Under-8 Challenge v. Doon/Pullough,
The Garrycastle Under-8 group finished off their football year in style in Garrycastle on Friday evening, with challenge matches against Doon/Pullough from county Offaly. Playing under lights on a cold autumns evening, 27 of the under-8 squad were available, allowing us to field 2 teams, each team playing two matches against their counterparts from Doon/Pullough.
This was our first time to welcome our neighbours from across the county bounds to Garrycastle, and 4 excellent skillful games of football were served up to an appreciative crowd of parents and grandparents. In the absence of many of our under-8 players, it also gave an opportunity for some of our up-and-coming under-6 players to take to the field and show what they could do - and they sure stepped up to the mark in style.
It is extremely heartening to see the development in many of these young players over the last 8 months or so. Their ability to play and enjoy football has grown immensely, and certainly the older players can look forward with confidence to their under-10 football next year.
Congratulations to Paddy Galvin and Darragh Glennon, making their home debuts in the green and red colours - sure to be just the first of many appearances for the club in the coming years.
Many thanks to Paul, Diarmuid and all the other mentors from Doon/Pullough for travelling in to us, and for providing excellent, sporting games of football. We look forward to more interaction with them in the coming year.
Squad on the evening:
Red Team: Van McCay, Keelan Ward, Conor Deeney, Sean Galvin, Paddy Galvin, Darragh Glennon, Rian Gaynor, Callum Hudson, Tom Sheehan, Jack Allen, Dylan Frawley, Niadh Shine, Cian Norris, Dean Grehan.
Green Team: Evan McMickan, Cristian Turean, Sean O'Donoghue, Nathan McKeon, Brandon Devaney, Anthony Mannion, Daniel Sierpinski, James McHugh, Aaron Keegan, Alex Conner, Rory McMickan, Louie Shine, Oisin O'Donoghue.
Under 10s Round up
Garrycastle Under 10 team travelled to play Moate last Wednesday night under lights in the semi-final of the Castledaly Tournament Cup Competition. Garrycastle started well and traded point for point with Moate until a mix up in defence let Moate in for a goal that left them 1-3 to 3 points ahead at the break.
Disaster struck in the first few seconds of the re start when a cruel bounce deceived the Castle defence and another goal was conceded. This was the start of a constant barage on the Garrycastle goal by a physically far superior Moate team who ran out deserving winners in the end but full credit must go to the bravery of the Garrycastle players who battled to the end putting their bodies on the line time after time against their physically stronger and bigger opponents.
Some lovely passages of play, even in the closing stages of the game, showed the determination of these lads and their skill levels have soared in the last few months as a result of games against strong opposition.
Shield Final, Castledaly.
The curtain came down on our under 10 season on Sunday last in near perfect conditions at a sundrenched Castledaly when Garrycastle and Tubberclaire took the field at noon for the Shield Final.
On a beautifully prepared and specially marked pitch with linesmen, umpires, match programmes and a large crowd , huge credit must go to Ciaran Henson and the rest of the Castledaly Minor board for the work they put into a very slick and professional tournament.
Tubberclaire started the stronger and seemed to be in control in most areas of the pitch but they could not break down a very resolute Garrycastle defence that was well marshalled by John Mc Bride at full back. Tadhg Mc Kiernan in goal made some great saves , while Sarah Carter and Frank Mc Kiernan cleared their lines well.
Ben Donegan and Conor Sheehan worked very hard under a lot of pressure at midfield while up front Jack Mulvihill and Sam Mc Hugh kept Garrycastle in touch with some excellant points. A goal mouth scramble resulted in a goal for Tubberclaire who went in at half time leading 1-4 to 0-4.
The Garrycastle bench made a few positional changes at half time and the team had a dream start to the second half with a very well worked move finished to the net by team captain, Ben Donegan.
Connor Sheehan began to win a lot of ball in the middle and combinations with Jamie Carroll and Andrew Ruane resulted in some of the finest scores you will see at any level. One of Andrews points was from an angle close to the sideline , Dessie Dolan would have been proud of it.
Diarmuid Murtagh did an excellant man marking job and broke a lot of ball that was being won easily by the opposition in the first half. Jamie Carrolls pace was just what was needed to carry ball into the forward line where Kirrill Egan, Brian Mulvihill and Jack Mulvihill made good use of it.
Tubberclaire had their periods of dominance as well and despite all our possession it was a tense last few minutes with Garrycastle holding a very dangerous two point lead. Time and again Tubberclaire stormed at the Castle defence looking for the goal that would win it only to be held back by great defending by Conn O Hara, John Mc Bride and Frank Mc Kiernan. The earlier battles against all of the bigger teams stood to our lads and at the end of what has to be the longest "one minute" of extra time the final whistle was greeted by relief and joy. It was no more than this great bunch of players deserve after a long year of training and games. Half this team will move to under 12s and half remain with under 10s next year and we wish them well with their respective managers.
Team; Tadhg Mc Kiernan, John Mc Bride, Frank Mc Kiernan, Sarah Carter, Diarmuid Murtagh, Ben Donegan ( Capt), Connor Sheehan, Brian Mulvihill, Jack Mulvihill, Jamie Carroll, Andrew Ruane, Conn O Hara, Kirrill Egan, Matti ,Kian , Connor, Sam Mc Hugh, Tom Daly , Jason Macken, Nathan Jackson,
Jim mc Hugh U12 Memorial tournament
We have 12 South Westmeath clubs taking part in this years tournament consisting of 2 groups of 6 teams playing 13 aside matches on a round robin basis with home and away games for each team with weekly fixtures throughout September and early October, all teams will be involved in semi-final matches in mid October with the top 2 teams in each group in the Cup Semi-final,3rd and 4th in the Sheild Semi-final,5th and 6th in the Plate Semi-final,finals will be played under lights on the weekend of the 18th of October, Best of luck to all teams involved
Lotto October 6th
Numbers drawn : 1,11,17 and 19. The jacpot was won by Bernie Reilly, Baylough, c/o Frank Maher.The jackpot winner recieves €2,400. Congratulations Bernie. The jackpot is now €1,500.
Sympathy
Gantley family, Garrycastle
Starken family, Retreat Heights