A tight finish at the IADA Lough Muckno event
Irish Angling Development Alliance reports:
Lough Muckno was again the venue for the IADA national teams of five event, which went off in style on the 9th August in good weather and mostly calm fishing conditions.
This year had 90 anglers taking part in the strongest team gathering yet, with 18 teams assembled from all corners of the country and 4 from the UK.
All the fancied teams lined out and with firm favourites and last years champions Ballyhaunis travelling a day early and resting overnight with meticulous preparation as usual, the stage was truly set for a showdown.
Lough Muckno last years runners up had eager eyes on the trophy and it lined out its strongest usual club squad, in the certain knowledge that they could overturn the one point margin of last year, if all went to plan.
Lurgan with a number of teams always threaten and on this occasion they fielded without a couple of their key men such was their confidence of a top place finish. This year we had a very strong lineout from Ballybay who risked spreading their undoubted talent over three teams, presumably in the real expectation of multiple honours. Go and catch were the dark horses this year and their recent form would make them ones to watch all the way for the teams expecting to be in contention. Naas, Navan, the two Newry clubs and Carrickmacross fielded strong teams and also in the mix was four very strong teams from Ryeburn in the UK who had their 10 day visit scheduled to coincide with our teams of five event.
The flawless draw was concluded by 9.15am having had first hands in the bags at 9am after a trouble free registration process.
Best men on a mission to the most suitable sections left long faces and smiling faces heading for the 5 sections, at Concra Lower and Upper, White Island, Black Island and Yellow island.
A team event it was though, so all team members were under instructions to maximise points at the cost even of not going for glory, so in all cases some serious scratching was the order of the day, with no chances to be taken that might jeopardise team top points and possible glory.
Following five hours great fishing everybody knew that it was going to be tight at the top, with possibly some upsets on the cards.
Lurgan promoted a couple of strong team men to the A squad and they just came up short with a great points total of 28 in 4th place. In third place in the tightest of finishes and just edged in 3rd place by a half point with 25 points was Go and catch, certainly a team to watch. Edged out they were by last year champions Ballyhaunis who pulled out all the stops in the valiant effort to gain the spoils and while the finished in 2nd place with a great 24 and a half points total, the win was to elude them this year.
The honours went to Lough Muckno with a mighty points total of just 16 points and following its narrow defeat of last year it was just reward for this team of seasoned (old) campaigners who are never very far away but the brides on this occasion.
Well done and a big thank you to all the teams that took part and preformed with guts and determination in a very strong field of ninety.
Many fine individual performances resulted but on this occasion it was about team work, camaraderie and assistance to your fellow team members and by common consent the event was a splendid success and enjoyed by everyone that competed.
Top ten in reverse order.
Ryeburn Red 54 pts.
Newry Coarse Match Group 51 pts.
Ryeburn Green 47 pts.
Ballybay C 44pts.
Ballybay A 33pts.
Ryeburn Black 30 pts.
Lurgan A 28pts.
Go And Catch 25 pts.
Ballyhaunis 24pts and a half
Lough Muckno Match group. 16pts.
Any clubs who have juniors to participate in the coaching sessions or want help setting up their own session please contact
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Paul Mcloughlin
Irish Angling Development Alliance
085 2100880
