John Curry Park in Rathgormack was the setting for a memorable day of football as the inaugural John Curry Memorial U13 Tournament reached its conclusion with the Plate, Shield and Cup finals.

Hardy volunteers had the field beautifully prepared with Rathgormack bunting and flags displaying the colours of all participating clubs. While the windy and wet conditions put those decorations to the test, they also added to the atmosphere of a fantastic day of juvenile football.

The difficult conditions did little to deter the determined young players who took part in the tournament. The competition was organised to provide valuable game time for this U13 age group, who were not included in the Waterford GAA championship programme this year.

The tournament was named in honour of Johnny Curry, for whom the field was dedicated in 2005. Johnny’s name will forever be associated with underage development and the promotion of Gaelic football within Rathgormack GAA. As coach and trainer of numerous championship-winning teams, generations of footballers benefitted from his dedication, knowledge and tireless work. Johnny was also a worthy recipient of the Jack Furlong Award in recognition of his years of dedicated service to Waterford GAA.

Johnny’s grandsons Jason and Michael Curry, Rathgormack and Waterford footballers, were present on the day along with other members of the Curry family. They selected the Player of the Match awards and presented the prizes following each final.

Six clubs took part in the tournament - Rathgormack, An Ghaeltacht, Dungarvan, The Nire, St. Patrick’s and St. Mary’s - with 114 young players participating across an exciting programme of games.

Shield Final - An Ghaeltacht vs Dungarvan
The Shield Final opened at a lively pace, with Dungarvan’s goalkeeper producing an excellent save in the opening minute. An Ghaeltacht quickly settled into the game and opened the scoring with a point before adding further scores to establish control.
Dungarvan responded well, scoring a point in the fifth minute and following it up with a goal in the ninth minute to keep the contest alive. However, An Ghaeltacht maintained their strong performance and went into half-time leading 2-8 to 1-1.
Both teams battled hard in the second half in difficult conditions. While Dungarvan continued to push forward and added further scores, An Ghaeltacht maintained their advantage and finished the game strongly.

Final Score:
 An Ghaeltacht 5-11
 Dungarvan 1-4

Plate Final - The Nire vs St. Patrick’s
The Plate Final produced a thrilling and evenly matched contest. Strong wind and rain created challenging playing conditions, but both teams adapted well and delivered an exciting game of football.
The sides were level at half-time following a competitive first period. As the match entered the closing stages, it looked as though St. Patrick’s might edge ahead. However, a well-worked goal from The Nire swung the momentum in their favour.
St. Patrick’s battled hard to regain the lead, but The Nire defence held firm in the final minutes to secure victory.

Final Score:
 The Nire 4-5
 St. Patrick’s 4-3

Cup Final - Rathgormack vs St. Mary’s

The highlight of the day saw Rathgormack take on St. Mary’s in the Cup Final, with both sides eager to claim the first John Curry Memorial Cup.

St. Mary’s had defeated Rathgormack earlier in the week, and the home side entered the final determined to avenge that defeat. The difficult weather conditions meant that both teams relied on a short passing game and strong teamwork to create scoring opportunities.
St. Mary’s opened the scoring with a point after several early wides caused by the wind. Both teams exchanged goals before the 12-minute mark and at half-time St. Mary’s led 2-5 to 2-2.
After the break the game remained closely contested, but Rathgormack began to gain momentum. A crucial goal sparked celebrations on the sideline as the home side took control of the game. St. Mary’s fought bravely right until the final whistle, but Rathgormack finished strongly to lift the inaugural trophy.

Final Score:
 Rathgormack 3-9
 St. Mary’s 2-5

Rathgormack GAA would like to congratulate all the clubs and players who participated and represented their teams with pride throughout the tournament.

A sincere thank you goes to the many volunteers who helped organise and run the event in John Curry Park, from preparing the grounds and decorations to coordinating matches, refreshments and match officials.

Special thanks also to referees Gavin Whelan and Pádraig Hynes for their excellent stewardship of the games and for helping young players understand their decisions throughout the day.

Finally, Rathgormack GAA would like to thank the Curry family for their continued support and for allowing Johnny Curry’s legacy to be honoured through this tournament.

The quality of football on display showed that the future of Waterford football is very bright.

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