Irish Tug of War

The penultimate national championship of the season took place today in St. Patrick’s GAA hall, Lordship, Co. Louth. The titles contested were senior 600kg and novice 600kg. The teams who competed were Ballyhooly, Bremore, Carndonagh, Clonmany A, Clonmany B, Cockhill, Fallons, St. Pats and Rockyes.

Bremore, national senior champions at 600kg

Six teams took part in the senior 600kg competition. Bremore were very impressive in this event and easily qualified for the semi final in first position without loosing a single end. Clonmany B were a close second. There was fierce competition for the remaining semi final positions between Clonmany A, Cockhill and St. Pats but it was Cockhill who missed out on the knockout stages. Arch rivals Bremore and St. Pats faced each other in the first semi final in the repeat of last year’s final. However, it was the Dublin team who won revenge for last year’s defeat as they qualified for the final with a straight end victory. Neighbours, Clonmany A and Clonmany B faced each other in the other semi final in a repeat of the 640kg semi from two weeks ago in Carlow.

Clonmany B, runners-up at 600kg senior

The result was the same as Clonmany B went through to the final to face Bremore, the third meeting of these two heavyweights in a national final this season. This was to be another mouth watering contest between these two great teams as Bremore fought hard to win the first end as they did in Carlow a forthnight ago. The Bremore men were not to be denied on this occasion putting the bitter defeats of the previous two finals behind them to win the second end, the gold medal and the national title at 600kg. St. Pats pulled out of the third place play-off which meant that Clonmany A won the bronze medal by default.

Rockyes, national champions at 600kg novice

Only three teams took part in the 600kg novice competition. Rockyes who won their first ever national title two weeks ago in Carlow continued their fine form today winning the round robin system. Fallons from Co. Galway who have had a very good first season at national level winning a silver and bronze medal before today joined Rockyes in the final. This was an even contest but it was the Cavan team with three changes from their winning 640kg team who pulled a very controlled final to win their second title in a row with a straight end victory. The final national championship of the season will be hosted by the Cockhill club on the 14th of February in Burnfoot, Co. Donegal.

Four teams took part in a non-championship youth competition. There were three Bremore teams and one from Ballyhooly. Pullers ranged in age from 12 to 19 and there were some excellent contests. This competition is a positive development as the new outdoor youth league gets underway in the summer. Click here for details of the outdoor youth league. If anyone has any photos from this competition could they please email them to us contactus@irishtugofwar.net

See full results on our Results page.

Click here to see photos from the championship in Lordship (note: there are two pages of photos

The third round of the national indoor championship took place today at the Carlow Youth Centre in Carlow town. The weights contested were senior 640kg and novice 640kg. The teams who competed were Ballyhooly, Bremore, Clonmany A, Clonmany B, Cockhill, Fallons, Rockyes, Taughmaconnell and Urnaidhe.

Rockeys, national champions at novice 640kg

Five teams took part in the novice 640kg competition and there were some fine even contests with very little between the teams. Ballyhooly finished top of the round robin system with Rockyes a close second. Fallons and Taughmaconnell were the other teams who qualified for the semi finals with local team Urnaidhe just missing out. Ballyhooly from Co. Cork faced Fallons from Co. Galway in the first semi final. The Cork team who were hoping to win their second title of the season began well winning the first end. However, Fallons who finished runners-up in the 680kg in Carrick on Shannon responded well to take the contest to a third and deciding end.

Ballyhooly, runners-up in the novice 640kg

There was a great atmosphere as both teams battled hard for a place in the final. With both teams on two cautions each, Fallons were disqualified for receiving their third caution as Ballyhooly progressed to the final. Rockyes from Co. Cavan who had previously won silver and bronze medals in this year’s championships had a much more comfortable victory over Taughmaconnell from Co. Roscomman. The final between Rockyes and Ballyhooly was an even affair but the Cavan men had a slight edge in the first end pulling the rope across the line in a little over two minutes. Under the guidance of coach, Andrew Clarke the Rockyes team pulled an impressive second end to win the gold medals and their first ever national title. Well done to the lads from Kingscourt, Co. Cavan. Fallons recovered well from their semi final dissapointment to win the bronze medals with an impressive victory over Taughmaconnell.

Clonmany B, national senior champions at 640kg

The four teams who took part in the senior 640kg championship were Bremore, Clonmnay A, Clonmany B and Cockhill. Bremore pulled well to top the round robin system with Clonmany B finishing in second position. Bremore faced Cockhill from Co. Donegal in the first semi fianl. There was little between the teams but the Dublin team continued their fine form to qualify for the final with a straight end victory. Arch rivals, Clonmany A and Clonmany A both from Inishowen in Co. Donegal faced each other in the second semi final. This was a mouth watering contest as Clonmany A began well bringing the rope to within a few inches of the line but the reigning world champions were not done yet and the recovered well to win the first end. Clonmany B also went on to win the second end to set up a repeat of the 680kg final at Carrick on Shannon. The final turned out to be a hugely entertaining contest and will go down as one of the greatest finals in history as the two heavyweights slugged it out for the title. Bremore who were the reigning champions at 640kg continued their fine form to win the first end with some well controlled pulling. The second end was a real battle as Clonmany B bagan to win some rope but Bremore responded bringing it back to the centre mark. Clonmany B recovered and eventually brough the contest into a third and deciding end in a time of four and a half minutes. The deciding end was similar to the second but it was the determined Donegal men who just did enough to pull the rope across the line to win the gold medals and the national senior title at 640kg. Clonmany A defeated neighbours Cockhill to win the bronze medals.

For full results from today’s national championship in Carlow check out our Results page.

Click here to see photos from today’s national championship in Carlow.

The second round of the national indoor championship took place today at Carrick on Shannon, Co. Leitrim. The weights contested were the 680kg senior, novice catchweight and open 600kg. The teams who competed were, Ballyhooly, Bremore, Canavans, Clonmany B, Cockhill, Gortletteragh, Fallons, Rocky’s & Urnaidhe.

Clonmmany B, national senior 680kg champions

The day got underway with the senior 680kg where four teams competed. After some fine contests in the round robin system it was Clonmnay B who finished top followed by Bremore. Clonmany B were drawn against their Inishowen neighbours, Cockhill in the first semi final. This was an even contest between the local rivals but it was Clonmany who were too strong and they went through to the final with a straight end victory. The second semi final between host club, Gortletteragh and Bremore was a much closer affair. Gortletteragh battled well and brought the Dublin team to within inches of the line but just ran out of steam as Bremore recovered to take the opening end. Bremore also won the second end to join Clonmnay in the final. The final was another entertaining contest but Clonmnay B were always in control and they went on to win their first national title of the season with a straight end victory. Cockhill dug deep to overcome Gortletteragh to win the bronze medal much to the dissapointment of the home support.

Canavans, novice catchweight national champions

There was some fine pulling in the novice catchweight event with five teams taking part. The Canavans team from Belclare in Co. Galway were very strong topping the league system with maximum points. Fallons, Ballyhooly & Rocky’s joined them in the semi finals with Urnaidhe from Co. Carlow just missing out. Canavans continued their domination by easily overcoming Rockys to qualify for the final. Fallons, also from Co. Galway who pulled so well at the first championship in Fermoy were determined to win their medal on this occasion and they produced a fighting display to secure the silver medal with a straight end victory. The all Galway final between Canavans and Fallons was a close affair as Fallons defended well against the power of the Belclare men. Despite their best efforts it was Canavans who went on to win the first end.

Fallons, novice catchweight runners-up

The second end was a real battle as Canavans began to tire and Fallons recovered some ground but Canavans just did enough to pull the rope over the line and secure a hard fought national catchweight title. Rockys from Co. Cavan pulled well to win the first end of the bronze medal pull-off against Ballyhooly but the Cork team responded to take the contest to a third and deciding end. However, Rocky’s showed a huge amount of determination to win the deciding end and the bronze medal avenging their loss to the Cork men in the 680kg final at Fermoy two weeks earlier.

Cockhill, winners of the open 600kg event

The three teams who took part in the open 600kg event were Cockhill, Rocky’s and Urnaidhe. Cockhill showed their experience in this event to take the title with Rocky’s finishing runners up.

See full results from today’s championship on our Results page.

Click here to see photos from today’s national championship in Carrick on Shannon.

The national indoor championship got underway today at St. Colmans College pitch, Fermoy. A very exciting novice 680kilo competition made up for a poorly supported senior 720kilo event where only three teams took part. The teams who attended the event were, Bremore, Gortletteragh, St. Pats, Ballyhooly, Rocky’s, Fermoy, Fallons, Carbery, Taughmaconnell and Glenhill.

Ballyhooly, 680kg national novice champions

Seven teams took part in a very entertaining 680kilo novice championship with many of the contests going to a third end. Fallons from Ballygar, Co. Galway who were making their debut at national level pulled extremly well to top the round robin system after their six contests. Rocky’s from Co. Cavan were a close second with local teams Ballyhooly & Fermoy also making the semi final stages. Fallons empressive competition continued by taking the first end of their semi final against Ballyhooly. However, the Cork team showed their experience by grinding down the Galway men taking the contest to a third end. Ballyhooly also won the third and deciding end to qualify for the final. Rocky’s overcame Fermoy in the second semi final to join the Cork team in the final.

Rocky's, runners-up in the novice 680kg

The final was another great contest with Rocky’s winning the first end. Again Ballyhooly showed sheer determination to fight back winning the second and third ends to win the national title adding to the 600kg outdoor title they won back in July. The bronze place pull-off also went to a deciding end and it was the experienced Fermoy men who emerged with the medal leaving Fallons with a fouth place finish having topped the league system, nonetheless it was a fine performance from the Galway team who will learn a lot from their first competition at national level.

Bremore, national senior champions at 720kg

The three teams who competed for the senior 720kilo championship were Bremore, Gortletteragh and St. Pats. The Dublin team were very strong and well in control powering both teams out of it to take the title in straight ends. Gortletteragh won the silver medal leaving St. Pats with the bronze.

St. Pats, winners of round one of the U23 league

The first round of the U23 6-a-side league also took place where St. Pats faced Carbery from Co. Cork for the points. St. Pats were well in command powering Carbery out in straight ends so they carry maximum points to the next round.

See full results from Fermoy on our Results page.

Click here to see photos from the national championship in Fermoy (note: there are two pages of photos)

Thanks to Niamh Dunlea & Pat Lee for sending on results, report & photos