ACL Div 1:           
Garrycastle 3-12;              Tubberclair 1-8

The seniors collected two more league points after a comprehensive win over Tubberclair in Garrycastle last Friday evening. The visitors started well with a neat point but were soon rocked by two goals from Conor Cosgrove. Garrycastle continued to hold the upper hand with the assistance of the wind and had good points from Michael Monaghan (2), Alex Gardiner and Dessie Dolan. A third goal from the in-form Conor Cosgrove gave the home team a half time lead of 3-5 to 0-4. Tubberclair again started well after the break and closed the gap to seven points with a well-taken goal, but that was as good as it got for the visitors. Garrycastle responded impressively with three quick scores, with Michael Monaghan's third point sandwiched between two sweetly-struck Cosgrove frees from difficult angles. Another excellent point by Dessie Dolan put Garrycastle firmly in control, and further points from Neill Rattigan and Conor Cosgrove (2) sealed victory. As Garrycastle closed out the game they took the opportunity to give some game time to a few substitutes. This was a good performance by Garrycastle who had to play without their county players, and there will be keen competition for places when championship time comes round. All the players contributed significantly to the victory, with particularly good displays coming from John Gaffey, Neill Rattigan, Gary Dolan, Justin Barrett, Dessie Dolan and the outstanding Conor Cosgrove.

TEAM: Shane O'Connell, Gary Mullery, John Gaffey, Alan Fox, Neill Rattigan (0-1), Mark Curley, Gary McCallon, Justin Barrett, Gary Dolan, Michael Monaghan (0-3), Dessie Dolan (0-2, 1 free), Mattie Guiheen, Conor Cosgrove (3-5), Alex Gardiner (0-1), Ciaran O'Neill.

Subs: Mark Keenan for O'Connell; Paul Gunning for Monaghan; John O'Shaughnessy for G. Dolan; Tom McHugh for Mullery; Gavin Ward for McCallon and Anthony Larkin for Fox.

 

ACL Div 2:

Last Sunday morning's fixture away to Castledaly fell through due to both clubs' pitches being unplayable after very heavy overnight rain.

Under-10 Football Blitz:

The Under-10 football season kicked off with a blitz held in Cusack Park, Mullingar on Tuesday 7th April. A fantastic sunshine-filled evening was the perfect backdrop for some excellent football served up by all the teams present. On the evening, Garrycastle fielded 16 players, an excellent turnout considering that the club's Easter Camp was on that week. This allowed us to field 2 teams, and each team played two matches on the evening.

 

In the first round of matches, the Garrycastle "Red" team played the Shandonagh first team, and the Garrycastle "Green" team played the Shandonagh second team. Both games contained some excellent displays of skill from both teams, with a highlight being the excellent fielding on display. After some engrossing football, the Garrycastle teams just edged out their Shandonagh counterparts.

 

In the second round of matches, the Garrycastle "Red" team took on Ballynacargy, while the "Green" team played the Shandonagh first team. Given their exertions in the first round of matches, coupled with their involvement in the Easter Camp, it was inevitable that there was a drop in energy in these games, but even so,  the "Green" team maintained their perfect record, while the "Red" team came up one score short, after an epic tussle with Ballynacargy.

 

Overall, this was an excellent evening's football, with great enthusiasm and no little skill on display. This hopefully sets us up for a good league campaign, due to start next week. Many thanks as always to the players for attending, and also to the parents and other supporters who travelled to Mullingar to cheer them on.

Squad on the evening: Daniel Sierpinski, Oisin Nugent, Brandon Devaney, Jack Allen, Conor Sheehan, Nathan McKeon, Thanh McCay, Anthony Mannion, Killian Keegan, David Carter, Tom Daly, Killian Redmond, Diarmuid Murtagh, Tom Sheehan, Jamie Carroll, Kyle Greene.

 

Under 16 League:            Garrycastle 4-17               Shannon Gaels 1-9

Garrycastle under 16's got off to a great start to their league campaign on Monday of last week in Tubberclair when from the throw in midfielder Joe Carmody caught the ball, ran the length of the pitch and scored a goal. Soon after Oisin Langan scored a point following good work from half back Dara Mulvihill and Joe Carmody scored another point from the kick out. Shannon Gaels were beginning to settle and were denied only by some great defending from Cillian Lyons. However, in the next few minutes they knocked over two points. Oisin Langan got his second point of the day with a great long range effort, while Jack Fitzgearld worked his socks off all night winning numerous kick outs breaking up the play well.

Following another Shannon Gaels point, goalkeeper Matthew McBride made the first of a number of fantastic saves to keep Garrycastle ahead, while at the other end Enda Malone was denied by a great save from the Shannon Gaels keeper. Philip Monaghan got his name on the score sheet with a fantastic point from the wing. Joe Carmody intercepted the kick out and delivered a pin-point pass to Enda Malone who knocked it over the bar. Oisin Langan scored a long range free, while Enda Malone added another point despite being under a lot of pressure. Joe Carmody delivered another excellent ball, this time to Jack O'Connor who was denied by great save from the Shannon Gaels keeper who pushed his shot out for a 45. Brian Ruane found Philip Monaghan with a good pass who in turn found Oisin Langan who blasted to the net, to put Garrycastle 2-7 to 0-4 up. Colm Lynch, whose work rate was relentless all night, found Philip Monaghan with an excellent pass, and Philip duly put the ball over the bar. Shannon Gaels weren't finished yet though and added three points before half time and forced another great save from Matthew McBride, leaving the half time score line 2-8 to 0-7 to Garrycastle.

In the second half the Garrycastle defence were a lot meaner with Eoin Mulvihill, Cillian Lyons and Patrick McKiernan sniffing out anything that reached the full back line, while Ian Carroll, Dara Mulvihill and Brian Ruane launched numerous attached from the half back line. Philip Monaghan scored the first point of the second half and Enda Malone followed it up with a pointed free. Conor Macken added another point after receiving a good pass from Colm Lynch who won a dirty ball and broke through a couple of defenders. Eoin Mulvihill won a high ball in the full back line and broke quickly feeding Philip Monaghan who found Colm Lynch with a sublime foot pass. Colm found Oisin Langan who put it over the bar for the best worked score of the day. Shannon Gaels pulled one back, but Oisin Langan won the ball from the kick out, passed quickly to Joe Carmody who in turn found Enda Malone who rifled it into the back of the net. Eoin Mulvihill made a good interception and found Joe Carmody who put it over bar. Dara Mulvihill then broke up a Shannon Gaels attack and found Oisin Langan. Oisin found Joe Carmody who wasted no time in finding Enda Malone who blasted in his second goal of the night, putting Garrycastle 4-13 to 0-8 ahead.

Gaels pulled one back before Joe Carmody scored another point. Brian Ruane went on a mazy meandering run out of defence before finding Philip Monaghan who in turn delivered another fantastic foot pass to Oisin Langan who scored a point. Conor Macken chipped in with point before Shannon Gaels scored a goal. Jack O'Connor got his name on the score sheet with a well taken point after working very hard all night. All in all a very good performance, in particular the second half, but no doubt sterner tests lie ahead. We would like to thank out host Tubberclair for a good sporting game and wish them the best for the remainder of the league, and we would also like to thank referee Dermot Whelan.

Team: Matthew McBride, Cillian Lyons, Eoin Mulvihill, Patrick McKiernan, Ian Carroll, Dara Mulvihill, Brian Ruane, Oisin Langan (1-5), Joe Carmody (1-3), Jack Fitzgerald, Colm Lynch, Phillip Monaghan (0-3), Jack O'Connor (0-1), Enda Malone (2-3), Conor Macken (0-2).

Garrycastle 2-10; Shandonagh 3-13

The under 16's hosted a strong Shandonagh side in the second round of their league campaign on a warm pleasant evening last Wednesday. Colm Lynch opened the scoring for the home side with a well taken point after a tense opening 5 minutes from both sides. Shandonagh equalized before Conor Macken forced a good save from the Shandonagh keeper, who pushed it out for a 45. Shortly afterwards Conor Macken rounding two defenders drilled the ball into the back of the net, but unfortunately he was deemed to have over carried the ball and the goal did not stand. Shandonagh responded with a goal and then quickly tacked on two points. Joe Carmody pulled one back for Garrycastle before Shandonagh added a further two points before the break.

Shandonagh opened the scoring in the second half before Garrycastle finally got a bit of momentum going  through a Philip Monaghan point and then an Oisin Langan goal.  Defensively Mattias O'Neill and Eoin Mulvihill were playing very well and broke down numerous Shandonagh attacks. Goalkeeper Matthew McBride made a great save and Mattias O'Neill a goal line clearance before Shandonagh got their second goal of the day. Joe Carmody responded with a couple of points for Garrycastle.

In attack Oisin Langan was unfortunate not to get a second goal while Colm McHenry also came very close to rattling the net. Forwards Enda Malone and Jack Fitzgearld working diligently to create some scoring opportunities, while around the middle Colm Lynch, Philip Monaghan and Joe Carmody never stopped working. From defence Brian Ruane made some excellent forward runs while Pat McKiernan and Ian Carroll didn't give their markers an inch of space. Cillian Lyons made a fantastic goal line save to stop a certain goal, before Shandonagh added a couple more scores. Jack O'Connor scored an excellent goal with a well-placed shot for Garrycastle, but alas it was not to be enough for the home side and Shandonagh ran out deserving winners by six points.

Team: Matthew McBride, Patrick McKiernan, Matthias O'Neill, Cillian Lyons, Brian Ruane, Eoin Mulvihill, Ian Carroll, Joe Carmody, Oisin Langan, Philip Monaghan, Colm Lynch, Jack Fitzgerald, Jack O'Connor, Enda Malone, Conor Macken.

Sub: Colm McHenry

 

Lotto news:

Numbers drawn last week were 2, 8, 20 and 25. The jackpot wasn't won and Anthony Kerry wins €100 as the only punter to match three numbers. The jackpot now stands at €5,250.

Sympathy:

Sincere sympathy is extended to Gary Johnson, a member of our senior management team, on the death of his mother, and to the family of the late Noel Sheriff of Brawny Drive.

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