Collaborations and Community Support are Key Success Factors at the 2025 Special Olympics Munster Football Cup
The Munster Football Cup took place on June 21st at MTU Arena, with 14 teams taking to the field to compete in their respective divisions. In the women's competition, Kerry Stars, Mallow and Tipperary took to the field to battle it out for the five-a-side women’s cup. Mallow came out on top, with Tipperary coming second and Kerry Stars third. The Mallow team was led with stealth experience as we were delighted to see 65-year-old Kathleen McMeel don the Pink and Black for another year, having started to compete at this event more than 16 years ago.
In the Men’s Competition, Ballincollig retained the Division 1 Cup. Overcoming a thrilling semi-final game against Waterford, Ballincollig defeated Horizons in the final. Both semi-finals were exhilarating, where extra time and penalties were needed to separate the teams. Waterford overcame Mallow for 3rd place in that division.
The Waterford and Mallow contingents had success in other divisions as Waterford won Division 2 and Division 4, and Mallow won Division 3.
The event was built and delivered thanks to the support of community collaborators. These are the Irish Soccer Referees Society, Johnson and Johnson, the FAI and the Echo Newspaper. Referees from the Cork Branch of the Irish Soccer Referees Society officiated the tournament. They were John Corcoran, Timmy Kelleher, Pat Ryan, Don Murray, Kevin Long, Keith Haines, Stephen Madine, Albert Vlastimir and Denis Morley. The referee team was led astutely by Timmy Kelleher. Notably, Denis Morley was making his 23rd appearance refereeing at this event.
Johnson & Johnson played a significant role in delivering the event, taking on key event team roles and coordinating pitches, stewarding, registration, and catering. Denise Hickey, Ollie McCarthy, Rebecca Darrer, and Michelle O’Sullivan from J&J spearheaded volunteer recruitment before the event and coordinated the volunteers on the day of the event. J&J also orchestrated the opening ceremony, where Fionnuala O’Leary and Grainne Walsh from Ballyphehane & District Pipe Band led the teams into the competition playing the bagpipes.
The FAI provided a four-person team to complete the divisioning and grading processes required at the event. Alan Bennett, Ray Claffey, Amy O’Carroll and Edwin Andepu provided their services for the day, whom we are thankful for attending.
The Echo newspaper continues to provide support to Special Olympics Munster, attending our events, doing photography and providing coverage of our events in the weekly newspaper. Kieran Doherty eagerly leads that support, so thank you, Kieran, for continuing to cover the events across the Munster Region. Read the Echo article here: Special Olympics Munster Football Cup highlights all that is great about sport and coverage from 2024's Cup: Special Olympics Munster Football Cup 2024 was a huge success on and off the pitch
