The 2019 All Ireland returned to County Leitrim as the town of Ballinamore where the championships were formed over 60 years ago as had proved a popular base at the previous year’s anniversary event, fished on July 28. Here 122 anglers from across the provinces drew at the Sports Complex whilst picking up their bait and refreshments for the day. Warm, overcast weather and local feedback suggested we were all going to be in for a good days fishing with some sections more difficult than others. Yet the fishing was harder than expected.

James O’Doherty’s 9.980kg from Lough Scur won the match with the remainder of the winning catches coming from Garadice, Connolly’s Shore.

  • 1st James O’Doherty’s 9.980kg
  • 2nd Paul Smith 7.940kg
  • 3rd Darren Fairhurst 7.340kg
  • 4th Mick Ellyat 7.280kg
  • 5th Harold Galbraith 6.400kg
James with Hon. President Oliver MCGauley
James Doherty (Tubertini) with Hon. President Oliver MCGauley

Twenty year old Enniskillen based James reports on the match: – “I’ve had a brilliant year to date and to add the All-Ireland title to the list at my age is fantastic.  It really makes up for the painful European Championships where we came so close to obtaining Ireland’s first Team medal for float fishing. On the day I decided to keep things simple for this one-day competition that everyone wants to win. The long pole was my main attack at 13m building up the peg as the day went on. I managed to have a great last two hours to end up with around 200fish – a lovely days fishing!”

Deimante Karalaunis
Deimante Karalaunis

Deimante Karalaunis’s Ladies title wasn’t contested this year but the promising young angler produced 1kg from the tough Grassy Bank section of lough Garadice and is a worthy winner of the 2019 title. Deimante received a bucket of goodies sponsored by Bait Tech Ireland to supplement the prize fund and her crystal trophy and medal.

Youth Winners U15 and U20
Youth Winners U15 and U20

This year junior anglers had the opportunity to join in and fish alongside the adults on these challenging waters. Brackley Lake was the venue for U15 contenders Brian Clark and Harry Boothby just two pegs apart. They played out a great match with Killeshandra’s Brian Clark taking the title with 1.150kg against 10-year-old Harry’s 0.300kg.  The event itself proved a fantastic experience for Staffordshire based Harry who has joined his Dad on his fishing holiday and a tough one too to find that Eels don’t count here in Ireland. Brian takes the U15 Cup, Crystal Trophy and medal also complemented by a superior class Greys keep net sponsored by Sensas Ireland. Both received medals to commemorate the occasion and runner-up Harry also takes home a €25 voucher sponsored by Irish Bait & Tackle Limited.

Youth Winners U15 and U20
All the winners

Paddy Connolly won the Under 20’s at Kiltybarden with 1,550kg with Donagh MCSherry all the way up from Nenagh taking the runner-up position. Well done to Paddy who received luggage sponsored by Sensas Ireland alongside the cup, trophy and medal. As runner-up Donagh also receives a €25 voucher with the compliments of Irish Bait & Tackle Ltd.

A full pay-out of all entry with 5 peg sections and the top five followed the match at Terry Shortt’s Heritage Bar in Ballinamore where Hon.President Oliver McGauley presented to the winners, thanking the NCFFI volunteers and the Lakelands Angling Club members for their support at the event.

National Coarse Fishing Federation of Ireland

The National Coarse Fishing Federation of Ireland, NCFFI has been representing coarse angling in Ireland since 1962, the federation was formed by a group of angling clubs who foresaw the need for governance and a presence on the international match scene. Coarse angling in Ireland is closely linked to tourism due to the fine selection of natural venues from the North to the South of the island utilised by anglers from home and overseas. Domestic championships have as a result always been open to the visiting angler and the festivals run by our clubs continue to attract large numbers from overseas.  For details of future events please visit www.ncffi.ie