GRASS ROOTS

DONARD-THE GLEN

The club is celebrating two great wins on May 28. The under-14 team completed their unbeaten campaign in the Division 2 Kildare league by winning the cup final against Eire Óg Corra Choill and on Saturday. Not to be outdone by the younger members of the club, our Senior team took on the same Kildare club and won the cup in the adult league. Well done to all players and mentors.

Good luck on Sunday, June 11, to the members of our club who will represent Wicklow in the replay of the Leinster Junior Camogie final in Portalaise against Offaly. On the same day, also in Portlaoise, a member of our under-14 panel, Daisie Summer Cullen Dunne, will represent Wicklow in the Leinster Feile na Gael skills competition.

Our under-14 team will represent Wicklow in Féile for the second year in a row, commencing on June 16 they will play matches in Kilkenny, Carlow and Wexford and be based in New Ross.

The under-14 and under-12 teams are also playing each week in the Wicklow league.

Our under-8 and U10 teams have had great fun in the recent go games in which they have participated. Training for U8, under-10, under-12 and under-14 teams takes place each Wednesday at 6pm in Donard.

The first draw in our club development raffle took place recently the results were first prize of €200, Kelly O’Neill, second prize €75, Feargal Kelly, third prize €50, Bridget Downes, the three prizes of €20 went to Feargal Kelly, John O’Neill and Lucy Mooney. Tickets are still available at €5 per month or €50 for a year’s subscription. Next draw takes place on June 22.

AUGHRIM

Our annual fundraiser Run the Rock was held last Saturday at the Brooke Lodge Hotel. The 11k run was won by Ian Conroy in a record time. There was a huge turn out on the day and all credit must go to Donal Lenihan who is the main driving force behind this event ablly assisted by all our volunteers on the day.

Our adult team after winning two practice matches in a row were hoping for a win against Barndarrig last Friday night however after staring well they faded towards the end and came up short. Injuries to key players continue to dog us and we wish Richard Keegan and Conor Lambert a speedy recovery from their injuries.

On a bright note it was good to John Annsley back in action playing well after a long absence through injury. It will take time to bring on our younger players and hopefully have some of our more experienced players back in action before the Championship kicks off.

AN TOCHAR

Best wishes to all our players who are sitting Exams at the moment. Go n-eiri libh.

Intermediate men’s team table quiz on Saturday at 8 pm in Fanning’s Tochar House. Looking forward to seeing you there.

Alex Grey, PSquared Performance, is on hand to guide you through your fitness programme in the An Tóchar Fitness Centre. Call up or ring Alex to join any of the classes or to discuss personal training. https://www.facebook.com/ psquaredperformance

GAA Cúl Camps - The An Tochar Cúl Camp will run from July 10th - 14th. The camps fill up quickly so get your place/places booked. Further information/booking available on www. kelloggsculcamps.gaa.ie.

HOLLYWOOD

The next Hollywood Club lotto draw will be held in Poulaphouca House this Thursday, June 8, for a jackpot of €10,000. Thank you for your continued support.

Western Gaels under-12 hurlers won the North Kildare Cup semi-final on Friday, June 2, away to Cappagh. Hollywood GAA players on team are Luke Byrne, Ciaran Traynor, David Peppard, Patrick William Cullen Dunne and Poppie Rose Cullen Dunne. Final next weekend against Maynooth.

Hollywood GAA Club gear is now available to buy at Kaideen Knitwear Baltinglass.

Cúl Camp ion Hollywod from July 3 to 7. Book online now.

LARAGH

After our great victory away to our neighbours Ballinacor last weekend we played our other neighbours An Tochar on Friday last. We were looking to collect another two points to add to our league tally.

From the throw in, An Tochar looked very sharp and scored a free in the first few minutes. We replied with a good point from Jack Dunne then An Tochar rattled the back of the net and then added another point before we scored two with frees from John Nolan.

An Tochar scored another free but John Nolan (f) and a mark Miley point keep us in touch coming up to half time.

Then another two frees from An Tochar put them s few points up but John Nolan with a good score from a free and a Davie McDonald point put us a point behind on the strike if half time.

But another free from An Tochar sent them in at half time winning 1-06 to 0-07. It was a good first half with some very good play from both teams.

The second half started much the same as the first An Tochar scored a free spin after the throw in.

We replied with a John Nolan free and a good point from Steve Olohan another point from John Nolan put us level.

An Tochar took the lead again this time from play. But keith Lawlor levelled it once more before two more frees put an Tochar ahead again.

Then the all important score and after a great rob from jack Dunne in the middle of the park he laid the balm off to Keith Lawlor with a goal badly needed the keeper pulled of a great save but the ball fell to Jamie Cullen who calmly finished it to the net.

That put us a point up with time running out we added the final score from the boot of John Nolan with a week taken free. An Tochar tried to come at us but our defence was solid and finished out the game well.

This was a great result and a brilliant team performance.

With three wins in a row in the league the table is starting to look a bit better for us. Next up is Kilcoole away in the league next Tuesday at 7.30pm. Team on the day: James Nolan, Stephen Curley, Peter Merrigan, Ciaran Byrne, Craig McCoy, Gary Merrigan, Jamie Cullen, Davie McDonald, John Nolan, Eamonn Kennedy, Steve Olohan, Jack Dunne, Keith Lawlor, Mark Miley, and Dan Power. Subs used: Ross Doonan, Andrew Kenny.

STRATFORD-GRANGECON

The results of tonight’s lotto draw (May 29) as follows: Winning numbers were 06, 26, 27, and 30. No winner. Next week’s jackpot will be €7,000.

Under-7 and under-9 hurling training on Tuesday from 6.30pm in Hollywood.

Academy (four to five-year-olds) no training this week due to blitz.

Under-7 and 9 footballers have their next Go Games blitz in Blessington this coming Saturday at 11am. Under-9 training at 6.30pm on Wednesday.

Our under-11s footballers playing with Kiltegan are playing Carnew on Wednesday and training Wednesday evening and Sunday at 11am.

Our under-13s boys playing with Michael Dwyers are playing An Tochar on Monday 5th.

Under-15s boys playing with Michael Dwyers are training Monday and Thursday in High Park from 7pm.

For our Junior and Intermediate team, training continues as normal on Tuesday at 8pm.

The intermediates are playing away on Friday to Rathnew at 8pm.

Please support our club lotto as our only source of income.

Please support the Last Man Standing fundraiser register online or in clubhouse before Sunday.

Sponsor cards are available for our club walk on Sunday, June 18, up Church Mountain or else bring a donation to the fund.

Many congratulations to Junior team manager Shane O’Neill who was married last Saturday to Kathleen Ivory of Kiltegan.

COOLBOY

Last Thursday evening saw the lads take on Hollywood in the field. The lads got off to a good start and took the slightest of leads at half time on a score-line of four points to three.

Hollywood came out fighting in the second half and with a number of missed opportunities from both teams, it finished a draw with nine points a piece. Next up sees the team travel to Baltinglass on Sunday with kick off at 11.30am.

With four matches left in the league, we’d love to see the community get behind the lads and cheer them on.

RATHNEW

Rathnew 0-17, Dunlavin 0-05 Our Seniors had an early start Sunday morning, making the journey to Dunlavin for a Division 1 league clash.

The first half displayed the best football the team have played all year, with all of the starting six forwards scoring. We went in leading at half time 0-12 to 0-2 This laid the platform for the victory. The under-14s played against a talented Kilcoole team Thursday evening .There were several excellent performances on the night. Kilcoole like ourselves are fairly new to ladies football. Our girls went behind early on but didn’t panic and goals by Jess (3), Leah and Ria got the village girls back in front leading 5-0 to 2-3 at halftime. The game was close with two evenly matched teams.

Rathnew started the second half brighter and goals by Kara D (3), Kara Anderson and Ria helped Rathnew pull away. Kara D and Anna got points.

Some great performances by our under-12s in the team Alex, Anna, Aine, Ria, Kara and we had Vicky in for her first game for the 14s. Thanks especially 10-year-old Sophie Murphy who stepped up to help the team again when we had a few older girls had called in sick late.

There were over 150 kids at coaching Saturday, an excellent turn out and a true reflection of the tremendous work our coaches are putting in for our little future stars. The more the merrier so all are welcome! Pop up to the field and join in the fun.

All information regarding our upcoming and highly anticipated Kevin Gill golf tournament is posted on our Facebook page.(Rathnew GAA 1885).

We would like to wish all students starting exams this week the best of luck.

ÉIRE ÓG GREYSTONES

Peil: Division 1 - Hopefully the rot has been arrested! After a disappointing run of four or five losses, some of which were eminently winnable and which included an away defeat to Bré Emmets, our seniors registered a five point win over the same opposition on the return fixture at home on Saturday evening.

The game was closely contested over the hour with the lead, which never exceeded two or three points, changing hands on a regular basis. The denouement was particularly nerve-wracking for Éire Óg followers.

Three minutes remain on the clock and we are all speculating as to the extent of the injury time, the Éire Óg goal under constant attack and our slender two-point lead surviving primarily because of the visitors’ wayward shooting. Surely a heart in the mouth situation!

Suddenly the siege is lifted. The ball is moved quickly out of the defence and carried beyond the opposition’s 45 by Seán Lawless. Seán finds the in-running Darren Hayden who deftly evades the opposition backs and delivers an accurately weighed ball to a standing-on-the-edge-of-thesquare Billy Norman who duly bats it to the net. The Clocha Liatha communal sigh of relief would have inflated a multitude of balloons.

Division 3 - Our Junior footballers occupied second place on the Division 3 league table on May 24 and are likely to have held on to this position with their subsequent defeat of Newcastle in Newcastle.

At the moment the management has quite a strong squad at its disposal but with many of the players being borderline seniors it is expected that it will be emasculated come the first round of the senior championship.

So if the team is to finish anywhere near the top of the table at season’s end it is important to accumulate as many points as possible before this happens.

Dominic O’Brien had a commanding presence at full-back while Pearse Kelly, James Wood, Daniel and Anto Byrne were others to impress. A pleasing feature of the game was the scoring was shared amongst eight players.

Fé-11 - Éire Óg opponents on Thursday night were AGB (Arklow Geraldines Ballymoney) who to date had been plying their trade at the lower end of the table so our lads would have been judged as heavy enough firepower to have seen them off comfortably – two team format in which aggregate score determined the winner.

Ach ní i gcónaí a bhítear mar a shíltear (matters do not always follow the script) and just as had been found out by a confident Louth against Wicklow, our lads found that AGB were an unexpectedly difficult nut to crack. In the event spectators were treated to two entertaining and quite competitive contests.

On Team 1 Seán Meyler, Alec Bartek, Josh Barry, Tom O’Mahony and Finn Baxter were prominent in a lively forward division which blended excellently as a unit.

Jack Caffrey, Darragh Shanahan and Tomás O’Connell use their not inconsiderable skills to forge a very effective link between the defence and the attack.

Séamus Darcy, after a period on the sidelines through injury, marked his return with an excellent display of goal-keeping and tactical kick-out delivery. He received excellent cover from James O’Dowd, Tom Meyler, Dean Balfe and Daniel Burns.

Team 2: At this age it is all about learning to be part of a team so there is a focus on maximising player game time hence this match was played as 13-a-side on a pitch designed for an 11-a-side game. This had the disadvantage that at times things became crowded which led to the match losing a little in fluidity. Highlights of the game were the long-distance point scored by Hugh O’Carroll after he had shipped a heavy challenge and an excellent goal from Charlie Fox.

Hugh O’Carroll, Gavin Lincoln, Robert Owens, Piaras Healy, Nathan Donnellan, Sam Cunningham, Alex Goff, Charlie Keogh, Charlie Grogan, Charlie Fox, Eoghan Duddy, Charlie Nolan, Evin Donnelly.

Peil na mBan - Our lady footballers lost their recent game against Clann na nGael – a combination of players from Enniskerry and Kilmac. This team has been playing together for a while now and is further along the road of development than the current Éire Óg ladies team is.

The Greystones girls were not too disappointed at their 4 point defeat, 3-10 to 4-11. That the margin was not much more was due in no small measure to the outstanding goalkeeping of Aisling Leonard. Some of her saves were of point-blank shots.

Two of the Éire Óg goals were out of the top drawer: Katie Lawless after a jinking run down the left wing sent a clever ball past the Clann na nGael keeper and Ellie O’Neill, shortly after, drove a powerful shot crashing to the back of the net from 15 metres.

SHILLELAGH

Well done to a seriously depleted Junior A football team and management who despite losing out on a 0-8 to 0-3 scoreline to Knockananna turned in another gutsy performance before a healthy attendance on the Fairgreen on Friday last in Division 3 of the football league.

On Sunday morning next the squad travel to take on Hollywood again in Division 3 league and with championship time looming we will hopefully get back to winning ways.

Players will be informed of throw in time and travel arrangements at training during the week.

The combination drawn in the club lotto draw on Monday, May 29, was 3, 5, 14, and 26. There was no jackpot or match three winner, the following emerged from the lucky dip box and shared €100: Mary Tighe, Millbank, Brendan Faulkner c/o David Nolan and the Rt. honourable Patrick Murphy, 15 Oakridge. Karl Dagge won the promoters prize.

The next draw with the jackpot an enticing €3,300 will take place on Monday, June 12, tickets costing just €2 are available in business outlets in the village and from promoters, players and committee members your continued support is much appreciated.

Exam time is upon us. To all the students from the locality and surrounding areas from all involved with Shillelagh G.A.A juvenile and adult clubs all the best.

A sincere thank you to every one who contributed to the success of our annual golf classic held in a resplendent Coolattin Golf Club on Sunday last, our generous sponsors who again stepped up to the plate, the staff at Coolattin Golf Club and the participating teams your support is invaluable.

The Behan team, all three generations, including the legendary Paddy (who shares the club presidency with Jimmy Kearns), Paul, Brendan and Daniel won first prize with 85 points, the Patrick Hennessey, Bill Murphy, Graham Carroll and Patrick Hickey combination also accumulated 85 points but had to settle for second place due to an inferior back 9, well done all.

JUVENILE NEWS - Pride of place this week to our under-11 football team who won the Tinahely Juvenile club tournament for the Dick Maher perpetual trophy on Sunday last, another impressive outing from this talented group, having accounted for Coolboy and Kiltegan in earlier rounds the had a narrow victory over the host club in the final, our thanks to Tinahely for the kind invitation to participate and well done on a well run tournament.

On this Wednesday evening, June 7, the 11s face another tough assignment when they travel to take on Michael Dwyers, parents will be informed of venue and travel arrangements prior to Wednesday.

The under-13 St Marys team had a useful workout against Tinahely in Coolkenno on Friday last.

Their league game against Bray Emmets scheduled for Monday last was postponed, parents will be informed of training plans for the 13s during the week.

The next instalment in the Go Games series takes place on this Friday evening, June 9, in Tinahely with a 7pm start time. Come along and witness our very young juveniles display their skill and enthusiasm.