CLUB CALL
GOREY CRICKET CLUB
Indoor cricket for Junior players (under-16s and Primary School children is taking place on Friday, December 29, and on Friday, January 5, in the Castletown complex commencing from noon until 2pm, costing €5 per person.
All newcomers welcome, as no experience is necessary. If interested, please contact Chris, chrissheeran4@hotmail.com or alternatively our club’s welfare officer at nomece@hotmail.co.uk.
It is hoped Gorey Cricket Club will be entering an under-15 team in next season’s Leinster League along with two Senior teams.
Wishing all our members, sponsors and supporters the best this holiday season and throughout the new year. Merry Christmas.
SLIABH BUIDHE
Sliabh Buidhe Rovers had a 1, 2, 3 finish Saturday at the Gorey Park Run.
Myles Gibbons continues his return to form was first home in 17:20, followed by Patrick Curley running well in 17:50 and Tommy Levingston in 20:02. Mary Carton had a tremendous race finishing third woman overall in 26:14 in her first Park Run.
Pat Crean was at the Wexford Park Run where he finished 44th in 28:39 and Stephen O’Leary ran a one-minute PB to break 30 minutes for the first time in 29:09. Frances Murphy also ran well and was 66th in 34:58.
Eugene Doherty had a great run at the Wicklow Santa Dash 10k finishing fifth overall in 41:33 and winning the Over 60 category.
Abbey Murphy and Sharon Murphy ran in the Wicklow Santa Dash 5km finishing well in 38:35 and 38:36.
SBR held its annual AGM in the Ferns Community Centre on December 8 and we would like to thank everyone who attended. The following is the election of officers for 2018:
Life President: Jimmy Kearney; Chairman: Lukie Kehoe; Secretary: Louise Kehoe; Treasurer: Pat O’Neill; PRO: Jim O’Malley; Men’s Captain: Tomas Kavanagh; Women’s Captain: Louise Kehoe; Committee: Raymond Byrne, Pat O’Neill, Lisa Murphy, Ciara Nolan, Louise Kehoe, Elisa Leacy, Lisa Breen, Jimmy Howard, John O’Rourke, Lukie Kehoe, Mairead O’Neill, Tommy Jordan.
All club results, fixtures and information available at www. sbrclub.com.
ST. KILLIAN’S A.C.
Well done to Niall Sheil who travelled to Clonakilty on Saturday December 9 to compete in their half-marathon.
Conditions were crisp but, ideal for the picture perfect course that meanders out of town and along the Wild Atlantic Way with breath-taking views. This event has really grown in stature over the years and is a real favourite among the athletes not only for the course but, the support from the residents in the town and the great organisation of the team involved. Having won this race last year Niall had a super race this time taking the win by nearly 4 minutes.
Niall had this weekend (December 16/17) free to recover from his exertions.
NEW ROSS RFC
With the previous weekend’s fixtures across the province all falling victim to the snowy weather, Sunday provided the new date for the fixture with Mullingar travelling to Allianz Park in the battle between third and fourth in Division 2A.
New Ross started much the brighter, winning a penalty on the third minute which was missed and another in the seventh which was converted by Kevin Burke. With New Ross in total control up front, Mullingar earned a penalty against the run of play in the ninth minute and promptly levelled the score.
The half rumbled on with the Barrowsiders entirely dominating the scrum and the territory, peppering the Mullingar line with phase after phase and with Mullingar conceeding sequential penalties before the referee finally lost patience and issued a yellow card to the visiting openside.
New Ross continued to bully up front but the scoreboard was not clicked on again until the 39th minute when Paddy Delaney touched down after a scrum drove over. kevin Burke added the conversion.
The second half resumed with New Ross maintaining a tight grip in the early minutes before Mullingar again grabbed a penalty. In the 47th minute and again in the 50th minutes, New Ross missed penalties after Mullingar indicipline and this seemed to swing the momentum to the visitors for a time as they scored a penalty after 52 minutes and a converted try in the 73rd minute to take the lead.
New Ross then spent the rest of the match in the visitors 22 with massive carries by James Ryan, Shane Roche and Jimmy Bryan but Mullingar foiled all attempts to take the four points from the fixture winning 16-10.
In truth, New Ross must be disappointed with the result as they had the lion’s share of possession and territory as well as total control of the scrum but final passes seemed to go adrift on too many occasions. On the plus side, Bartek Balserski put in a man of the match performance in an unacostumed position of first centre.
EHC First Ladies - Enniscorthy’s Ladies First XI maintained their pressure on league-leaders UCD with a 1-0 win over Genesis in Division 7 on Saturday with a goal from Sonja Rynhart.
With the home side taking the first tip off, Enniscorthy applied pressure, eventually turning over the ball and attacking up the right hand side of the pitch.
Forwards Olive Lett, Anna Flood and Sonja Rynhart had many circle entries early on and, alongside midfield Jessie Flood, were unlucky not to capitalise on their goal-scoring attempts.
Great passing up the left from back Katie Owen to Laura Bailey, Laura Smith and Olive Lett put pressure on the home side’s defence.
After 15 minutes of play, a smart intercept by left wing Lett left the Genesis defence out of position, and a quick pass right to the approaching Rynhart allowed her to strike the ball cleanly into the back of the goal.
After half-time, Genesis increased their attack. Nevertheless, the defence of Katie Owen, May Wickham, Julie Watchorn and Leah Chapman, ensured the opposition did encroach on Enniscorthy goalie Norah McGinty.
Despite dominating proceedings, Enniscorthy were unable to extend their lead following Rynhart’s first-half strike, leading to a nervous final quarter for the Wexford side.
Enniscorthy now take a well-deserved break and return for their first match of 2018 when they take on Clontarf 3rds at home on January 6.
Squad: Norah McGinty, Katie Owen, May Wickham, Julie Watchorn, Leah Chapman (C), Laura Bailey, Laura Smith, Jessie Flood, Olive Lett, Anna Flood, Sonja Rynhart, Hannah Sweeney, Roisin Treacy. Coach: Donal Doyle
EHC Second Ladies - Enniscorthy’s ladies second XI had their last match before Christmas on Saturday last, played in freezing conditions at Alexandra College in Dublin 3.
The early encounters of the game say the Dublin side earn a penalty corner, but defender Bolger then cleared after a fabulous save by Medcalf.
In the second half, a powerful strike by Murphy came very close to opening the scoring for the visitors.
Despite the efforts of the Enniscorthy defence who were working well together, Old Alexandra put three goals by the visitor’s keeper.
Enniscorthy continued to battle and push forward and threaten the home sides defence.
Super movement by Murphy up the centre of the pitch say the Wexford side score their sole goal of the game. Murphy put the ball through to Hickey who was quick on her feet to slip the ball passed the keeper.
Enniscorthy will now break for Christmas before they prepare for their first game of 2018 when they take on Pembroke Wanderers on January 13.
Squad: Alice Medcalf, Roisin O’Muiri, Amy Dalton, Eleanor Bolger, Julie Hayes, Niamh Redmond, Bridget Gainford, Emer O’Doherty, Laura Redmond, Elaine Hickey, Avril Buttle, Ciara Murphy, Mairead Neville. Coach: Donal Doyle
EHC U14 Boys - Enniscorthy under-14 B boys won 5-2 on One-vs-Ones after their cup game last Saturday against Suttonians finished as a draw.
The under-14 C boys went down 5-4 in a goal fest of a cup game against Monkstown.
Squad U14B: Adam H, Marcus W, Wayne S, Mervyn R, Brian S, Ben R, Billy W, Mathew K, Dylan H, Daniel M, Evan W, Niall K.
Squad U14C: Adam H, Robin H, Stephen H, Andrew G, Billy W, Ben R, Mathew K, Evan W.
GOREY HOCKEY
Gorey v North Kildare 5 - On Saturday, Gorey ladies took on North Kildare 5 in Enniscorthy.
Gorey got off to a flying start putting Kildare under pressure from the whistle. A short corner quickly followed but the opening goal came from Muireann Deegan in open play.
Soon after, the short corner penalties started to pay off, as did Gorey’s training practise, when Sadhbh Corcoran slotted home a stunning goal on her debut. 1-0
In the second half the goals continued to flow with Muireann adding three more and Olive McGarry slotting home number six. Left wing Zoe Kenny was unlucky not to add another with some timely runs into Kildares half.
The right side worked hard throughout with sterling performances from Robyn Swords and Lyndsey Walters, and Sarah Merrigan controlling the match from the centre.
An experienced defensive line, Ruth Evans, Bridget Kenny, Vicky Hughes kept Kildare out of the circle giving Goalie Susan Vaughan another clean sheet.
Another great result for Gorey ladies just in time for Christmas!
Gorey: Susan Vaughan, Ruth Evans, Vicky Hughes, Bridget Kenny (Capt) Robyn Swords, Muireann Deegan (3), Olive McGarry (1), Lyndsey Walters, Sarah Merrigan, Sadhbh Corcoran (1), Zoe Kenny.
MENAPIANS AC
2017 was another very successful year for Menapians Athletics Club.
The year got off to a very good start with the club men’s team qualifying for the national indoor league final in January.
In the final, the club finished fifth overall.
At the Leinster Junior Indoor Championships, Aaron Tierney Smith won the 60m hurdles title.
Aaron also won the under-18 Leinster indoor 60m hurdles title while Sam O’Neill won the under-19 Leinster indoor 60m hurdles title.
Ciarán Maher won the Leinster indoor under-19 200m title.
At the national indoor championships, the club under-19 boys team won the 4x200m relay.
Aaron Tierney Smith was third in the under-18 60m hurdles.
At the national masters Indoors Siobhán Doyle won the over O55 60m.
The national senior indoor track and field championships held in the new national indoor arena in Dublin will be remembered for a long time by Menapians due to exceptional results in the men’s 60m and 200m with Leon Reid doing a double taking gold in both races and David MacDonald taking silver in the 200m.
Shaun Donohue received the Malachy Sheridan award in March, which is a club award for improving young athletes.
Shaun proved a worthy recipient of the award being selected for the Irish under-23 4x400m relay team in May. Also called up for Irish relay duty was David MacDonald who was called up for the junior 4x100m relay team.
In the track and field season, a number of athletes impressed winning county titles and Leinster titles.
Alfie Whelan and Oisin McDonagh won the Leinster Under 10 pairs long jump competition. Nathan Murphy, who missed a lot of the early season through injury, won the Leinster under-15 discus competition while Trinni Jurisoo won the Leinster under-14 girls hammer.
On the track, Aaron Tierney Smith had a sprint double winning the Leinster under-18 100m hurdles and 200m while Ciaran Maher won the under-19 100m.
Siobhán Doyle had a Leinster sprint double winning the over 55 100m and 200m.
At the national juvenile track and field championships Aaron Tierney Smith won silver in the under-18 110m hurdles.
Sam O’Neill took bronze in the under-19 110m hurdles.
At the national junior and under-23 track and field championships Aaron Tierney Smith took silver in the 110m hurdles as did Mikey Cullen in the under-23 long jump. Conor Gaffney was a bronze medallist in the under-23 400m hurdles.
In the junior relay competition the club was second in the 4x100m relay while the club under-23 4x400m relay team took gold in their race.
At the national masters track and field championships, Siobhan Doyle won gold in the over 55 200m and silver in the 100m at the national masters track and field championships.
The international Celtic Track and Field Games were held in Dublin in August and Jack Hayden and Aaron Tierney Smith were called up to the Irish team for this competition.
Also at the national masters track and field championships Anne Gilshinan won gold in the over 50 800m.
The club men’s team had a very successful league campaign qualifying for the final where the club finished seventh overall.
The cross country season brought out the best in our young athletes.
At the county cross country championships, there were impressive wins for Cian Donovan, Sinead O’Reilly and Roisin O’Reilly.
Sinead went onto the Leinster Championships where she finished seventh, becoming the first Menapian to qualify as an individual for the All-Ireland Cross Country Championships.
At the Winter League, the club won the best club in the girls competition and finished second overall. There were winter league star awards for Roisin O’Reilly and Cian Donovan who won all their races at the league.
Aaron Tierney Smith received some good news this month being awarded a Leinster Star Award for his performances indoors and outdoors during the track and field season.
The above are only a sample of the achievements for the club during the year.
The club had a very enjoyable celebration night in March, a very successful club multi-events fun day was held in April for our young members, the club supported the Tóin le Gaoithe Sprint Meet in May, hosted a wellsupported road race in July.
Though out the year there were many important achievements for our members – coming back from injury, competing in a new event, wearing the club vest for the first time, achieving a personal best to name but a few of these achievements.
The club would like to thank all who supported the club during the year.
The club is run on a voluntary basis and the generous support of club volunteers and supporters is an essential ingredient to the success of the club.
Preparations for 2018 are well underway. Athletes have been busy training for the upcoming indoor track and field season.
The club will host the county cross county relays and intermediate and master championships in January.
A very busy and exciting 2018 is in prospect.