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Keep ‘er Lit
Down star Kevin McKernan is visiting all the Down clubs over the weekend taking penalties and raising much needed funds for his uncle Mark McKernan’s vital medical treatment and for charity Brainwaves NI
Kevin was at Jack Mackin Park on Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m. There was a great local turnout for this event (Kevin’s mum Therese is a Meadow woman and really a St John Bosco member at heart – even though she now lives in Burren!)
We wish Kevin well on his fund raising journey and send our best wishes to his uncle Mark. For the record Kevin may have scored against the best county keepers in Ireland but Bosco keeper Larry McAlinden kept him scoreless on this occasion. www.faceboo.com/keep.er.lit.13
Heart Screening 23rd April
As part of our ongoing player protection programme the latest Heart screening night for all over 14’s has been organised for Tuesday 23rd April in the clubrooms starting at 7:30 p.m. This is the 4th annual healthy heart screening round and all players/mentors who have not availed of the service before are encouraged to register with Paul O’Connor. Cost is only £10 per participant with the club subsidising the balance.
St John Bosco GAC Seniors
Seniors Bounce Back
Attical 0-10 St John Bosco 1-08
The seniors bounced back from last weeks league defeat to grind out a hard fought win in Attical on Friday night. This was a win which clearly displayed the players 'never say die' attitude. Thanks to a late Paddy Magill major grabbed a deserved win when wastefulness in front of goal looked likely to condemn them to a second successive defeat to a determined Attical side. Dispute making lots of chances throughout the game, the shooting boots had obviously been left at home as the wides count mounted throughout the hour.
Playing against the elements in the first half, scores from Conal Gallagher, Kevin Faloon, Declan Byrne and a Paul McKeown free gave the lads a slender 1 point advantage 0:4 to 0:3 at the break.
Once again a slow start to the second half saw Bosco fall behind and they trailed 0.6-0.4 ten minutes in. Two Neil Tumilty points drew them level but many more scores were missed and Attical moved back in front 8-6. Tumilty pulled one back before Attical capitalised on some mistakes to go 10-7 ahead with time nearly up.
With only a few minutes left the team found themselves 3 points behind but a quick fire goal and point in the space of 2 minutes turned the game on its head and got the boys their first win of the new season. The Bosco men refused to give up and wing back Magill ventured deep into the Attical half and managed to get on the end of a loose ball before calmly side footing home to level.
With the smell of victory in their nostrils Bosco poured forward and Paul McKeown’s driving run was rewarded with an excellent point which proved to be the winner. Nerves were still to be tested when the previously reliable Attical free taker missed a difficult effort to level with the last kick! Two good points gained away from home and confidence should be high as Bredagh visit next week. Bosco line out, L McAlinden, E Toner, C Murtagh, S Byrne, A Rooney, R Lynch, P Magill, D Byrne, C Duggan, C Gallagher, G Moan, K Faloon, P McKeown, N Tumilty, D Morgan. A Beattie was the only sub used.
Next game is on Friday night at 7 o clock in Jack Mackin Park against Bredagh – full support needed please!
St John Bosco GAC U16’s
U16 Boys Division 2 All County Football League
Round 1 - April 4th 2013 Kilcoo v St. John Bosco
Kilcoo 1:6 St. John Bosco 2:12
The Bosco U16’s kicked off their first competitive game of the season on 4th April with a decisive win over Kilcoo. Deep snow lingering in Kilcoo meant that this game was switched to Jack Mackin Park. Micheal Dillon slotted over Bosco’s first score after both teams made a jittery start with balls dropped short and possession squandered by both sets of players. Further scores from Jordan Pennington and Oisin Carnegie and a goal from Pennington saw a half time score stand 1:9 to Kilcoo’s 2 points.
The second half continued in a similar vein with a solid Bosco defence scrapping for every ball and thwarting the Kilcoo attacks. Kilcoo fought bravely and indeed showed flashes of excellent play when they counter attacked and played direct football. Too often however they overcooked their passing leaving the Bosco lads ample opportunity to turn the ball over.
A lack of discipline amongst Bosco players saw Kilcoo take a quick free to slot the ball past Seamus Brady who stood no chance with his defenders off guard. Overall however, Bosco looked in control and demonstrated some excellent examples of fielding, defence and attack and justly deserved these first 2 league points.
Round 2 – April 11th 2013 St. John Bosco v Castlewellan
St. John Bosco 2:6Castlewellan 0:9
It was clear from the throw in that Castlewellan were in a determined mood and created the first of the scoring opportunities and generally looked much sharper. The visitors opened the scoring from a free but despite their best efforts it was Castlewellan’s wayward shooting that was to be their downfall as they certainly created plenty of scorable opportunities.
Bosco did get on the attack and in one beautiful move, Conor McGovern won the ball under pressure, laid it off to the goalward racing Micheal Dillon who made no mistake.
For so early in the season this was a really entertaining and exciting game played at full throttle by both teams. Half time saw Bosco in the lead but only just and that was with the aid of a strong breeze. Bosco seemed more focused and disciplined in the second period and despite facing the headwind and also managed to up the intensity. Oisin Carnegie, Jordan Pennington and Joshua Monroe all slotted over scores but Castlewellan responded and seemed better under the high ball.
In a final move Jordan Pennington powered his way through the visitors defence and hammered the ball to the back of the net. There was no way back for Castlewellan and at the final whistle Pennington’s goal was the difference in the two teams.
The scheduled Round 3 match between Bryansford and Bosco due 18th April was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, new fixture TBC. Also note that the next game at home to St. Pauls will be played on Wednesday 24th at 7:00pm (not Thursday as normal).
St John Bosco GAC U14’s
Longstone 3-07 Bosco 7-04
Bosco under 14 boys travelled to Longstone on Monday last and earned a well deserved victory. This game was played in difficult conditions with a strong wind a heavy rain showers throughout. Longstone elected to play with the wind in the first half which meant Bosco were fighting a rearguard action. However Bosco worked hard and some great defensive play allied to three goals from James Harkin operating at centre half forward kept them in touch. Half time score Longstone 2-05, Bosco 3-00.
With the wind a their back Bosco took the game to the opposition and were the dominant team. Tireless work by Tiarnan Holmes, Glenn Hanna and Sean Rafferty in defence kept Longstone down to two points in the second half. Allied to this Rory Mc Parland (2-01), Kane Rossiter (2-01) and a point a piece for Dean Morgan and Daniel Mc Gibbon gave Bosco a comfortable lead, a lead they never looked like losing.
All in all a good team performance. Next up Clann Na Derg at home on Monday 22nd April at 7.00pm
St John Bosco GAC U12 Girls
Bosco Under 12 Girls start with a league victory
St John Bosco vs St peter’s Warrenpoint Saturday 20th April 2013 venue St Colman’s College
The Bosco under 12 girls had a great result against local rivals Warrenpoint in their opening league match at St Colman’s College on Saturday. The midfield pair of Aine McCabe and Aoibheann Quinn dominated this area and provided great support to the forward line. Nicola Downey scored several excellent scores including a fisted point in the second half. Katie Grant and Aimee Murtagh won great possession against a strong Warrenpoint defence and Aime O’Hanlon and Niamh Burns competed well.
The decision to play Eden Casey at full back proved to be a good one as Warrenpoint spurred on by the Howlett girls had several shots well blocked. Sarah Gorman was a rock at the centre of the defence and helped Bosco to break quickly in the second half.
There were also good performances from Caitlin Murphy; Iona Reynolds; Nicole Cunningham and Kerry Lavery
Scorers Nicola Downey (3: 3); Aine McCabe (1: 1); Aoibheann Quinn (1: 2);
FINAL SCORE Bosco 5: 06 Warrenpoint 4: 05
St John Bosco GAC U10’s
Sunday 21st April St John Bosco vs. Drumintee Venue St Patrick’s P.S.
Once again the U10’s were able to field 2 teams against strong opposition.
Matthew Monroe in for his first competitive game at U10 level was in midfield for the Ógs beside Bosco new comer Killian Quinn and both lads controlled the centre of the park. Full backs Cormac White and Shea Malone kept the Drumintee forwards at bay and protected keeper Josh Hanna well.
With Nathan Gribben and James Boyle missing FROM THE Gaels squad, mentor Kevin Hughes had to re-jig his side and slot Cormac Flannigan into midfield beside Pól Óg McCormack and Joshua Madigan into the forward line beside Daniel Preece. This was another hard fought win for the Gaels and showed that their winter training is paying off.
Next week’s game away to Drumintee, meet at St Patrick’s P.S. at 10:30
Jubilee Year Exhibition
Pearse Mulholland is co-ordinating an exhibition of St John Bosco GAC photographs and other material form over the last 50 years. The exhibition will be a visual history of the club and will be held in September. Do you have any old Bosco photographs, programmes or other memorabilia? If so please leave them with Pearse please.
