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Cumann Naomh Eoin Bosco have once again triumphed in the annual Irish News Club & Volunteer Awards. Peter and Brendan Jackson and Italo Cafolla returned from the awards ceremony held today in the Wellington Park Hotel with the Volunteer Club Award for 2012.
This award makes it three in a row for the St John Bosco club having won the Irish News Club of The Year Award in 2010 and the Irish News Special Recognition Award in 2011.
When news of the award filtered it's way back home Catheoirleach Joe Ryan stated 'This is wonderful news for all connected with St John Bosco GAC. This award recognises the countless years of tireless devotion by many, many volunteers, parents, helpers and mentors building a vibrant club that sits proudly at the heart of the Newry community. Winning a hat trick of awards from the Irish News is testimony to the work carried out in the past , at the present and the plans for the future ensuring that St John Bosco GAC goes from strength to strength. '
Junior Ladies
Bosco Junior ladies faced their toughest challenge to date in the league when they travelled to Belfast to play a very strong and indeed improved Carryduff side. The Newry girls had to battle all the way to the final whistle to claim the vital 3 league points. At half time the games was tied but Maurice Rooney read the riot act and expressed his disappointment at some of the individual performances but gave the girls 5 very important minutes alone to get their house in order. The Bosco girls stormed up the pitch from the throw-in and hammered home a goal followed by 4 points. Carryduff scored a couple of points but a Michella Downey led Bosco killed of the game with another goal and several points. Best for Bosco - M Downey, K McKevitt, A Fox, A Turley and S Carroll. Final Score Bosco 3-14 Carryduff 2-4
Minors
ACMFL Div 2 St John Bosco v Baileghlas
The momentum built up from two impressive wins by Bosco’s minor team was cut short when their next two games were called off. Without a game in three weeks the team were flat throughout the sixty minutes. The game was ten minutes old before captain and midfielder Conal Gallagher fired over the first point. Baileghlas (a Ballymartin / Glasdrumman combination) replied immediately to level scores. Bosco fired over three more points, two from Lee Ruddy and another from Gallagher, to stretch the home side’s lead by the fifteenth minute. But a few minutes later they were hit by a sucker punch when a speculative shot found its way to the corner of the Bosco nets.
Shortly after that the away team scored another point to take the lead. The home side continued to struggle to find any sort of form but they stuck at it and finally scored an equaliser in the twenty-eighth minute, again from Gallagher. In first-half injury time Dario Cafolla shot Bosco ahead with a fine point to leave the half-time score reading Bosco 0-6 Baileghlas 1-2.
Bosco started much better in the second half and corner back Shane Crummy found himself unopposed inside the Baileghlas twenty one metre line to fire over the opening score of the half. Bosco continued to press forward but the effects of the three week break was showing in their general play and they could only add one more point from Gallagher to stretch their lead to three. Bosco’s mentors made several changes at half-time and one of these finally paid off when impressive under sixteen player Darren McShane finished a great piece of team work by scoring a fine goal. With ten minutes remaining Bosco led by six points but credit to the Mourne combination who never gave up and stormed back in the final ten minutes with a point and well taken penalty to reduce the home side’s lead to two points. Deep into injury time Bosco gave the ball away inside the Baileghlas fourteen. The away team broke quickly and a fine piece of team work resulted in a pile driver of a shot coming back off the foot of them post. The ball fell to a Baileghlas forward who took his point. But that proved to be the last kick of the game and Bosco held on for the win.
Final score Bosco 1-8 Baileghlas 2-4.
This was a flat performance by Bosco and a lot of improvement will be needed before their next league games. Again, injuries meant that several of the under 16 team were required to strengthen the panel and the young lads played a great part in the victory.
Next game is home to Clann na Derg on Tuesday, 15th May at 7:30 p.m.
Bosco team and scorers: Rory O’Loughlin, Shane Crummy (0-1), Ryan Collins, John McKevitt, Feargal Lavery, Conor Boyle, Ben Cafolla, Conal Gallagher (0-4) and Jonathon O’Hare, Niall Burns, Dario Cafolla (0-1), Lee Ruddy (0-2, 1F), Barney Doyle, Ryan Byrne and Dylan Morgan; Darren McShane (1-0), Daniel Graham, Niall Byrne, Sean McStay, Jack O’Hare, Patrick McAlorum, Curtis Cregan
U16 Girls
A panel of 22 players travelled into the depths of east Down to face Teconnaught in the Under 16 girls delayed start to the season. After even first exchanges, Bosco fell behind to a Teconnaught goal. This awoke the girls from their slumber and started a fine display of football. From goal keeper through the defence great team work restricted Teconnaught to a few under pressure chances. The Bosco girls were turning over ball and the midfield and forwards ran at Teconnaught relentlessly, picking off scores. An alert Aoife Jackson pounced on a goal keeper’s hesitation to grab an opportunist’s goal. At the end of the first half all the Bosco forwards and midfielders had scored.
At the start of the second half Teconnaught came out quickly and were awarded a penalty, Rosin Kelly got her hand to the shot but couldn’t keep it out. From the kick out a quick ball to Pierra Cafolla from Hannah McKevitt, resulted in a well taken goal. This launched the Bosco attack and the Dearbhla Quinn show that finished the game with a tally of 2-6 at full forward, reflecting the hard work of her team mates in creating the chances. Aoife got herself another goal. Nicole Osbourne closed the game out after coming on for the injured Olivia McEvoy with a well taken goal.
Team Mentor Valerie Cafolla said "She was delighted with the team work and how every girl in the 22 contributed to the result." Team Manager Italo Cafolla, was pleased that the hard work done in training was evident throughout the game.
Final Score Teconnaught 2-4 Bosco 6-16
Scorers
Dearbhla Quinn 2-6, Aoife Jackson 2-0, Hannah McKevitt 0-1, Pierra Cafolla 1-1, Olivia McEvoy 0-1, Vicki Gratton 0-1, Terri Quinn 0-1, Lydia Leary 0-5, Nicole Osbourne 1-0
U 14’s
The Bosco U14’s kicked off their first competitive game of the season on 23rd April with a decisive win against Annaclone. Played at home, the Bosco lads took an early lead and never looked back. The score line speaks for itself but strong performances by Paul Hadden and Devin Quigley ensured an impressive winning margin. Final score: St. John Bosco 8:18 Annaclone 1:03.
On Monday past, the U14 lads made the trip to Longstone on a night that was better suited to fishing out of Annalong harbour. However the evening weather brightened and with Bosco winning the toss wisely elected to play into the setting sun and up the hill at the Valley Road pitch. Bosco took an early lead and were motoring well when the ‘Stone managed to scramble the ball into the net. The home side had their tails up and went in at the break with the narrowest of margins 1:3 to 5 points and an air of quiet confidence.
The Bosco management must have been very persuasive as the lads came out all guns blazing sending over a brace of points in the opening minutes. The Bosco defence were solid and prowled assertively, often penetrating deep into the opposition half. There was also some excellent link up play and soon Bosco had secured a goal assisted by a low setting sun and keeper error.
It would be hard to single out individuals as this was a real team effort but Kevin Boyle was excellent with his harrying and courageous challenges as was Lucas Rossiter, Aidan MacNamara, Kieran Burns, Toby Woods and a particularly solid goalkeeping performance by Jack Quinn.
Final tally St. John Bosco 2:10 Longstone 1:7
Next up is Saval at home Monday May 14th.
U12 Girls
St John Bosco vs. Warrenpoint Saturday 5th May 2012
With a panel of over 30 players the u12 Girls team within the club goes from strength to strength. On Saturday last 12 players were absence due to First Holy Communion is St Patrick’s P.S. but with 18 players ranging in age from 6 – 12 we played our first league match against Warrenpoint. The girls were all excellent with strong performances from Rachel Hanna, Eden Casey, Orlagh Burke, (0:1) and Aoibheann Quinn. (0:4)
Final score Warrenpoint 0:7 St John Bosco 0:5
The growth in girls’ football in the club has been recognised by the GAA Ulster Council as they have invited our u12 girls team to play at half time in the Ladies Ulster Championship Final on 23rd June 2012. This is in recognition as we were the only club in Ulster to attend both Blitz’s in Cookstown and Cavan in April this year. It is also reward for the excellent work by Maria Fox in coaching and recruiting players in St Ronan’s PS and St Patrick’s PS.
