CLUB CALL
ROSS WORKMEN
The final of the snooker confined event organised by the Workmen’s Club proved to be a real ding-dong affair before Mark Lacey came out on top in the fifth frame.
Mark was playing off +12, with his opponent Alan Murray -13.
The first frame was an omen of what was to come; Mark began with a break of 15, Alan came back with breaks of eight and 14, and so it went to the black. A slip by Alan allowed Mark to pot the black and win the frame.
Murray quickly recovered and won the next two frames but only on the black in both.
Lacey responded and levelled the match at 2-2.
The final frame proved to be a nail-biting experience and culminated with none other than a black ball game. Lacey was nine points down with 13 points left.
He potted the pink, but was fortunate to pot the black and win the match 3-2.
The defeated semi-finalists were Liam Gannon and Brian Gannon, and the referee was Liam Connolly.
The club would like to thank all who took part in the competition.
ST. JOSEPH’S A.C.
Athlone was the place to be last weekend for the Leinster indoor athletic championships.
Yet again, Jordan Knight stamped his class on proceedings, coming home with three gold medals after great wins in the Under-16 boys’ 200m, 60m hurdles and long jump.
Two medals were also won by Evan O’Toole who finished second in the Under-15 60m hurdes final, and joint third in the high jump.
Unlucky not to make finals were Danielle Griffin, who was fourth in the Under-15 girls’ 800m heat, Grace Glennon, third in the Under-13 girls’ 600m heat, and Eabha Mullally, third in both Under-12 600m and 60m hurdles heats.
Other St. Joseph’s athletes who travelled all the way to Athlone to wear the green and white singlet were Aine McDonald, Tara Glennon, Lily Doyle, Naoimh O’Connor, Kaylan Doyle, Rachel Foley, Cathal Beirne and Eoin Kennedy.
The national indoor championship took place on the previous day in Athlone, and congratulations to Bríd and John Joe Lawlor who won gold medals in the Over-55 and Over-50 race walks respectively.
Well done also to Austin Lee who was fourth in 60m hurdles and third in the shot putt, Tracey Malone who was second in race walking, and Mary Breen who finished second in the shot putt.
On the roads last weekend, Patrick Bookle finished tenth and first Over-50 in the St. Laurence O’Toole’s 10k in Carlow in 39.20. Katie Bookle ran the 5k race in 24.32.
The event all clubs members are eagerly awaiting is only a week away, with St. Joseph’s Athletic Club, which was founded in 1968, about to celebrate 50 years in existence.
An event not to be missed is our 50th anniversary dinner dance, taking place on Sunday, March 18, in the Rhu Glenn Hotel.
Adult tickets are €30 with Juvenile tickets costing €20. The following day, Monday, March 19, is a bank holiday so a great night is absolutely guaranteed.
GOREY HOCKEY
Gorey played host to Portrane 1 in the Cup semi-final in Enniscorthy on Sunday.
From the first whistle the match was intensive end-to-end stuff. Gorey took push back and made an attack up the centre.
Portrane won a free out and utilised their wings, but Gorey’s defence of Vicky Hughes, Gillian Bailey, Bridget Kenny and Imogen McGuinness dealt well with the pressure.
Midfielders Robyn Swords, Nicola Ryan and Ruth Evans worked hard, winning possession at half way.
The first penalty corner was awarded to Gorey. Robyn Swords pushed the ball out to the top of the circle where Muireann Deegan switched to Nicola Ryan who struck the ball perfectly, giving Gorey an early lead.
Portrane re-started, working the ball up the right side. Vicky Hughes cleared the ball wide. A long corner sent it across the goal but Gorey’s ’keeper, Fiona Mythen, made a crucial save, flicking the ball out wide. Gorey went into the break with the narrowest of leads (1-0).
The visitors started the second-half applying pressure to Gorey’s defence once more. Portrane took a free inside the ’23 and won a penalty corner when they found a Gorey foot.
Portrane took a direct shot on goal but another short corner was awarded, and they couldn’t capitalise.
Two more corners were given. Another direct shot on goal was saved by ’keeper Fiona Mythen, but Portrane tidied up by knocking the ball into the net (1-1).
Gorey’s re-start found the front line of Olive McGarry, Muireann Deegan and Zoe Kenny but they could not penetrate Portrane’s circle.
Portrane’s long hit out found their winger who attacked the end line. Passing the ball across goal, Gorey’s ’keeper Fiona Mythen was called upon again to save off the line, deflecting the ball wide.
From the long corner Portrane came straight into the circle, taking strike and earning the lead for the first time (1-2).
With ten minutes left, Gorey’s Megan Roark-Shannon was unlucky not to get on the end of Bridget Kenny’s long hit out. Shots by Nicola Ryan and Muireann Deegan both went wide.
With seconds left Gorey won a penalty corner but could not equalise to bring the match to extra-time.
The final whistle came as a welcome relief to Portrane who went home with the win. Portrane will now go on to play in the Cup final to be held in April. Well done to Gorey ladies who put up a great fight.
Team: Fiona Mythen (capt.), Bridget Kenny, Gillian Bailey, Imogen McGuinness, Vicky Hughes, Ruth Evans, Nicola Ryan (1), Robyn Swords, Zoe Kenny, Muireann Deegan, Olive McGarry, Megan Roark-Shannon.
Saturday saw the Gorey Under-16 team host the semi-final against Dublin North in the Interwhite League.
Dublin North started well, taking push back and progressing towards the Gorey circle. A strong Gorey defence of Robyn Swords, Aislinn Buttle, Olive McGarry and Aisling Kirwan, under the direction of goalie Ruth Evans, quickly regained possession.
Sadhbh Corcoran made a fastpaced run, passing the ball precisely to Muireann Deegan at the top of the circle. Muireann skilfully dribbled past two defenders and cleanly swept the ball into the goal for a 1-0 lead.
Neither team dominated in the second-half. Play was intense and end-to-end in the last ten minutes.
Dublin North pressed all their team forward but Síobhra Bairéad made numerous tackles, winning the ball each time and preventing all their attempts.
Méadbh Bairead came on as right back and, like her sister, safely cleared the ball out of the Gorey circle.
Gorey had runs from forwards Orlaith Deegan and Rachel McSweeney into the circle, only to be denied by the Dublin North goalie.
Forwards Zoe Kenny and Tegan Veitch both had shots just wide of the post. Gorey are now in the final of the league.
Team: Ruth Evans, Robyn Swords, Aislinn Buttle, Olive McGarry, Aisling Kirwan (person of the match), Sadhbh Corcoran, Muireann Deegan, Síobhra Bairéad (capt.), Zoe Kenny, Tegan Veitch, Rachel McSweeney, Méadbh Bairéad, Orlaith Deegan.
SLANEY SHARKS
Slaney Sharks swimmers have had a very busy few months of activity.
December saw a number of galas including the Kilkenny winter gala where seven swimmers completed 14 swims, achieving twelve P.B’s.
A special mention to Ava Nolan who completed two third place finishes. The Trojan gala also saw some great swims, including Ava Byrne who achieved P.B’s in all four of her events.
Slaney Sharks also hosted our own round robin gala on December 10. There was a great attendance despite the snowy conditions.
All attending swimmers achieved at least one P.B., and a special mention to our own Lily Hammel for achieving first place in 50 back and third place in her 50 free.
Thanks to all who assisted in our preparation and on the day itself - a great day was had by all.
With the new year came the busiest part of the season, and our swimmers took it in their stride. First came the Leinster development gala where nine swimmers represented the club - all achieving P.B’s. Alexi Gillot achieved P.B’s in all her swims with one improving by over seven seconds.
The Leinster qualifying gala came next with four swimmers attending over three days. A big well done to Ava Byrne who finished first in her age group for 50 back.
Again it was to Dublin for the Leinster distance qualifying gala where seven swimmers represented the club. Some amazing P.B’s were achieved, including three swims and three P.B’s from both Sam Murphy and Conor Dempsey.
Cormorant gala was next where Ava Whelan made the podium twice with two great P.B’s. Most recently Slaney Sharks attended the St. Fiacc’s round robin where eleven swimmers completed 32 swims, making a great representation for the club.
There is no doubt that our Sharks are representing our club very well and will continue to do so in the coming months. In the words of Dory - just keep swimming!
WEXFORD SWIMMING
Twenty-two members from Wexford Swimming Club attended the National Aquatic Centre long course swimming gala recently.
It was a very busy gala with all swimmers competing in three events each. We had 20 top ten finishes and four individual medals.
Yvette Carley swam in the age ten group. She took 20 seconds off her 100m breast and finished in ninth place.
In the age eleven category were Louise Doyle, Eliza Kelly, Peter Doyle and Max Sweetman. Louise and Eliza had great swims in the 200m I.M. and took 33 and 21 seconds off their previous times. Peter and Max both swam in the 100m breast and improved their times by seven seconds each.
There were eight swimmers in the twelve-year-old age group. Fleur Lambert set a great new time in the 200m breast and finished in ninth place.
Róisín Lawless took 32 seconds off her 200m back and in doing so was rewarded with the silver medal and her first Irish Division 2 time.
Aoibheann McAuley was very close to her times in all her three races. Eve O’Hanlon got P.B’s in all her three races including eight seconds off her 100m breast.
Cáit O’Carroll had great swims and improved her 100m freestyle time by ten seconds. Emmet Cousins had two top ten finishes, including second place in the 200m free.
Thomas Francis had three top ten finishes and secured the silver medal and his Irish Division 2 time in the 100m breaststroke. Macdara Kavanagh had two top ten finishes and was just outside the medals in the 200m breaststroke.
Juliet Kelly, age 13, swam well and got two new P.B’s including a five-second P.B. in the 50m fly.
Swimming in the 14-year age group were Hannah Fitzpatrick and Sophie Mahon. Hannah had great swims and got P.B’s in all her swims, while Sophie got two P.B’s including a four-second P.B. in her 200m I.M.
Ella Duggan, age 15, had a great swim in the 200m free and took 13 seconds off her previous time. Kate Rossiter-Gargan, age 16, had three good swims and set new times in her events.
Stuart Vaughan, also age 16, swam very well and had three top ten finishes. Seventeen-year-olds Conor Mahoney and Adam Mahon also had a great day.
Conor set a new time in the 200m I.M. and finished in ninth place, while Adam had two top ten finishes, including third place in the 200m I.M.
Michael Leacy, age 18, also had two top ten finishes in his events.
Well done all. Many thanks to coach Mary Duggan for all her support.
MENAPIANS A.C.
Strongman Paul Crowe won gold in the M40 shot putt and silver in the 56 lb. at the national Masters indoor championships in Athlone on Saturday. Jimmy O’Neill won gold in the M55 200m and silver in the M55 60m.
On the same day the national schools cross-country took place on a very mucky and hilly course at Carriganore, Waterford.
Róisín O’Reilly, competing in the colours of Loreto Wexford, finished in 15th place. Given the very testing underfoot conditions she was pleased with the result. She now turns her attention to the coming track and field season.
Day four of the Leinster indoor Juvenile championships took place on Sunday in A.I.T. Jack Halpin was first in action in the Under-13 shot putt, throwing a new indoor P.B. of 6.56m.
Eimear Halpin followed with a consistent series of throws in the Under-15 shot putf and an indoor best of 7.10m. Eimear also ran in the Under-15 60m hurdles but failed to qualify for the final.
Sinéad O’Reilly ran a well-paced 800m (Under-14) to take silver, just behind the talented Sophie Quinn.
Ailbhe White was unlucky not to qualify for the final of the Under-14 800m.
She went on to compete in the long jump where she jumped consistently with a best jump of 3.85, a little off her P.B.
That’s what happens when you try long jumping with an 800m in your legs!
Ruby Reynolds and Finn Cullen were competing in their first hurdles competition.
Ruby qualified for the final in the Under-13 60m hurdles as fastest qualifier and went on to win silver, an amazing achievement for her first competition.
Finn was very unlucky in his Under-14 60m hurdles race, clipping the second hurdle and hitting the deck. Top marks to him for getting back on his feet and finishing the race.
Shane O’Neill won bronze in the Under-17 60m hurdles, and Aaron Tierney-Smith took another Leinster title, winning the Under-19 60m hurdles in a well-executed race.