AN SRATH BÁN CUMANN MHIC SIOGHAIR C.L.G. New Sponsor: The club are delighted to announce that The Fir Trees Hotel are the new sponsors of the clubs Senior and Reserve teams for the next three years. Hotel owner Johnny Kelly presented club officials with a sponsorship cheque at last Saturday nights Dinner Dance with a sample of the newly designed jersey on display. Replica jerseys for all age groups will be available to purchase within the next month or two. The club wish to sincerely thank Johnny Kelly and The Fir trees Hotel for their very kind sponsorship and we look forward to the partnership over the next three years. We urge all our members and supporters to support al our sponsors in whatever way possible. Our warmest thanks also to our outgoing sponsor, Strabane Training Services for their kindness and generosity over the past five years. Annual Awards Dinner Dance: The clubs Annual Awards Dinner Dance in conjunction with Sigersons Ladies was held last Saturday night in the Fir Trees and an enjoyable night was had by all. Many thanks to all those who were in attendance especially all the invited guests. Thanks also to The Fir Trees Hotel for their hospitality. A full report on the Awards Dinner Dance can be found on the clubs new website which can be accessed at www.strabanegaa.org Gaeilge/Cultúr - Irish Language/Culture: The club will be participating in Tír Eoghain Scór Sinsear semi-finals tomorrow night (Friday 23rd February) in Killyclogher Parish Hall and are appealing for plenty of support for our competitors. We wish them all well in their endeavours. Once again the club will be organising a bus to the semi-final and we would appeal to all club members to lend their support. Transport will leave the clubrooms at 6:30pm sharp. The club will be participating in the St Patrick's Day Parade in Strabane once again this year and are appealing to any member interested in lending their support to attend a short meeting tonight (Thursday) at 7:30pm in Strabane Library. Irish Language classes at both the clubrooms and Strabane Library have resumed again on Wednesday and Thursday nights. Fáilte Mór. Adult Football: The draw for the 2007 WJ Dolan Tyrone Intermediate Football Championship was made on Monday night past and Strabane will play Killyman in the quarter-finals. Dates and venues for the game have yet to be established while the Reserves will have a home tie against the same opposition. In the first round of the O'Neill's Sportswear Tyrone All County League Division Two & Reserve, Strabane will travel to play Fintona in their opening game on Sunday 1st April while in Round Two both teams will be at home to Eskra on Sunday 15th April. All Adult players are reminded of the need to get their Membership paid as soon as possible for insurance purposes. The clubs adult pre season training continues on Tuesday nights indoors at Riversdale Leisure Centre from 7-8pm with circuit training in the main hall followed by Spinning from 8-8:45pm. Training is also on Thursday nights from 7:30-9:00pm on the new Floodlit pitch. Anyone wishing to play with the club at adult level in 2007 is very welcome to attend. O'Neill's Sportswear sponsored O'Nolan Cup: The Floodlit Tournament for the O'Neill's Sportswear sponsored O'Nolan Cup successfully got underway last Friday night with Strabane Sigersons and MacCumhaill's, Ballybofey playing out a very competitive draw at 0-11 apiece. In the second game Clann na nGael boosted by the return of Tyrone captain Brian Dooher lost narrowly to Dungiven St Canice's on a score of 1-9 to 1-7 in a highly entertaining game. Many thanks to the two referees, Brian McCallion (Castlederg) and Eamon McHugh (Aghyaran), both men will referee all the games in the Tournament and we greatly appreciate their help and assistance as this is a registered Tournament with the Ulster Council. Thanks to the ladies who provided the welcome refreshments for all four teams, their supporters and the officials. The Tournament continues tonight (Thursday 22nd February) when Strabane will play Clann na nGael at 8:30pm while Dungiven will play MacCumhaill's next Tuesday night 27th February at 8:00pm. Then on Friday 2nd March, Clann na nGael will play MacCumhaill's at 7:00pm while Strabane will play Dungiven at 8:30pm. It is proposed to play the final of the Tournament on Friday 16th March to coincide with the St Patrick's Day activities in the town. All help from club members appreciated during the hosting of the Tournament. Sigersons Ladies: The club are delighted to announce that club players Alex Curry and Brendan McLaughlin have kindly agreed to run the ladies Senior team for the coming season. Both men bring a vast amount of experience to the job as both are highly qualified and capable, lets hope that the Ladies players can now rise to the challenge and show the type of effort and commitment that is expected. A meeting of all Senior Ladies interested in playing for the club this season will be held in the clubrooms next Monday night 26th February at 8:00pm and an invitation is extended to all players. The new management team will be in attendance. The Ladies will open their Division Three league campaign away to Fintona on Tuesday 22nd May and they will play Badoney in the first round of the Tyrone Junior Championship in mid June. It is hoped to arrange a Ladies Fundamental and Foundation Coaching Course in Strabane in the coming months, more details to follow. Coaching for the Ladies Under 14 and Under 12 age groups will continue on Wednesday nights from 7:30-9:00pm under floodlights at the new training pitch. Any girls interested in playing with the club at these levels are welcome to attend. The Under 14 girls will commence their league campaign on Saturday 31st March at home to St Enda's. In the Championship the Sigersons Under 14 girls will play Drumquin. The Ladies Minor footballers are also asked to attend training on Wednesday nights with their league season due to commence on Saturday 24th March at home to Fintona. In the Grade3 Minor Championship, Sigersons will play Loughmacrory. Youth: Minor training times have been changed to accommodate the Shamrock's hurlers, new session time is now 7:15-8:30pm and continues every Monday night. The panel is working well together and is reminded to remain committed to the pre-season schedule. This involves two other cardio and core sessions each week. These sessions may be with the adult teams, at school or personal sessions. New and past players are extremely welcome. We face Ardboe away in the first round of the Grade One Minor Championship and Gortin in the opening match of the league so it is imperative that we all attend our upcoming Team Building event. Within a few weeks we will have Master Coach/Trainer Mickey Moran with us to raise our expectations and level of performance. Coaching for the clubs Under 14 footballers continues on Tuesday evenings on the Floodlit training pitch from 5:15-6:45pm, all players interested in playing with the club at this level are asked to be in attendance. The Under 14 Grade One League will commence on Saturday week 3rd March away to Dromore. Last Saturday morning the boys played a useful challenge game against Clann na nGael while this Saturday morning they are due to play Newtownstewart in a further challenge game. All Minor and Under 14 players are urged to ensure that their membership fees are paid to their respective team mentors prior to the start of the league. The various Youth Championship draws were held last Monday night and resulted as follows; Minors away to Ardboe, Juveniles away to Eglish and Under 14's at home to Cappagh. Dates for the games will be announced later. Coaching for the clubs Under 12, 10 and 8 age groups (boys and girls) will commence next Saturday 3rd March. Coaching in the Primary Schools commenced last week and anyone else able to assist with the schools coaching are asked to contact Ciarán O'Kane. There will be a Youth Registration day this Saturday 24th February at the clubrooms from 10am to 12 noon for all Under 12, 10 and 8 footballers (boys and girls). All club youth coaches are also asked to be in attendance. Youth Membership fees remain at £5:00 for the 2007 season. The club will be organising a two day Easter Coaching Camp on Wednesday 11th and Thursday 12th April and are appealing to all club coaches to lend their assistance. More details to follow in the coming weeks. The club will also be hosting a Club Tyrone Summer Camp this year with a beautiful new Tyrone kit for all the participants. The Summer Camp will take place from Monday 9th to Thursday 12th July. More details to follow. Membership Fees: Club Membership Fees (Football and Social) for 2007 are now due for renewal and can be paid to the Registrar Aidan McGrath or to Charlie Stewart. Fees can also be left at the Social Club. The Fees for 2007 are unchanged from last year and are as follows; Football: Individuals: £20:00. Couples: £30:00. Students Over 18: £10:00. Pensioners & Under 18's: £5:00. Social: Individuals: £15:00. Couples: £20:00. Pensioners: £5:00. All Fees should be paid prior to 1st March 2007. Adult and Minor players are asked to have their Fees paid immediately to ensure that they are covered by insurance during pre season training and challenge games. Tyrone: Comhghairdeas to Tyrone footballers who won their fourth successive Gaelic Life Dr McKenna Cup title last Saturday night with a comprehensive win over Donegal. This weekend Tyrone will travel to play Cork in the N.F.L. The game will be shown live on the big screen in Sigersons Social Club at 7:30pm. Tyrone will play Donegal again in the N.F.L. on Saturday 10th March in Omagh with the Under 21 footballers of both counties expected to play in the Ulster Championship prior to the Senior game. Well done to the Tyrone Under 21 footballers on defeating Monaghan in the Cremartin Tournament last Sunday with our own club player Danny McBride a member of the winning squad. Well done also to the Tyrone hurlers who had a comprehensive win over Fermanagh in their opening N.H.L encounter last Sunday, their next game will be away to Cavan on Sunday 4th March. 400 Club Members Draw: Tickets for the 400 Club Draw in conjunction with Shamrock's Hurling Club, are now on sale and we are appealing to all members and supporters to show their support for this very worthwhile fund raising venture. Contact any committee member if you wish to be included in the draw. The first draw will take place at the end of February with £700:00 per month in prizes and a Grand Draw on the final month for a further £7,000:00 worth of prizes. The total prize fund is £14,000:00. All returns for the 400 Club Draw should me made to Ignatius Maguire by next Thursday 1st March, it is hoped to have the first draw next Friday night 2nd March. Members of the 400 Club Draw who, are also fully paid up Football Club Members will be given preference when tickets for Tyrone games are being allocated. Club Meetings: There will be a meeting of the clubs Management Committee next Monday night 26th February at 7:30pm in the clubrooms. The next meeting of the clubs Executive Committee will be held on Monday 12th March at 7:30pm. Holy Cross College: Congratulations to the Holy Cross College Gaelic team who defeated Loreto, Coleraine 5-11 to 1-7 in the quarter finals of the Bank of Ireland O'Doherty Cup last week and we wish them good luck in the semi-final. Well done to all the Sigersons players on the team. Comhghairdeas: Congratulations to Tyrone club Greencastle on winning the All Ireland Junior Club semi-final last Sunday and best wishes in the All Ireland final which is fixed for Croke Park on Saturday 10th March. Alphalot: The Alphalot letters this week were as follows; G - I - J - S. No Jackpot Winner. One Match Three Winner, Received; £100:00. Gerard Wray, Townsend Street. Next Weeks Jackpot will be; £3,050:00. Many thanks to everyone for their continued support, all club members are urged to lend their assistance in promoting the Alphalot. All Alphalot promoters are asked to ensure that they have their envelopes in the clubrooms by 8:00pm on a Monday night, late entries will be entered into the following weeks draw. Sympathy: The club extends their deepest sympathy to the family and friends of the late Tony McDermott, Waterside Street who died tragically in a house fire last week. Deepest sympathy also to the family and friends of the late Thomas Reid, Fountain Street and the late Paddy Duffy, Oakland Park. Mary queen of the Gael pray for them. Club Website: The clubs new website can be accessed at www.strabanegaa.org The website is looking excellent at present which is due in no small part to the energetic efforts of Dessie O'Connor who has put in a lot of time and effort as has Davy Ralston with an excellent spread of photographs. Over the next few weeks, it is hoped to upgrade the site even more and we would warmly welcome your thoughts and views. The clubs email address is; [email protected] The Tyrone G.A.A. Website can be accessed at www.tyronegaa.ie Social Activities: Texas Holdem in the Social Club tonight (Thursday) at 9:00pm and every Thursday night from now until Easter, everyone welcome. Entertainment in the Social Club this Saturday night: Live on the big screen: Cork v Tyrone followed by music with Póg mo Thoín. The Social Club is available to book for Parties, Charity Functions, Christenings, etc, contact Gerard Nugent at 02871885039. An Srath Bán, Cumann Mhic Sioghair, C.L.G. - Annual Awards Dinner Dance. The Gaels of An Srath Bán, Cumann Mhic Sioghair, C.L.G. (Strabane Sigersons G.A.A.) held a very successful and enjoyable Annual Awards Dinner Dance in the Fir Trees Hotel, Strabane last Saturday night. Special guests at the function included Mr & Mrs Kieran & Linda Kennedy, (O'Neill's Sportswear), Mr Ciarán Woods & his partner Shauna Gormley, (Tyrone Ladies Board), Fr Michael Doherty P.P. Melmount & Fr Declan Boland P.P. Strabane. The meal was slightly later than anticipated as the guests watched Tyrone defeating Donegal in the Gaelic Life Dr McKenna Cup final live on television. Following a beautiful meal, the speeches commenced with Sigersons Club Treasurer Ignatius Maguire welcoming everyone along and thanking them for their attendance and their continued kind support. The first guest to speak was Kieran Kennedy and he paid tribute to the efforts of the club both on and off the pitch and linked the overall development of Sigersons G.A.A. to that of his own business O'Neill's Sportswear and the massive strides that they have made in Strabane in terms of providing employment for the local community. Ciarán Woods representing the Tyrone Ladies Board then spoke of the work being done to promote Ladies Football within the club and wished them every success in the year ahead, he also spoke of his dual role as a local journalist and thanked the club for the warmth and hospitality extended to him since he came to work in the town. Both Fr Michael Doherty P.P. and Fr Declan Boland P.P. spoke of the excellent work being done within Sigersons and how the two parishes greatly appreciated the contribution that the club made to the local community. Club Chairperson Ciarán McLaughlin rounded off the speeches by calling on everyone present to redouble their efforts in the coming season and to work to promote the club on all fronts be it in Football, Hurling, Camogie, Irish Language or Development. He thanked all the guests and then announced the new club sponsors for the next three years and called upon the owner of The Fir Trees Hotel, Mr Johnny Kelly who kindly presented the club with a cheque and then spoke of his delight at being the new sponsor and like previous speakers recognised the great work that the club is doing in Strabane and said he looked forward to working closely with the club over the next three years. The Winner of the annual Door Prize kindly sponsored by Gerard McGill of Felix's Bar was James O'Reilly with Niall Doherty on hand to make the presentation of a beautiful piece of Galway Crystal, many thanks to Gerard McGill of "Felix's" for his continued kind sponsorship of this Door Prize The various Award Winners were as follows; Senior Players Player of the Year: Sean Barkley. Reserve Players Player of the Year: Martin Devine. Minor Player of the Year: Michael Falconer. Young Player of the Year: Danny McBride. Sportsperson of the Year: Stephen Stewart. Most Improved Player of the Year: Ciarán Friel. Clubperson of the Year: Liam Sweeney. Senior Ladies Players Player of the Year: Alison McCool. Minor Ladies Player of the Year: Andrea Kelly. Most Improved Ladies Player of the Year: Emma Coyle. Ladies Young Player of the Year: Eileen Patton. A number of Appreciation Awards were then made and they went as follows; Susan McGillan, John McCrory (Senior) and Eddie Curran who all received awards for their roles as Honorary Vice-Presidents of the club and for their help, service and dedication over many years. The club then made presentations to the special Guests, Kieran & Linda Kennedy and Ciarán Woods& Shauna Gormley to acknowledge their presence and their contribution to the club over the past year. The final presentation saw Club Secretary Aodhán Harkin receive a special award for his contribution to the club over many years and on entering his twentieth year in the role of Secretary. The crowd then enjoyed the musical entertainment by Focus which went on into the wee small hours. The club extend warmest thanks to everyone who attended the function and to the management and staff of the Fir Trees Hotel for all their help and assistance. Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir. Aodhán Harkin, P.R.O. Tweet

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