A great end to this year's Scór Sinseair We were awarded the Moya Mc Cormack Cup at Sunday Night's South Down final in Mayobridge. The cup is awarded to the club who demonstrate the"Spirit of Scór. Earlier our All Ireland Champion Niamh McDowell received a rapturous reception from all attending the final as as she took to the stage after being introduced by South Down Chairman Donal McNally. The entire audience were on their feet again after a flawless performance of the song which won her the the title " John Condon". Once the competitions started our ballad group of Donna Feeney, Declan and Sean Grant and Tony Bannon entertained the audience with their two songs " Come by the hills" and "the Fields of Athenry". The eventual well deserved winners in this section Clonduff will be joined by runners up Glenn in next Sunday's County final in Banbridge. We wish both groups and all our fellow South Down Competitors well in the upcoming final. It's now back to the drawing board for ourselves for next year. Anyone interested in representing the Club in Senior Scór in the year ahead please contact any committee member.
The Club had the annual awards night in our sponsors Quinn's the Spirit Grocer's , Newcastle on Saturday night. After a very tasty meal, our Club Cathaoirleach Gary McGreevy thanked Paddy Maginn and his staff for the wonderful food and Paddy in particular for his continued sponsorship of our Senior team. He the n went on to point out the difficult season just past , plagued by injuries , players studying and working away from home and despite these challenges, we managed to consolidate our Division 3 status. He took the opportunity to thank our outgoing Senior Management team of Emmet Devlin, Declan and Damian Grant and Terry Joyce for the hard work and commitment shown to the club and players over the past three years and wished them well for the future. he thanked each and every one of our Senior panel for their continuing dedication , enthusiasm and commitment to the cause. He looks forward to the season ahead with our new management team of Joim Magorrian, Gerard McCartan and Raymond Clarke and urged everyone in the Club to fully support the team and the new coaching staff. He expressed his great gratitude to those who work hard to keep our players in tip top condition Team Physio, Gemma Rooney, Annette Grant our Senior First Aider and Paul McDowell paramedic for all their efforts. He congratulated Connaire Harrison , who represented the club at County Senior level becoming the first player from our club to play in the Ulster Senior Football Championship. on behalf of the Club, he wishes Connaire and the Down Senior team well in the year ahead.
No team can survive without sponsorship and as stated earlier Gary thanked Paddy Maginn for his support and added his thanks to Glasgiven Contracts and all who sponsored and supported the Club throughout the past year. On the topic of underage football ,Gary was thankful that we were able to field Under 6 and Under8 teams in our own colours. Once again we are grateful to The South Down Board adn our neighbours Ballymartin for their generous support in amalgamation as Eire Óg in under 10, 11 12,13,14 and 16 age groups who all competed with great success in their respective groups. He stated that we hosted our most successful u-10 tournament to date with great feedback on the organisation and enjoyment had by all who attended . He thanked Paul Thompson for his generous donation of Burgers and Drinks for all on the day. He congratulated all from our Club fortunate enough to be selected for the Go Games, , those selected to represent their various schools and colleges in Football Camogie and Hurling and in particular Matin Stevenson, Jamie Nicholls and Amy McClelland for being selectedfor the Down U-14 development squad. He expressed his gratitude to Shane Feeney, Kevin Burns, Ronan McDowell. Bronagh O'Neil , Colum Murph, Pau;l Kelly , Johnny McVeigh and Ryan McDowell who took on the challange of coaching our young p[layers this year. He looked forward to seeing them all players and coaches return in the season ahead. He also appealed for anyone interested in getting involved to get in touch with any committee member.
Our games cannot be played without a referee and Gary thanked our club referee Stephen O'Hare for his hard work and continuing commitment.
Moving on to Scór within the Club, the Cathaoirleach thanked the Scór na nÓg competitors who all competed in the South Down final : Instrumental Music, Niamh McDowell, Dana and Aoife Leckey, Cara Sloan and Peter Doran, Ballad Group : Niamh McDowell, Tara and Aoife Grant , Ciara Rooney and Clodagh Morgan , adn our Solo singer Niamh McDowell . Gary thanked the two acts who made it to the County final namely our Ballad Group and Solo Singer, He then congratulated Niamh on her success in capturing the County, Provincial and All Ireland titles and this has meant for our Club and all in Mourne . He thanked the Scór na NÓg mentors, Donna Feeney, Joanne Grant and Tony Bannon for all the time and effort put in to our very talented group of young people. He wished our Senior Scór Balld group of Declan, Sean, Donna and Tony well in the South Down Final. He passes his gratitude on to all who help in the Youth Groupo and promised our Club's full backing for them.
He then called on us to remember in our thoughts and prayers all who had lost amily and fiends in the past year. He sends the best wishes from all in our Club for a speedy recovery to our Club stalwart and Assitant treasurer Jim Cunningham. Gary finishedhis remarks with a rallying call to keep promotng our Club and the ethos of the GAA in the tough times ahead and that all help to achieve these aims no matter how small will be appreciated greatly. GLÁSDRÓMÁIN ÁBÚ.
Awards as follows: Player of the Year (Jackie O'Hare Trophy) Raymond Magorrian, Trainer of the year (Arthur Doran Trophy) Colum Murphy, Sportsman of the year ( Mick Mooney Cup ) Conor McCartan. Club Supporter of the year ( Paddy Grant Trophy) Johnny McVeigh, ClubPerson of the Year ( Ann McGreevy Cup) Damian Grant Special Club Cultural Awards : Tony Bannon, Donna Feeney and Joanne Grant . G then called on our County Cultural Officer William James Smith to present the Special Club Award to our All Ireland Champion Niamh McDowell. William ema harked back toi his remarks at he South Down Semi Final in Glasdrumman AOH hall when he stated " It's in halls like these where champions are made. Little did he or any of us know just how prophetic these words would turn out to be . He said that he was delighted to present the award as both a proud Glasdumman and Down Man He congratulated Niamh's parents Cathy and John , her sister Caoimhe and the wider family circle on her great success. He predicted a bright future ahead for her in Scór and a lot of work ahead for her mentors and the rest of the group in the years ahead.
Change to Yoga times in the Clubrooms on Monday nights from 7.00 p.m to 8.00 p.m all welcome