Applications are now open for this year’s Gaeltachta Scholarship. The closing date is this Thursday 14th April no later than 5pm writes Martin McClean. Please see the club website where you can download the application form by clicking on the link named Scéim Deontais Gaeltachta 2016. Applications are to be returned to Gráinne Stacey at administrator1.down@gaa.ie. Late applications will not be accepted. Please note you must include your GAA Registration Number. This can be obtained from the club registrar, otherwise your application cannot be accepted.
There will be a Child Protection course in the Club rooms on Tuesday April 19th from 7-10pm. It is critical that all coaches and helpers working with children go through this course. Anyone interested in doing the course please contact John O’Neill on 07711 737610 or oneilljohnj@yahoo.co.uk.
Thank you to all children, coaches, parents and guardians who attend our first Nursery to P6 coaching on Saturday morning. A great start to the season. Nursery to P6 coaching continues in St Malachy’s High School at 10am on Saturday 16th April at 10am: Nursery – P2 (inclusive) boys and girls fundamentals 10am – 11am. P3&P4 boys – 10.00 – 10.45am Hurling, 10.45 – 11.30 Football. P5&P6 boys – 10.00 – 10.45am Football, 10.45 – 11.30 Hurling. P3 – P6 girls – 10.00 – 10.45am Football, 10.45 – 11.30 Camogie. Everyone please bring indoor and outdoor gear as well as your own water bottle.
The cost of the 3 weeks in St Malachys High School is £3 per child. It is also critical that membership is paid on line at:
Nursery, P1 and P2 – £10 per child/year, P3-P6 – £25 per child/year, Family Membership 2 adults and any number of children U16 £110/year. Please note this membership needs to be paid to cover insurance and activities throughout the season. All juvenile membership in now due. This membership should be paid on line at the website address quoted above. All new members are welcome. Anyone who couldn’t make it last week please feel free to come along.
Can all coaches please ensure that they book pitches for training or challenge games through the Club secretary in advance.
The Juvenile sponsored walk and sports will take place on Sunday May 8th at 1pm. Please support our under age members in their efforts to raise funds for their club. Sports days are always a real hoot where the youngsters have to chastise the parents who get a wee bit carried away with themselves! If you want to see what I mean – come along to our sports day on 8th May.
Our senior footballers started off their league campaign with a win against Saval last Friday night by the narrowest of margins. A tough encounter but then again they all will be. Division 1 will again be a tight affair this year and it will take a huge effort by the lads to improve and consolidate their position this year. By the time this goes to press we will have played our second game away to Clonduff who also started with a good win away to Warrenpoint. This will be another tough game but hopefully we can continue our winning start.
It was a great week for our Under 12 Hurlers and Footballers. On Thursday night our hurlers travelled to Warrenpoint and came away with a win in a very entertaining game on a score line of 2:1 to 1:1. Luke McCabe put the Town ahead with a fine point which was followed by a goal from Tiernán Connolly, which put the boys ahead at half time. Playing against the wind in second half Warrenpoint came back to tie the game. A number of great saves by Enan Fitzsimons kept the boys in the game. With a few minutes to go Sheá Connolly scored the decisive goal to win the game for the boys. There was great performances from all the boys but particular mention must go to Tiarnan Gallagher who hurled exceptionally well throughout the game.
Thanks to all the parents whom assisted with lifts to the game. On Sunday our Under 12 footballers played their second league game of the season. Following on from a great win away to St John’s last week the boys met Carryduff in the Meadow. The boys played some fantastic football and won the game comfortably on a score line of 7:17 to 4:4. Everyone member of the panel contributed to the win, but special mention to Finn O’Neill in defence and Conor McVeigh in the forward line. The scorers on the day were Tiernán Connolly 2:4, Conor McVeigh 2:3, Sean O’Neill 1:3, Daniel Rice 1:1, Cormac Barr 0:3, Tiarnan Gallagher 1:0, Sheá Stratton 0:2 & Cormac McKibben 0:1. Well done lads.
Training for the Under 12 boys takes place on Tuesday night at the Bann Road pitches. Given the number of boys whom play both codes for the club we are going to try and train for both codes on the same night. We will therefore be running football from 6:30pm to 7:15pm and then hurling from 7:15pm to 7:45pm.
*Last week’s lotto numbers were 2, 5, 13 and 25. There were no Jackpot winners and two £20 winners; Suzanne Barr and Pol McCabe. Next week’s jackpot will be £1700.
