Glenmuir United go to the races
THERE was only one place to be on Friday night and that was the Malt House where a fundraising Race Night was taking place for local club Glenmuir United FC and by the time I got there the place was packed with punters ready to do battle to raise money for the club.
I wasn’t too long in the door when I met up with club secretary Ciaran Caldwell from Woodbury Gardens who told me he was quietly confident of winning a few races and was really looking forward to the night.
Next I got talking to club chairman Gary Rogers from Mullaharlin Road who told me this was the only main fundraiser for the club and it allows the parents of the players to enjoy an evening along with the coaches while raising money for the club.
Not too long later I met up with senior club players Niall Hand from Darver and Willie Kelly from Ashbrook who assured me there’d be plenty of winners as the night went on.
I then got a word with club treasurer Eamonn Farrell from Tudor Grove who wanted to thank all their sponsors for the ongoing support throughout the year and assured me he was bound to have a few winners.
He was standing having a laugh with the man described as ‘Glenmuir through and through’ Conor Delaney from Muirhevna who was having a laugh with ex Glenmuir star Tommy Grant from Glenwood who was expecting to have a few winners on the night.
I then caught up with John Murray from Belfast who said he was sitting in the bar and saw the race night was on and decided it was for him.
As I made my way along the bar area, I caught up with ex star playing brothers Ross and Gareth Halpin from Halpin Heating & Pluming who told me their sons Luke, Rhys and Dylan all now play with the club and they feeling lucky when it came to the nags.
Not too far away I got talking to Richie Yore from Dromiskin who said he was with his wife Kim and said his kids Leon and Ryan also play with their club Richie Yore with the FAI Cup trophy.
now and they were sure to have plenty of winners.
Next I got talking to ex-players Ciaran Sheehy from Dromiskin and Paul Carolan from Kilcurry (whose son Shay is an u10 star with theclub) and the lads were going to enjoy a few pints and hopefully a few winners along the way.
Heading for an adjacent table I then got talking to players Ciaran McKeown from Bothar Na Feirme and Keith Morris from Dublin who were there with Danielle and Craig McKeown
from Beechmount Drive who were there to support the fundraiser and were on for an insane night.
I then met up with Peter and Francine Mulholland from Farndreg Close who told me Peter manages the u10s and were looking forward to the night.
After this I caught up with Reserves and u7s manager Sean McArdle from Castlebellingham who told me he’d be taking it really easy and he hoped that the rest of the u7s squad would be doing the same because they were playing against the mighty Shamrocks the following day!
Not too far away I caught up with players Rory Phelan from Belfry Drive and Mary Agnew from Point Road who were with Ollie Agnew from Lennonstown Green who is on the committee and coaches the u11s and u17s too.
Finally before I departed, I met up with my old mate Stoney Malone from Avondale Park who coaches the u11s and was thee to support the cause and win loads of money.