GRASSROOTS
OWENMORE GAELS
The club along with Northwest Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force are hosting a Drug Awareness evening on Thursday the 22nd of November and are delighted to announce that 6 time All Ireland winner Philly McMahon will be the special guest.
Philly will talk about how drugs effected his and his families lives after the death of his brother and how Drug Awareness can be used as a preventative and coping mechanism.
Tickets will be distributed for the Owenmore Gaels catchment area in the Clubhouse on Friday 9th November 7-8pm & Saturday 10th November 6-7pm. Remaining tickets will be sold Friday 16th November 7-8pm in the clubhouse.
**Tickets are free of charge, limited to 4 per person. Recommended for aged 12 upwards. U16s must be accompanied by an adult. Doors open at 7pm with event starting at 7:30pm**
Club News
Owenmore Gaels are holding a Texas Hold’em Poker Tournament in The Owenmore Inn on Sunday 18th November. Tournament begins at 4pm. Limited places so get there early. €20 entry, €20 buy-back, €20 top-up. Half of the prize pool goes to Owenmore Gaels GAA Club. To enter contact Niall on 0877609420
Thanks to everyone who entered our Sports Prediction Quiz. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for score updates!
BUNNINADDEN
The Community Park hosting a fantastic replay of the Intermediate County final on Sunday 28th October last. Curry and Shamrock Gaels once again provided wonderful entertainment for the huge crowd with shamrock Gales were the victorious team. It has been a huge honour to hold the intermediate final for everyone involved in the park. A huge thanks must go to all the volunteers who helped out with the parking, shop, stewarding ,traffic management,kitchen helpers and of course to our Amhrán na bhFiann singer and MC on the day. Everyone should be extremely proud of their part in hosting this premier event within the county. The Ballinalack Community Park Chairman Gerry Perry along with the committee wants to sincerely thanks everyone who give up their time to help. A special word of thanks must to Stanley Goulden for the use of his field for parking cars on both days.
Fitness for all programme is begins on Monday 5th November from 7.30pm to 8.30 for the ladies and 9pm to 10pm for the men. There is still a few remaining places for the ladies and men if anyone wishes to take part. For further information contact Fiona on 087-2046245 .The programme is being run in conjunction with Sligo Sports Partnership.
Congrats to County u16 team in reaching the Manning cup final in defeating Longford at the weekend. Best of luck to Bunninadden players on this panel Oisín Gorman, Roland Scanlon,Connor Micthell in the final v Wicklow in Longford next Saturday at 3.30.
CLOONACOOL
THE club are running a table quiz in Brennan’s Lounge on Saturday night 24th November next at 9.30 pm sharp. All the brain boxes from the club area and beyond are challenged to come along and test their knowledge, on what promises to be a fun filled and entertaining evening. There will be substantial monetary prizes for the winners and runners-up. There will also be a prize for the most original, humorous, and colorful team name decided by the organising committee at the end of the night. Your full support for this club fundraiser on the occasion will be greatly appreciated. Well done to the Carty family from Ballyglass who are a very sporting group, and are participating and representing Sligo in the current T.V. sports program entitled - Irelands Fittest Family - and have got off to a very good start. Tara, Liam, Eoin and Bill are doing the area proud, and with Marie coaching in the background are bound to be hugely competitive, and we wish them the very best of luck as the competition unfolds in the coming weeks. We ask anyone who would like to represent the club in the up coming Scor competitions to contact Cultural officer Ronan Leonard or vice-chairman Brian McIntyre as soon as possible. Any motions for the annual county convention in December, must be forwarded to club secretary Fergus Leonard in the next two weeks, for discussion and inclusion.
EASTERN HARPS
ON Sunday October 28th we held our very successful race night in the Foxes Den, Keash where there was a great crowd present. A huge thank you to all of our very generous sponsors, those who bought horses and those who placed bets to support this event. The amount raised will be published when fully finalised but the final figure will be in excess of €50k which is unbelievable. Thank you for your support. We look forward now to putting this money towards the finishing touches of our new clubhouse development which is expected to be completed early in 2019. Our U21s lost their final group game to Coolera/Strandhill on a score line of 3:08 to 2:08. This means our lads fail to progress to the semi-final. We would like to thank the management of Keith Carty, Sean Scott and Mikey O’Grady for all their hard work over the past 2 months. Bingo continues every Friday night at 8.30pm in Gurteen Hall. Jackpot is €1,700 in 45 calls or less. The in house lotto is €700.
ST FARNAN’S
THE countdown is on to our much awaited “Strictly Come Dancing”, which takes place in the Diamond Coast Hotel on Saturday night at 8pm. Tickets are on sale now from all the dancers and committee members. Tickets cost €20 which includes the raffle on the night with a cash prize of €500( kindly sponsored by the Beach Bar) and many other valuable prizes on offer. Your support for all our dancers and all involved with the organisation of the night would be much appreciated. It promises to be a great night’s entertainment with dancing for all following the Strictly competition.
HUGE congratulations this week to James Weir who not only picked up an All Star award for the Lory Meagher team but he also became the first hurler from Sligo to win Player of the Year. This is a huge honour for St. Farnan’s and for Easkey hurling team and is well merited as James has performed consistently well for both club and county throughout the year. James will be honoured at Strictly Come Dancing for his achievements. James will also be performing on the night so please come along to pay tribute to him. EASKEY/ St. Farnan’s minor hurlers captured the minor championship title for the fourth year in a row defeating Naomh Eoin by 4-15 to 1-5. This game was played in dreadful conditions but Easkey/ St. Farnan’s made the most of the strong wind in the first half and had a commanding lead of 3-15 to no score at half time. The Cup was presented to joint Captains Andrew Kilcullen and Dónall Hanley. The team was Dónall Hanley, Adam Kilrehill , Eoghan Rua Mc Gowan, David Hallinan , Daniel Rolston, Shane Molloy , Eoin Gordon , Fergal Curran (0-1),Niall Kilcullen (0-2), Fionn Connolly (0-1), Fionn Moylan (0-3), Kenneth Mitchell , Cahán Hallinan (1-1), Thomas Cawley (0-2), Andrew Kilcullen (3-5). WELL done to Fionn Connolly and Sligo under16 team on reaching the final of the Manning Cup following victory over Longford on Saturday. They play Wicklow in the final next Saturday.
THE under 21 team played Calry/ St. Joseph’s in the semi final of the B championship on Sunday in Scarden and had a comprehensive win on a score line of 6-14 to 0-4. This win puts the team into the final of the under 21 B championship when they will play the winners of the other semi final involving Castleconnor and Coolaney/ Mullinabreena. St. Farnan’s put in a real team performance in this game and at half time led 4-11 to 0-0. The team showed great strength in the back line and with good team movement and backup, no fewer than nine players found themselves on the score sheet. The team was Simon Mullarkey, David Hallinan, Patrick Flynn, Ronan Molloy (0-1), James Weir (0-1), Cahán Hallinan (0-1), Shane O’ Brien, Kevin Mc Gee (1-0), Niall Crean (11), Finnian Cawley (0-6(2f), Mark Devaney (1-0), Gavin Calpin (2-2), Iarla O’Connor (0-2). Subs used: Oisín Connolly, Stephen Mulligan, Sean Hallinan.
ST PATRICK’S
BLOOD Donation Day St Pat’s will host the the Irish Blood Transfusion Clinic on December 4th in the Skreen/Dromard Community Centre. The clinic run from 5pm till 8.30pm. We need over 130 people to donate on the day. So the club ask for your support. Your donation could be a early Christmas present for someone in need. Congrats Congrats to former club Chairman Johnathon Conlon who was on they Ranelagh Gaels team that captured the Dublin Junior 2 Championship with victory over Ballyfermot DLS. Also well done to Sligo Hurlers James Weir & Gary Cadden were winners at PWC All Stars and congrats to James who was selected as the Lory Meagher player of the year.
U14’S & U12’s Team News. West Divisional U14’s/U12’s skills development training took place in Easkey on Sunday morning last. It was very well attended. It’s runs for the next four weeks and is open to all U14/U12 boys. it a great opportunity to improve your skills. Further details during the week.
BEST wishes to Jim Davis & Canice Mulligan who are part of the Sligo U16 Team that have qualified for the final of the Manning Cup final. All the best lads.
BALLYMOTE
CONGRATULATIONS to Sligo U 16 team reaching Fr Manning Cup final after beating Longford last Saturday in Longford. Well done to Ballymote players Connor Finn, Jack Lavin, Zac O Dowd, and Bunninadden players Roland Scanlon and Oisín Gorman. Good luck next Saturday as they play their final against Wicklow in Longford. AGM takes place 16th November in Ballymote Community Centre at 9pm.
TOURLESTRANE
PRIDE of the parish and every house in it goes to our Magnificent Connacht Champions the Ladies of Tourlestrane after their wonderful 3 point win over Litir Mór on a glorious historical afternoon in Ballyhaunis. Captain Shauna Henry proudly raised the Junior Connacht Cup presented by fellow Sligo man and president of Connacht LGFA Liam McDonagh. Shauna praised highly every single girl on the panel of 30 and David Bailey Enda Kelly Leo Gaughan and all the backroom team and merry band of supporters as they made their dream a reality in a hard fought battle that saw 9 minutes of injury time played. The girls now play the Leinster champions in 2 weeks’ time. In a heart stopping exhilarating 62 minutes of football on Tuesday night last out young Minor lads gave everything they had and cheered on in the frosty night of Ballyhaunis by the roar of our green and gold army of supporters, having swapped leads in a tit for tat fifty minutes they broke away and kept the lead in the remaining time to finish clear winners 3/9 to 13 points . What a display of never say die attitude right to the final whistle by both teams in the semi final but on that night Neil Eamon and the Tourlestrane Minors booked their place in the Connacht Final ahead of St Dominic’s and the weather as well as the score changed for the next outing the Connacht Minor B final on Friday night with the lads sadly losing out in the wettest weather conditions for any final . So proud of these young group of lads that gave everything but wasn’t their night and lost out by 2 points to a strong Mountbellew team
OUR Seniors made the journey to an impeccable venue in Quigabar Enniscrone for the Connacht Quarter Final facing Ballintubber and there their journey ended losing out by the narrowest of margins 6 points to 5 to a more composed team for the 60 minutes. Hard luck lads but very well done on a great year, you gave us many enjoyable days and nights out. Let’s not focus on the loss today rather continue on celebrating the magnificent 3-in-a-row and support the ladies in the weeks to come .We wish Ballintubber the best of luck in their Connacht Semi Final next week .
HANDBALL
THE County board AGM will be held in Castleconnor on Tuesday, 13-11-2018 at 8.30pm . The draw for the Adult 4 Wall doubles competitions will take place this week. The 4 Wall interclubs Sligo Final was played between Drumcliffe and Collooney last Tuesday.After an exciting evenings handball the Drumcliffe team of K. Cunningham and the 3 Slevin brothers won out by 1 ace against Collooneys M. Brannigan , P. Chambers , G. Coleman and E. O Connor .Good luck to Drumcliffe as they go on to represent Sligo in Connaught.
SHAMROCK GAELS
THE Gaels advanced to the Connacht Intermediate Championship semi-final with a narrow win over Fenagh St Caillins (Leitrim) last weekend. This proved to be a difficult challenge for the Gaels having just played the County final replay last Sunday, however despite tiring legs the Gaels clawed back a second half deficit to win by one. Playing against a strong breeze in the first half the Gaels were well on top for most of the half, however a late penalty and a strong finish from Fenagh saw the Gaels behind by two at half time. In the second half Fenagh consolidated their lead and were six points up mid-way through the half but the never say die attitude of the Gaels, which has been evident on many occasions this year ensured that the Gaels dug deep and clawed the deficit back to two points as the game entered injury time. It was again substitute Dylan Willis, the hero of the county final who stepped up and showing remarkable skill scored a goal to put the Gaels one up with three minutes remaining and despite heavy legs the Gaels held on to record our first win in Connacht. Next up is Roscommon champions Fuerty in the Connacht semi-final next weekend.
CALRY/ST JOSEPH’S
A fantastic night was had at our awards night on Saturday night last at the Clayton Hotel. Congratulations to all the winners of the different categories. CLUBPERSON of the year. John Cox. SENIOR player of the year. Damian O’Boyle.
LADIES player of the year. Aoife Nicholson.
JUNIOR player of the year. Ryan O’Hanlon.
HURLER of the year. Ronan Cox. SPECIAL Merit award. Daithí Hand and Dara Cox
SUPPORTER of the year. Kevin Burns. SPECIAL thanks to new Sligo Senior County Manager Cllr Paul Taylor who was our special guest on the night. VERY well done to Margaret O’Connor MC who kept us all entertained for the night. UNFORTUNATELY our Hurling team failed to show up for the Dermot Molloy League final in Scarden on Sunday and therefore conceded the trophy to Naomh Eoin.
DRUMCLIFFE/ROSSES POINT
THE Radisson Blu Hotel was the venue for the club’s end-of-season Boston Tea Party over the October bank holiday weekend. A very enjoyable night was had by all. Special thanks go to all our Table hosts who served up a wonderful array of food. The night gave us an opportunity to present our main end-of-season awards. The selection of club captain Neil Ewing as Clubperson of the Year was a very popular choice. We were delighted to have so many members of the Ewing family with us on the night. A big thank-you also to Michael Haran and Helen Devaney who presented the John Haran Cup to Neil. THE other award recipients on the night were: 2017 women’s player of the year: Rachel Monaghan; Young player of the year: Sinéad Regan; 2017 men’s player of the year: Ronan McCormack; Young player of the year: Hugh Kisby. Our junior men’s footballers and 2017 ladies intermediate county final team also received their medals on the night - and there was a special presentation to our retiring club president Fr Michael Donnelly. A word of thanks to Tony Henry who provided the framed image of Oxfield and Benbulben which was presented to Fr Donnelly. We were also honoured o be joined on the night by the new PP for Drumcliffe & Maugherow, Canon Tom Heaver. Congrats to Eoghan Smith, Lee Cummins and the Sligo U16 boys footballers who have reached the Fr Manning Cup final. After impressive wins over Meath, Offaly and Longford, Sligo play Wicklow in the decider in Pearse Park, Longford at 3:30pm this Saturday November 10th. The U21 footballers bowed out of the county ‘B’ championship at the group stages after losing their final group match to Calry/St Joseph’s. Well done to the Slevin brothers Clive and Colin who were among the Drumcliffe handball club members who contested finals at the Eamonn Cannon tournament in Ballymote over the weekend. Michael Kinley and Colin Slevin took the honours in the plate competition.