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Newry City AFC manager Gary Boyle has made another two signings to the club. Liam Bagnall and Adam Carroll join the City squad bringing to five, the new faces at the Showgrounds since Boyle took over as manager.
Welcoming Liam Bagnall to the Showgrounds Boyle said “Liam is a player I have been nibbling away at in the background for some time. He needs no introduction; he is an inspirational player, a leader, captained teams and won trophies at the highest level.
"He will bring a steely determination, a winning mentality and that never say die attitude – the foundation of which this club has been built! He is another player who will set standards, expect them from himself and demand them from his teammates. He knows the club, knows the majority of the lads and is eager to get going!"
Bagnall commented “I am delighted to get the opportunity to play for Newry in the Irish league. I’m looking forward to the challenge ahead.
"Newry has a great local support and I’m looking forward to getting started and playing in front of the home crowd at The Showgrounds.”
Adam Carroll has also been signed following his release from Warrenpoint Town FC.
The Newry City manager said “Adam is a player we have been keeping a keen eye on from afar over the last couple of seasons. He is exactly the type of player we are looking to attract to the club; being young, local, with quality and the ability to improve even further.
"Adam can play in a number of attacking positions and compliments the players we already have at the club. Our supporters can expect to see an exciting attacking player with a keen eye for goal."
Carroll commented “I am delighted to sign for my hometown club. I can’t wait to get going in front of the fans, I know it will be a long and tough season but I am confident with the group that the manager has put together that anything is possible. I’m looking forward to helping Newry in their next step.”
Boyle added his thanks to 'Point manager Barry Gray and Warrenpoint Town FC for assisting with the deal.
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Armagh are straight into the quarter final of the All Ireland Senior Football Championship following a thrilling win over Galway in Carrick on Shannon and a helpful draw between Tyrone and Westmeath. In a game that was level a dozen times it looked like it was going to end in a draw when Galway was awarded a free in the 75th minute but Shane Walsh's kick missed the target and the whistle was blown.
Things looked different going in at half time with Galway having a two point advantage following a period of drama. Shane Walsh had a 25th minute penalty saved by Armagh goalkeeper Ethan Rafferty although shortly afterwards Galway's Sean Kelly scored the games only goal to put them two points ahead. A little bit of history was made in County Leitrim as it was the first time ever that Armagh had beat Galway in the Championship. It certainly will take a little bit of the sting out of last years Croker game of the year when Armagh's hearts were broke by Galway penalties.
The game left Armagh at the top of Group two in the Championship series with Galway and Tyrone now in the preliminary quarter final next weekend while Westmeath are out. Armagh meanwhile await to see who they play in the quarter final on either 1 or 2 July.
Final Score Galway 1-12 Armagh 0-16
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Down take on Laois in the Semi Final of the Tailteann Cup this Sunday 25 June at 4pm in Croke Park as part of a double header starting with Meath taking on Antrim. It follows their five point win over Cavan at Breffni Park on Saturday. The draw was made this morning for the clashes.
Saturday's game saw Down's Pat Havern take the first point of the game. Cavan managed to keep close but at half time it was Down who were ahead 0-09 to Cavan's 0-07. Half way through the second half Down managed to put three points between the sides but once again Cavan came back to within a point but a goal from Danny Magill in the 33rd minute followed by two additional points stopped the Breffni men in their tracks.
Final score: Down 1-17 Cavan 0-15
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Rachael Carvill from Mayobridge is competing for Ireland this weekend at the 2023 Open ITF Taekwondo European Championships in Lisburn.
The competition will be held in the National Badminton Centre in Lisburn on Saturday 24 June and Sunday 25 June. The championships are open to all Juniors (6-17 years), Adults (18-34 years) and Veterans (35 years & above) who hold the ranks of Green Belt (6th Kup) to Black Belt (6th Degree).
Rachael, 14, is the Current Taekwondo U18 Hyper Weight Champion. She recently competed for Ireland in the ITF Taekwondo World Championships and brought home the gold medal. Rachael was the youngest competitor to compete in her section. Rachael was also appointed Captain of the U18 Irish girls’ team, a huge personal honour.
Rachael took up the sport when she was seven and her local club, Cathal Fegans in the Community Hall in Warrenpoint. A massive accomplishment for Rachael was becoming a Black Belt at the age of 13. Since then, Rachael has travelled to compete and won many titles in in cities including Barcelona and Amsterdam. Rachael travels the length and breath of Ireland competing for her club and her skills have gone from strength to strength.
Rachael is hands-on at the family farm in Mayobridge when it comes to rearing and caring for the livestock. Sheenjoys other sports such as GAA, boxing, and horse-riding. Taekwondo is a family sport, Rachael’s brother also competes and the family travel together to competitions to support each other.
Rachael is often one of the only girls to compete at this level and bring home gold and a title. The Mayobridge girl is testament that encouraging girls into sport and supporting them at all levels continues Ireland’s strong legacy of women in sport competing at high levels of their chosen discipline.
Rachael is hoping for as much local support as possible at the event this weekend.
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The Modern Tyres Ulster Rally is partnering with Carbon Positive Motorsport for the 2023 Newry based event on 18-19 August. The Ulster Rally attracts around 20,000 people, from spectators and visitors, to officials and competitors resulting in £1m being generated for the local economy.
The organisers believe there is an ever increasing need to reflect upon energy consumption by events and to act on mitigating the associated environmental impacts such as the carbon footprint generated by its running. The team behind the Ulster Rally believe that action is necessary to ensure the continued support of our stakeholders and the communities our event relies upon. Several events have begun to take such steps to help to make motorsport more sustainable for the future, and the Ulster Rally will be one of the first events on the island of Ireland to run the initiative.
The Ulster Rally has decided as part of an environmental road map, to partner with Carbon Positive Motorsport, and to take significant steps to mitigate its carbon footprint through the purchase of carbon reduction units (CRUs)
These CRUs are sourced using only world class rewilding-based carbon offsetting projects certified by the Woodland Carbon Code. Such projects provide greater environmental benefits than offsetting alone and ensure that the economic benefits are retained within the country. The CRUs will provide assured carbon offsetting in the future, to the equivalent of an estimated CO2e level, using UK government carbon conversion factors that correspond to the forecasted fuel consumption of the organisers and competitors vehicles on the event day.
This forecast is based on actual competition and organisers vehicles fuel consumption, and will include an additional 25% offset level, to create a carbon positive level of offsetting in the long term.
The Ulster Rally have included a discounted £19 carbon offsetting charge per competitor within the entry fees – a relatively low cost for the quality of offsetting provided, and to secure the benefits for the event in the future. Competitors can select to opt out of this charge if they wish to do so.
“We are delighted to be in a position to partner with Carbon Positive Motorsport,” explained Clerk of Course Wayne Turkington. “Motorsport is widely viewed as a symbol for innovation and adapting to the needs of the community in the current climate. The Ulster Rally organising team want to see the continuation of the rally for generations to come and we need to start acting now to safeguard the future of the event.
“The rally provides a positive impact on the local community during rally week, and we always pride ourselves in leaving the roads, service area and regroups how we found them , and we want to be able to do that with our carbon emissions, by offsetting them and providing a positive impact.
“As part of the organising team, we appreciate the involvement and support from all of the competitors, supporters, sponsors, residents, spectators and councils for backing this initiative.”
The Modern Tyres Ulster Rally gets underway on Friday 18 August 2023. For more information, visit or on social media.
You will be able to follow the 2023 event via the Ulster Rally website www.ulsterrally.com as well as the official Facebook account www.facebook.com/ulsterrally
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Members of Rostrevor based Amateur sports team The Rossi, are undertaking all Island cycling challenge to cover 600km in 3 days to raise funds for research into Prostate Cancer.
Starting at the most southerly point of Mizen, Co Cork 30 June, the ten-strong team plan on cycling to the most Northernly point of Malin, Co Donegal within 3 days.
For brothers Martin and John McGinn it’s a bit of a family affair. The biking siblings are joining eight Rossi team mates to complete the challenge with Martin’s wife Julie, and the brothers’ parents - Martin Snr and Mona McGinn - at the helm of the support vehicles that will follow the team as they undertake this mammoth task.
Martin says: “Like a lot of families, we, and a number of the members of the club, have had a family member who’s been affected by Prostrate Cancer. Chatting about it recently, we decided we’d do something as a group to raise funds to support the QUB research to improve the lives of men affected by Prostate Cancer. Covering 600km in 3 days is quite a challenge, but it one we’re looking forward to and we hope by doing it we can raise some money to support this important ongoing research.
You can support them via www.justgiving.com
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Armagh are through to the TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship quarter-finals following a last minute penalty goal from Aimee Mackin. Shane McCormack’s side came from five points down to defeat Connacht champions Mayo by two in a thrilling contest.
Armagh were quickest off the mark at the Box-It Athletic Grounds with Aimee Mackin pointing from distance. However, Mayo responded with points from Sinéad Cafferky and Deirdre Doherty, before the former raised a green flag on eight minutes. Shauna Howley played Cafferky in behind the Armagh defence, and she kept her composure, before drilling the ball into the roof of the net.
Kelly Mallon pointed to settle Armagh, before Aimee Mackin converted a free soon after. But Mayo, who had a strong breeze at their backs, used it to full effect with Doherty swinging a point over from range. The Connacht champions remained in control and points from Doherty and Howley had them five ahead.
Armagh were given a lifeline moments before half-time, when they were awarded a penalty, but Aimee Mackin couldn’t take advantage as her top corner effort was kept out by a tremendous Laura Brennan save.
Traded points between Aimee Mackin and Sinéad Cafferky saw Mayo take a five-point lead in at the break.
Armagh flew out of the traps at the start of the second half, and in the blink of an eye they had raced in front. Aimee Mackin and Lavery reduced the deficit to two, before the former laid the ball on a plate for Niamh Reel, and she finished to the Mayo net from a yard out to level matters, and Mallon scored to put the Orchard County ahead.
Mayo regained their composure and got back in front through points from Lisa Cafferky and Doherty, but an Aimee Mackin point drew the sides level again.
Armagh edged ahead in a thrilling finish through a Mallon free.
However, Mayo looked to be on their way to victory with a superb solo score by Lisa Cafferky followed by two converted frees by Doherty putting them two ahead.
But the drama wasn’t over yet. A Mallon free made it a one-point game, and in the last minute referee Siobhan Coyle awarded Armagh a penalty for a foul on Aimee Mackin, and having missed in the first half, the Shane O’Neill’s star made no mistake this time around with just 15 seconds left on the clock, she buried her effort past Brennan to seal a remarkable win for Armagh at the death.
Final score: Armagh 2-10 Mayo 1-11
Scorers – Armagh: A Mackin 1-5 (1-0 pen, 0-2f), K Mallon 0-4 (2f), N Reel 1-0, E Lavery 0-1.
Mayo: D Doherty 0-6 (3f), S Cafferky 1-2, L Cafferky 0-2, S Howley 0-1.
Armagh: A Carr; S Grey, C McCambridge, L Kenny; G Ferguson, L McConville, C Towe; N Coleman, E Lavery; B Mackin, A Mackin, E Druse; N Reel, K Mallon (capt.), A McCoy.
Subs: N Marley for Grey (HT), C O’Hagan for Reel (39), C Marley for Kenny (53).
Mayo: L Brennan; É Ronayne, C McManamon, D Caldwell; C Needham, F McHale, K Sullivan (capt.); A Geraghty, S Cafferky; S Howley, T O’Connor, S Mulvihill; L Cafferky, D Doherty, S Walsh.
Subs: L Wallace for O’Connor (29), M Cannon for Howley (40), M Reily for Mulvihill (48), S Lally for Sullivan (58), R Flynn for Needham (58).
Ref - Siobhan Coyle (Donegal).
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Micheál McCloy from Whitecross has been selected to represent Ireland on the Downs Syndrome Futsal Team at the SUDS European Championships in Padova (Padua), Italy, this September. It's a huge honour for the 18 year old who has had to overcome so many health challenges over the years.
Micheál attended the Futsal Fun Days in Dundalk in December and Gormanstown in January run by Down Syndrome Ireland Louth Meath branch (coordinated by Tessa Van Heerden and Sanet Jordaan) together with Football for All from the FAI. Other open days were organised in Donegal and Limerick. Following those events, 19 players from across the island were invited to the National Assessments in Blanchardstown in April with FAI Coach Paul Smyth.
From the two assessments eight players were selected to be on the National team, with an extended group for training. Along with 3 from players from Donegal, 1 each from Cork, Waterford, Dublin, and Dundalk, Micheál has been selected by the panel to represent Ireland in Italy.
His father Henry explained how it has been a whirlwind experience for them. "It has been a bit of a whirlwind, to go from attending an open day in Dundalk to training under the supervision of FAI coaches Paul Smyth & Brendan Corish. At present the team and extended player panel meet up every 2 – 3 weeks for training in Blanchardstown. They are put through their paces, skills and teamwork by Paul & Brendan, and they love it. Its brilliant to see the guys work together."
Henry added "Given the shaky start to his life and the significant challenges Micheál has overcome since, never in our wildest dreams did we think he would get the chance to become an International Footballer and represent Ireland.
"Soon after his birth the midwifery team recognised there was something wrong with Micheál and he was transferred to the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) at Daisy Hill Hospital. A few days later, he was taken to the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, where under the supervision of Mr Frank Casey, Micheál was diagnosed with Atrioventricular Septal Defect (AVSD) – a heart defect in which there are holes between the chambers of the right and left sides of the heart, and the valves that control the flow of blood between these chambers may not be formed correctly." he said.
At 9 months Micheal underwent major heart surgery and the repair and his recovery were so remarkable, it surpassed the expectations of his surgeon, Mr Dennis Gladstone "a man of few words" Henry adds.
Henry continued "That was just the start of long road of a lifetime of health issues, delayed development, and the significant challenges a person with a learning disability has to overcome.
"Nonetheless, we have seen the kindness of many people in Micheál’s life through school, sports clubs, and work. Sport has played a major role in his life (GAA 4 All in Crossmaglen & Derry, Basketball), and football has been a great outlet for him. It has given him the chance to have fun, developing his football skills, teamwork, competition, and make friends are just some that come to mind. Under the supervision and guidance of Jessica, Jack and Derek at Well Lane Warriors, Micheál has excelled at his football." he concluded.
The 2023 SUDS (Sports Union for Athletes with Downs Syndrome) European Championships takes place in Padova, Italy from 3rd – 10th September – hosting teams with athletes with Down syndrome in 8 sports.
Fundraising Night 8 July
To get Micheál and his team mates to Italy, each member must raise approx. €5,000. His family have been doing some fundraising for a few weeks now and the support from the local community and businesses has been brilliant.
The main event coming up is on 8 July with a Charity night, draw and auction. The Charity night is in O’Hanlon’s Bar, Whitecross with music by Kevin Kearney.
The Draw Prizes
1st Prize two nights B&B in Mills Inn Cork
2nd Prize Two All Ireland Hurling Tickets
3rd Prize Armagh Jersey signed by the 2023 Armagh Team
4th Prize Derry Jersey signed by the 2023 Derry Team
+ a whole lot more.
Up for auction one the night is a Kerry Jersey signed by the Kerry Team, Football signed by Kerry star David Clifford & Ireland jersey signed by James McClean, boxing gloves signed by Michael Conlan.
Check out the training session in Dublin in May - twitter.com
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Business men from across Newry teamed up for a 5 A Side tournament in Newry City Football Grounds earlier this month as part of an initiative by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council to mark Men's Health Week.
The event was organised by the Council in partnership with the Southern Health and Social Care Trust and the Public Health Agency NI. The aim was to bring men together to enjoy some light-hearted sport and encourage them to reconnect with friends and neighbours in a safe and fun environment.
Off the pitch, the men could also avail of a number of planned activities such as physical health checks that measured BMI, amongst other things with advice to visit a GP given where necessary. Cancer Focus NI provided guidance on Care in the Sun and raised awareness to the importance of Prostate Cancer Checks and the Connections Drug and Alcohol Team provided information on a range of alcohol and drug related topics. The ‘Take 5 Steps to Wellbeing initiative’ was also promoted to encourage men to continue to ‘Connect’, ‘Be Active’, ’Take Notice’, ‘Keep Learning’ and ‘Give’
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson Councillor Valerie Harte thanked everyone who participated and those who organised the event as part of Men’s Health Week saying, “It was great to see such a good turnout of men wanting to take part in a game of football. It was clear that everyone enjoyed the opportunity to have a bit of fun together and appreciated the health advice they received through the psychical health checks on offer. Through events like this, we aim to encourage men to prioritize their health and wellbeing while fostering a sense of community and camaraderie.”
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