Michael Davitt GAC Swatragh club notes

April 14, 2014
The U14 footballers hosted the final round of Feile league games at Davitt Park on Friday past against Ballinascreen, with whom they were joint second with before the start of play, and table toppers Magherafelt. Swatragh started very brightly and soon registered a goal through JP McGuigan along with pointed frees from Tiarnan Walsh and Sean Kearney. Barry Walsh added a point from play in response to two Screen points. Ballinascreen dominated the remainder of the half as Dermot McKeown went off with a prolonged blood injury and scored a goal from a 13m free as the midfielder aimed for the crossbar Dessie Cleary style. A Cathal O'Kane point before the break left Swatragh 1-05 to 1-04 ahead at half time. Ballinascreen maintained their hold on proceedings after the interval and went into a four point lead with the aid a goal fisted to the net by their full forward. The Davitts managed to reduce the arrears to one point thanks to a goal from Cathal O'Kane but could not manage to find the equaliser as the ref blew the final whistle. Final score 2-07 to 2-06.

Next up for Swatragh was Magherafelt who had just beat Ballinascreen by 9 points in the previous game. Unsure of the situation, Swatragh new a victory was essential to have any hopes of staying in the competition. The previously unbeaten Rossa's had secured their place in the final prior to their match against 'Screen but still showed plenty of quality and hunger to beat them. From the throw in Swatragh upped their intensity from the first match. A well worked team move resulted in Declan Quinn firing to the back of the net to give the young Davitts an early impetus. Great work from the very industrious Daniel Mooney resulted in a 13m free which Sean Kearney duly converted. An ambitious effort from Declan Quinn fell short but Sean Kearney fielded the high ball close to the endline, weaved in and out before slotting over the bar from a very acute angle. A second fine team move which started with Tiarnan Walsh collecting the kickout, moving it onto Danial Mooney to Cathal O'Kane back to Tiarnan Walsh who played in John Patrick McGuigan who fired across the keeper into the opposite corner with his trusty left boot. The Davitts scored the final point just before the interval after a solo run from JP was over turned but Swatragh's attack reversed the turnover and JP fired over off balance to leave the score at 2-03 to 0-02 at the break.

The beginning of the second half saw Swatragh waste a couple of well worked chances before a long range effort from Jude McAtamney raised the first white flag of the half. A magnificent effort from Dermot McKeown really lifted Swatragh along with a fine individual effort by Ryan O'Kane saw the Swa lead by 9 midway through the second period. A fortunate long range effort from Magherafelt dropped into the top right corner of the net to ask questions of the young Davitts but they responded with two fine points. First from Declan Quinn before the ever present Sean Kearney twisted his man inside out again to register his third point of the day. Final score 2-10 to 1-05 which left Swatragh finishing joint second along with Ballinascreen in the league thus resulting in a playoff between the two teams..

The U14 hurlers travelled to the city to take on Na Magha where victory would ensure a playoff against parish rivals Slaughtneil. Swatragh duly obliged winning 4-09 to 3-05 and will now play the Emmetts tonight (Tues 15th) at 7pm away from home for a place in the top four semi finals. If victorious they will play Kevin Lynches on Sunday but if they lose they will play in the Shield semi against either Banagher or Castledawson.

The reserve footballers lost out to Bellaghy at Sean de Brun Pairc 2-12 to 1-09.

Michael Davitt GAC will be hosting a pre Ulster Final Discussion on Friday July 4th. MC for the night will be BBC's championship presenter Austin O'Callaghan and the panel will include Joe Brolly. Further details and panellists to be announced later.

Would you like to do the club lotto every week? Is there ever a week when you forget or are on holiday? How would you feel if that was the week your numbers came up? Worry not, you can sign up for a standing order which means you don't have to fill out a slip every week but will still be entered and can use your same numbers without fear of ever forgetting them!!! The jackpot currently stands at £5000 and went as recently as Saturday 22nd of March. Call into to club registrar Noel McGrath and he can sign you up in a matter of minutes.

Club lotto numbers on Saturday past were 7,10,23 and 25. There was no jackpot winner but lucky dip winners were Margaret McCormack and Brigid O'Neill. Jackpot 1 currently stands at £5000 with Jackpot 2 now at £1300. Bingo takes place every Sat night at 9pm with the jackpot at £2500 for 42 numbers.

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