Castlewellan GAC Notes

writes Martin MacClean. At the Dublin Road Complex on Saturday past the Town Seniors finished off their league campaign in Division Two against a Ballymartin team who will play in the IFC Final next week. They came up against a Town team whose players are all eager to impress for a League Final place on the team against teak tough opponents in Liatriom or Downpatrick. With a strong wind behind us The Town moved into a 2-06 to no score lead within 18 minutes with the goals coming from Damien McGrady and Matthew Stratton. The Town worked hard against a threatening Ballymartin forward line lead ably by Ryan O’Hare who showed great form. He accounted for all their 1^st half scores. [caption id="attachment_30455" align="alignleft" width="400" caption="The Castlewellan U-8's at the Carryduff Hurling Blitz."][/caption] In the second half the visitors came out of the traps all guns blazing with two goals and a point in a three minute spell from the 36^th to 38^th minute to bring the gap down to six points at that stage of the game. This was to be Ballymartin’s last scores of the game. The Town took control of the game after that tagging on 7 points without reply. It was good to see Liam McKibben back in the Town Jersey after a long lay-off. It would be unfair to pick out any one individual for praise as this was a fine team performance though they know they will have to be better going into a League Final. Final score Castlewellan 2-19 Ballymartin 2-06. We wish Ballymartin well in next week’s IFC Final. F-Factor Season will soon be upon us. Look out in this column for details of this year’s extravaganza in the next few weeks. The Castlewellan Under-8 Hurling Squad finished off the outdoor season with a very good performance at the Carryduff blitz on Saturday. There was disappointment last week when the Bredagh blitz was rained off but most of the boys were available for the trip to Carryduff. The younger Under 7 team acquitted themselves brilliantly winning against St Paul’s and drawing with Carryduff and Bredagh B before losing to Ballycran. All the lads hurled well. This group will be under 8 again next year and have gained great experience this season. The older under 8 team were playing in their last blitz at this age group and finished off with a flourish with wins over Bredagh A & B and Ballycran and while they lost narrowly to Portaferry it was still a great display all round. Keep practising over the Winter boys! The outdoor hurling season has now ended and there will be no more training on Saturday morning until the Spring. However indoor hurling will resume in November. Details will follow in due course. Many thanks to all the parents who have given great support throughout the season. Míle buíochas. [caption id="attachment_30456" align="alignright" width="170" caption="Liam McKibben who came back into action against Ballymartin."][/caption] All roads will lead to Kilcoo next Sunday when the Under-16 Girls will play Annaclone in the Championship Final at 2.00pm. The girls have worked very hard this year so it would be great to see a big support there on Sunday to give the girls that big lift. Championships are not easy to win but with a good support in tow it gives the team a fantastic boost. Best of luck to all the girls and to the team management. Under 16 girls football training is on Wednesday and Friday from 5.30pm to 6.30pm. Sunday Night’s quiz was won quite easily by The Doc and Focus. Nuala won the prize for most entertaining and wrong answers. The “unholy alliance” tried telepathy – it didn’t work. Podge and Rodge in the corner cheated and were disqualified. Yes it all happens at the Sunday Night Quiz. Come along and enjoy Quiz master Barney and his Teasers! The Edward Toner & May Steele Under-12 Tournaments did not take place at the weekend due to the unavailability of teams who would have competed the previous week. The Executive Committee has taken the decision to cancel this year’s tournament after two unsuccessful attempts to stage it in the last two weeks. The Castlewellan GAC Running Club continue with their runs on Tuesday and Thursday nights meeting at the club at 6.45pm to commence running at 7.00pm. This week’s lotto numbers were 1, 10, 22 & 26. There was no jackpot winner and no £20 winners. Jackpot next week £7250.]]>