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Ulster GAA have released a statement that with effect from Friday 16th October all club activity, including training sessions that have been taking place since the Association’s directive on Monday 5th October 2020 should cease for all GAA units in Ulster.
The only activity that is exempt from this cessation across both jurisdictions is elite level Inter County activity.
It follows announcements made yesterday on the measures being introduced by the NI Executive for the next four weeks and subsequent decision by the Irish Government to place Cavan, Donegal and Monaghan in Level 4 restrictions.
The Statement reads "Essentially all our nine counties are now in a significantly increased level of restriction in an attempt by Governments to curb the spread of Covid-19.
"For the purposes of clarity this includes Gaelic Football, Hurling, Camogie and Ladies Gaelic Football from U16 level up as recognised by both Governments.
"We appreciate this this is a difficult time for all citizens including our membership but we ask you all to continue to act responsibly and collectively to protect our communities and their health.
"This news will come as a disappointment for our Counties and Clubs who have unfinished competitions and who may have been hoping for a return to activity in the short term. We will continue to monitor the situation and update you on developments as they happen over the next four weeks taking account of the indicative dates from both Governments."
Club Gyms and GAA Social Clubs will remain closed.
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As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic the 2020 MacRory Cup has been shared between the two finalists, St Colman's Newry and St Patrick's Maghera
The Final had been rescheduled to take place earlier this month, but a decision was taken to cancel this owing to the current public health situation.
Oonagh Murtagh, Danske Bank commented “We’re delighted to be able to present the two winners of the MacRory cup with the trophy. This is certainly a year we’ll never forget, but it’s fantastic to finally be able to recognise the fantastic skill and huge achievement from both teams.
“It wouldn’t be possible of course without the dedication of the players’ families, parents, schools, coaches, clubs and of course, the committee of the Ulster Schools GAA – thank you to everyone who has had a part to play throughout the year. We look forward to this year’s activities.”
Ulster Schools GAA Chairman Jimmy Smyth added “Our congratulations to both schools on having reached the 2019/20 Danske Bank MacRory Cup Final, and while we share their disappointment at the Final not taking place, this is still a major achievement and a huge accolade for the two schools and all the players involved.
“We are already looking forward to, and planning for, the resumption of Gaelic games in our schools in January.”
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Newry City Athletic Football Club have obtained Planning Permission to develop the Showgrounds at Greenbank Industrial Estate.
The works will include resurfacing of the rear reserves training pitch from grass to 3G along with associated reserve changing room building and spectator stand together with parking and ancillary site works.
The project also includes the widening of the existing internal access road to the north of the site to provide two way vehicle access to the rear pitch and removal of the existing derelict spectator stand as well as the standing terraces reduced in width to accommodate the road widening.
Speaking of his delight Newry City Athletic Football Club Chairman Martin McLoughlin said “The football hub project has the potential to be a flagship for sports in the East Border region and beyond. Newry City AFC is at the heart of the community and the club are committed to improve our home ground at The Showgrounds to include state-of-the-art training and match facilities that will not only benefit our club but the wider sporting community across the district. This will allow our club to further expand its activities, which, in turn, will allow even more young people to participate in sport. The club and its facilities are vital to Newry City and its relationship with football. Support for this scheme from Newry, Mourne and Down District Council will be crucial to getting our ambitious project over the line.”
The Project Vision
The club's vision is to build and sustain Newry City AFC and The Showgrounds in its important position within the City as the home of sporting, recreational, community and volunteering opportunity It is the clubs aim to generate wider community benefit through football, sport and non-sport activities, particularly in the areas of health and wellbeing, education skills and employment, social inclusion and volunteering by creating a sustainable model for delivery of new sporting and community facilities at The Showgrounds. The proposed project aims to deliver benefits for the local community, schools, sports clubs and charities across the city and wider region.
The proposed project outlined above will enable Newry City AFC to offer Improvement of facilities for NCAFC teams at all levels: Enable other soccer clubs and sports clubs to use the facilities for their specific activities to help meet their needs: Provide a facility to host UEFA, International Representative and domestic show piece games; Enhancement of community and sporting facilities in Newry and the wider region; Potential for school usage and schools programme development; Local charities and community groups offered space for activities; A venue to host local, regional and international events.
Revenue created (not for profit) will be invested in volunteers, community programmes and the sustainability of facilities at The Showgrounds.
Commenting on the project First Team Manager Darren Mullen said “This is terrific news for the club. I know how hard people have worked to get us to this position so it’s great credit to everyone involved. From the outset it has always been a project to help integrate the club with the whole community of Newry to provide facilities that are severely lacking. However, this is only the first step and we know there is still a lot of hard work to follow. The Sub Regional Stadia Fund is a once in a generation opportunity for football clubs, and it’s hugely important that Newry City AFC secure investment as the only ‘designated football ground’ in the council area and indeed wider region. We can see first-hand during these difficult times how important outdoor activity is so hopefully this project can continue to gather pace.”
A club spokesperson added "Newry City AFC will bid to Strand 2 Department for Communities: Sub Regional Stadia Programme for Soccer, the stated purpose of which is to provide sub-regional stadia which can sit at the hub of key communities and can offer quality football facilities and community facilities which bring revenues into the club tenants, thus making football in these areas more sustainable.
"The club are delighted to be working with funding specialist Forsythe Consulting and Architect Cathal Maguire from Milligan Reside Larkin who commented “Milligan Reside Larkin Architects have been delighted to working closely with the NCAFC Board, Forsythe Consulting, local sports groups and the council in the ongoing process to provide a Masterplan for the upgrade and redevelopment of the club’s facilities located within the Greenbank area of Newry. At the outset of the project, after our initial review, we decided to subdivide the design into two planning applications, the first of which, focused on the redesign and specification of the main pitch. The second application focused on wider community shared sport facilities, with a greater consultation period, this being the reason for separate applications. It is fantastic that the Planning Permission has been granted and we can now look forward to receiving possible funding for the works to commence.”
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Armagh have beaten Derry in their first 2020 Championship game and they can look forward to a thrilling Ulster Semi Final clash with curent holders Donegal in two weeks time. The eerie setting of an empty dark Celtic Park with no supporters allowed due to the Coronavirus pandemic and the only sounds coming from the players and their management team fitted perfectly into a strange Halloween weekend for Derry, usually the happening Halloween capital.
A wet and windy Celtic Park saw Armagh stay in the lead throughout the game going in at half time with the wind at their backs six points in the lead 0:11 to 0:5.
The second half started with two Derry points added to the tally. A 20 minute spell with Armagh unable to put a score on the board and three straight points from Derry saw them just two points behind at 0:11 to 0:13 with just six minutes to go of ordinary time but they were unable to catch the Orchard. The closest they got was taking the game to within a point with four minutes of injury time played but a free from Armagh's Rian O'Neill with the whistle blown directly afterwards saw Armagh take the prize with the final score Armagh 0:17 Derry 0:15.
Scorers
Rian O'Neill 0:4; Jamie Clarke 0:3; Rory Grugan 0:3; Aidan Forker 0:2; Oisin O'Neill 0:2;Jarlath Og Burns 0:1; Conor O'Neill 0:1 and Mark Shields 0:1.
Armagh Team
Blaine Hughes, Paddy Burns, Ryan Kennedy, James Morgan, Conor O'Neill, Aidan Forker, Mark Shields, Oisin O'Neill, Stephen Sheridan, Rory Grugan, Callum Cumisky, Stefan Campbell, Jamie Clarke, Rian O'Neill, Niall Grimley.
Subs Shea Magill, Greg McCabe,Brendan Donaghy, Aaron McKay, Jarlath Og Burns, Jemar Hall, Conor Turbitt, Andrew Murnin, Jason Duffy, Joe McElroy, Cathal McKenna.
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Down Senior Footballers first Championship game of the season saw them dispatch Fermanagh this afternoon in Brewster Park, Enniskillen.
Fermanagh were first on the scoreboard with a point just a minute in to the game with Down equalising from a free by Donal O'Hare five minutes later. Tit for tat points from Fermanagh were answered with two more points from frees by Donal and a point from play followed by three further points keeping Down a point ahead at half time 0:7 to 0:6.
Down's Barry O'Hagan got Down's second half off with a point. Fermanagh pointed five minutes into the second half but it would be injury time before they scored again. A goal from Down's Donal O'Hare followed by points from Barry O'Hagan, Corey Quinn and Jerome Johnston saw them in the middle of Injury time ahead by 8 points. Fermanagh added two points to their tally but further points from Ryan Johnston and Caolan Mooney left the game in no doubt. Today's win sees them take on Cavan in an Ulster Semi Final clash next Sunday 15 November.
Final Score Down 1:15 Femanagh 0:11
Down Scorers
Donal O'Hare 1:4; Jerome Johnston 0:2; Caolan Mooney 0:2; Barry O'Hagan 0:4; Corey Quinn 0:1; Ryan Johnston 0:2
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Armagh are out of the Ulster Senior Football Championship and with that their chance of getting anywhere near the All Ireland in 2020.
The first half saw a dominant Donegal get to the break with 12 points to spare after adding a goal to the tally in the 35th minute. At the break it was Donegal; 1:12 to Armagh 0:3 with all of the Armagh scores coming from Rian O'Neill frees.
The second half continued in the same vein with Donegal managing to keep out of reach although an additional 9 points including a further four points from Rian O'Neill kept the gap constant.
It took 50 minutes before Jamie Clarke managed to add the first score from play. Donegal now go forward to the Ulster Final.
Final score Armagh 0:13 Donegal 1:22
Scorers: Oisin O'Neill 0:1; Rian O'Neill 0:7; Conor Turbitt 0:2; Niall Grimley 0:1; Jamie Clarke 0:2
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Armagh Senior Camogie team are All Ireland Champions after a thrilling game against Cavan at Breffni Park.
Cavan scored a total of 3 goals but each time Armagh dug in and never gave them the opportunity to surge ahead in the Liberty Insurance All Ireland Premier Junior Camogie Final. Sisters Ciara and Leanne Donnelly notched up an incredible 17 points between them.
Cavan's third goal 23 minutes in was to be their last score though. It put them a point ahead 3:7 to 0:15 but Armagh kept their composure and four crucial points followed from Armagh's Ciara Donnelly, three of them from play.
Armagh emerged victorious with a final score Armagh 0:19 to Cavan's 3:7 (16)
Armagh Scorers
Ciara Donnelly 0:13
Leanne Donnelly 0:4
Rachael Merry 0:2
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Down Camogie seniors have won the Liberty Insurance All Ireland Intermediate Championship. They defeated Antrim by 12 points in Breffni Park yesterday. Last time they won was 1998 when Cork were the opponents.
The Down squad took to the field in Cavan yesterday. Half time saw Down lead by three points 1:8 to 1:5. Niamh Mallon scored 2:3 in a blistering second half performance for the Portaferry woman. Also on song were Lauren Clarke and Sara Louise Graffin adding 1:2 each to the scoreline while five points from Clonduffs Paula O'Hagan cemented the win.
Final score Down 4:16 Antrim 2:10
Down Scorers
Niamh Mallon 2:3
Lauren Clarke 1:2
Sara Louise Graffin 1:2
Paula O’Hagan 0:5
Aimee McAleenan 0:3
Sorcha McCartan 0:1
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Craobh Rua Camlocha Hurling Club heldtheir 2020 Underage Presentations recently with special guest Santa on hand to present.
Santa was delighted to present (following strict guidelines as Santa would do) all the Underage hurlers who visited him with their medals,, certificates and a small present from him and his elves.
Ryan McAleavey was the recipient of the Richard Hughes Memorial Shield.
Pat McGinn from Craobh Rua said "Many thanks to all who helped ensure that we had a joyful and safe presentation event. Our young hurlers, their families and our underage team coaches deserved it and we thank them for their continued support and commitment. We wish everyone a Happy and Healthy Christmas and we look forward to hearing the ‘clash of the ash’ in the New Year."
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