CLUB CALL
INDOOR BOWLS
Kildare West Wicklow Indoor Bowling Association (KWWIBA)
League Classic produced by Kildare and Monasterevin
Kildare had the advantage of playing at home in this Division 5 league game against near neighbours Monasterevin on Monday, September 11.
The Monasterevin club only formed in the last 12 months would be the complete underdogs in this clash, particularly as this would be their first time competing in any competition of the KWWIBA or otherwise.
Whereas the majority of the opposition would have considerable experience, having been playing for a great number of years.
The general consensus being that Kildare would be the overwhelming favourites to win all five points with a reasonable amount of ease.
Whirlwind Start - What a surprise for the home team on mat 1, before they had a chance to settle into the game they found themselves down six in the first three ends.
But from then on they slowly, oh so slowly kept ‘nibbling’ away at the visitors lead.
It wasn’t until the eight end that they finally caught up and overtook their opponents to take the lead by one score.
Back came Monasterevin to level the scores at eight apiece.
The visitors moved three clear in the next couple of ends but again Kildare levelled matters.
On the 13th end Monasterevin were two scores to the good but on the 14th that lead was back to one.
On the final end Monasterevin added another two scores to their tally to run out deserving winners on a scoreline of 15/12.
Kildare: Carmel Mcloughlin, Billy Kavanagh, Dave O’Connell and Anthony Doyle.
Monasterevin: May Millar, Pat Merlihan, Eileen Lawlor, Brendan Brereton and sub John Millar.
Faultless Exhibition of Skill - Mat 2: This mat proved every bit as exciting as mat 1, only this time it was the Kildare side that got the better start, moving three clear in as many ends.
Within a couple of more ends the sides were level, and then the visitors went one clear.
On the next end the sides were level for the second time. The game continued in this trend throughout with the lead flowing back and forth.
On the 12th end the sides were all square again at ten each. And again on the second last end they were level for the fourth time at eleven scores each.
On the last end it looked as if Monasterevin had just got over the line when a costly error by their skip who threw his last bowl (not knowing he didn’t have to throw it) and moved the jack to his opponents bowls to give a relieved Kildare side four scores. Unfortunately inexperience was the deciding factor in the final result. Scoreline: Kildare 15, Monasterevin 11.
Kildare will be thankful taking three points while Monasterevin will be content coming away with two points.
This result no doubt made a mockery of the general consensus of this being a foregone conclusion.
Kildare: Cliff Baker, Mick Mangan, Billy McGrath and Pat Baker.
Monasterevin: Kathleen Crabb, Tommy O’Connor, Stephen Millar, Paul Mooney and substitute Josie Cooper.
Carmel McLoughlin (Kildare) certainly gave a player of the match performance with a faultless exhibition of skill and composure throughout and was closely followed by Eileen Lawlor (Monasterevin) who had a brilliant game in her first match.
As this is the first season a Division 4 and 5 was introduced in the league the Division 5 matches are certainly serving up great entertainment and excitement so far and let us hope they continue to do so for the remainder of the season.
Recent League results (home team first):
Division 1: Hollywood 5, Caragh 0; Castlemitchell 3, Allen 2; Brownstown 5, Rathmore 0; Kildangan 3, Kill CBC 2; Kildare 5, Ardclough 0; Allen 1, Hollywood 4.
Division 2: Prosperous 2, Baltinglass 3; Balyna 2, St. Laurences 3; Rathmore 5, Rathcoffey 0; Coill Dubh 1, Rathangan 4; Blessington 5, Athy 0.
Division 3: Ballymore Eustace 5, Naas 0; Hollywood 3, Straffan 2; Donard/Glen 5, Caragh 0; Kilcullen 0, Kildare 5; Ryston 3, Allenwood 2; Caragh 3, Kilcullen 0.
Division 4: Allen 5, Kill 0; Donard/Glen 3, Rathcoffey 2; Celbridge 3, Clane/Staplestown 2; Kilcullen 5, Ardclough 0; Balyna 3, Celbridge 2.
Division 5: Balyna 5, Clane/ Staplestown 0; Kildare 3, Monasterevin 2; Abbey Bowls 5, Castlemitchell 0; Kill CBC 5, Allenwood 0.
WICKLOW ROVERS
Our Senior men went down to a disappointing 3-0 home defeat to Blessington FC last week, the lads never really reached the standards they are capable of in this game.
They went in at the break very much still in the game with the game scoreless at half-time.
Disaster struck when the away side went in front three minutes into the second period and it got worse when the lads were reduced to ten men, which left them with a mountain to climb.
The away side added a further two goals with the third coming in injury time when the lads were pushing forward looking for a way back into the game.
Generally it was a bad day at the office for the lads, on the night Ian Brannigan and Lenny Carton stood out for Rovers.
Our under-17 DDSL team had a resounding 6-1 away win over Knocklyon Utd, Dean Noble scored a brace to make it five for the season, leading scorer Luca Rampersaud moved onto eighteen for the campaign with a single.
Stephen Finlay scored one to make it 15th this season with Patrick O’Keane getting his seventh and Ronan Murray nabbing his second of the season to complete the scoring.
Our under-17As got their WDL youth league off to a winning start when they claimed all three points away to Arklow Town winning 2-1, in what was a close competitive game the lads earned all three points with goals from Sean Farrell and Dylan Frazer.
Junior action was reduced within the club due to SFAI cup action, with the majority of our teams receiving byes to round two of the various SFAI cups they were all left twiddling their thumbs with no local action.
The only side from under-12 to under-16 that were in action was our 14A’s as they entertained South Dublin side Beechwood FC at Whitegates and the lads joined their fellow club mates into round two with a resounding 3-0 victory, both Tom Hodgkinson and Callum Gibney hit one each to move to three goals each in the scoring charts with Sean O’Meara firing home his first of the campaign in a very solid performance from the lads.
This win sets them up with a home tie against Kildare side Prosperous Utd in the second round.
On Sunday the under-14 girls kicked off their MGL season with a good 5-2 home victory over Cambridge from Ringsend.
In a highly entertaining game there was nothing between the two sides in the first half with the teams going in at the break all square at 2-2 with Molly Sweeney twice hitting the back of the net to draw Rovers level on two occasions.
In the second half, Rovers dominated and pulled away with the prolific Molly Sweeney firing home two more goals to give her a personal haul of four goals, Kara Doyle completed the scoring when she nabbed the fifth goal on her debut.
Eve Doyle in the centre of the Rovers midfield was girl of the match in what was a good all round team performance
Everyone at the club would like to wish our Senior ladies the very best of luck in the Inter 3 Subsidiary cup final this Sunday, September 24, when they take on Donnycarney in Inchicore home of St Patricks. The match kicks off at 4.30pm, all support welcomed.
The club’s Last Man Standing competition is back, the competition will start on the weekend of October 14.
Anyone interested in taking part in our competition should text their name and contact details to Charlie Mitchell at 086-3838362 or by email to charlesagmitchell@ gmail.com, also you can register through the same channels as you did in any of our previous Last Man Standing competitions.
The prize fund will be €500 with the same rules applying.
Alternatively if anyone wants to register you can contact any committee member with all your details. The registration fee for the competition is €10 and must be paid prior to the start of the competition.
Also it’s advised to have your registration in on or before Saturday, October 7. See club website at www.wicklowrovers.com for a full list of the rules.
The club have arranged two more nights for registration of club membership, they will take place on Friday, September 29, and Friday, October 6, in the clubhouse at Whitegates from 7.30pm to 9pm.
The club would encourage members to come along on one of these nights as we have already had two previous nights and we don’t have plans to hold further nights.
Alternatively you can register online through the myclubfinances link on the home page of the club website at www.wicklowrovers. com
Anyone with information for the club notes or the club website can contact me at 087 9108706 or e-mail me at jimmy.nolan09@ hotmail.com.
For all news regarding the club, check out the club website at www. wicklowrovers.com or the club Facebook page.
BRAY BOWLS
This week saw three club finals decided. Men’s Captain Dave McMahon won the 2 Bowl Singles defeating Pat Raftery.
The two Bowl Pairs was won by Ger Minogue/Eoghan Brady who defeated Eddie Condren/Christy McEvoy.
Thursday saw Christy back in action in the Handicap Singles where he proved too good for John Dunne.
This capped a great season for Christy with victory in the two major singles competitions.
Three more finals will be decided over the weekend of September 23/24 and details will follow next week.
The hardy club members among us are now gearing up for the winter season and the the roll ups are continuing a pace on Tuesdays and Thursday mornings.
The big news of the week was Colm Heaslip winning the weekly lotto for a third time. Yes, you read it right. What a lucky man!
AVONMORE FC
Avonmore under-8 v Wicklow Rovers under-8 - Our brand new under-8 team had their first match this morning in sunny Tullylusk. they played three very entertaining matches against a good wicklow rovers team.
Two six a side matches and an entertaining 12-a-side. After only two training sessions, this is looking like a talented little team. well done to all involved.
SFAI CUP Round 1 - Avonmore under-12A v Arklow UTD under-12: our under-12A team hosted Arklow UTD in the first round of the National Cup in Tullylusk this morning.
With three of our players unavailable we were down to the bear minimum on the bench. starting strong from the tip off, we put some excellent passages of play together and were unfortunate not to find ourselves on the scoresheet, with the upright and crossbar denying us.
Some brave goalkeeping from Calem kept us in the game as Arklow Utd went on the attack.
Joe in the back line dominated his area, and made his opponent work hard for every ball.
A quick break for Arklow minutes from the end, saw them slot one home and go through to the next round. a hard one for the lads to lose, but good luck to Arklow in their next fixture.
Avonmore under-16 v Greystones under-16: Our Under-16s had a great victory this morning winning 4-0 at home against Greystones.
We started the game well and after eight minutes Cormac McGraynor ran onto a great through ball and the keeper took him down for a penalty.
Kelan Busher stepped up and buried the ball to the back of the net.
We were in total control of the game and after 22 minutes John Porter done tremendous work in the back line and hit a high ball forward where Alex Olohan headed down to the on running Cormac McGraynor who finished nicely to make it 2-0.
We should have had the game wrapped up only for some great saves from the Greystones keeper and a few misses from ourselves. Just before half-time there keeper hit a bad kick out which fell to Kelan Busher he ran by a player or two and calmly hit it low to the bottom corner.
We went in winning 3-0 at halftime. At the start of the second half we had a few chances but once again the keeper pulled off some very good saves.
Then on 53 minutes we got a free near the half way line and Andrew Brancato stepped up and hit it lovely and the ball ended up in the back of the net.
We had a few more chances but in the end it finished 4-0.
This was an overall great team performance with the 13 players used putting in a real effort.
Well done to all. Training Thursday from 7-8 hope to see all attend.
BRAY WANDERERS
Lotto draw - There was no jackpot winner on September 17. Numbers drawn were 2, 10, 12, and 20. €30 lucky dip winners were Joe Edwards c/o Bray Lakers, Des Byrne c/o Bray Lakers, Joe and Declan c/o D. Crinion, Jim Kavanagh c/o V. Walsh, Ciara Fagan c/o Bray Lakers.
Next week’s jackpot is €10,850. Lotto tickets can be purchased in the club shop at home games or you can play the Bray Wanderers Lotto on line at our web site www. braywanderersfc.ie. Lotto tickets are just €2.00 each.
Fixtures - Bray Wanderers are away to Derry City on Friday, September 22. Kick off at the Maginn Park in Buncrana is 7.45pm.
Underage teams - The under-19s completed their league campaign with a 5-0 defeat away to Galway FC last Saturday. The under-19s will now compete in the Shield competition beginning next week-end.
The under-17s beat Kerry 3-0 away win in Tralee last Sunday. Goalscorers were Jake Byrne, Byron O’Gorman and Glen Hollywood.
The Bray Wanderers/St. Joseph’s Boys Academy under-15s recorded their third successive league win with a 2-1 home win over St. Kevins Boys last Saturday.
Goalscorers were Toby Jones and Alan Leonard.
The under-15s are away to St. Kevin’s Boys next Saturday.