Yesterday, June 16th, we held the first ever National Boccia Finals in IWA which was the culmination of a brilliant few months of regional competition.
Boccia is played in most IWA Community Support centres around the country and following a successful pilot competition in the North East region it was established that there would be enough interest for a National competition.
And so it began!!!!
22 centres and 42 teams from all over the country entered, with some centres entering two teams. Regional qualifying competitions were held in Navan, Mallow, Sligo, Kilkenny and Athy which saw ten teams qualify for the National Finals yesterday.
Those teams were, Drogheda 1 and Drogheda 2, Limerick 1 and Limerick 2, Belmullet Letterkenny, Kilkenny, Roscrea, Balinagar and Athy.
The format for the finals saw two groups of 5 teams vying for two semi final slots each. Drogheda 2 and Limerick 1 Qualified for the semi finals from group 1 and Drogheda 1 and Letterkenny qualified for the semi finals from group 2. Letterkenny subsequently overcame Drogheda 2 in the first semi and whereas Drogheda 2 emerged victorious over Limerick 1 in the other semi final.
This set up a final of Letterkenny versus Drogheda 1. This was an exciting final played over 6 ends with Letterkenny eventually running our victorious on a scoreline of 5-2. Captain of Letterkenny was Gerry Gallagher who received the trophy from founding IWA member Dr Oliver Murphy.
And so concluded the inaugural IWA National Boccia Finals. Huge thanks must be given to everyone who made the competition the success that it was, including the members, volunteers and staff. It must be acknowledged that centres provided great support with their willingness to host competitions and their commitment and dedication in travelling long journeys.
A final sincere thank you should go to the North East Sports Project team. Robbie Hurr and his team coordinated and delivered a superb programme that everyone involved, including members and staff alike, enjoyed thoroughly, and which will undoubtedly will run for many years to come.