GRASSROOTS

and is an all-county monster blitz. This is their final blitz of the year.

Training continues every Monday at 6.30pm. Give Alun a bell at 086 3017500 for more information.

Well done to the Under-13s who under the watchful eyes of Peter and Ruairi had a great run in the league going through the season unbeaten and clinched the league last week. The lads are training away and looking forward to the first championship match which is due to be played next week

Training continues every Monday at 6.30pm for the Under-11s and at 6.30pm on Wednesday for the Under-13s.

The Under-15s are due to begin their championship tonight with a home match against Aughrim but please check fixtures for confirmation,

All our juvenile teams are always on the lookout for more players and volunteers so if you want to get involved with any aspect with either a boys or girls team give our secretary Tom a buzz at 087 6611480.

The Under-8 and Under-10 girls are training on Tuesdays at 6.30pm.

The Under-14 girls season ended last Tuesday when they were beaten by St pat’s in the semi-final of the shield, the girls played well on the night but didn’t make enough of the many chances they created.

Training for the Under-14 girls has ceased for a few weeks and we hope to resume shortly, we have a bus booked for the Under-12-Under-14 girls to go to the ladies All-Ireland final which is on Sunday, September 16, seats are limited and will be issued on a first come first served basis, the cost is £10 and is payable to Loretto or Shay before the day. For more info give Shay a bell at 087 2699620.

The lotto is a lovely €10k this week, numbers drawn were 2, 12, 22, and 26. Please buy a ticket to be in with a chance to grab this huge jackpot, tickets are only €2 each! The Glenealy Under-9 hurlers who took part in the Wicklow GAA monster go Games blitz in Ballinakill last weekend.

They made headaches for the managers on the side line who didn’t know who to sub on and off.

Their hard work is paying off as they prepare for championship over the coming weeks. Best of luck boys.

The Under-11 footballers play Annacurra this evening at home in the complex at 7pm. All support welcome.

Training continues every Friday 6-7pm. Well done to all the Under-7 and 9 hurlers who played their last hurling Go Games in Ballinakill Saturday afternoon.

All the players have greatly improved from when we started out in April and we would like to say a very big thank you to our coaches who have trained all year round every Tuesday evening and Saturday morning.

Well done to all the players who have worked very hard on their game all year and we as a club are all very proud of you.

There is a juvenile club meeting on Thursday evening at 7.30pm in the complex.

The club are holding a juvenile coaching morning this Saturday from 10am to 1pm approx, for all our juvenile teams, where Martin Fogarty from Kilkenny along with our own county players are going to coach the panels.

There is a free CPR and aed demonstration taking place in Rathdrum Parish Church on Wednesday, September 5, at 7.30pm for anyone who is interested.

On to the final where we faced our old rivals Tinahely in the U14 A Cup final in Bray. We started brightly and were unlucky in front of goal while Tinahely got a couple of scores at crucial times. Our girls kept battling right to the end but Tinahely retained their title.

Our White team also put up in an excellent performance on Tuesday night vs AGB. It was a very tight first half with both defences on top.

Blessington went into half-time leading by the minimum on a scoreline of of 1-1 to 0-3.

Our team started the second half very strongly, battling for every ball. The entire 15 girls playing brilliantly with a final score of Blessington 4-11, AGB 1-3.

The White team qualifying for the Under-14 B Shield final following this win played a physically stronger and faster team from An Tochar.

Roundwood led from the start to finish but our young team kept tackling and battling all the way to the end with some great scores at the end of the second half.

We want to wish Orlaith, Leila and Caelann a speedy recovery from injuries picked up in the finals.

We would like to thank all the parents and supporters for coming out to Bray to support our Under-14 squad and for their support throughout the season. Training continues on Tuesday and Thursday nights at 7pm.

Under-12s - Topping off our wonderful 25th anniversary, the celebrations continued in Ballinakill on Sunday, August 26 when our Under-12 girls claimed their respective championship titles.

First up was our brilliant White team vs Ashford in the B Shield final.

Our girls already unbeaten in the whole campaign proved too strong for a great Ashford team.

From start to finish we dominated the match with some excellent defending and tireless work in midfield. Special mention to Under-10 player Katie Behan who was outstanding with a personal score tally of 2-8, this was only Katie’s second U12 game!

Having been beaten in last year’s final this meant the world to us when the final whistle went. The shield was presented to Captain Michaela Garvey who made a lovely speech with three cheers for Ashford. Score 2-11 to 2-1.

Team and scorers: Ciara Tracey, Lauren Richardson, Michaela Garvey, Shannon McDonnell, Cria Cullen, Clodagh Nugent, Katie Quinlan, Abbie O’Riordan 0-1, Asia Duggan 0-1, Olivia Quigley, Emma Carpenter, Aoife Kinsella, Emily Cully, Katie Behan 2-8, Katelyn Elliott, Ciara O’Neill 0-1, Aimee Hill, Ciara Whelan, Erin Buttner, Holly Teague and Ellen Williamson.

Our Blue team took on Tinahely in the A Cup final. This was an absolute thriller of a game.

Our girls were out of the traps like something possessed as they played with sheer determination and battled hard and first to every ball.

We got an early lead but Tinahely being a great little team pulled it back and left only two points in it at half-time.

The second half was as gutsy as the first and we couldn’t be prouder of our girls with the pride and passion they showed as a team. It truly was one of the best performances they’ve every given.

Each and every one played a huge part in the victory on a score line of 4-5 to 1-7.

Team and scorers: Anna Carlyon, Grace Swan, Ava Jordan Dempsey, Caoimhe Gilligan, Roisin Doyle, Erin McMahon, Niamh Brennan, Leila Shannon 0-1, Ava O’Driscoll 0-1, Robyn Brennan, Aisling Brennan 2-2, Aibhe King, Aoife Cullen, Sophie O’Driscoll 2-1, Clara Keane, Ella Richardson, Leah Richardson, Paige McDonald, Eilis Reid and Susie Cronin.

The Cup was presented to Captain Aisling Brennan who also gave a great speech and thanked everyone involved and Tinahely for a great sporting game.

What an achievement two years in a row reaching both finals and this time taking the double.

We couldn’t be any prouder of these amazing young ladies. They have worked so hard and deserve every bit of the success.

It was a credit to Ladies football to see the performances they gave. We had an incredible entrance back into Blesso with a convoy of possibly 40 cars beeping the girls through the town!

The girls enjoyed pizzas and food from Apache in Mick Reid’s thanks so much to both for everything.

We had our Player of the Match presentations (which were the most difficult ones we ever had to pick!) and thanked everyone who in any way was part of the fantastic season.

White team POTM was the amazing Lauren Richardson. Blue team POTM was outstanding full back Ava Jordan Dempsey. What a year thanks a mil to all.

Under-8s – Super performance from both Under-8 teams in the blitz in Kilcoole on September 1 winning all six matches. Great teamwork, passing and effort. The hard work they put in at training is really paying off. The future of ladies football is in safe hands.

Under-10s - What a morning of football in Kilcoole for our Under-10 girls in Kilcoole on September 1.

Well done to everyone who travelled. A few injuries along the way against a tough Rathnew side, but the girls never gave up at all.

A great bunch altogether. Best wishes to Cria (bang on the head) Orlaith T (bang on the arm) Leah Ricker (bang on the tooth) and Eimear Doyle (burst lip). Ye are all superstars. 5.5 Wins out of 6, isn’t too bad.

Juvenile boys - Blessington GAA Leinster blitz - Blessington GAA are hosting our annual Blitz for Under-8, Under-9, Under-10 and Under-11 boys on Sunday, September 9.

Registration will be from 10am. Games starting 11am sharp and everything will be finished on time so supporters can travel to Aughrim to watch our seniors in action at 4pm.

In total, 32 teams from four counties will play with eight matches in play at all times. Please come up to the pitch and show your support. We would also like to thank everyone who supported our bag pack in Dunnes Stores over the weekend which raised funds to run the blitz. A special thanks to Gillian and Susan together with coaches, parents and kids who helped out and to Dunnes Stores for facilitating us.

Under-17s – The Minors had a comprehensive win over Tomacork on Monday, August 27 at home. 3-20 to 0-4. Monday, September 10, at home v Clann na Gael at 7.15pm. Our lads are in the Semis of the championship. Currently joint top of the table with St Pat’s. This is the last game of the groups and whoever tops the table will win the league. It’s all to play for so please come out and support this great group of lads.

Under-11s – The squad were away to Confey in first match of Autumn NKL on Saturday, September 1. The team played well considering a lot played other sports in the morning. Well done to all players/parents for travelling and coaches Ben and Gerry who went with squad.

Matches on Wednesday, September 5, at 7pm - U11 Blue at home v Rathnew Green, Under-11 Blue at home v Coolkenno and Under-11 White away v AGB 2.

Hurling - Michael Dwyer’s Hurlers - Under-13s started the Kildare League with a win against Clane and the Under-17s also had a great win against Bray which puts them in the melting pot for the A championship...well done to all!

Fixtures – All our fixtures for the week can be found on the Blessington GAA Facebook page and the club website.

Condolences - Condolences to Denise O’Connell and familyon the sad passing of her brother Martin.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dilis.