St Gall's win Azzurri sponsor Castlewellan 30th Sevens Saturday 5th September

The competition sponsors this year are
Azzurri Irish Sportswear and Leisurewear Suppliers of GAA and other Sports gear and St Malachy’s GAC are delighted that they have offerred to sponsor this years 30th anniversay competition

The Club’s success in winning the Kilmacud All-Ireland Sevens in 1978 and Belfield 7’s in 1980 prompted the then Club Secretary Gerry Dougherty to organise a similar competition North of the border hosted by his own Club and in 1980 the successful Castlewellan All-Ireland Sevens competition was born.

16 teams took part in that historic occassion. They included: Scotstown (Monaghan), Queens University (Antrim), St. Mary’s (Sligo), Derrylaughlan (Tyrone), Bundoran (Donegal), Omagh St. Enda’s (Tyrone), Cooley Kickhams (Louth), Bryansford (Down), Magherafelt (Derry), St. John’s (Antrim), Dundalk Young Irelands (Louth), St. Gall’s (Antrim), Lisnaskea (Fermanagh), Kilmacud Crokes (Dublin), Crossmaglen (Armagh) and Castlewellan.

The Castlewellan sevens panel that had won Kilmacud in 1978 and 1981 and Belfield in 1980 were also the first winners of the Castlewellan Seven’s beating neighbours Bryansford in a pulsating final. The winning Castlewellan panel included:
Laurence McAlinden, Kevin McElroy (Captain), Barney McAleenan, Colm Crilly, Danny Keown, Gerry Dougherty, Sean Gallagher, Ned McCartan, Liam Hardy.

Thirty Years on the Castlewellan Sevens are as popular as ever and St Malachy’s GAC hope to mark the 30th anniversary in a fitting and memorable way. All

Teams from all 32 counties have once again been invited including all of the Clubs that competed back in 1980 in that first competition Entry is now open for any Division 1 teams throughout the Country to enter this years competition which will as always take place on the first Saturday of September (eve of the All-Ireland Hurling Final. For entry form or other information please email An Runai Ronan King .

The ideal number of teams for this one day competition is 25 divided into groups of five played on a round robin basis, thus guaranteeing all competing teams a minimum of 3 games. The opening rounds will be played at 4 different venues in the town

All prizes for the competition are unique and of Irish manufacture – winners receiving the “Pat Keown” Memorial Cup with each team member receiving a ‘Cuchullann’ statuette, with the winning club receiving a sports voucher for Azzurri Irish Sportswear. Runners–up will receive specially commissioned bronze trophies.

In addition to the Player-of-the-Tournament trophy the outstanding player of the day will receive an Azzurri Sports voucher.

Since 2003 the competion winners have been Longstone (Down)
and St. Gall’s (Antrim) with Longstone winning in 2003, 2005 and 2006 and St Gall’s the holders winning in 2004, 2007 and 2008. Both teams will be back again this year with St Gall’s out to make history by winning three in a row and only Scotstown of Monaghan achieved this record before when they won 4 titles on the trot 1986 to 1989. For more details about the Sevens and the history of the competition including all past winners and runners-up visit the 7’s invitation section of our website at www.castlewellangac.com

The Sevens are of course more than a highly competitive one-day competition. It is always a great social occasion and St Malachy’s guarantee a warm welcome to all teams and spectators. The quarter final stages will take place in St Malachy’s park commencing at approx 2.00pm the final should take place about 5.30pm. and immediately after the finals Malachy’s Cluberooms is the venue for the celebrations with top class entertainment.