Write a commentU14 Féile – A Brilliant Week-End
The club had a brilliant U14 Féile week-end with our own girls taking part in the tournament whilst also hosting the U14 girls from Claremorris, Co. Mayo.
The Claremorris players, management and parents arrived at the club mid-afternoon on Friday following their long journey from the west to be greeted by our own U14 girls’ contingent and committee members. After a short pit-stop both teams headed for Killeavy to play their first group games of the competition. Both teams played against Naomh Eoin from Carlow and Armagh team Ballyhegan and recorded differing results with the Shane’s narrowly losing both their contests whilst Claremorris beat Ballyhegan before losing out to Naomh Eoin. Both sets of players then returned to the Shane’s where the Claremorris girls met up with their host parents for the week-end.
Saturday morning saw the Shane’s and Claremorris play each other in tremendously hot conditions in Camlough and after a brilliant game of football the Shane’s emerged victorious by a couple of scores. After a short lunch both sets of players boarded their team coaches and headed to St Fechin’s in Louth for their respective Cup and Shield quarter-finals which saw the Shane’s take on Dublin side Westmanstown Gaels with Claremorris pitted against another Dublin side, St Brigid’s Gaels. Unfortunately for both teams they came out on the wrong side of result and their footballing journey in the tournament came to an end but not their journey in the Féile.
They all returned to Camlough on Saturday evening for a BBQ and disco at the Shane’s club-house. With it being such a great evening, the girls and boys spent most of their time playing football on the field and no doubt swapping phone numbers and making friend requests via social media whilst the adults watched the Mayo and Kildare with our visitors from the west being left disappointed with the result in Newbridge. A number of presentations were then made, with the Shane’s presenting the Claremorris club with a fine piece of crystal in remembrance of their visit to South Armagh whilst the Claremorris handed over a framed jersey of their Féile representing team. The Claremorris club also presented our host parents and chief organiser Yasmin Mackin with Foxford Woollen Mills blankets in recognition of the hospitality and generosity. With the presentations complete young and old alike then danced away into the early hours to music from the brilliant Bob Lea.
The Claremorris group left the club on Sunday morning to head back to the west with a week-end full of great Féile memories to look back on.
Now that the week-end is over the club would like to thank everyone who helped out in any way to make it such a success:
the U14 girls and their young (and not so young) management team of Tara Byrne, Hayley Mackin, Cliodhna Sloan, Greg McCabe and James Feehanthe U14 parents for not only hosting Claremorris players but also for all their hard-work over the week-end – making sandwiches, providing cakes, buns and fruit, making tea and coffee, making burgers and their overall support of the girlsthe people who helped sponsor the girls in any way, including Greg McCabe and family who sponsored the t-shirts the girls wore throughout the tournament and Gortrush Foods who supplied the burgersthe committee members who worked hard in the background to ensure everything ran smoothlyYasmin Mackin who worked tirelessly, not only over the week-end, but ever since the club were made aware that Claremorris would be our visiting clubEveryone else who played any small part in making a great week-end
Senior Men
Our senior men recorded another very impressive away win on Friday night, beating Middletown on a score-line of 1 – 12 to 1 – 10.
An early Middletown free was cancelled by a Kristian Magill point before David McCabe nudged the Shane’s in front only for Middletown to reply almost immediately to leave side all-square after ten minutes. The home side then registered the next four scores, a goal and three points, to lead by five but points from Kristian Magill, David McCabe and Ryan Quinn had the Shane’s back within two but an added time point from Middletown saw then lead by three at the break, 1 – 5 to 0 – 5.
The second-half was almost ten minutes old before it seen it’s first score with David McCabe popping the ball over for the Shane’s but Middletown replied straight away to restore their three-point advantage. A Kristian Magill free reduced the deficit but two points in a minute increased Middletown’s advantage to four, 1 – 8 to 0 – 7 before the sides swapped a point apiece with Ciaran Mackin firing over a great effort from the outside of the boot. With less than ten minutes left on the clock the Shane’s trailed by four but three quick-fire points from Neil Paul Lennon, David McCabe and Mark McCabe had them back to within one and when David McCabe rounded the Middletown keeper to slide the ball to the net the Camlough men led with time almost up, 1 – 11 to 1 – 9. Middletown reduced the deficit to just one with a pointed 45 but a second Ciaran Mackin point deep into injury time sealed the win for the Shane’s, 1 – 12 to 1 – 10.
The lads are on a good run of form at the moment and they hope to continue that next Friday night at home to Ballyhegan.
Senior Ladies
A busy week ahead for our senior ladies with a home game against Sarsfields on Monday night at 7.30pm followed by another home game against Carrickcruppen next Saturday night at 7.00pm.
U14 Boys
The U14 boys recorded a hard-fought four-point win away to St Paul’s on Sunday morning, 4 – 13 to 4 – 9. Training continues this Tuesday and Thursday but it will be few weeks before their next league game.
U12 Girls
The U12 girls will be training as normal over the coming week, Tuesday and Thursday evening from 7.00pm – 8.15pm.
Annual Golf Classic
This year’s annual Golf Classic will take place on Saturday 28th July at Cloverhill Golf Club. This year’s competition will take place in association with the Confucius Institute and will take the form of a 3-Ball Scramble at a price of £75.00 per team. The winners will collect a first prize of a 1 Stay and Play package at the Slieve Russell Hotel. Anyone wanting to enter a team or get further information please contact Gareth McLoughlin on 0044 781 089 2439.
Armagh GAA Kelloggs Cúl Camps
Armagh Coaching and Games Development Committee will operate 19 Kellogg’s GAA Cúl camps across the County during the months of July & August, with the one at Shane O’Neill’s taking place from 16th – 20th July from 10.00am – 2.30pm each day.
Registration is now available online and we encourage parents to use this easy and convenient method of registration by visiting www.kelloggsculcamps.gaa.ie
Children attending will receive a backpack, jersey and three-quarter zip top. Costs for the camps are: First child £45, second child £40, third and subsequent children £35 (children attending a second camp, without gear, will be charged £30).
For more information contact Denis Hollywood at denis.hollywood.gm.armagh@gaa.ie or call 07787 534 630.
Registration can be completed on the first morning of your chosen camp but pre-registration is strongly advised. Only children who have been pre-registered will be guaranteed their backpack and kit on time.
Well Done
Well done to Connaire Mackin and Greg McCabe who were both part of the Armagh senior team who defeated Clare in the All-Ireland qualifier on Saturday afternoon.
Good Luck
Good luck to our club and Cairde member Alanah Mackin who opens her own hairdressing business this coming Wednesday, 4th July. We all wish Alanah the very best of luck for the future.
Lotto
Last week’s winning lotto numbers were 6, 10, 18 & 21. There were no jackpot winners and 2 x match three winners. The jackpot now stands at £1,550.
Community Walk-Way
Leaving your son or daughter to training....then why not spend your time using our Community Walk-Way around the pitch while your children train. The walk-way is a great facility, in a safe environment and is open to everyone in the community and can be used at any time.
