Sevens for Sam

[Togetherforsam]

Sorry lads, I tried to change a name of another thread I started but I will be damned if I know how to do it. So apologies to those who have read this preamble before.

Anyway, I just wanted to give a wee plug to the a seven aside tournament that is coming up for Sam Bradley, a two year old from Fermanagh battling cancer. I'm his dad Colm

Sam has high risk neuroblastoma. He will be in treatment for 15 months and hopefully then in remission. He has done really well to date but as many parents of children with neuroblastoma know we have faced some worrying times where we thought that Sam would have to travel abroad for his treatment, especially in the case of relapse which unfortunately occurs in 50% of cases. Thankfully he has not needed to go abroad yet and we hope he never does. But in case of that eventuality we have been fundraising for Sam and the generosity of people has been unbelievable. Hopefully we get to help a lot of very worthy charities with the money raised in our sons name.

So, that is the background.

The sevens tournament takes place on Saturday September 14 in Brewster Park. 12 teams will compete. The nine counties of Ulster along with Mayo (Sam's mum's home county) and my home club Enniskilln Gaels and Crossmaglen Rangers. The rule is that you must have been playing senior football in the 90's. The committee organising this have been doing unreal work. The games will get underway at 3:00pm (i think - but def around this time). Four groups of three with the winners going through to the semi finals with the final under lights that evening.

There will also be a coaching clinic on the small pitch at Brewster Park with the likes of Ryan McMenimen giving their time. Face painting and other activities will be available

Some of the names that have committed to play to date - unbelievable to be fair (and sorry for any mistakes in spelling - very late);

Down: R Carr, DJ Kane, Blaney, Linden, Higgins, Wee James, Greg McCartan, Neill Collins, McKernan

Antrim: Kevins Brady and Madden, McGreevy, Gearoid Adams, Peter McCann, Gavin Bell, Paul Close, Ronan Hamill

Fermanagh: Sean Breen, Paul and Martin Greene, Clive Fitzpatrick, Kieran Donnelly, Shane and Barry King, Raymie Gallagher, Tommy Callaghan, Tony and Pearse Collins

Tyrone: McConnell, Devlin x2, Logan, McGleenan, Gormley x2, Corr, McCallan, Loughran, Dinky, Lawn, and of course, Peter the Great

Derry: Joe Brolly, Paddy Bradley, McGurks x2, McKeever, Downey, McBride, McFlyn, Lockhart, Muldoon, Rafferty

Monaghan: Loughman, Tavey, McArdle, McCarron, McGinnity, McEnaney, McDermott, Freeman

Armagh: Tierney, Jarlath Burns, O'Rourkes x2, Stevie McDonnell, Rafferty, Hughes, Reid, McNeill 

Cross: Oisin, Paul Hearty, McEntees x2, Short, Cumiskey, Moley, Califf, Dooley, Fitzpatrick, McShane

Enniskillen Gaels: Paul Brewster, Tom Brewster, Neil Cox, Kevin Gunn, might tog out myself yet too.

Mayo: Liam McHale, Pat Fallan, Kevin McStay and John Maughan will be there too.

Cavan: Anthony Forde, Mickey Graham, Carolan, Cahill, Kermath, Cunningham, Brady, King, Peter Reilly, Jason Reilly, McCormack and.... wait for it.... drum roll... Larry Reilly!!

[BennyCake]

Colm, that's quite a line-up! Sounds like it will be great entertainment, and great to see high profile players coming together for such a great cause.

All the best for the tournament, and to Sam for the future.

[Togetherforsam]

The draw has been made for the Sevens For Sam tournament and has thrown up some interesting pairings with Cross drawn against Tyrone and Antrim in a group of death.

http://www.togetherforsam.com/News/Details/10028

[heffo]

Best of luck with it Colm

[Lar Naparka]

Best of luck with it Colm

+1
All the best, Colm.

[brokencrossbar1]

Holy f**k Colm, I thought there would have been more club teams in it!!!  I hope you have plenty of defibs on the standby

[Hoof Hearted]

all the best with this lad, not just with the day itself, but with what its all for.

It puts things in perspective. all the arguing and fighting on here about an oul game of football and hurling, and here we have a 2 year old child battling cancer.

[Togetherforsam]

Cheers for all the good wishes lads.

You will be fine Gavin. Cross won't be too far away as always. I reckon this will be a bit of craic until about two mins in and then the competitive streak will take over. Should be a great day.

Fellas were trying to put prices on these teams. Antrim and Derry look very strong I reckon and would be my two favourites? Or should we just close the book and give the trophy to Larry and Cavan seeing as he can stop time, move faster than a speeding bullet etc

[muppet]

all the best with this lad, not just with the day itself, but with what its all for.

It puts things in perspective. all the arguing and fighting on here about an oul game of football and hurling, and here we have a 2 year old child battling cancer.

+1

Best of luck with.

I wonder will JQ have any videos of this to add to his excellent FB collection?

I would pay to see the likes of BC1, Liam McHale not to mention Larry Reilly play 7s nowadays!

[Orior]

All the best to wee Sam.

Hope you post up the results for a laugh

[Togetherforsam]

Orior - there will be a live twitter feed and really hoping to get some footage of the games.

We have got the names for the coaching clinic which will take place on the training pitch while the competition takes place on the main pitch. The coaching clinic takes place from 4pm to 6pm and there will also be face painting and other activities;

Coaches for clinic;
Kevin Cassidy
Joe McMahon
Ryan McMenamin
Cathal McCarron
Marty McGrath
Barry Owens
Chris Breen
Paul Ward
Niall Bogue
And Ryan Bogue, Fermanagh hurler, will be taking hurling coaching

Once again thanks for all the well wishes.

[micko12368]

Well done Colm yesterday on a great day, i was one of the Antrim players and thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience  and renewing old rivalries again. Once again many thanks for the whole day and was a moving speech at the end.

[Togetherforsam]

Thanks Micko. It was a great day. Coaching clinic was really well received and the crowd enjoyed the football no end. Super standard and the final was a brilliant game. Think a lot of people were surprised at the standard although with the players on show there should have been no shock. There was hardly a wide in the final.

I was sorry I wasn't able to get around all the players on the day. Amazing to see so much good will for Sam and he had a great day. Was down for a few hours in the afternoon and back for the final after a wee sleep at home. He loved the whole thing. Back up to Belfast this week for more tests and blood transfusions but the trip up the road is made easier after an event like that.

Thanks to all involved in the organising on the day, thanks to the coaches and everyone who helped and of course the players and people who came along on the day.

P.S - def think there would be an appetite for more regularly run tournaments for veterans and sevens is the way forward.

[ONeill]

Was there any footage recorded?

[micko12368]

Think most of us couldn't move in the last match. Yip it would be great if there was something for us auld boys!!