BALTINGLASS

Lotto - There was no match four winner of last weeks lotto which was for €7400. The numbers drawn were 8, 12, 14 and 26. There were however four match three winners, each of whom win €75.

The jackpot for the draw to be held on October 3 will be for €7,600 and will be held in Horan’s Pub on Main Street. We would like to thank all of you who continue to support our lotto, as well as those who sell tickets, check tickets, collect and deliver etc. Remember, you can also play our lotto on line. Please check out www.locallotto.ie.

Perhaps you might pass this website on to those who are away but would like to support the club and be in with a chance to win the ever increasing jackpot.

Senior men - We would like to take this opportunity to wish the Senior men and their management the very best of luck in the county final on Sunday next. We have utmost faith that every effort will be given to bring the Miley Cup, back to the town. You have been a great source of pride to the club so far this year and we have no doubt that you will represent the club and supporters with pride on Sunday. The very best wishes to each and every one of you.

Get your tickets early. County final tickets will be on sale in the clubhouse on Friday evening between 7.30 and 9pm for all of you who want to beat the queues in Aughrim on Sunday. Adult tickets are €15 each and Students (over 16s) and O.A.P. tickets are €5. Please note that the club shop will also be open at the clubhouse, for anyone who wants to get their club colours for the big match.

Well done to John Murtagh and Hannah McHugh who correctly guessed the score in the All Ireland Final. Each win €100. Thank you to everyone who supported the Guess the Score competition this year.

Juvenile - As the Senior men prepare to take part in their first county final since 2013 and bridge a nine-year gap since last winning, they were on hand on Sunday morning to meet and greet the future stars of Baltinglass GAA Club as the James Byrne Memorial Shield took place at the pitch.

Four teams of under-8 and under-10 footballers met the lads before taking to the field and providing an absolute feast of underage football. A lot of the lads were pleasantly surprised at the skill level shown by some of these young players. Their appetite for the game and willingness to display the skills they have learned through their coaches was a sight to behold. We would like to thank the Byrne family for continuing to support this internal competition which has been a highlight in the underage calendar for many years.

The teams this year were captained by four up and coming stars: Matt Fisher, Ross Nolan, Cody Fagan and Ashton Pendar. The team led by Matt Fisher were the overall winners on the day, beating the team led by Cody Fagan, whilst the team led by Ross Nolan, beat Ashton Pendars team in the Shield final.

The club would like to express its sincere thanks to all of the coaches who helped with the lads throughout the year and to the parents who have made the lads available all year. They are a really great bunch of children, and we have great hopes for them in the future. Thank you also to the senior management and players for taking the time to meet and greet these young players.

The under-10 and under-8 girls had a great blitz/internal competition on Friday evening. Unfortunately, the weather was not what was hoped for on the night, but some of the football on show was enough to brighten even the bleakest of evenings.

The improvement in the skill levels of the girls this year has been immeasurable, and this is predominantly due to the efforts of the coaches who have been working hard all year with them. Thank you to our local Paralimpian Ciara Staunton who kindly presented the medals on the night and well done to all of the girls and their parents for all their efforts this year.

Minors - Hard luck to the Minors who were beaten by Pearse Gales by a late goal in their championship semi-final on Friday night in Roundwood. The home team started much brighter as the Baltinglass lads looked sluggish out of the blocks and trailed by four points at half-time. However, the lads gave a great display in the second half and with the match going in to injury time, the sides were level.

However, a late goal was to seal their fate and there will be no place in the final this year for Baltinlass unfortunately. Well done to Robert, Ciaran and the Minor selectors for the work that they have done this year. A one score defeat is hard to take, but there is no doubt that progress has been made, which is the real aim of the game.

After a year of ups and downs, the under-14 girls found themselves in the Division 1 Shield final against Bray, for the second year in a row. Bray who had beaten them in the Wicklow Féile competition were always going to be tough opposition, but, after 20 minutes into the match, Baltinglass trailed on a score line of 2-05 to 0-00 and it looked clear to many that this was not going to be their day.

However, with just five minutes left in the second half, a shot by Molly Bookle found the top corner of the net to give the Balto girls a lifeline. A second goal by Ella Parke, gave them hope.

Having trailed by 11 points, to go in at half time, trailing by just five, made Rosie, Dallan and Marks, half-time team talk an easy one. The truth is that Baltinglass threatened for much of the first half, but were unable to capitalise on their hard work, whilst Bray were much more clinical.

The second half was to be a complete Baltinglass revival, with Ella Parke, Kuberat Matomni, and Ciara, and Niamh O’Brien winning vital ball around the middle of the field, Baltinglass took the game to Bray, drew level, and went ahead.

Bray, however, were not finished and drew level on two more occasions, and but for great defensive play by a very determined full back line could easily have taken the lead.

However, the introduction of under-12 players, Emma and Leah and a commanding final 15 minutes by Ciara O’Brien and Ella Parke in particular, meant that the Shield was heading back to the banks of the River Slaney. Well done to Rosie, Dallan and Mark, and in particular the team who put in a great display on the day. Katelyn Coffey Brennan accepted the Shield on behalf of the club and the girls were brought back to the clubhouse afterwards for some well deserved refreshments.

Don’t Forget - Those brave volunteers who are risking their pride and reputations to sing and dance on stage for you the Baltinglass Broadway Challenge on October 30 are currently looking for sponsorship. We would ask that you support them as best you can. As you know, the funds raised, will be put towards, developing the back pitch area at the club. We would strongly advise that you do your best to come to the show on October 30, as judging by some of the rehearsals so far, some of these volunteers may be whisked away to the West End and never be seen in Baltinglass again. So if you want to catch a last glimpse of these future celebrities – get behind the Baltinglass GAA Club Broadway Challenge. We thank you for your continued support.