Big Championship Weekend For Carryduff! Its all hands on deck for an action packed weekend of Championship football for Carryduff with Saturday seeing the Club involved in no less than 3 Championship Finals! First up are the all conquering U14 Boys who fresh >from their East Down League & Championship wins taking on South Down Double winners Rostrevor in the All County Final. The game is being played at Atticall at 1pm. At 3 O'Clock on Saturday afternoon the Club's support are going to have to split as both the U14 Ladies and the Minors compete in Championship Finals. The U14 Ladies play the U14 Ladies Championship Final against Ballymartin in St John's while the Minors take on Longstone in the B Championship Final at Downpatrick. Best of luck to all the teams from the entire Club! ----------------------- Five Years Of Carryduff Hurling A very successful celebration of 5 years of hurling took place last week when over 30 hurlers from the Club played out a senior challenge game in Pairc Aodha Dhuíbh. Commenting on the 'launch' of senior hurling in Carryduff, County Hurling Board chairman Michael Keenan said: 'In five short years from the humble but courageous beginnings, of fifteen U-13 players in May 2003, to today s complement of U-10,12,14,16 and Minor Hurling teams, and now the crowning achievement of fielding for the first time, an adult Hurling team, is by any stretch of the imagination, a developmental success story". In the years prior to the development of Páirc Aodha Dhuibh, Carryduff clubmen such as Seamus Wallace and Terry Laverty had advocated the introduction of hurling to the Club. At the time, the absence of a playing field meant that such ideas could not be advanced. However, with the development of new playing facilities, the situation changed. Towards the end of 2002, the Club Committee took the initiative and Paul Lavery organised a number of meetings in the Parish Centre to discuss how hurling might be started. The initial steps were then taken in January 2003 with the organisation of indoor coaching in St. Joseph s Hall. Hurls and helmets were kindly lent by the Kilclief Ben Dearg and Eire Og (Belfast) clubs and a small band of players came together on the third Sunday in January. The mentors on that first day were Paul Lavery and Terry Laverty (Carryduff), Michael Conway (Kilclief) and Paul O Neill (Eire Og). Later that year, further helpers came on board with the involvement of Peter Murray, Donal Rooney, Brendan Mc Cann R.I.P., Daniel Rogers and Eamonn Rooney. The majority of players were aged from 7-13 and by March, around 30 children were in attendance every week. In April, coaching moved outdoors and the next major step occurred on 3 May with the boys first competitive fixtures. At the instigation of county hurling trainer, Joe Mc Stay, Darragh Cross hosted a local Under 12 tournament, also involving St. John s Drumnaquoile and Bredagh. 15 Carryduff boys travelled to Darragh and made history with their first victory over the host club by a 1-1 to 0-2 score line. The history making Carryduff side were: Mark Mc Conville, James Rooney, Liam Lavery, Adam Graham, Donough Smyth, Rory Conway, Jason Lynch, Conall Early, Robert McLaughlin, Eoin Conway, Matthew Adams, Ryan O Reilly, Seamus McCann, Aaron Eccles and Rory McGrath. A further victory over St.John s saw Carryduff sharing top spot when the tournament ended  a successful start for all concerned. More matches followed in the early summer, The Under 10s fielded for the first time on 10 May in a challenge against Bredagh. Carryduff pitch also hosted its first competitive match in May when Kilclief won a four team Under 12 tournament. The Under 8s met Darragh Cross on the same weekend and in another first for Carryduff hurling, a club outing was organised to the Down-Antrim SHC semi Final at Casement Park. Hurling continued in the summer months with trips across the county to places such as Kilclief, Portaferry, Bredagh and Annsboro. Annsboro was the venue for All County Hurling U 12 blitzes held on successive Summer Saturdays. Carryduff were placed in Section four and pitted their skills against An Riocht, St. Johns Drumnaquoile and Warrenpoint. Again, Carryduff shared the honours in this competition. Hurling coaching and challenge games continued through to November 2003 when it was clear that hurling was taking hold in the Club. Since then, hurling has continued to grow until the present day -five years on and still going strong! Among the mentors who accompanied the Carryduff side to Darragh Cross for our first hurling game in May 2003 was Brendan McCann R.I.P. Brendan s tragic death in December 2007 was an immense loss. He was a true Gael and a very loyal servant to Carryduff in both hurling and football. When we look back at the last five years of hurling, we particularly remember the contribution of Brendan in helping to establish hurling in the Club. Go ndearna Dia Trócaire Ar a Anam.   Hurling Sidelines "    In the seventies, a number of club members turned out for Killyleagh who fielded in the Down leagues at the time. Carryduff players involved included Paddy Shevlin, Joe and Tony Swail and Peter O Reilly. "    Carryduff G.A.C. first fielded in a competitive match in a 2003 tournament organized by Darragh Cross which also involved Bredagh and St Johns (Down). Our first scorer was Conall Early who hit 1-1 as the boys recorded their first victory with a win over Darragh Cross. It is regrettable that both St Johns and Darragh Cross have since dropped out of hurling while Carryduff have gone from strength to strength. "    While our primary aim is to participate and enjoy our hurling, we have also won a number of trophies since 2003. Carryduff s first hurling county title arrived in 2006 when the Under 16 hurlers annexed the Down League Division 2 trophy. Success has continued in 2007 when the U 14s won their section of the U13/14 league and this year the Under 14s won their Division of the Ulster Hurling Feile having competed in the Down Feile final for the second successive year. This year, the Under 15s also overcame Bredagh to win the County Under 15 summer blitz competition. Our hurling teams have also travelled to play in many Club tournaments winning some of these including Clonduff s U12 tournament in 2006 and 2007 and St Johns Under 8 tournament in 2006. Earlier this year, the Under 10s also showed the progress being made when they were unbeaten in the Portaferry tournament. "    James Lavery was the first Carryduff hurler to wear the red and black of Down. In June 2005, James played on the County Primary Schools team which took on Antrim at halftime during that year s Ulster Hurling Final at Casement Park. "    Since James debut, a number of players have worn the red and black with distinction. This year, Declan Doherty captained the Down Minor B team and was subsequently promoted to the Minor A panel, playing in the Ulster final against Antrim. Declan along with Conor Beattie were part of the successful 2007 Down B team which won the All Ireland C title while just two weeks ago, Mark Mc Conville was part of the Down squad which took All Ireland B honours in Westmeath. "    Carryduff s hurlers have hosted a number of All Ireland medallists with Clare s Davy Fitzgerald and Colin Lynch visiting the Club in 2004. In 2005, Cork s Pat and Donal Mulcahy travelled north bringing the Liam Mc Carthy Cup and the Tommy Moore Cup which had been won by their club Newtownshandrum. More recently, club hurlers met Kilkenny legend Eddie Keher when he visited Casement Park earlier this year while Club coaches have also benefited from coaching sessions run by National Hurling Development Officer, Paudie Butler. "    As well as southern visitors, the Club has regularly travelled south for matches and craic. We organize an annual trip to the All Ireland Hurling semi finals and earlier this year the Under 14s travelled to Dublin for challenge games against Setanta and Skerries Harps. "    The Rocky Road to Dublin (U14s 2008) The Rocky Climb in Louth (Minors 2007). "    Our current coaches/mentors include Donal Rooney, Niall Beattie, Malachy Rooney, Peter Murray, Colm Boyle, Daniel Rogers, Conor Boyle, Liam Hamill, Gerry Lynch, Mickey Conway, Seamus O Reilly, Fergus Boyle, Paul Lavery, Liam Lavery, Brendan Mooney, Peter Leyden and Michael Holland  more help is always welcome!   After a couple of coaching sessions in recent weeks, our senior hurlers take the field today for their first game- an internal challenge match Duffers Alley v. The Black Hugh s . While there will be an element of fun about this first game, we are serious about getting adult hurling established and have enlisted the help of a number of top coaches. Follow recent visits by Glensman Justin Mc Cormick and Ulster Hurling Development Officer Jimmy Darragh, in the coming weeks we will welcome former Down manager Jimmy O Reilly, Gavin Duffy and Chris Hamill from Rossa, Brendan Murray, Mickey Mc Cullagh and Down Hurling Development Manager, John Crossey. We want anyone who wants to play or try out hurling to attend these coaching sessions which will usually be on Sunday mornings from 10 -12. Sticks and helmets will be available. We also hope to organise some external challenge games and will enter Down leagues next year. Further information can be obtained at www.carryduffgac.com or by contacting Paul Lavery (90643576), Paul Bradley (07713399832) or Mickey Conway (07871058832) ----------------------- More All Ireland medals for Carryduff! Congratulations to Conor Beatty, Conall Early and Declan Doherty on winning the All Ireland C Minor Hurling title today. Conall played at corner back while Conor was at midfield. Down were behind at halftime but a storming second half display saw them retain their title. Due to his injury, Declan could not play but as team captain was on hand to lift the trophy on Down's behalf. ----------------------- All Ireland Draw Winner Congratulations to Brian Fegan of Drumaness who won the Club's two tickets for the All Ireland Final. Thanks to all those who supported the Draw. ----------------------- Annual Club Dinner Dance The Club's Annual Dinner Dance is being held in the La Mon House Hotel on Saturday 22nd November with dancing to the Booze Brothers. Tickets priced at £40 are now available to purchase and are only reserved when they are paid for! Tables are strictly limited to 10 people. Tickets can be purchased from Social & Fundraising Committee members, Teresa Love 07876141077, Breidge O'Neill 07818813994, Catherine Murdock 07867516113, Eddie McCrory 07785911989 or Paul Bradley 0771 3399832. ----------------------- This week's winning numbers  10, 15, 20, 24      There were no winners of the Jackpot. Congratulations to the Match 3 number winners who each won £48   Mrs M Frazer  Mr C McCrory  Mr A McGoran    Next weeks estimated Jackpot is £535  ) Tweet

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