Great Numbers at Sunday Hurling Session

The Stay Healthy Stay Hurling winter hurling programme kicked off last Sunday with great numbers and enthusiasm from the U10s and U12s on the Astroturf at the Regional Sports Centre from 5-6pm. After a short break at the end of the field season last week’s adventures in the AIT got the juices flowing again and the hour-long puck around was welcomed roundly by all participants. Of note was the number of new hurlers that joined the ranks towards the end of the summer season who turned up to build on the good start they made. The winter programme has been used over the past two years for many new hurlers as an opportunity to hone their skills so that when the good weather comes around again and we return to grass they are fully up to speed. The club welcomes anyone interested in hurling to come along next Sunday and give it a go. Helmets and hurleys can be provided – just get in touch via Facebook! Thanks to the mentors Pat O’Neill, Seán Burns and Michael Cahill for taking the reins this week.

 

Geary Wins U16 Mobile Phone Draw Extravaganza.

Southern Gaels, who are always open to new ideas and incentives for its players, ran an Attendance at Training/Matches Award Programme throughout the 2018 Hurling Season. Every time a player attended a match, training session or club event, they were marked in attendance. Then every attendance corresponded to an entry in a draw for a Samsung Galaxy J6 phone. As the season hit its peak throughout the year, none wanted to miss a session or especially a game, which led to the club fielding strongly for every U16 league and championship match throughout the year. It’s been a few years since the club were able to field at this grade, so it was a big milestone for hurling in the area. As usual, the club got behind the players to support them in any way they could and put this fantastic offer out to all hurlers, to which they responded greatly to build a panel of 20 players to compete at this level. So be in no doubt that the hurlers are coming and growing throughout South Westmeath with 9 different clubs represented in that panel of twenty U16 players.

Therefore, dual players are alive and well in the Athlone environs, as the Gaels are willing to accommodate and manage players from such a wide variety of clubs, which really tests and builds comradery in this bunch of players. Their parents should be so proud of their representations for the Gaels and for it, they will be much better individuals, as sport builds character and strong characters are really built within this unique sport. Therefore, to see out an historic season, the lads had an internal game in the Athlone Regional Sports Centre. It started slowly, but the intensity grew to test each player who put it up to their opponents to make a cracking final game of 2018.

Then they all retired to Páirc Chiarain for some well-earned pizza and chips and a review of the year, to some background music. Most importantly, the mentors then laid out the squad plans and vision for 2019, as we cannot rest on our laurels, as there’s so much great potential that must be harnessed, then with the correct structures, mountains can be climbed. We can really look forward to 2019 now. That left the finale of the night, with players being called out for their attendances to personally account and document each, before entering them into the Mobile Phone Draw Extravaganza, worth €250. Top of the Attendance Leaderboard were Evan Farrell and Cian McCarthy who hardly missed an event between them.

Heartiest congratulations to them both from the club. Then we called on club player, Caoimhe McCarthy, to draw out the winning player……. and it was…. Cian Geary, who had a high enough attendance record of his own, only one off the leaders! Congrats and thanks to all who attended and made the U16 such trail blazers for the club as they conquer some new territory in Southern Gaels Hurling History – there’s much still to be written for this group. Rise Up & Hurl.

 

Tuesday Training Indoors

For the U6s and U8s indoor hurling continues every Tuesday evening from 6.30-7.30 in the Marist College Sports Hall on Retreat Road. This is very well attended and lead mentors Frank Lee and Tony O’Keeffe are on hand to make sure everyone gets plenty of ball work. They welcome newcomers and this is a great chance for future stars to try out hurling before the sunny days of summer in the green green grass of Páirc Chiaráin and further pastures in Westmeath! Hurleys and helmets are provided to all newcomers so be sure to get down next Tuesday. Thanks to some of our U16s who are giving a hand as part of their Transition Year programme.

 

Call to AGM Friday 30th November

The Southern Gaels annual AGM takes place on Friday 30th November at 8pm in Páirc Chiaráin and all members are encouraged to attend and contribute to the continued development of the club. The current committee has reached the end of its three-year tenure and so all positions have to be filled with new personnel. With so many new members and mentors it is hoped that there will be many new faces bringing new approaches and ideas to the club. We are at a pivotal point in the development of the club with years of work at the juvenile level beginning to come to fruition with a strong U16 panel in the wings for next year’s campaign and more behind them at all age levels. The senior panel has bolstered its numbers with over twenty available for selection for the last match – which they won - and is well posed for a more successful year in 2019. It is hoped that many of the players will come along to the AGM and give their input into the forthcoming season.

 

Condolences

The Club wishes to offer sincere condolences to the Whelan family on their recent loss.

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