Aughnislafin GAC Notes

On Saturday evening a large number of juvenile players and their families gathered in the Lodge in Castlewellan for the Juvenile Awards Presentations. The Club’s Youth Officer Gerard Lenaghan welcomed everyone including our esteemed guest of honour Longstone player and Down Captain Mark Poland.  The U-6 group got their Certificates for attending the Spring, Summer and Autumn Active Start coaching sessions which were presented by the outgoing Aughlisnafin senior team manager Emmett Devlin. Next up the Year 4’s and Year 6’s were all presented with Certificates for their participation in the East Down Go Games. Joan King presented the Year 4’s and Francie Boden presented the Year 6’s. Mark Poland and Francie Boden then presented the U12s squad with their East Down Division 3 Runners Up medals. The individual awards were then presented by Mark Poland. U12’s awards recipients were Shea Croskery (Player of the Year), Adam Lenaghan (Sportsperson), Ruari King (Most Improved). The U14’s awards recipients were Eoin Lundy (Player of the Year), Callum Haynes (Sportsperson), Faelan Murphy (Most Improved). The U16s awards recipients were Christian Keown (Player of the Year), Ruairi Toner (Sportsperson), Sean Flanagan (Most Improved). Gerard Lenaghan also congratulated U14 Girls player Roisin McComiskey on winning Sportsperson of the Year and her Summer league success with Dundrum. He also mentioned that Rachel Quinn was voted the Senior ladies players Player of the Year at the Adult Presentations the night before. Both girls have also featured in the Down Ladies County Development Squads. Mark Poland then spoke well about all the players continuing to work hard, listening to their coaches and always play with a smile on their faces. He also mentioned that the parents also play a very important role in encouraging them to do so. He remarked at the progress being done and congratulated the Club on their Active Start Initiative with the U6’s. Chairman Paddy Flanagan thanked Mark Poland for attending and presented him with a gift by way of appreciation and reiterated the importance of help with our juveniles and to further strengthen our club base. The event organiser Gerard Lenaghan then thanked everyone and congratulated all the recipients and reminded all the players that they ALL worked hard and any one of them were more than capable receiving awards in the years to come. The night before the Adult Awards Presentation was held in the Downshire Arms in Hilltown. The Club were very privileged to welcome the Armagh captain Ciaran McKeever as the guest speaker. Ciaran is an All Ireland U21 winner with Armagh and has four Ulster SFC winners medals among many other accolades playing for his club Cullyhanna, Ulster and Ireland. The Seniors Award recipients were Ciaran Rice (Manager’s Player), Maurice McClean (Players’ Player), Patrick McClean (Sportsperson), Niall Lennon (Most Improved). The Ladies Awards recipients were Aoife McClean (Manager’s Player), Rachel Quinn (Players’ Player), Niamh Flanagan (Manager’s U-21 Player), Laura Lambe (Sportsperson), Leonitia Magennis (Most Improved). The Club Person of the Year was Francis Boden. Presentations were also made to the Senior and Ladies managers. Ciaran congratulated all the award recipients and he spoke about the need for players to encourage your team-mates if they are not putting in the level of effort expected of them. He noted that the Ladies team have players who have achieved success with their schools or in other codes and there is no reason why they cannot do the same. The Chairman Paddy Flanagan thanked Ciaran for attending and he was presented with a gift by way of appreciation. Thanks to everyone who attended the dinner and to our hosts for a superb meal. Aughlisnafin GAC in conjuction with the local Youth Club recently hosted a talk by the Down ASAP officer Gary Doherty in the Community Hall. Rory Burns of Castlewellan and Down was also a guest speaker. Thanks to both for taking the time to speak about the Awareness of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention. The AGM will be held this Sunday 24 November at 3pm in the Aughlisnafin Community Hall. We need more of our members having their say in the running of our club so it is imperative that we have more members on the executive committee. Any member needing the agenda for the AGM should email the secretary. The club are now actively seeking a new manager for the Senior men’s team and invite expressions of interest for the position. Please email secretary.aughlisnafin.down@gaa.ie no later than Sunday24 November. Joe Scullion (38) was the 49 Club winner.