Garrycastle club notes
August 18, 2014Garrycastle GAA held another very successful Summer camp in the week 11th to 15th August. Close to 60 kids attended and enjoyed a great weeks fun, games and training.
The Nursery section was run by Caitriona Jameson with coaches Liam Leahy , Caolan Jameson ,Rachel Emerson and Aisling Flynn.
The older Section had five members of the Senior team Panel as Coaches , Enda Keena, Eoin Monaghan, Paul Gunning, Michael Monaghan and Gary Mullery. The overall Camp Co- Ordinator was Shane Henson.
The weather was kind to us and all the planned activities went ahead including the visit of Liam Reilly and Co with their obstacles and equipment which provided another dimension to the training.
Skills competitions were run all week and the winners announced on Friday.
Under 7 winner was Hazel Donegan, Under 8 David Carter, Under 10 Jamie Carroll and under 12 Jack Keating.
The Blitz winners had to be decided on a penalty shootout, with Bill Carmody scoring the decisive goal after two great saves from Corey Nugent.
Winning team were Bill Carmody, Jack Keating, Kaylie Clyne, Sarah Carter, Corey Nugent and Brian Mulvihill.
The prizes were presented by our own Dessie Dolan, one of the greatest footballers of his generation in the country, a former All-Star, he represented his country, his county and his Club with distinction all down the years. He thanked all the parents for making the effort to bring their kids up to training on a weekly basis as well as for the weeks camp and he thanked all who had contributed to the running of a very successful week. He spoke in a very up beat manner about the state of the club teams and while acknowledging that the results at Senior level may not be what we have become accustomed to in recent years, we were in a very healthy place going forward ,not just with the number of players available to break into the Senior squad, but the very high calibre of these players.
He presented Certificates to all the Nursery section and was last seen sneaking towards the Ice -Cream van with a bunch of the coaches. Well done to all, another success story for the Club.
U14 Championship
Garrycastle 6 - 14
Shandonagh 1 - 08
Our U14s made the trip over to Mullingar on Thursday evening last to play Shandonagh in the second round of the championship and came away with a comprehensive win. With a number of the panel unavailable due to holidays we had the bare 15 available to field on the night which included two under 12s Tommy Stephens and Charlie O Connor who both played very well on the night. This was our first game in a few weeks and we started very slow with early points from Jason Nugent,Joe Carmody and Brian Ruane keeping the scoreboard ticking over. Shandonagh were playing some good football in the first 20 minutes but excellent defending by Eoin Mulvihill,Owen Keogh and Daniel Guinan kept them at bay.The lads came more into the game in the last 10 minutes of the first half scoring 3 goals from Joe Carmody,Jason Nugent and Charlie O Connor adding to 4 pts from play by Brian Ruane leaving the half time score 3 - 08 to 0 -04.
This scoring burst was the winning of the game and they started the second half in similar fashion with goals from Ian Carroll and Joe Carmody to finish the game as a contest.
This was far from a vintage performance mixing some excellent football with some very poor handling however as it was our first run out in some weeks we were pleased with the effort on the night.
Panel on Duty:
Patrick McKiernan,Daniel Guinan,Eoin Mulvihill,Robert Kelly,Daragh Kenna,Owen Keogh,Tommy Stephens,Dara Mulvihill,Joe Carmody,Robert O Brien,Brian Ruane,Andew Monaghan,Charlie O Connor,Jason Nugent,Ian Carroll
U16 Championship
ST MALACHYS/BALLINAGORE 2-10 3 GARRYCASTLE 2-6
Garrycastle lost out to the visitors in a hugely entertaining game last Monday evening in Garrycastle. Playing with the aid of a stiff breeze, the Garrycastle boys had a point on the scoreboard in the very first minute, as Jack O'Connor slotted over a point. The visitors struck back and levelled and in their next attack struck over another point to lead. Garrycastle had the better of the exchanges in the next period and points from Conor Macken and two pointed frees from Cathal Mannion pushed the home side ahead. Whan Colm Henry raised a green flag in the 17th minute, after very good approach play, it put his side ahead by five points. St Malachys/Ballinagore had the final score of the half, a pointed free, to leave the Garrycastle lads ahead by 1-4 to 0-3 at the break.
The visitors made very good use of the wind advantage on the resumption, scoring two quick points to reduce the gap to just a point within two minutes of the resumption. They then struck for a goal to grab the lead and added two more points to stretch their advantage to 3 points by the 36th minute. Substitute, Joe Carmody, replied for Garrycastle with a good point after gaining possession close to goal. However, St Malachys/Balinagore continued to press forward and hit over three points to lead by five points as the game entered the final 10 minutes. To their credit the Garrycastle boys did not wilt and they played their best football in the remaining time. Cathal Mannion pointed a free and then wonderful team work and determined play fashioned a goal opportunity which saw Cathal smash an unstoppable shot to the visitor's net. Game on and only a point between the sides with just over five minutes remaining. Garrycastle pressed forward and fashioned a couple of half chances for an equaliser. However, it was the visitors who broke forward to goal in added time and seal the win on a score-line of 2-10 to 2-6.
Despite defeat, the Garrycastle boys can be very well pleased with the performance. Were it not for a poor start to the second half they may well have fashioned a win against a very strong and physically bigger St Malachys/Ballinagire side. It would be unfair to single out any players for special mention, in what was a good team display by all 17 players who tasted action.
GARRYCASTLE: Matthew McBride, Mark Denby, Brian Leahy, Caolan Jameson, Jack Brody, Bill Kelly, Sean Mulvihill, Conor Mulvihill, Cathal Mannion (1-3, 0-3f), Ross Mulvihill, Colm Lynch, Philip Monaghan, Conor Macken (0-1), Colm Henry (1-0) and Jack O'Connor (0-1).
SUBS: Joe Carmody (0-1) for C Henry (half time); Brian Ruane for S Mulvihill (43 min).
U21 Championship
GARRYCASTLE 2-14, THE DOWNS 4-07
The Garrycastle Under-21 football team qualified for the semi-finals of this years competition with a one-point win over The Downs in a thrilling encounter in Garrycastle on Tuesday night.
The Downs had by far the better of the first half and managed to score 4 goals past the Garrycastle defence in this period. Garrycastle managed to just about stay in touch with their oppenents with points from Eoin Monaghan (2) Alex Gardiner (2,1f) Michael Monaghan (2,1f) and Conor Duignan. Half time score Garrycastle 0-07 The Downs 4-04.
Garrycastle came out for the 2nd half a changed team and showed great determination in trying to get back into the game. A quick point from Eoin Monaghan was followed by a goal from the impressive Eric Kearney. Further points followed from Alex Gardiner (3) Eoin Monaghan and Michael Monaghan. In the closing stages The Downs extended their lead further and it looked to all in attendance that Garrycastle would exit the competition at this stage. However an opportunistic goal from Eric Kearney brought Garrycastle level and with one of the last plays of the game Eric again found himself in the right place to fire over the winning point.
This was definitely a game of two halves from a Garrycastle view point. If the team is to progress further, another performance as seen in the 1st half will not do. However the great team spirit and never say die attitude shown in the 2nd period shows that this team has the ability to go on in the competition.
Full time score Garrycastle 2-14 The Downs 4-07
Garrycastle team: Shane McEnery, Sean Gunning, Gavin Ward, Ben Kennedy, Sean Carey, Mark Curley, Ronan Donohue, Eric Kearney (2-01) Eoin Monaghan (0-03) Terry Rushe, Michael Monaghan (0-04) Evan Dalton, Conor Duignan (0-01) Alex Gardiner (0-05) Kenny Dolan.
Subs Used Mark Duffy, Lee McNamara.
Subs Darragh McCormack, Donal Byrne, Adam Keena, Kevin McCormack, Jack McGann, Eddie Farrell, Liam Leahy
Match Report : Padraig Cosgrove
Under-8 County Blitz in Moate
The Garrycastle Under-8 group travelled to the new Moate All-Whites pitch on Saturday, to take part in the latest round of Under-8 county blitzes. On the day, besides the home team and Garrycastle, there were also teams present from Tubberclair, Maryland/Tang and Millmore Gaels.
Even though August should be considered the height of summer, on arrival in Moate we were greeted with a torrential downpour! However, even allowing for the poor weather, and the absence of a large number of players on summer holidays, we were able to field 18 players and two teams for the blitz.
The first team played against the counterparts from the Moate All-Whites and Tubberclair in their 2 matches, resulting in a win against Moate, and a hard-earned draw against Tubberclair. The second team had a tougher time of it, coming out second best to the second Moate All-Whites team in their first game, and Millmore Gaels in the second match.
Overall, this was another reasonable performance from the clubs youngest players. Very well done to all who turned out on the morning, and represented their club with great enthusiasm. Special congratulations to Cristian Turean on making his debut in the red-and-green shirt - hopefully just the first of many to come.
Fixtures
20th Aug : Minors v Ballycomoyle @ 7pm in Garrycastle
22nd Aug : Junior Championship V Killucan @ 7pm in Garrycastle
24th Aug : Senior Championship v Coralstown Kinnegad @7pm in Rosemount
25th Aug : U16 Championship v St Lomans @7pm in Garrycastle
The Championship time is what the players and managers have been working towards all season and we would urge all supporters and particularly families of younger players and new families to the club to come along to some of the games and support the club this week.
Lotto August 11th
Numbers drawn ; 11,17,18 and 25.
There was one match 3 winner.: Martina Kenny, C/o Anthony Lennon
Jackpot is now $4,800
Sympathy
McCormack/ Curley Family, Retreat Heights1
Shehan and McKiernan family, Hillquarter , Coosan
Rowan family, Westlodge, Athlone Tweet
