It came and went and what a weekend the County and community associated with St. Matthew’s GAC Drumsurn had hosting the Féile Na nÓg 2010.

A big hearty welcome was bestowed upon the Yorkshire Féile Na nÓg panel when they arrived at a well presented Billy Doran Park on Thursday evening.

Festivities kicked off early Friday with the first of the five local weekend games. Yorkshire registered their first victory in the competition on a score line of 2-8 to 1-4 against a young but talented Drumsurn team.

After some well earned sustenance both teams travelled to Celtic Park to take part in the official Féile opening parade. Spirits were high and everyone enjoyed the craic but there were plenty of tired legs when everyone eventually made their way to the University of Ulster Magee Campus.

The arrival of Muff and their guest team Warwickshire on Saturday morning heralded the start of the second day’s proceedings. Drumsurn were over powered by the big physical Warwickshire team, who won with a score line of 5-11 to 0-3. Yorkshire defeated Muff 3-6 to 0-6 in their opening game, setting up an all English ‘winner takes all’ decider. Warwickshire proved too strong on the day beating them 5-9 to 0-2.

Drumsurn’s final game of the competition was a more tightly contented match against Muff. This one went right down to the wire with Donegal team pippin Drumsurn to the victory by a point on a score line of 1-6 to 1-5.

Saturday evening’s festivities included Irish dancing by the McNicholl School of dancing, craic with Master Begley, a rendition in Irish by Bronagh McCloskey and music provided by Johnny Mulgrew and the Village Shamblers and a Bar-B-Que cooked by Sean Hamill.

On the night there was a presentation to the visiting team, Marisa Mullan our Club Secretary presented John McCormack from Yorkshire GAA with a piece of Derry Crystal. The Drumsurn coaches presented the young Yorkshire lads each with a Drumsurn top especially inscribed to mark the occassion.

The weekend concluded with a mixed team friendly on Sunday morning encompassing coaches and players from both teams before the Yorkshire lads said their farewells and departed for home.

The club would once again like to thank all host families for their generous hospitality towards the young team and their travelling mentors.

A big thank you must be given to our sponsors Spendlove C Jebb and TerraMar Networks, who despite the current economic climate have contributed generously to the event.

To all committee and club members who worked tirelessly throughout the weekend to ensure that events proceeded smoothly.

To all who provided food to feed the multitude of people, especially the camogie girls who made sandwich after sandwich.

To everyone who provided entertainment on Saturday night and all who worked behind the scenes especially our Féile Officer Joe Mc Hugh without his commitment the event would not have taken place.

This was yet another very successful event provided by St. Matthew’s GAC in 2010.