Senior Notes:
Seniors - Hard luck to our seniors who were beaten by Coolkenno in the first game of the league 4-09 to 2-09 at home on Sun 15 Mar. Next up is Fri 20 Mar away to Hollywood at 19.30.
Intermediates - Hard luck to our Intermediates who were beaten by Donard/The Glen in the league at home on Sat 14 Mar 0-08 to 2-05. Although beaten there were some terrific displays from the lads. Scorers for Blessington Jonathan Daniels (0-04 ), Dean McGarr (0-01), Robert Pender (0-02), Barry O'Donovan (0-01). Four Minors also had a good run out on the day Caolon McGorman, Martin Shannon, Conor Ryan and Conor Kenny.
County Seniors - Hard luck to our county seniors who were beaten by Longford in Aughrim on Sun 15 Mar 1-10 to 1-16 especially our club lads Michael, Anthony, Paul and Kevin John.
Ladies notes: Girls training - U8 & U10 Tues 6-7pm starting Tues 10 Mar. U12 & U14 Tues and Thurs 7-8pm starting Tues 10 of Mar. U16 Wed at 7.30pm. Junior and senior ladies teams Wed and Fri 7.30-9pm. Gaelic for mothers and others Wed 7-8pm. New players for all our teams always welcome contact Maura Reid on 087 6548744 or Jess Carroll 086 8602822.
Physio - The physio will return to the clubhouse on Tues 3 Mar.€5 per visit.
Paddy Magee Memorial Match - The 5th Annual Paddy Magee Memorial Match will be held at the pitch on Tues 17 Mar at 11am. The Pete Nolan Man of the Match award will be awarded on the day. Blessington GAA v Ballymore Eustace GAA. Admission is €5 including players with all proceeds divided between the Blessington Senior Citizens and the Ballymore Eustace Senior Citizens. Please come along and enjoy the game. Light refreshments will be served on the day.
Fixtures at a glance
Mon 16 Mar - U16 Challenge away to St Anne's, Bohernabreena @7.30pm
Mon 17 Mar - Blessington GAA v Ballymore Eustace GAA @ 11am. 5th Annual Paddy Magee Memorial Match
Fri 20 Mar - Campus Oil Division 1 Football League - Away Blessington v Hollywood @ 19.30
Fri 20 Mar - U16 Challenge away Blessington v Pallatine, Carlow at 19.45
Sun 22 Mar - Campus Oil Division 1A Football League - Away Blessington v Carnew at 11.30am
Juvenile Notes:
We are desperately short of accommodation for the ladies teams that we will be hosting for Feile Peil na nOg. We need at least 8 houses from among our members who can facilitate 2 girls for 2 nights - Fri and Sat 26/27 June. Anyone who can facilitate this will need to be Garda Vetted. Please make contact with Maura Reid asap 087 6548744. This is an urgent appeal.
Blessington GAA Registrations - U10 to Minor - Outstanding registration and subs will be collected by the managers of each team. Registration to be paid asap with all subs to be paid by 28 Mar. This is a tedious job so please co-operate with the manager to ensure that all fees are paid by the deadline.
Blessington GAA Academy - All new and existing players must be 4 years old and come from the Blessington area. Subs for the Academy (age 4 to 8) to be completed by 30 May. Reg €20 first child and €10 for every child thereafter. €50 subs per child per year. Enquiries regarding the Academy to Sarah 087 2231284.
U10 Blitz - National Go Games week 2015 is a celebration of children playing Gaelic games and marks the start of the playing season. Clubs to send boys and girls on Tues 31 March in Blessington GAA from 10am - 12 noon football only Blessington GAA and surrounding clubs. Contact Paul Garrigan.
U14's - Our U14 team took part in a Feile Peil 2015 Blitz in Ballinakill Centre of Excellence on Sat 14 Mar 15. We played Newtown, An Tochar and St Kevin's. Our lads played great today for their first time out as a team. It was a freezing cold day in Ballinakill. The lads won the first game against Newtown, were well beaten by An Tochar and lost to St Kevins in what was the tightest game. The heads went down in the 2nd half of the Kevins game but all in all everyone including management were happy with the display the lads gave. Back to training on Monday to work on a few things...well done again to the 15 lads who played their hearts out. Ye will always be our winners. We have a challenge v St Paul's (Belfast) at home on Sun 29 Mar. League games kick off on away to Kilmac/Enniskerry on Wed 1 Apr.
Féile Peil na nOg - Plans and actions are now in place for the Féile Peil na nOg which will be hosted in South Leinster (Wexford, Wicklow and Carlow) this year. 14 weeks and counting. Blessington are hosting a boys and girls team and the Féile will take place on the weekend of 26 - 28 June. We will know what teams we will be hosting in early April. Please Like and Share our new Blessington GAA Feile 2015 Facebook page. If anyone has any pictures or any information that can be used on the page please contact Noreen on 087 2858375. The National Dairy Council/Leinster GAA will hold a seminar in Sports Nutrition in the MIll Race Hotel in Bunclody, Co Wexford on Mon 23 Mar. All U14 Feile coaches in the club are asked to attend.
U16's - The under 16's step up the preparation for the league with two games this week - first is St Anne's Bohernabreena on Mon 16 Mar at 7.30pm and Palatine, Carlow on Fri 20 Mar at 7.45pm. The first League game Is Mon 30 Mar away to St. Nicholas.
Training times - Academy Sat 10am - 11am, U8 Sat 10am and from April also Tues evenings at 6:30. U10 Sat 10am to 11.30am and on Wed when evenings get brighter. U12's - Mon and Wed 6.45pm - 8pm, U14's Mon and Wed 6.45pm - 8pm.
U14 Hurling - Sat 21 Mar (provisionally) challenge vs Burren Rangers Carlow in Kiltegan 4pm (TBC).
Cul Camp 2015 - Blessington GAA will host a football Cul Camp on 6-10 July and hurling cul camp on 20-24 July. €55 first child, €45 second child and third child €40 (must be from the same family). Gear included. Club contact is Chris O'Connor 086 2239403.
The GCA Football Academy is running a joint fundraiser between the Hurling and Football squads for 2015. On 11 April at 11am in Ballinakill Centre of Excellence the Wicklow GCA is inviting all parents, family members and friends to take part in a Fun Run/Jog/Walk while supporting the development of young County Footballers and Hurlers in Wicklow. Registration will take place on the day at 10am. Adults €10, U16's €5 and family of 3 or more €20. For more info contact Hugh Kenny on 087 2718537. Training continues for the academy squads.
Lotto: Our latest lotto jackpot of €10,000 was NOT won. The next jackpot will be €10,200 on Tues 24 Mar in Mick Reids. The numbers drawn were 11, 19, 20 and 26. There were 3 winners of €100 (match 3) - Annie Radford c/o Mick Reids, Paddy Magee and John Walker c/o Michaels Office. We thank you for your continued support returning your tickets and don't forget you can also buy tickets online at www.blessingtongaa.ie. If you would like to support the club by selling 5 lotto tickets every fortnight please contact Michael Sargent on 086 2443640.
Coach training - Pre Season training Workshop for all Clubs in Hurling & Football coaches from all age groups Juvenile to Senior Level on Wed 18 Mar 7.15pm Wicklow GAA Centre of Excellence / Ballinakill. Cost €5 per Coach to be paid on the night - Pre Booking is important. Contact Hugh Kenny, Paul Garrigan, Garrett Doyle, Colm Gaskin and Leighton Glynn. The workshop is conducted by Des Earls and Gary Jameson.
Code of Ethics and Garda Vetting - All coaches and mentors need to be Garda Vetted and have attended a Code of Ethics training course. Garda vetting forms can be found on our website www.blessingtongaa.ie under the juvenile tab and then in the Feile folder there are 2 vetting forms. One for coaches and one for host families for Feile. Fill out the vetting form and contact our Children's Officer Eoin Phibbs who will send it to Croke Park. 086 8282033. A Code of Ethics course on Fri 20 Mar at 7pm. Max participants 16. Please contact Noreen on 087 2858375 to register.
Referee Recruitment - There is a county drive to get more referees to officiate at our games and they are looking to unearth some new hurling referees in the county. If interested please contact John Keenan on 086 8465587 or [email protected] or [email protected].
Fundraisers -
Clothes collection - Blessington GAA Club is collecting good quality second hand clothing suitable for re-use. All Clean unwanted Clothes, Bed linen, Towels and Textiles including Shoes, Bags, Belts and Soft Toys. But please keep separate from Clothes and Textiles. Books are also accepted - But no School books (Text or Copy) Magazines or Diaries or Newspapers. Closing Date. 27th March, 2015. Deliveries can be made to the GAA Pitch on Mon 9, Wed 11, Fri 14, Mon 16, Fri 21, Mon 23 and Wed 25 Mar. Evening Deliveries will be accepted between; 7.30pm & 9pm each evening and on Sat between 11.30am & 1pm. If you cannot deliver but have donations please contact any of the following. John Magee Snr., 086 8717483 or Breda Brophy 087 2253892.
Topaz Cash for Clubs - Blessington GAA are registered to participate in the Topaz Cash for Clubs promotion. Anyone who wishes to support the club can pick up a card in any Topaz garage. A stamp is given for every €40 purchased and 5 stamps are required to fill a card. We need to fill 300 cards to be entered into a draw. Our unique ID number is 10209. Please contact Noreen to return any completed cards on 087 2858375.
General club notes
· We have still have some "Macs in a Sac" rain jackets and fleeces for sale. €15.Contact Noreen 0872858375. Limited stock remaining.
· Birthday greetings - Calum Brennan, Elizabeth Hearns, Abigal O'Riordan, Senan Gardner, Ben Higgins, Kian Nolan, Hannah McDonald, Ella Richardson, Leah Richardson, Joe Birchall, Barry Behan and Michael Nugent.
· Remember to keep updated on what is happening in the Club log on www.blessington.gaa.ie or Facebook. We have a new Club Text Phone for all alerts on Fixtures, Lotto and Club Events, if you wish to be added please text the phone 085 1607808 with your name, you must be 18 or over to receive the texts.
· If anyone would like to have anything included in the notes, please email or text Noreen by 8pm on Sunday night. [email protected] 0872858375.
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