Congratulations and Commiserations

How do you sum up last Sunday ? We we're in the Lions Den against the All Ireland Champions with nobody giving us a chance. Ten points down at one stage. Yet this incredibly brave bunch of players were level with ony a few minutes remaining. This group of player doesn't do moral victories. They will think what could have been, giving St Vincents such a good start, having a goal chance when a point down with minutes remaining, was the home advantage worth a few points to Vincent's ? It's hard not to think it was there for the taking.  But they have to be congratulated for how they represented the club in the toughest of fixtures. Garrycastle supporters left Parnell Park with their heads high, yet disappointed. It was that close.  The players and management team deserve great praise for a great year, and a special mention to the wives and family of the players who put up with so much. For now we will enjoy having the Flanagan Cup in Garrycastle this winter.

Leinster Championship Semi-final

ST VINCENTS 3-9       GARRYCASTLE 1-10

Garrycastle had to yield to a very strong St Vincents side, reigning Dublin, Leinster and All Ireland club champions, in an entertaining semi-final in Parnell Park, on Sunday. Garrycastle could not have got off to a worse start, conceding a goal after just a couple of minutes play, as Tomas Quinn took full advantage of a slip by Jack Donoghue to fire a goal. St Vincents added a point soon after and it took a fine point by James Dolan in the 5th minute to get Garrycastle off the mark. St Vincents continued to have the better attacks but some good defending and a bit of good fortune saw them only register a point. The sides exchanged points, the Garrycastle effort a fine one from a tight angle on the left by Dessie Dolan. St Vincents had the majority of possession and created a number of good goal scoring opportunities but did not manage to raise a green flag. They did add two points and finally got a deserved second goal in the 24th minute. They also added a point soon after to lead by 2-6 to 0-2 by the 25th minute. Garrycastle they staged a mini revival and had four unanswered points before the half time break. Points from James Dolan, Justin Barrett, a free from Dessie Dolan and another point from James Dolan taking the score at the break to 2-6 to 0-6 in favour of St Vincents.

 

Garrycastle started the second half in the same vein, adding two points, both from Dessie Dolan, one from play and one from a free, in the opening six minutes. The Garrycastle cause received an even bigger fillip when Dessie Dolan broke through the St Vincents defence and expertly placed his shot beyond Michael Savage to raise a green flag. Game on with just a point between the sides after 37 minutes. Michael Savage then made a wonderful save in the 40th minute to deny Garrycastle a second goal, but the resultant 45 was just wide from Alex Gardiner. However, Garrycastle did gain parity in the 42nd minute as Michael Monaghan slotted over a fine point. St Vincents showed their championship mettle and hit over two points in quick succession to regain the lead, the first of which came from a close range free. Garrycastle pushed forward in search of more scores but were caught out by a quick counter-attack in the 53rd minute and when a high ball broke kindly for Ruairi Traynor and he was fouled by Cathal Mullin. A penalty was signalled by Referee, John Hickey, who also brandished a black card to the Garrycastle goalkeeper. Shane O'Connell was introduced in goal and his first taste of action was to face up to the penalty, which was expertly placed to his left for a decisive goal for the All Irelands club champions. Dessie Dolan pointed a close range free as full time approached, but it was St Vincents who had the final score, a point deep into added time, to leave it 3-9 to 1-10 in the end.

A brave effort from Garrycastle but St Vincents were deserving winners in the end. There were good performances from Mark McCallon, Jack Donoghue and John Gaffey in defence. Dessie Dolan, Mathew Guiheen and James Dolan were most prominent in attack.

GARRYCASTLE: Cathal Mullin, Mark McCallon, Jack Donoghue, Alan Fox, Karl Henson, John Gaffey, Gary McCallon, Justin Barrett (0-1), Aidan Browne, Gary Dolan, Dessie Dolan (1-5, 0-3f), Matthew Guiheen, Damian Rushe, Michael Monaghan(0-1) and James Dolan (0-3).

SUBs: Alex Gardiner for D Rushe (half time); David O'Shaughnessy for A Browne (inj, 47 min); James Duignan for A Gardiner (47 min); Shane O'Connell for C Mullin (black card, 53 min);  and Conor Cosgrove for M Monaghan (59 min).

 

Under-8 trip to St. Vincents

As a prelude to the Leinster Senior Club championship match between St. Vincents of Dublin, and Garrycastle, the St. Vincents club kindly invited our under-8 squad to Dublin to play some challenge matches before the big game. The games were played on the Dublin All-Weather pitches on the Clontarf road, as the St. Vincents pitches themselves were closed due to the recent bad weather.
The under-8 group assembled early Sunday morning in Garrycastle, and headed off by bus to the capital. On the day, we divided up into three teams, with each team playing two matches against their counterparts from St. Vincents. Playing Gaelic Football on astroturf was a new experience for this group, but it didn't faze them in the slightest, and in all, 6 great games were served up to the watching crowd, with honours even between the two clubs.
After the matches, the St. Vincents club kindly provided a great feast for the players back in the St. Vincents clubhouse, as well as face-painting the club colours for the players before the big game. Afterwards, the players and parents made the short walk across the Malahide Road to Parnell Park for the Leinster Semi-Final, and cheered their hearts out for the Garrycastle team. Unfortunately the result did not go Garrycastle's way, but that is sport, for every match winner, someone also has to lose.
After the game, the players made their way back to the bus and returned home to Garrycastle, a very tired, but very happy bunch!
Absolutely huge thanks are due to Cathal O'Daly and the St. Vincents GAA Club for extending the invitation to travel, and their truly excellent hospitality on the day. Days like these are what the GAA is all about

Lotto
Numbers drawn : 3,8,14 and 25. There was No Jackpot winner.
Match 3 : Micahel Nugent, Ian Moore, Louise Browne and Michael McCormack. Winners receive €25. The Jackpot is now €2,400.

Congrats to Moate
Well done to Moate for reaching the Leinster Final. All the best lads. Also thanks to all the local clubs who offered us their best wishes and support in our Leinster campaign.

AGM
The AGM takes place next Friday 28th of November at 7pm.

Sympathy
Temple Family, Meehan Quarter , Coosan
McTiernan family, Retreat.

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