An Cosantóir

19 DEFENCE FORCES MEN'S GAELIC FOOTBALL eventual winners beating 2 Bde 0-14 to 0-10. DFTC player Cpl Peter Cunningham was the 'Player of the Match'. Representative Series 2022 culminated with three very successful games and the DF coming out unbeaten after a draw and two victories. Prior to this, the 28 Inf Bn hosted a 'team bonding session' in Finner Camp which included a challenge game against newly crowned Donegal Senior Football Champions, Naomh Conaill (Glenties) and a recovery session in the Atlantic Ocean the following morning. This prepared the team for what was ahead of them, and the series didn't disappoint. The first game against AIB was held in Páirc Uí Chaoimh and resulted in a draw, DF 1-09 to AIB 2-06. BOI were next in NUIG Dangan Sportsgrounds on a 'soft day' and even though 2022 all-star Cillian McDaid from Galway and multiple all-star winners, Paddy Durcan, Keith Higgins (Mayo) and Shane Enright (Kerry) played for BOI, the DF ably led by Cpl Peter Cunningham and Pte Anton Sullivan (Offaly), Lt Shane McEntee (Meath) and Sgmn Paddy O' Sullivan (Laois) emerged victorious on a score line of 1-13 to 3-05. Cpl Peter Cunningham was the 'Player of the Match'. Finally, the team played An Garda Síochána in the NUIG Connacht GAA Air Dome in Mayo. The DF ladies football team and men's hurling teams also played on the day in a centenary event marking 100 years of service to the state by both organisations. Again, the DF team emerged victorious in a hotly contested game on a score line DF team with coaches and support staff of 3-11 to 0-10. The score line didn't fully reflect the competitiveness of the game which was a lot closer than the 10-point margin suggests. Pte Oran Doherty was the 'Player of the Match' on a day when the team performed as a unit, and there were so many exceptional performances. Throughout the year, the members of the DF Football group excelled as a group and as individuals exuding the DF Values of physical courage, selflessness and respect. Players travelled the length of the country for games. With their clubs and counties, the players excelled. Pte Anton Sullivan won a Tailteann Cup All Star and became Offaly Senior Player of the Year. Cpl Peter Cunningham was Offaly Intermediate Player of the Year and Paddy O' Sullivan was the Laois Senior Player of the Year. DF Referees A word of thanks must go out to all the DF Referees that made the games possible this year. Cpl Gus Chapman coordinated the refs, linesmen and umpires for games and was ably assisted by A/BSM John Devlin, Flt Sgt Barry Moore, Cpl Lee Moore, Cpl Fintan Barrett and Pte Frank Delaney at various times. The standard of officiating was very high, and the fixtures couldn't have gone ahead without them. Overall, 2022 was a very successful year for the DF Men's Gaelic Football committee and it is hoped things will go from strength to strength in 2023 with more of the same planned. NUIG Connacht GAA Air Dome in Mayo Team manager Comdt Tony Bolger giving his pre match speech Pte Adam Tyrell winning possession of the ball for his team

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