The Senior Scór season is upon us again and preparations for the first set of semi-finals are at an advanced stage.
The first semi-final will take place in Creggan Community Centre and will be hosted by An Charraig Mhór, N Colmcille club this coming Friday night beginning at 8.00 pm and the emphasis for this venue will be for clubs from West Tyrone. The second semi-final will be held in St Joseph’s College in Coalisland, for east Tyrone clubs, on Sunday, 23rd February beginning at 6.00 pm. Whereas Tyrone Senior footballers face Kerry in Omagh on Sunday at 1.45 pm this will leave anyone wishing to attend the Scór event ample time to attend both events. The Friday night event will be the first time a Scór event has been held at this venue and perhaps this will be a new beginning for the Scór movement in Tír Eoghain – a county which has a proud tradition of competing in Scór events since its inception into Tyrone from away back in the early 1970’s. The County Final is scheduled for Saturday, 8th March, at the Parochial centre in Coalisland with the Quiz element beginning at 5.00 pm and the stage competitions beginning at 7.00 pm.
Whereas the Senior Scór competition are currently experiencing some difficulties in engaging members in clubs to participate in the competitions, we, in Tyrone are endeavouring to revitalise the competitions. This is a feature which is facing all counties not only in Ulster but nationally and we feel there is a responsibility for all of us to attempt to revive the event. Scór na nÓg does not experience the same situation as our younger generation are still very willing to participate in all the events. While our lifestyles have changed since the Covid Pandemic we should make every effort within clubs to re-engage with our culture and heritage. Many people in the past seventy odd years have very fond memories of events at Scór from the very basic first rounds in small halls in Tyrone to the County, Ulster and All Ireland Finals in the likes of Killarney, Castlebar, Dublin and the very many other prominent venues nationally. Many of us in Tyrone have very fond memories of the progression of Scór at a local scene, the evenings of rehearsals and the great fun and indeed the many stories of hilarious happenings during the long winter evenings.
Even if your club is not taking part in this year’s events come out and se the level of fun, the entertainment and skill of those still taking part. All you need is to be over 17 years old and there is no upper age limit and the only qualification you need is the willingness to preserve our Irish culture and heritage.
So all of us should get out and support the clubs and their competitors and hopefully some more will get the ‘bug’ and begin the revival of the Scór movement in Tyrone and bring it back to its heyday of its early days in the county.
By Rory Cox Tue 18th Feb
