Castlewellan GAC Notes for 14 April

writes Martin McClean. They must have seen a little extra in Laoise Keaveney. Laoise lined out as captain and centre half back for Down Under-14 Ladies against Monaghan last Saturday making her dad, Garrett, a very proud man. Well done to Laoise! [caption id="attachment_37967" align="alignleft" width="390"] The Castlewellan U-14 ladies team.[/caption] * The Marie Jones play “A Night in November” will be performed this Saturday night 20 April at 8.00pm in the Club Rooms. This much acclaimed play has been performed all over the world. The play is about Ken McCallister, a dole clerk who goes to the 1994 World Cup Qualifier on a night in November in Belfast as the Republic of Ireland plays Northern Ireland. Tickets are on sale from the Club at £10 each. The re-scheduled Castlewellan GAC’s second Annual Spring Lake Challenge will take place on Sunday 28 April 2013. We are hoping for the same weather as last year. hopefully the snow will not make a second encore this spring! A visit to the gallery on  www.castlewellangac.com  will confirm how the weather was a blessing at last year’s 10K event. You can register on-line for the race at www.athleticsni.org  or on the day of the event. The run will commence at 1.00pm. Registration will take place at the Club and will end 15 minutes before the start of the race. The cost of entry to the 10K will be £9.00. * The Senior Hurling season started last Monday with the lads away to a much stronger and more physical Newry Shamrocks side in their first game of the new season. As stated the stronger hosts had too much in the tank for our lads. Castlewellan scores came from: Jason Croskery 0-4, Darren McCartan 1-0, Cahal Og Keown and Ray Cunningham 0-1 each. [caption id="attachment_37968" align="aligncenter" width="550"] The Castlewellan Seniors team.[/caption] * Likewise the Senior Football season kicked off in earnest last Friday night where the visitors to St Malachy’s Park were Loughinisland. The first game of the season is a tricky affair for all teams. Mistakes in handling, turnovers, misplaced passes, poor passing. The game had all that from both teams who went at it hammer and tong. The conditions did not help. With the extension of winter into spring all pitches are flat, soggy and lacking growth. It was a question of who could impose their game and master the unseasonal conditions. The Town raced into a lead they never lost. With Dan Gordon still missing from the visitor’s line-up they lacked the cutting edge they required if they were to make any inroads into the Town’s defence. The first half belonged to Castlewellan who made the most of their dominant period. When the visitors did manage a foothold in the game they could not convert this into scores. In the second half Loughinisland found their game but fortunately the lads were able to match their scores. Two golden goal opportunities were spurned late on for the Town with Loughinisland finding the net in injury time. Next up for the Town is away to County Champions Kilcoo. This is a tough local derby fixture. The boys know their performance will have to be much better this Friday Night against the Magpies in their backyard. For photographs of the match visit the gallery at  www.castlewellangac.com * Castlewellan’s Under-16 boys started the campaign with a hard fought victory at home to Liatriom Fontenoys in St Malachy’s Park. It was a game that they should have made lighter work off having hit the crossbar 3 times and having squandered numerous other chances but to Liatriom’s credit they hung in and the game was level going into the last 5 minutes. It took two stunning Gareth McKibben free kicks to seal the victory for the town lads 0-12 to 2-4. Best for the town on the night where Joe Cunningham, Sean O’Boyle and Lee Ward with James McAleenan the pick of the bunch. Last Thursday the lads travelled to Newry Bosco for round 2 of the league. They eventually went down 2-6 to 0-9. In terrible conditions the town lads should really have got something from this game, having the lion’s share of possession, squandering numerous scoring chances and getting caught with a late goal. A learning curve where they will get better at putting teams away. Best for the town was Ronan Barr, Sean O’Boyle with James McAleenan again the star performer. [caption id="attachment_37969" align="alignright" width="390"] The Senior Football Team Shirt presentation. Sponsors were the McGrady family, back L to R; Rory McCabe Chairman, Secretary Brian Dougherty, team trainer Barney Cunningham, team manager ‘Shorty’ Treanor and Damien McGrady. Front Row captain Liam McKibben and Barry Travers with Damien’s son Ryan McGrady.[/caption] The Under-14 girls had their first outing on Sunday last against Carryduff. This was a baptism of fire for most of these players as only  a handful of last year’s team remain and though some young under 12 players had been playing it is new to most to be playing the 15-a-side game. The girls worked hard but could not come close to Carryduff who ran out worthy winners. It’s back to basics at next training session and having 20 players at the match it bodes well for the next few years. The panel Tara McVeigh, Rebecca Toner, Emma Rice, Amy Barr, Paula McKay, Amy McCourt, Emma Croskery, Jade Hammond, Laoise Keaveney, Sorcha McCartan,Nadine McAleenan, Eirann McVeigh, Shannon Valentine, Aisling Hawkins, Eimear Duggan Oonagh Rice, Louise Doran, Caoimhe Moorehead, Laura Grabber and Sarah Grabber. * The Under-12 Camogs were at An Riocht on Saturday past for their second blitz. The girls had three great wins over Attical, Ballycran and Clonduff. Stick at it girls you are doing really well and a credit to your parents and your coaches. Training will be as usual 6.30pm on Wednesday nights in the primary school. * Juvenile Coaching begins this week and a full programme will be available on the website and through the schools. Thursday 18 April at 6.30pm Bann Road P3 – P5 Hurling. Friday 19 April  Under-12 Boys Football training 5.00pm at St Malachy’s Park. Saturday 20 April at 10.00am – 10.45am St Malachy’s Park Hurling for nursery, P1 and P2, Camogie for nursery to P7. Saturday 20 April at  10am to 11am U-12 boys hurling. Saturday 20 April  10.45am to 11.30am Boys Football for Nursery, P1 and P2. Saturday 20 April  10.45am to 11.30am Nursery to P7 girls football. Saturday 20 April P5\P6 Hurling Blitz Sunday 21 April U-6, U-8 and U-10 Camogie Blitz. We would welcome all existing and new members to all our coaching sessions. * There will be Under-14 hurling training on Thursday at 6.00pm at the Bann Road, all to attend. * Under-12 girls training continues in St Malachy’s Primary School on Monday nights at 6.15pm to 7.15pm. Under-10 and Under-8 age groups. * The Under-14 footballers will train at the Bann Road on Wednesday night at 6.30pm. * The numbers in this weeks lotto were 2, 10, 16, 18. There were no jackpot winners and one £20 winner; Jay McCusker Next week’s jackpot is £3650.