GRASSROOTS

NEWTOWN

Our under-14 girls played in the shield semi-final this week. The final score on the day was Newtown 5-1, Coolkenno 2-5. A tough game fought between two evenly matched teams. Coolkenno came from the ‘A’ championship to play Newtown who had only lost one game all year and had won two before coronavirus hit the country!

These girls have trained since February, two nights a week every week - hail, rain or snow. These young girls, with a panel of 22, give it their all. We’re trying to improve the girls football and teach them about respect for themselves and others. We have girls from 11 years of age up to 13 and still the girls don’t let the age difference hinder them.

A big shout out to Hannah Martin who has burst a gut this year and hopefully help us win the shield. Helby McDonald and Hannah McDonald have been towers at the back. Younger girls like Ella Kavanagh and Keelin Dodd have been amazing in the forward line. The entire team have given it their all this year and deserve all the credit they get. From myself (Robert Doyle), Annemarie and Aoife it’s a pleasure to train these girls and hopefully we stay together to hopefully win a Senior championship one day.

AUGHRIM

Last week proved to be a good week for Aughrim GAA at both juvenile and adult level.

Our under-15 football team were victorious against St. Pats last Wednesday night. There were many more victories for the club at under-11 and under-13 level.

The Junior ‘A’ hurling team had a great win over Éire Óg Greystones in Annacurra. They won on a scoreline of 2-22 to 1-7. Thank you to Annacurra GAA for the use of the pitch. We wish the team the best of luck in their final group game next Wednesday night against Bray Emmets.

Our Junior ‘C’ football team topped their group with a win over Tinahely in their last championship group game. The score on the night was 0-13 to 1-9. The lads have had a great run in the group stage of the championship so far and we wish them well in the next round.

VALLEYMOUNT

Our lotto draw was held last weekend and there was no winner of the jackpot. The numbers were 3, 9, 17 and 23. The three €25 winners were Maisie Nolan, Michael Nolan and Cormac Chambers. The next lotto draw will be on Saturday, September 19, with a jackpot of €10,800. Tickets are €2 and available from all members. If anyone would like to buy a yearly lotto ticket please contact Michael Nolan on 087 2964476.

Hard luck to the Junior ‘C’ lads who lost to Kilcoole in Ballinakill last week in the championship play-off. Well done to the Junior ‘A’ lads who beat Blessington in the championship semi-final last week. Final score 1-11 to 0-11.

They now face Ashford in the county final on Saturday, September 19, in Aughrim at 5pm.

Unfortunately, no supporters will be allowed attend due to current Covid restrictions. The game will be live streamed on Wicklow GAA TV.

Well done to the under-14 girls who beat Kilcoole over the weekend in the championship semi-final. Final score: 5-6 to 4-6.

Well done to the under-12 girls who beat Blessington last week in the league.

Valleymount GAA is now on Instagram. Keep up to date with all the action by following us - Username @valleymountgaa_.

AVONDALE

Our most recent club Lotto draw took place on Tuesday, September 1. There was no jackpot winner. The numbers drawn were: 2, 6, 19, and 26. Congratulations to the two match-three winners: Dixie Porter, c/o Catherine, Cooper and PJ, c/o Lisa Fox.

Thanks for all your continued support. Next draw is Tuesday, September 8. Jackpot will be €3,200.

Well done to our under-7s who played against Ashford in a football Go Games blitz in the complex on Friday evening. The heavy shower of rain as the games started did not distract the boys and girls and they played lovely football throughout.

The team was Sebastian Cuepiela, Brogan Curley, Oisin Keogh, Tadgh Sheehan, Joseph Heffernan, Conal Moran, Eli Nangle, Will Dowling, Liam Kelly, Cian Dalton, Devin Sheehan, Johnny Cashman, Oisin Kearns, Dan Heffernan, Declan Manley, Gabriel Stadkevicius, Gerard Heffernan, Kyron Byrne, Odhran Snell, Gracie Byrne and Sally Evans.

Training continues every Tuesday evening at 6.15pm and Saturday morning at 9.30am. On Friday there will be a hurling Go Games.

Well done to all Fionn, Slaine, Tom, Kealon, Jake, Gracie, Sean, Mikey and David from the under-5s that were out Saturday morning where there was great fun and plenty of teamwork and ball play. Training continues next Saturday at 9.30am.

Avondale would like to send sincere condolences to club member Michele McGraynor and family on the sad passing of her mother, Pauline. May she rest in peace.

COOLKENNO

PEIL IDIRMHEÁNACH - A leithéid de choimhlint! What a battle! The Coolkenno Class of 2020 are definitely giving us value for money (and maybe more than the odd palpitation!).

For the second game in a row, we found ourselves a point down with time almost up. Two weeks ago, it was Eamonn Rossiter who stepped up with the equaliser. On Sunday it was Conor Doyle who took on the ‘cic na cinniúna’, and, even if the cameras missed it, the umpires did not.

Shooting against the wind, Doyle bisected the posts from distance to send the semi-final to extra-time. Extra-time ebbed and flowed as normal time had. Conor Walker had a free and a point from play but Kilcoole found a way back both times.

They could find no answer though to 2013 Intermediate Player of the Year award winner Paul Keogh’s late intervention.

On as a substitute, kicking into the breeze, Paul slotted the winner with four minutes left to play. An scór deiridh: Coolkenno 1-13, Kilcoole 2-9.

We now face Donard-The Glen in the 2020 Intermediate championship final. For posterity, the team was: Damien Geraghty, Adam O’Neill, Robert Keogh, (Paul Keogh (0-1)), Willie Doyle, James Gregan, Jim Cushe, Donal Doyle (Cathal Rossiter), Niall Bailey (Cormac Byrne), Conor Doyle (0-2), Paddy Dalton, Eoghan Dolan, John Gregan (Ben Jackman), Eamonn Rossiter (0-2), Pauric Murray (1-0 pen, 0-4 f), Conor Walker (0-4 [1f]).

PEIL NA NÓG Training continues on Fridays for under-7, 9s and 10s at ‘the pitch’ from 6.45pm to 7.30pm.

LATÓ AN CHLUB - There was no winner of the lotto jackpot of €9,300 last week. The winners of the €25 lucky dip were Colin Doyle, Richard Codd, Steve Cushe and Ger Nolan. Comhghairdeas libh! The next draw was due to take place on Monday, September 7, in the clubhouse.

BLESSINGTON

Junior A – Hard luck to the team and management who ran out of time on Friday, September 4, in Hollywood when Valleymount ran out winners to meet Ashford in the JAFC final.

It was a tough start for Blessington when Valleymount went 1-3 ahead to 0-0. Adam Boland opened the scores with a free for Blesso, followed by points from Eoin Higgins and another from Adam. Jordan McGarr and Eoin Devlin with a free brought the score line to see Valleymount leading by four points.

Blesso opened up the scoring in the second half with the first of four points from Jordan McGarr along with a brilliant point from Eoin Higgins and a free from Eoin Devlin. However, the clock ticked down and Blesso couldn’t close the gap no matter how they tried.

Junior C – The lads are in the Wicklow JCFC quarter-finals and will be up against Kilcoole. The other teams are Aughrim v Barndarrig, An Tochar v Kiltegan and Donard-The Glen v Tinahely. The playoffs will likely to be the week after next.

Minor – Fantastic result for the Blesso Minors, drawing level against An Tochar on Monday, August 31, to get a well-deserved semi-final place in the Wicklow MFC. Heart stopping stuff. It was a ding dong battle all the way. An Tochar 2-12 Blessington 1-15.

The lads were up against Rathnew in Éire Óg Greystones on Monday, September 7, at 8pm. The match was being streamed live on Facebook.

Under-15 –Good result for Blessington on Wednesday, September 2. Every player had a part to play. We play Éire Óg next in two weeks. Result: Blessington 6-15, AGB 0-3.

Under-11 – Away v Kill on Saturday, September 12 at 4.30pm.

Under-9 - We travelled to Tinahely this morning to play under-9 Go Games. We had two tough matches against a strong Tinahely team but worked very hard and played some great football. We won one and lost one but these games will stand to us going forward. Big thanks to parents who travelled out. On Saturday, September 12, they are at home v Leixlip x 2 at 3.30pm.

Ladies

Seniors – The ladies are through to the LGFA final v Tinahely on Saturday, September 12, at 6pm in Baltinglass. It’s been 13 years since the senior ladies have been in a county final, so we all need to get behind them.

The teams and community are supporting the ladies with good luck messages and videos. The town and pitch will be dressed Blue and White and we hope the businesses support the ladies by putting up any bunting or flags on their premises. Thanks to the businesses who have

already put posters and photos up. The volunteers will be busy during the week. Best of luck to team and management.

Junior –Well done to our Junior ladies’ team who had a great win against An Tochar on Friday, September 4, at home. Score: Blessington: 6-17 An Tochar: 0-4. Super stuff from everyone involved. Next up is at home on Sunday, September 13, against Barndarrig at 11.30am.

Under-16 – Girls under-16 ‘A’ championship. After topping their group, they are now into the under-16 ‘A’ county final. Well done to all players and management. No details currently.

Under-14 – Under-14 White team through to the championship final. Super semi-final match on Sunday against AGB. Girls were strong right from the start getting through some super scores in first half. Our defence was strong and dominant with super tackling and vigour.

Emma making some super saves in goal. Goal of the match goes to our rocket Olivia Quigley. The energy, drive and passion of every single player was amazing and we couldn’t be prouder. Final score 4-13 v 3-1. Hardest decision of the day was POTM....the whole squad deserve it but today it goes to Sophie and Abaigh. Thanks also for the great support on the sideline.

Under-12 Blue – Well done to under-12 girls Blue team on Tuesdau, September 1. Great result and win against St Nicks at home. Super performance from all the girls. Keep up all the hard work. POTM goes to Orlagh Murphy in defence, nothing getting by her tonight. Well done. League semi-final at home v An Tochar at 11am on Saturday.

Under-12 White – The girls travelled to AGB and were super coming away with a big win. Well done to each and every one of them, brilliant team-work. POTM goes to Katie, Sophia and Freya. Brilliant stuff.

Thanks to all the parents for travelling. Special thanks to Val and Jay, who spent nearly two hours in the car to get Eabha there. Well done to the under-12 White team who played Valleymount away this evening. What a great match for the girls, although beaten by one score the game was competitive and just what they needed.

Loads to work on in training and the girls agreed. POTM goes to Lauren and Sophie in goal for some super saves. Well done to all. Thanks to all for coming. A super bunch of girls. League semi-final on Sunday, September 13, at home against Ashford at 1pm.

Under-10s - Our under-10 girls played an absolute stormer at home against An Tochar. Two teams, great to see so many playing. Both sides put in such effort. Well done to each and every girl on both teams. Terrific football played. Great team spirit. And big thanks to An Tochar for travelling.

Under-8 - Our uder-8s had a great time in their matches against An Tochar on Saturday at home. They are going from strength to strength each week. Thanks to An Tochar for travelling. Thank, to our Healthy Club Committee for providing fruit after the match and to all the coaches. Most of all thanks to the girls. We are so proud of each and everyone one of you. Keep up the good work.

Hurling Western Gaels

Junior – The Juniors continued their winning run by beating Bray Emmets 3-18 to 3-15 in Blessington on September 1. They currently sit on top of the table. The lads are up against Avondale in Blessington on Saturday at 4pm.

Minor - Well done to all the Blessington lads who were part of the Michael Dwyers Minor hurling team who qualified for the Minor ‘A’ semi-final last evening and will now play Bray in the semi-final next sat at 5pm in St Pats grounds. On the squad were Conor Richardson, Sam Gough, Adam Williamson, Austin Brennan, Conor Gallagher, Brian Richardson, Finn Behan and Conor Gilligan.

Under-15 – Away against ARP on Wednesday at 6.45pm.

Under-11 – Well done on a great game. 100 per cent from all the players. Well done Grace on your first match. Very hard to call POTM but it goes to Ben and Callum. The next match is on Wednesday, September 9, against Avondale in Blessington at 6.45pm. We are gathering momentum after every match and we need to keep it going. Really proud of this team.

Under-7/Under-9– Blitz away against Kiltegan on Thursday, September 10, at 6.30pm.

BALTINGLASS

Congratulations to our most recent lotto jackpot winners Sinead, Paul and Amy, c/o their grandad Jim O’Keeffe.

The jackpot was €4,500. The numbers were 1, 7, 9, and 16. Six matched three, sharing €300. Thanks to all who play and please continue to support our online lotto. Jackpot now is €3,000.

Big congratulations and well done to our Senior men on beating AGB on a scoreline of 1-13 to 2-7 and reaching the Senior county final.

We will play Tinahely on Sunday September 20th at 4pm.

Well done also to the under-14 girls who had a terrific win against a strong Carnew team at the weekend. The girls are now through to the Shield county final against St. Pats, date, time and venue tbc.

The under-15 boys had a good away win to St. Nicks, 4-5 to 1-8, and also the under-11 boys winning away to Michael Dwyers.

The under-16 girls lost out by a point to Bray in a goal fest at home during the week 9-6 to 9-5.

Coaches Anthony, Bridget and Danielle thank the girls for all their efforts during the year.

Baltinglass GAA is now on Instagram, follow us at Balto GAA for club updates.

DUNLAVIN

Dunlavin GAA and Western Gaels are holding a drive-in bingo on September 27 at 2pm at Blessington Mart (eircode W91 Y667). There will be a massive €3,000 in prizes. Single book will be €10, double book €15, baby book €5, jackpot sheet €3 or two jackpot sheets for €5.

You can buy books on the day when you arrive or you can pre purchase the bingo books. Please contact Linda on 087 2178843 with any queries. We will also keep you updated on any further details on Facebook.

Dunlavin GAA lotto results - August 24 - The numbers were 1, 3, 5, and 14, and there was no winner.

Well done to two match-three winners who receive €125 each: Barney Keogh and Thomas Whelan.

The promoter’s prize went to The Glen Shop.

The next draw is Monday, August 31, and the jackpot will be €11,600.