seán was brought to Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital by his parents Mick and Ann with a cough – where they were ultimately told that the leukaemia had returned.

The 15-year-old died in the October of that year and was laid to rest in Bohernabreena Cemetery.

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