GAA CLUB NOTES
OPENING DIVISION 1 WIN FOR FOOTBALL TEAM–On Sunday last, in a bitterly cold Ballyclough, Killavullen ran out impressive winner of the first Division 1 football league game of 2018 with a final score of 2-16 to 2-05. The pitch in Ballyclough was in excellent condition, and the new building that will house their gym is finished very well, so this club are to be commended on their recent development work.
Killavullen opening brightly and playing with the aid of a decent breeze, we had racked up an impressive first half tally of 1-12 to 1-00 by half time. With two junior football debutantes in our opening 15 players, namely Eddie Cotter and Padraig Looney, and quite a youthful team, the new management team under Kevin Hayes would have been well pleased with the outcome.
We scored a lovely point in the very first minute and it was a real beauty from Padraig Looney, cutting in from his wing. We were dominant in midfield with Sean O Regan particularly influential and that allowed good ball to go into our forwards. Seamus fox scored next in the 2nd minute, then Charlie Lillis from play and Paul O Sullivan in the 8th minute. Charlie scored from a free in the 13th minute before our full forward, Dave Brosnan scored a nice point after good forward interlink play in the 14th minute.
Ballyclough scored their only score of the opening minute in the 15th minute, but it raised a green flag when their full forward finished to the net. We replied well, and got a lovely score from distance from the accurate boot of Charlie Lillis immediately from a well-placed kick out to Liam Cronin in midfield, his insightful delivery released Charlie for our 7th point of the half.
The next score did not come until the 24th minute when Charlie scored again, and the same player quickly added a free in the 25th minute. Liam Cronin scored a free in the 26th minute from an acute angle, before Charlie got another point in the 30th minute. Dave Brosnan got his 2nd point of the game in the 31st minute before the Ballyclough goal was breached by Paul O Sullivan, in the 2nd minute of injury time. The same goal line had a miraculous escape just before the short whistle, when Eddie Cotter and Dave Brosnan were thwarted with two good goal line clearances.
On the resumption, and with the aid of the breeze, Ballyclough got a tonic of a start when their most influential player, Damien Buckley scored fine point in the very first minute of the half, and a goal quickly afterwards in the 4th minute. A rally seemed on the cards when they got another point in the 5th minute, but Paul O Sullivan halted their momentum with a nice point in the 8th minute. Billy Norris and Kevin Fox were good in this period, and carried the ball forward and released Patrick Angland for some marauding runs forward. Dave Brosnan scored again in the 16th minute only for Ballyclough to hit back with a point in the next passage of play. Charlie Lillis scored a free in the 20th minute and then great interlink play involving Gary Lane released Charlie to score another point in the 21st minute. Michael Fresh had been introduced for his Junior Football debut only a matter of minutes when he finished coolly to the net in the 24th minute. Ballyclough got another point in the 25th minute but we ran out deserving winners on a final score of 2-16 to 2-05.
FORTHCOMING FIXTURES– Killavullen v Ballycastle GaelsU21 C Football Championship; Saturday, the 3rd March 2018 in Kildorrery @ 3.00 PM. Killavullen v Kildorrery–18 B1 Football League North. Sunday, the 4th March 2018 in Killavullen @ 3.00 PM
LOTTO–The lotto of a mega€4,400 last Tuesday night was not won, and rolls on. Numbers drawn — 16, 18 & 19– No Winner. The lucky dip winners were as follows: €50 David Brosnan—— Seller Michael Linehan; €30 Sean Donnelan–Seller — John Angland; €30 Mary Notter — Seller — The Haven Bar. The next draw for €4,500 will be in the Haven Bar
MEMBERSHIP 2018–Membership for all aspects of the club is now due for 2018, and the club would be gracious if persons will pay the appropriate fee to any committee member, or make arrangement to pay directly, to the membership officer John O Donovan, on 086-3934232. Juvenile membership is collected through the juvenile registration process and the players pay their membership to the team managers. For the general public, the rates for 2018 are as follows; Full Adult membership — Working–€50 ; Student / OAP–€30
We would dearly love if many of our brilliant supporters would join as members of the club. We always welcome new members also. Our strength is our collective.
NEED FOR REFEREES–Killavullen club does not have any junior referee at the moment, and that is a situation that the club has to address positively, and soon. Though much maligned, games cannot go ahead without a referee and all GAA patrons are asked to be mindful that the referee is only doing their best when they take on a game.
The Awbeg Macra na Feirme Women’s Basketall Team (Backrow: Left to right) Miriam O’Callaghan, Breda O’Keeffe and Ciara Howard. (Frontrow: Left to right) Niamh Curran, Amy Barrett and Kate O’Regan