GRASSROOTS

CARNEW EMMETS

Sincere sympathy to the Cosgrave family, Tomacork on the death of Rita last week.

AN TÓCHAR

The An Tóchar Fitness Centre was officially open on on Friday, May 5 by Andrew Doyle TD. The gym manager, Alex Grey, PSquared Performance, is on hand to guide you through your fitness programme. Call up or ring Alex to join any of the classes or to discuss personal training.

GAA Cul Camps - The An Tochar Cul Camp will run from July 10th-14th. Further information/booking available on www.kelloggsculcamps.gaa.ie.

NEWTOWN

Our seniors took on Carnew at home in round 7 of league last night, round 8 against Annacurra is scheduled for Tuesday, 30th May.

Our popular junior magpie’s nursery program has returned every Saturday at 10am on the pitch, an hour’s fun and excitement is guaranteed each week for 4-8year olds. If you need more info please give Barry a buzz at 0868390507. The U10 hurling coaching takes place every Saturday morning at 11.15 following the nursery.

The U7 and U9s had a blitz last Friday in Avoca with the next blitz scheduled for Friday, June 9, in Bray. Both these teams are training on Tuesdays at 6.30pm.

The U11s are at home to Kilcoole tonight in the league and are training every Wednesday at 6-30pm. The U13s played AGB in the league on Monday and are going well in their division. The U8-10 girls are training on Wednesdays at 6.30pm.

The U12 and U14 girls both played Shankill in friendlies last Saturday and we are glad to say both teams recorded wins. Thanks to Shankill GAA for making the trip to play us. The U14 girls lost to a good St Nick’s side in Donard last week and are training Mondays and Thursdays at 7pm The U16 girls played their last game for a while against An Tochar during the week, they are taking a break until after the Junior Cert. Newtown wishes all our members and the wider community the best of luck to all sitting exams over the coming weeks.

If you need more info about any of our juvenile teams please give Shay a ring on 0872699620. We are having a registration night tonight Wednesday 24th at 7.30pm in the clubhouse. All membership is now overdue and must be paid within the next two weeks.

The Kellogg’s Cul camps are returning to Newtown once again this year from 24-28 July and online registration is now open (www. kelloggsculcamps.gaa.ie).

This week’s lotto jackpot will be an even €3k as the jackpot rolled over from last week, numbers drawn were 8, 13, 17 and 27.

There is a good stock of club gear now available to buy for any enquiries regarding club gear please contact Amy at 0863332195.

BALLYMANUS

No action last weekend but it’s Stratford away this Friday evening. Hard luck to the lads on the county team. Good performance and lots of things to work on. Our championship has been pushed back until the end of June. Finally no jackpot winner last week from 7, 11, 15, 24. Match 3 winners were Brendan Stapleton, John Byrne, Dinny Murphy.

ÉIRE ÓG GREYSTONES

Even in defeat there was an air of near euphoria among the Wicklow followers leaving Parnell Park on Sunday. The predicted disaster had not happened. Instead they had seen a very enjoyable game of football with Wicklow fighting to the final whistle. A ‘maith sibh go léir’ to the Wicklow players. You did a lot to restore the county’s pride.

In am an gátat aithníotar cáirde – in times of struggle one comes to know one’s true friends. The Wicklow footballers have had their difficulties in the league and were certainly not expected to trouble to any extent a Louth team riding high on their promotion to Division 2. So the fair weather supporters were absent in droves from Parnell Park on Sunday. As it happened these were the ones who lost out. The followers who did attend had their faith in Wicklow football restored to more than a little extent. The Wicklow team showed great battling qualities and skill and to the surprise of everyone, including one is sure the opposition, really put it up to the wWee county who must surely have breathed a sigh of relief at the final whistle. Louth had a substantial overall advantage in height and this proved in the end to be the determining factor. It was their superiority under the dropping ball which largely carried them over the line.

Our two representatives played a significant part in what was an inspiring Cill Mantáin performance. Team captain Stephen Kelly led by nonchalant example and Darren Hayden using his considerable ball-carrying skills played an effective part in many of the attacking movements.

A “Maith sibh a imritheoirí” to the children from St. Laurence’s who, under the watchful eye of coach and teacher Donal Conlan, gave a fine exhibition of peil at the interval in the senior game.

Our senior footballers’ Division1 Arklow Bay Hotel League campaign has not, to say the least, being going terribly well and to date they have recorded only 2 wins. One hesitates to ask the unthinkable question “are they, like Leicester City, going to plunge from League champions to the position of being teetering on the edge of the abyss of demotion?”

In mitigation it has to be said that because of county loyalty, injuries and various other factors the management has been unable to field full strength sides for many of its matches. In the circumstances next Tuesday’s league game away to Bray Emmets at 7.30 pm could prove to be crucial to the team’s status in 2018. Your support would help to boost the team’s morale after its demoralizing defeat, 2-21 to 0-5, away to Blessington on Saturday evening in a contest which became quite fractious 10 minutes into the 2nd half. That defeat was to be the Greystones lads’ lot was pretty obvious at the break as by that time they had accumulated only 2 points against the opposition’s 1-7. Éire Óg’s goose was definitely cooked shortly after the resumption when a key forward was dismissed on a 2nd yellow of which it has to be said, knowing the unblemished history of the person involved, such a fate would not have been anticipated. Apart from Daniel Keane’s outstanding display at centre-back and the excellent goal-keeping of Lorcan Traynor there was little else in the match from which the Éire Óg followers could derive consolation. Lorcan saved a penalty and prevented at least 3 goal-written-over-them shots from entering his net. It speaks volumes about Na Clocha Liatha team’s performance that only 3 of its points came from play and 2 of which were supplied by last year’s minor James Delahunt.

With all sections of the club working on full throttle it is unfortunately not possible to give a comprehensive report on all their activities. An update like that below for Peil na mBan is often the best that can be done for each of them.

The U-14 squad which included seven U-12s recently undertook the long journey to Coolkenno and came away with a 6-9 to 1-6 victory. The U-16s who were away to Newtown in their last game, again because of previous commitments on the part of a number of regular players, travelled with a weakened squad. Not surprisingly they lost 6-10 to 3-6.

The adult team had no better luck against the same opposition losing by 4 points, 5-8 to 2-13 in what was an extremely enjoyable and exciting contest which indeed might have gone either way.

This squad is showing a great improvement in each of its outings and hopefully by season’s end will have become a team to be reckoned with.

As mentioned above many of the girls at U-12 have, perforce, been getting experience at U-14 and this is beginning to stand them in good stead in their matches. Lately they had a comprehensive win over St. Pa’ts B team.

FIXTURES: Tuesday evening next our U-16s are at home to Blessington and if the recent away game is any indication this should be a humdinger. On Thursday the senior ladies will take on the formidable Enniskerry/Kilmac combination, also in Greystones. Both matches are fixed for 7.30p.m.

LOTTO: Number drawn, 15th May were 5, 7, 17, 27. Pota Óir on Monday 22nd was €6,660.

TINAHELY

Tinahely Ladies: Date for your diaries 10th June - Ellen Kinch Memorial Cup will take place this year on Saturday, 10th June in Tinahely GAA Pitch!! A great day of fun is guaranteed!! All support is welcome.

Junior football: Our junior team traveled to Coolkenno last Thursday night in the league but unfortunately they didn’t get the 2 league points. Final score on the night was Coolkenno 1-12, Tinahely 2-6. Team on the night was Chubby, Timmy, Tonto, Joey, Willie, Quaile, Jamie, Bubbles, Anthony Phelan, Brian Hickey, Enda, Bill, Eric, Paul, Sean, David Dillon.

Senior football: Our senior team were playing Kiltegan last night away in the league. Next Tuesday night they are away to Hollywood in the league at 730pm.

Tinahely GAA Lotto: 15/5/17 - 12, 13, 22, 24, Bonus 16. No jackpot winner, match 3, Jimmy Carroll, Bri-Ann Mulvaney. Next week’s lotto €6,000.

AVONDALE

What a great day the under 7 and 9 boys and girls had recently where they all played extremely well in a very good blitz in Cuala Co.Dublin against teams from Cuala, Stars of Erin and Clan Na Gael. All the kids then went and enjoyed doing the tour of Croke Park.

The under 7 and 9’s played a football GoGames blitz in Avoca on Friday, where they very well against Avoca and Newtown teams. It is great to see the improvement in all the boys and girls since the start of the year. On Friday they have a hurling Go Games blitz at home against Arklow Rocks, Kiltegan and Fergal Og’s.

Training continues every Tuesday evening from 6.30pm to 7.30 in the complex for the under 7and 9’s and the Academy which includes the under 5’s as well is on every Saturday morning from 9.30am to 10.30am.

Pauline Just, Maria Kennedy, Lisa Manley, Christina McCoy and Paula Kinsella are going to run the Ladies Mini Marathon on the 5th June as a joint venture to raise money for The Martin Family in Rathnew and for the Juvenile club to raise money to get 2 set of jerseys for the under 7 and 9’s. If anyone would like to take a sponsorship card or sponsor the ladies, please contact any of the ladies or Liam Kelly.

Our junior hurlers were in action last Wednesday against Glenealy. It was nip and tuck the whole way but two quick goals for the Reds in the dying minutes sealed the game for Glenealy. Avondale hurled well on the night and with a good few young players coming through we won’t be far away. Our Junior footballers took on Rathnew in Rathnew on Thursday evening and after an excellent game we deservedly won by 4 points. The U-15 footballers played Derry Gaels last Saturday evening but sadly we were a bit under strength and lost by 4 points. Our U-11 hurlers enjoyed a great win over St Pat’s last week and these lads are really coming on leaps and bounds in the hurling.

ENNISKERRY

MEN’S UPDATE – The lads will play Valleymount away this coming Sunday with throw in at 12 midday. Best of luck to Tom and the squad.

LADIES UPDATE – The girls are away to Eire Og tomorrow, Thursday 25th with throw in at 8pm in Greystones.

JUVENILE UPDATE - The U7s travelled to Eire Óg in Greystones for their latest Go Games blitz last Friday night. Three matches were played against teams from Eire Óg and An Tochar. A wonderful night of football was witnessed by very proud parents, coaches and spectators. The team played out of their skins for all three matches and displayed some fantastic skill and commitment. Well done Adam, Danielle, Jamie, Lucas, Max, Rian, Ruben, Saoirse, Simon and Tiernan. A big thank you to the supporters that travelled to support the players. It gives the team a great boost to hear the encouragement from the sidelines. Well done to coaches and kids alike!

Tonight, Wednesday 24th the U11’s take on Newcastle in Enniskerry at 7pm while the U15s take on Kilquade Gaels, venue TBC as of Monday 22nd. Reminder for membership, if you have not paid your child’s membership for the 2017 season please contact Eamon Skelly ASAP.

AGB

In Juvenile Football the U7/U9 AGB Boys hosted a Blitz in Pearses Park. Great football was to be seen on the night from the home teams and the visitors and all the boys all really enjoyed the games. Thank you to all the helpers who provided tea and sandwiches after the blitz.

The U11 Boys travel to Eire Og on Wednesday night. The U15s Boys will face Blessington on Wednesday in Pearse’s Park at 7.15pm.

The Senior Mens team will be in action against Rathnew on Friday evening at 7.30pm in Pearses Park.

A great day of golf was had at AGBs Golf Classic in the Woodenbridge Golf Club on the 12th of May, with the Bannermen from Henkel as the worthy first prize winners. Great sportsmanship was seen on the day and dinner and a presentation followed later that evening. Thank you to all our sponsors on the day for all your support, we look forward to your continued support. Thank you to the staff at the Woodenbridge for making the day so enjoyable.

A barbecue and fun day will be held on Sunday, 4th of June in Ballymoney Clubhouse for all the family, all are welcome to attend. Refreshments will be available throughout the afternoon, and entertainment will be on the grounds outside. The club bar will be open on the night with some music entertainment. The next meeting of the AGB Executive Committee will take place on the 14/06/2017 in the AGB offices in Pearses Park at 8pm.

AGB Club gear is available at great prices. Contact Kerry on 087 3287881 to order.

Please send club notes to arklowgaa@ gmail.com. You can contact the AGB PRO at above email, Facebook (‘Arklow Geraldines Ballymoney GAA Club’ or ‘AGB Ladies’) or Twitter.

KNOCKANANNA

No winner of this week’s jackpot 3,200. Numbers drawn were 2, 7, 15 and 25. No winner. Four Lucky dips €25 each John Byrne c/o Sean Hughes, Andrew Byrne, Fiona Whelan, Sean Corrigan. Seller’s prize Dawn Byrne. Tickets are on sale in The Wagon Wheels, Jacobs, Byrnes shop Knockananna. You can also purchase a ticket in Boland’s pub Hacketstown ,The Corner House and Sean Murphy’s Butchers. Thank you for your continued support.

BALLINACOR

Our championship fixtures have been pushed back. As far as we know the first game is now the end of June, keep an eye out here for confirmation.

We play Laragh at home on Friday in the league. Throw in is at 7.30, all support welcome!

ASHFORD

Ashford GAA Lotto results for Monday, 15th May - Jackpot: €2,300. Numbers drawn: 2, 7, 16, 26. No Jackpot winner. Match 3’s: Win or share €300. Clifton Conyard c/o C O’ Brien; Cillian Downes c/o S McDermott; Anthony Crean c/o F Crean; Triona Murphy c/o V Doyle. Next Draw: Monday 22nd. May 2017. King’s. Jackpot: €2,600.

Championship match v Carnew postponed, as are all championship matches. League match v An Tochar this Friday in Roundwood at 7.30 pm. A comedy night, in aid of the GAA club, will be held in Chester Beatty’s on Saturday 1st. July commencing at 9.00 pm.

Our Lotto will be going online soon. Further information to follow.

Further information on Ashford GAA activities can be found via Facebook and from our web page, www.ashfordgaa.com.