Castleconnor GAA Club C.L.G Caisleáin Uí Conchubhair Notes 18th May 2009 U-8/U-10 Coaching: Under 8 and 10 coaching continues Friday evening from 7-8pm. All boys and girls at this age level are encouraged to come along. On Saturday the club host an U-10 Play and Stay blitz with St. Michael's, Coolaney/Mullinabreena and St. Mary's the visitors. Proceedings get under way at 10.30am. Under 12: The under 12 team had a comprehensive win over Cloonacool on Tuesday last. This Tuesday(19th) we take on St. Pat's and are away the following week to Ballisodare. The under 12 panel: Kevin Howley, Luke Munnelly, Odhran Quinn, Lewis Beardshall, Elliot Beardshall, Sean Carrabine, Stephen Durkan, Brendan Foody, Paul Flynn, Enda Kilcullen, Ronan Coggins, Jack O'Hora, Cian Barrins. Under 14: The under 14 team had a fine victory over Eastern Harps on Saturday last in Gurteen. They take on Ballisodare or Tourlestrane in the semi final of the league on Friday(TBC) with presumed home advantage. Under 16: The under 16 team are awaiting word of their Division 3 league Final. Minor: Since our exit from the minor league in the semi final the team are not in competitive action again until after the exams in June. Good luck to all sitting exams. Junior: The Junior team take on Bunninadden in round four of the Division 5 senior league on Saturday next at 7.30pm at home. Sligo Minors: Commiserations to David Carrabine and the Sligo minors on their heartbreaking defeat to Galway on Saturday at Tuam stadium in the CMC preliminary round. Handball: To celebrate the 125th Anniversary of the G.A.A. the Castleconnor Handball Club will have a weekend of handball on May 23rd & 24th next. On Saturday from 12 noon to 6.00 p.m. the Junior members of the club will provide the entertainment and on Sunday the Senior players will take centre stage from 12 - 6 p.m.. We invite all those who are interested in handball to come along and support those playing or to participate and have a game. It is a great opportunity to try out the game or equally if you played some years ago it is an ideal opportunity to renew your acquaintance with handball again. The main emphasis over the weekend is Fun and we hope everyone will enjoy themselves. Light refreshments will be served History was made in Castleconnor handball club the weekend before last when the club's first adult Connacht handball title came to the club in the Junior C 40 x 20 grade. Tom Foody & Joe Gorman had an epic semi-final match with Galway before coming out on top after a marathon struggle by 21-20, 20-21, 21-14 the previous week. Ironically it was an all Castleconnor final with Tom Foody and Joe Gorman pitted against their club mates Michael Browne & Tom Tuffy. The first game was very close and Foody & Gorman just held out after an entertaining first game winning by 21-19. The eventual winners had a good 12-2 lead in the second. However, Michael Browne played excellent handball throughout and fought hard to keep in the contest alongside Tomas Tuffy. Browne & Tuffy were within striking distance of Foody & Gorman at only 16-13 behind. Foody & Gorman with that will bit more experience eventually winning the second game by 21-16 to win the historic final. Then last week, Collooney reached the Provincial decider following a narrow victory over a gallant Castleconnor team in the Sligo final played in Collooney on Wednesday evening last. Collooney were overwhelming favourites to win, but Castleconnor hadn't fully read the script and very nearly pulled off a shock victory. Peter Davey from Collooney started brightly against Castleconnor's Martin Cooney. However it soon became evident that Cooney was going to be a difficult opponent for Davey and so it proved to be. Cooney with 2 very good hands began to find his range and took the first game by 21-12. Cooney kept up the pressure and it was clear that Davey was tiring against a stronger opponent so much so that Davey failed to register a score in the second. With a 30 point advantage going into the doubles Castleconnor were in the driving seat. Collooney's John McLoughlin & Sean Coen right from the start began to eat away into's Castleconnor's big lead, and quite easily took the 1st game by 21-5 over Michael Browne & Tom Foody. In the second Browne came more into it and covered every inch of the Collooney court, and Foody got some nice scores on the right. McLoughlin & Coen were finding it hard to add to their tally, and a reinvigorated Browne & Foody surprised the more experienced Collooney side by taking the second game by 21-15. Going into the last singles match Castleconnor still led by 20 points (68-48). Collooney were relying on Michael McGee to pull the game out of the fire, and straight away he brought the battle to Joe Gorman from Castleconnor taking the 1st game by 21-12. Joe Gorman had a great start to the second game going 8-0 up and just needed 2 points for overall victory. McGee, the former Royal County handball player dug deep and in true Meath style put in a storming finish. Gorman only managed 1 further score as McGee took the second game by 21-9. At the very end Collooney had a narrow escape just pipping Castleconnor by 1 point, the final score in favour of Collooney was 90 - 89. Collooney now go onto the Provincial final where they will meet the winners of Roscommon or Galway at a date and venue yet to be confirmed. Monthly Meetings: Please note that club monthly meetings take place the second Wednesday of each month @ 9.30pm in the community centre. All members are asked to attend and new members are always welcome. Membership: Club Membership for the coming year is overdue. Any outstanding monies please pay immediately to Registrar Gerry Curley, along with the membership form. Cost is 30 and underage members receive a club hoodie also. Lotto Rollover: The GAA lotto jackpot stands at 5550. Please note that yearly tickets are now up for renewal. The lotto will resume on the June Bank Holiday weekend. E-Mail/Web: Log onto the Clubs website at www.castleconnor.sligo.gaa.ie for the latest club news. For any queries e-mail us at [email protected]. Juniors: Hard luck to Niall Judge and the Sligo Junior team on their two point defeat to Roscommon on Friday in the Connacht JFC. Tweet

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