GRASSROOTS
SHILLELAGH
Three in a row, three on the bounce – not a phrase that could be used when describing our on field activities in recent years, but after being held up by the beast and Emma and then the son of the beast, the Junior A football team under the captaincy of Laurie Cullen continued their good run in Division 3 of the football league when, after a real cracker of a game versus Aughrim on the Fairgreen on Saturday last, they emerged victorious on a 1-11 to 0-11 scoreline.
Next up is another difficult encounter when the management team of Anthony Grey, Darren Kavanagh and Noel Murphy take their panel to Kilcoole, date and time T.B.C.
The combination drawn in the club lotto draw on March 20 was 16, 18, 19, and 23. The jackpot remains elusive and on the night also their was no match three winner.
There were three lucky dip winners and they were Betty Kinsella C/O Pat Nolan, Daphne Dagge, Ballingate, and Paul Shannon, Rathsillan, Tullow. Keith Byrne won the promoter’s prize.
The next draw with the jackpot an enticing €2,200 as scheduled for Tuesday last, April 3. Results will be available in all local business outlets on Wednesday morning. Your continued support is greatly appreciated.
JUVENILE NEWS
All participants in the 2017 Cúl Camp programme were included in a draw for entry into the much anticipated 2018 Camp.
Well done to Donncha Togher and Cian Byrne were the lucky winners in a draw conducted by the talented Quarry St. Behan boys, Brendan and Dan.
Well done to three prominent members of the St. Mary’s under-13 panel Louis Judge, Brandon Rossitter and Ciaran Lambert who were members of the Colaiste Bhride team who were victorious in the South East basketball final recently.
Juvenile member registration for 2018 will take place on Friday next, April 6, in the clubhouse coinciding with training for under-7, 9 and 11s players from 7pm to 8 pm. The registration fee is €20 per child capped at a maximum €50 for a family of three or more.
BALLINACOR
We held our Variety Night in Lawless Hotel on Saturday 24th.
This was a great success with a brilliant nights entertainment provided by a host of different acts.
All the performers were local and it was a joy to see the talent in our area on show. Thanks very much to each one of them for making it a great night.
A huge thanks also to all who organised and supported the event. A special thanks has to go to Ann Devitt, Eileen Byrne and Mark Galvin for their work with the committee to make this happen.
Also thanks to Albert Webster for his work on the night, Lawless’ Hotel for hosting the event and to everyone who sponsored prizes.
On the same weekend the lads travelled down to Ashford to play their third league game.
It was a tough battle on a heavy pitch but the lads played some good football and battled away to win 1-15 to 10. Last Sunday morning we played Carnew at home.
Unfortunately, things didn’t go our way and we were defeated by 2-12 to 6 points.
Next up we have Newtown away on Saturday evening. Throw in is at 6.30, all support welcome again!
r Twitter @StPatsGAAWick.
COOLBOY
Thank you - On behalf of Coolboy GAA Club, we cannot thank everyone enough for their good wishes over the past week.
We had a very tough week but the phone calls and texts to the committee and members of the club along with the messages to the page, gave us much needed support when we really needed it.
It is impossible to thank everyone but a special mention must go to our supporters who came out in force on Saturday last. Coolboy GAA lives to fight another day!
League round up - We finally started our Division 3 league campaign on Saturday last at home to St. Pat’.
After a slow start and finding ourselves 1-3 to no score down after 15 minutes, our lads fought back and dug deep to lead 3-4 to 1-4 at half-time.
They continued this trend with all players determined and full of pride and finished with a win on a score line of 3-13 to 1-5.
We are away to Blessington this Saturday, April 7, with kick off down for 5pm. This fixture is subject to last minute changes.
Golf classic - After the success of it’s long awaited return last year, Coolboy Handball and GAA Club will join forces once again to host a Golf Classic on Sunday, May 6, in Coollattin Golf Club.
Teams of four will compete on the day to win various prizes including Nearest to Pin and Longest Drives. Teams of four are €160 including food.
Tee times are now available and if you are interested in playing please contact Miley O’Keeffe.
After the day golfing, there will be a night of entertainment in the clubhouse with the presentation of prizes followed by music until late.
BALLYMANUS
The lads suffered a one-point away defeat to Donard last weekend in a sloppy encounter with little or nothing between the sides throughout.
We definitely had our chances to at least get a draw in this one but in the end it wasn’t to be.
The final score was 10 points to nine. We play An Tochar on Wednesday evening away.
There was no lotto jackpot winner last weekend from 2, 3, 7, and 22. Match three winners were Martin Hennessey, Donal Murphy, Maebh Carthy, Catherine Harper, Margaret Stapleton, Tinakilly, and Aodàn Byrne. Finally, best wishes to Sean and Bridget who ties the knot this weekend.
ÉIRE ÓG GREYSTONES
All went merry as a marriage bell at the Éire Óg Dinner and Presentation Dance in Greystones Golf Club on Saturday night. Indeed so much so that many of the patrons didn’t find their way to their abodes until well into the early hours.
Ag cur fáilte dó roimh an slua, Cathaoirleach John Keane emphasised the importance of such occasions in creating a sense of community within the club and in this regard he spoke of his great pleasure at seeing so many female members (must have been close to 50/50), camogie and peil, present.
John expressed his desire of seeing the club play a vibrant role in Na Clocha Liatha at large and making a significant contribution to its well-being, particularly to that of its youth.
He indicated that he had got a sense, on hearing the joyful sound emanating from the large concourse of little girls and boys enjoying their introduction to the games of peil and iomáint at the opening session of the club’s academy earlier in the day, that the club was evolving in this direction.
Incidentally, Uachtarán Ray Barry’s granddaughter Aoife (fourth generation of Barrys) achieved the age of participation on Saturday.
The presentations were an important part of the night’s proceedings but thanks to the cathaoirleach’s sensible control of matters their encroaching into the time set aside for the night’s revelries was minimal.
In a moment of philanthropic madness John held aloft the €100 note which was to be the prize for a free draw among the tables.
The camógs were the lucky ones. Trophies were awarded as follows: PEIL SOISEAR, Player of the year (PoY) Anto Byrne, Clubman of the Year (CoY) Conall Deeney presented by Johnny Barry.
IOMÁINT SOISEAR: PoY Brian Lawless, CoY Seán Looby presented by Ciarán Goff.
IOMÁINT SINSEAR: presented by Gavin McGowan, PoY Billy Cuddihy, CoY (chosen by players) Dan O’Neill.
PEIL SINSEAR presented by the dapper John Wynne, PoY Daniel Keane, CoY Liam Maguire.
CAMÓGAÍOCHT presented by Ciarán Goff, PoY Rachel Purcell, CoY Suzanne Behan.
PEIL NA MBAN presented by Ray McTague, PoY Ciara Patrick, CoY Wendela Zeiger.
The lady footballers, managed by Séamus, John, Oliver and Conall, were the only section in the club to win championship medals in 2017 and Conall presented their medals to the girls.
The prestigious Club Person of the Year accolade also went the female way (the club must surely be in line for some feminist award!). The recipient was Angela O’Leary who was hugely instrumental in putting together the adult camogie panel and has been an important playing member from the start.
She famously scored the winning goal in last year’s Junior Shield final. Angela also spent a few years in the very demanding role of Child Protection Officer. A very worthy winner of the award. Maith thú Angela!
The final award on the night was in the nature of a non-monetary golden handshake and was presented by Uachtarán Ray Barry to Con Ó Súilleabháin who this year retired from the coiste.
In reply to the Cathaoirleach’s somewhat flattering address, Con said that his philosophy in life was that of doing things because it was right and not for praise or blame.
He added that he was more than compensated for any contribution he had made to the club in the satisfaction he had derived and in the friendships he had made.
PEIL NA MBAN – Éire Óg ladies were at home to Blessington Bs on Sunday in their first game in this year’s league.
Speaking to mentor Conall Brennan as the girls went through their pre-match warm-up routine one learned that he was somewhat perturbed about the effect the Dinner Dance merrymaking might have on the team’s performance.
In fact he needn’t have worried as it was not long into the game before it became evident that the effects of the Saturday night’s revels were not of such import as to deny the Éire Óg girls victory.
They started off brightly and were 4-05 to 1-03 ahead at the break.
On the resumption, Blessington upped their game and outscored the hosts by three points in the second half.
Unfortunately, our ladies did not have a dedicated goalie and the role was shared between Katie O’Reilly and Alice O’Neill.
Luckily they both proved to be more than adequate to the task. Ellie O’Neill and Rachel Purcell supplied most of the Éire Óg scores.
The team was delighted to welcome back Orla Minogue who was returning after a few years away from the sport and Erin Wylie who had been sidelined due to injury.
COMHBHRÓN – The club extends its sincere sympathy to the Ryan Family particularly to his wife Róisín, his sons Mikey and John and to his mother Imelda, on the death i mbláth a shaoil of Mick Ryan. His sons were active members of the club through from their early juvenile years to the adult level. Mick was always on hand to lend them his support and thus became well-known within Éire Óg. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam a tógadh uainn ró-luath.
TINAHELY
Tinahely GAA lotto results from March
26. Numbers drawn were: 16, 18, 19, and
25. The bonus number was 12. There was no jackpot winner. There was one match three winner and that was Eileen Darcy. Next week’s lotto jackpot is worth €7,000.
Intermediate football - Well done to our Intermediate team on a hard-fought win away to coolkenno last Sunday morning.
This game was played in terrible conditions, but the lads stuck to the plan and came away with two league points.
We now sit top of the Division 1A with four wins from four.
CARNEW EMMETS
Carnew Emmets held an Easter Camp in the GAA grounds from the 26th to 29th of March.
60 kids took part in the hurling/football camp and great fun was had by all. Carnew GAA would like to thank the coaches who helped out during the fun filled week, and Coláiste Bhríde and Scoil Aodhan Naofa for making their premises available for use. We would also like to thank Victor’s newsagents for helping out in getting the prizes of a football and a hurling ball for each child in the camp.