GRASS ROOTS

ST PATRICK’S

Congratulations to Rob Hollingsworth and our Senior footballers who were back in action in the Division 1 league on Friday last in Greystones.

In a good all round performance the lads ran out winners on a score line St Pats 0-15, Eiré Óg Greystones 0-12.

We are now second in the Division 1 with the top four teams of Rathnew, St Patrick’s, Blessington, Eiré Óg Greystones. See fixtures for the league play-off games.

Congratulations to our ladies chairperson Stephen McNulty who took charge of the Ladies All Ireland Junior Club Championship in Glasgow between Glasgow Gaels and Belgium.

Former St Pats player Orlaith Munnelly was victorious with her Glasgow Gaels teammates in the All Ireland Club Championship on a scoreline of: Glaschu Gaels 4-12 Belgium 4-06.

Another former St Patricks player Conor Higgins also plays with Glasgow Gaels and was victorious in the Scottish Junior Football Final recently. Conor contributed to the scoreline of Glasgow Gaels 2-19 to Edinburgh 0-6

St Patricks GAA club will host the Scór na n-Óg County Final this year on Friday, November 11. The competitors will be under-17.

Two St Patrick’s Legends celebrated mile stone birthdays together last week with 110 years between them. Happy Birthday Sean and Seanie O’Brien!

All team managers or administrators please send your end of year report and team photo on the season, including all panel members, coaches and key highlights of the year as the deadline for the Wicklow GAA Year Book is Monday, October 31 before Friday, October 28 to email Pro.stpatricks.wicklow@gaa.ie.

Our under-14s lads await the outcome of a three way play off between St Nicholas/ Baltinglass and Eire Og to see who we meet in under-14A football Harry Leonard Memorial Shield semi-final.

Our Minor ladies are awaiting confirmation of their Minor Championship semi-final fixture.

Our under-16A ladies are awaiting confirmation of their under-16 league final against AGB.

Please support your town, your team, your club!

St Patricks GAA Club have distributed the All-Ireland club draw tickets. Please return to relevant team managers before Monday, October 31, to be in a draw for a €100 voucher for the club shop

St Patrick’s GAA - Sports Prediction Competition update: Congratulations to Last man standing Mark Murphy who backed Bray Emmets for three in a row and is the overall winner of our competition with Marguerite Fitzpatrick second.

We had no jackpot winners in our club lotto this week! Numbers drawn were 8, 9, 13 and 24. The bonus number was 14. We had four match three winners: Maura O’Brien, Veronica Flaherty, Niamh O’Toole and Stephen c/o Whistlers.

Thanks to the weekly club lotto sellers who give up their time to help raise funds for the club. It’s greatly appreciated. Make sure you buy a ticket each week and you could be the winner of our match four prize €2,000 or match five €10,000 jackpot!

Our sincere condolences to the family of Thomas (Tommy) Tyrrell, Wicklow Town/Tinahely, who passed away suddenly, son of the late Pat and Maureen Tyrrell, beloved husband of Jean, and loving father of Patrick, Ger and Aoife.

Sadly missed by his loving wife, sons, daughter, sister Margaret, brothers PJ, Paul and Kieran, daughter-in-law Tina, brothers-in-law, sisters-inlaw, nephews, nieces, extended family, relatives and friends.

Tommy was a teacher, Principal and barrister, GAA coach who coached our 1999 Féile team and was part of his home club team of Tinahely who won the Miley Cup in the centenary year of 1984.

Tommy served in the Abbey Community College for 33 years up until 2011 when the school amalgamated where he had a positive influence on the lives of the students. Wicklow mourns the loss of a true gentleman. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam Our sincere condolences to the family of Michael (Mick) Carey (Friarsfield, Wicklow Town) who has passed away peacefully in the loving care of the staff and nurses at St. Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin. Sadly missed by his loving wife Catherine, children Dorothy, Pauline, Michael, Debbie and Des, sons-in-law, daughterin-law, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, extended family, relatives and friends.

Mick was a member of the three in a row team of 1959/60 and 1961.

He was a big part of the golden era of St Patrick’s GAA Club in winning eight Senior champions in 11 years. The Laois native was an accomplished hurler also winning a Senior championship with Rathnew to complete a football and hurling double in 1950. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam Please send any information for club notes to Pro.stpatricks.wicklow@gaa.ie before 9pm on Sunday evenings. You can contact St Pats at Facebook St Patrick’s GAA Club Wicklow Town or Twitter @StPatsGAAWick.

AGB

AGBs Intermediate team had their first venture into the Leinster GAA Championship when they played Taghmon/Camross in the AIB GAA Leinster G.A.A. Club Intermediate Football Championship on Saturday. AGB were privileged to have their first match at a home venue and Pearses’ Park was a sea of blue and green with the AGB supporters.

The teamsheet was slightly changed and regrouped from the championship final but AGB were raring to go. The first half was a great display of football as both County final champion teams battled fast and hard to get their mark on the scoreboard.

AGB pushed themselves on and went into the half-time break leading 2-07 to 1-05 in the Leinster Intermediate championship. Cormac O’Shea’s first goal of the match had upped the momentum, seven points were closely clocked up and Cormac Hyland scored the second goal on a penalty.

On return to the second half Taghmon came out ready to catch up, however AGB never relented. They maintained their pace and ball work and with some great encouragement from the goals and sideline kept themselves to be the stronger team. Both teams continued to add to the scoreboard but AGB managed to stay ahead.

Some injury time added at the end kept the atmosphere on a high as both teams held their own.

AGB finished victorious at full time with a score of 2-11 to 1-11. Onwards now for the Intermediates, who will play the Meath county final winners, which will also be a home venue, in two weeks time. Date and time to be confirmed.

AGB’s under-14 boys played in the under-14 Shield final on Wednesday night. AGB looked a little more nervous than usual, understandably.

First final and a big crowd can be daunting but once the boys settled, a few more scores could have seen them home. It wasn’t to be, unfortunately.

This will rankle for a bit but the under-14s will take the lessons from it. The ball will bounce their way again and they will know how to win.

It takes a great team to make a final and it takes great heart and attitude to accept defeat with dignity.

To their management they did that and it made their team mentor very proud to see them applaud Kilcoole lifting the trophy.

This wasn’t the under-14s turn, but its coming. Finally a couple of words of thanks: to Eulic Hanlon, Christies and SureDatum for the help with sponsorship for the team. Little rewards mean a hell of a lot to the players and without that generosity it wouldn’t have been possible.

And finally to our parents and supporters. Every single one chipped in to support the lads, helped out and encouraged and assisted in getting them this far.

Once again on the night ye turned up in great numbers, roaring on the team and making yourselves heard.

It makes any pitch seem like a home venue. Thank you all for sticking with us all year and for lifting the team countless times.

Lastly, though not intentionally, a special thank you to Agnes. While she undoubtedly brings both style and glamour to this fairly unsightly rabble, it’s a thank you for all the unseen and unmentioned work she does behind the scenes, just to keep the lads lined up!

AGB Minor ladies took on Baltinglass, in Baltinglass, on Friday, October 21, in the second round of the 2016 Minor championship and were victorious.

Arklow now face St. Patrick’s in the semi-final and the girls are up for the challenge. Baltinglass showed determination right up to the final whistle in this game and both sides served up a sporting and skilful encounter for their supporters. The future of minor and adult ladies football in the county looks promising if these girls, many of whom are still under-16 grade, are encouraged to continue developing their skills going forward.

Wishing AGB’s Minor team the very best of luck as they face Pearse Gaels in the Minor championship final on Sunday in Aughrim. Throw in is 11.45am. Come out and support the boys in what promises to be a cracker of a final.

Our under-8 and under-10 boys and girls travelled to Tattersalls in Co Meath on Saturday to participate in Hell & Back Juniors. Lots of fun was had by all as they braved the tough course and the mud!

Special thanks to Kerry Ward for all the organising, a great day was had by all.

AGB’s ladies AGM takes place on Friday, November 4. If you have any nominations for any position on the 2017 ladies committee please contact any member of the outgoing committee.

AGB’s AGM is scheduled to take place on Friday, November 25 in the Ballymoney clubhouse.

The next meeting of the Arklow Geraldines Ballymoney Club Executive is scheduled for Wednesday, November 16, at 8.00pm in Pearses’ Park.

Please send club notes to arklowgaa@gmail. com You can contact the AGB PRO at above email, Facebook (‘Arklow Geraldines Ballymoney GAA Club’ or ‘AGB Ladies’) or Twitter.

COOLBOY

Our AGM will take place on November 19 at 8pm in Coolafancy Hall. We’re hoping our existing members will attend as well as new faces to come on board with fresh new ideas to make the club even more successful, The more the merrier!

League Final - Our Division 4 league final against Rathnew is fixed for this Saturday in Arklow at 1.30.

We hope our supporters will come out in force and encourage the lads to take home the Finan Cup.

ARKLOW ROCK PARNELLS

Anyone looking for a bit of fun over the bank holiday weekend, come on down to the Rocks clubhouse on Sunday, October 30, and enjoy possibly the scariest thing this year ... an 80s night!

Yeah, it’s mainly because that’s when most of our current junior team were born. Good night up so come on down. Ticket’s €5 from Derek O’Leary, Bryan O’Leary, Vinny Byrne and Jason Redmond.

Also the under-8s will continue to train on Fridays at 6-7pm at the Astroturf at the pitch. All completely qualified coaches and trainers. All new club members welcome.

ASHFORD

Lotto results from October 17 for a jackpot of €2,600.

Numbers drawn: 1, 12, 23, and 27. Match threes: Win or share €300: A Castles c/o Glenealy PO.

Due to having four of our main players out injured, our Leinster Junior football quarter-final against Bracknagh (Offaly) was always going to be a difficult task. And so it turned out to be. Bracknagh were a lovely, natural Gaelic football team and we wish them all the best in the Leinster semi against Kilcullen.

This Saturday we are back in action again. We play Knockananna in the Swan Cup final in Arklow.

Pearse Gaels play AGB in the Minor county final in Aughrim this Sunday. Support for this team will be very much appreciated. Thomas Kearns, Cormac Doyle and Cal Connolly represent our club.

The Strictly Come Dancing event takes place in the Ashdown Park hotel on Friday, November 5. The 14 couples are practising furiously and a fun filled night is assured for all attendees. Tickets cost €20 each.

AGM of club will take place on Friday, November 25.

Further information on Ashford GAA activities can be found via Facebook and from our web page, www.ashfordgaa.com.

CARNEW EMMETS

Carnew play Strafford on Sunday at 11.30am. The under-16s played Ashford in the Shield final on Monday night.

Sincere sympathy is extended to the family and relatives of Matt Hillard who died during the week.

ÉIRE ÓG GREYSTONES

Lotto - Numbers drawn on Monday 17 were 10, 13, 15, and 30. Jackpot on Monday 24 was €12,000. The curtain came down on our hurlers’ year in Páirc na bPiarsach in Arklow on Saturday with a defeat at the hands of Avondale in the Billy Byrne Cup.

This competition is played annually to decide which clubs will occupy the fifth and sixth positions in Cill Mantáin’s order of hurling merit.

The teams had drawn in the early stages of the championship but, in the meantime, the Éire Óg squad had been ravaged by injuries to key personnel e.g. the Kelly brothers and Peter Keane while ‘Chunky’ Nolan was in snare to globalized travel so Éire Óg’s chances going into the match would not have been rated highly.

Nevertheless our lads made a lively start, showed well in the early stages and opened the scoring thro’ Andy Walsh (he was to add three others from play). However, Éire Óg’s endemic malaise quickly showed its presence and this was almost immediately followed by two sigh-generating wides.

The ensuing bout of play proved, in the long run, to be outcome-determining. These sighs of disappointment had scarcely died when Dan O’Neill was retrieving the ball from his net.

His puck-out afforded little relief to our besieged defence and a few minutes later he was engaged in the same act of recovery.

Hammer blows but not fatal to our lads’ endeavours! Theirs was a feisty response but the bugbear of inaccuracy limited their scoring before the break to two points from play, one from Andy and the score of the match from Gavin Parslow, and two from frees off the reliable camán of ‘Pooch’ Cranley. Half-time saw Greystones 2-11 to 0-8 behind.

In the second period the tempo of the game increased and Na Clocha Liatha began to eat into the Avondale lead.

Unfortunately it was not long into the third quarter when we were reduced to 14 men. However this did not prove to have the anticipated detrimental effect and the Éire Óg advance continued.

On the three-quarter mark a Greystones goal from Dan O’Neill (who had moved outfield from between the posts) which left Éire Óg just a goal behind, 1-11 to 2-11, had the opposition worried.

At this stage Avondale recovered their composure and added three points. Yet our lads did not relent in their efforts and had us on our feet at the 55 minute mark when an Anto Byrne bullet seemed destined for the net. A fantastic save by the Avondale goalie.

If that had gone in……? Éire Óg outscored Avondale 1-6 to 5 points in the second half.

U-14 Hurling B Championship Final. (Buíochas to Colm Dorgan for this report)

Luck was not on our side today as we came up short on a scoreline of Avondale Parnells 5-03 to North Wicklow Gaels 2-07.

Avondale were quick out of the blocks and after 10 minutes were two goals to the good but then our lads settled into the game and put the next four scores on the board after some brilliant build up play. At this stage the Gaels were pressing all over the field but we could not find the target often enough and as half time approached and an all mighty downpour with it, it wasn’t looking good for our chances in the second half as we trailed by five points and the prospect of playing into the teeth of a rain storm.

With some great words of encouragement from their Mentors still ringing in their ears the lads came out in the second half and completely dominated this game to the final whistle but just could not get the scores to win the game.

The Avondale goalkeeper who deservedly received the Man of the Match award pulled of some terrific saves at vital times to keep his team in front to the end to claim the victory.

The lads deserve great credit as they battled with great spirit and determination from start to finish as they have been doing all year and with the talent and skill that is within this squad they will have plenty of better days ahead.

From defeats like this the seeds of victory are sown.

Team: Shane Collins, Colm Shortt, Cillian Keane, Sean McCormack, Eoin Byrne, Thade Shanahan, Ben O’Neill, Neil Browne, Joe Prendergast, Daniel Healy, Luke Dorgan, Michael Gray, Aaron Keddy, Bill O’Brien, Oisin Shanahan, Kieran Ovenden. Fionn Mansfield also part of panel.