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Four Newry Olympic Hockey Club members are taking on the Mourne Seven Sevens challenge later this month to raise funds for Southern Area Hospice Services. Andrew, Gareth, Corey and Josh the four intrepid climbers are training flat out at present for the challenge on Saturday 29 July.
The Seven Sevens challenge involves climbing all seven peaks in the Mourne Mountains that are 700m or more above sea level. The four will cover a distance of 18 miles and 2500m of vertical ascent in the one day.
Southern Area Hospice Services provides invaluable support and care to people living within the Southern Health Board Area, who require specialist palliative and end of life care.
The group have set up a Just Giving Page at nohc-seven-sevens and they have already raised nearly £2000! Feel free to donate.
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A massive cheque for over £7000 has been raised by the community for Whitecross man Micheál McCloy as he joins Ireland’s first ever Down's syndrome futsal team. Micheál has been selected to represent Ireland on the Downs Syndrome Futsal Team at the SUDS European Championships in Padova (Padua), Italy, this September.
Speaking after presenting Micheál with the cheque for £7,020 and €450 Slieve Gullion Councillor Declan Murphy said “I’m delighted to be handing over this cheque to Michael tonight. He’s the only boy from the north who has made the team that will represent Ireland for the first time at the Down syndrome Futsal championships in Italy this September.
“I want to say a massive go raibh milé maith agaibh to everyone who donated prizes for the raffle, who donated to the events and collections here in Whitecross and the wider community of South Armagh.
“The incredible generosity and community spirit shown by the people here has raised a fantastic amount of money that will help Michael and the team with the costs of preparation and travel for the tournament.
“Adh Mór to Michael and the rest of his team. Irrespective of the result they’ll be making history and inspiring people from all across our Island.
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On this day 20 years ago, 20 July 2003 Armagh played Limerick in Round 4 of the All Ireland Football Championship Qualifiers at Dr Hyde Park, Roscommon. Fresh from their first and only All Ireland Senior Football Championship win in 2002 the team had a lot to prove, and a lot of players that were out to prove that they were more than a one win wonder.
On the day they emerged easy winners with a final score of Armagh: 4-10 Limerick: 0-11. That led to a win over Laois in the quarter final, a win over Donegal in the semi but sadly the double wasn't to be and Tyrone stopped Armagh in their tracks in the All Ireland Final.
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St Monica's Boxing Club in Newry has launched a Crowdfunder campaign in order to raise £15,000 to help develop the club. As part of the fundraiser they are offering a prize of a fully restored and refurbished Ford 4000 vintage tractor in a draw. If you win and don't want the tractor you can take £5,000 in cash instead.
Situated on Daisy Hill, St Monica’s Boxing Club plays a key role in delivering sport and fitness opportunities within the Newry community and in helping participants and athletes develop and learn.
Being competitive is at the heart of boxing, but as a club, they firmly see the benefits of helping children and young people develop a sense of belonging, connectedness and enjoy sport.
The club believe It is vital that they continue to offer the highest possible level of training and coaching environments along with appropriate support and the right equipment. They just need help from the public to continue building their legacy of producing respectful, disciplined and community-minded young men and women.
If you would like to donate please go to www.crowdfunder.co.uk
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Down have booked their place in the TG4 All-Ireland Junior Football Championship decider following their win over Carlow today at Parnell Park.
Having suffered relegation from the intermediate grade last year, 2000 JFC winners Down will now have a golden opportunity to secure an automatic return to the second-tier in a fortnight’s time when they face Limerick at Croke Park.
Playing in their third consecutive semi-final at this level, Carlow enjoyed an excellent start as Edel Hayden and Sinead Hayden both kicked impressive points inside the opening three minutes. The Mourne women eventually settled into the contest, however, with the full-forward line of Eimear Fitzpatrick, Natasha Ferris (free) and Aimee O’Higgins all finding the range to squeeze their side in front.
Ferris and Bredagh’s Laoise Duffy subsequently raised white flags to extend the Down lead, before Rachel Sawyer finally responded with a point for Carlow on the first-quarter mark. Yet Ferris was posing a constant threat to the Leinster outfit’s defence and the Bryansford ace kicked another fine score from play on 19 minutes.
Talented dual player Sawyer did register her second point towards the end of the half, but Down nevertheless brought a 0-6 to 0-4 cushion into the interval.
While another contribution by Sawyer reduced the gap to a bare minimum on the resumption, Aoife Brogan eased Down’s nerves with an outstanding point at an awkward right-hand angle. The industrious Fitzpatrick and Sawyer traded scores in advance of a pointed free from Carlow centre-forward Cliodhna Ni She to leave Peter Lynch’s Ulster side a point to the good at 0-8 to 0-7 moving into the final-quarter.
Ni She found the net for Carlow off another free on 50 minutes but —much to the relief of the travelling Down faithful — it was ultimately disallowed after referee Justin Murphy consulted with his umpires.
This game was still delicately balanced at this stage, before Down pounced for the decisive score of the tie with four minutes remaining. Although their skipper Meghan Doherty was in the sin-bin, substitute Swail fired home from a right-hand angle for the only goal of the game.
Sara Doyle did reduce the deficit to three at the opposing end, only for Duffy to seal victory for Down with a well-worked point. '
Final score Down 1-9 Carlow 0-8
Scorers – Down: N Ferris 0-3 (1f), O Swail 1-0, L Duffy, E Fitzpatrick 0-2 each, A Brogan, A O’Higgins 0-1 each.
Carlow: R Sawyer 0-4, C Ni She (f), E Hayden, S Doyle, S Hayden 0-1 each.
Down team: A McGivern; A Greene, P Smyth, O Boyle; N McKibbin, M Doherty, O Duffy; C Mulvenna, A Brogan; N Scullion, V McCormack, L Duffy; E Fitzpatrick, N Ferris, A O’Higgins.
Subs: A Cull for O’Higgins (45), O Swail for Fitzpatrick (47), K McKay for Mulvenna (49), E Martin for Ferris (57).
Carlow team: N Hanley; A Carroll, A Roche, S McCullagh; R Bermingham, N Murphy, N Forde; E Hayden, R Bailey; R Sawyer, C Ni She, S Doyle; E Molloy, E Coogan, S Hayden.
Subs: C Jordan for Coogan (35), E Ware for Molloy (41), A O’Donoghue for S Hayden (45), E Treacy for Forde (59), K Collins for Sawyer (62).
Referee: Justin Murphy (Cork).
By Daire Walsh
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Limerick will take on Down in the TG4 All-Ireland Junior final at Croke Park on Sunday 13 August at 11.45am.
Down overcame Carlow at yesterdays semi final by 1-9 to 0-8 while Limerick beat Fermanagh by 0-10 to 1-6.
Down's late goal from Orla Swail was the difference ensuring Down who were relegated from intermediate last year, secure their place in the final. They now have the opportunity to earn an automatic return to the second-tier.
Down led by 0-6 to 0-4 at the break and eventually saw off the Carlow challenge when Swail got the only goal of the match four minutes from time.
“We needed something big like that,” said Down manager Peter Lynch. “The game was hanging by a thread. It could have gone either way and then that goal probably made it safer for us. We tagged on a point after that. Once we got four between us, it was just about keeping the house tight.”
It was Carlow who started strong but Down quickly found their rhythm and their full-forward line of Eimear Fitzpatrick, Natasha Ferris, and Aimee O'Higgins all got on the scoresheet to give their side the lead. Downs Ferris and Laoise Duffy extended their lead with well-taken points, but Rachel Sawyer responded with a score for Carlow. Ferris continued to cause problems for Carlow's defense and added another point to her tally. Sawyer added her second point of the game before half-time, but Down held a 0-6 to 0-4 lead.
Sawyer continued to be a threat for Carlow as she reduced Downs lead to just one point early in the second half. However, Aoife Brogan scored a fantastic point for Down to settle their nerves. Fitzpatrick and Sawyer traded scores, and a point from Carlow's Cliodhna Ni Shé left Down with a narrow one-point lead heading into the final quarter. Carlow thought they had found an equalizing goal when Ní Shé netted from a free, but after consulting with his umpires, the referee disallowed the goal. With the game delicately poised, Down produced the crucial moment of the match as substitute Orla Swail found the back of the net from a difficult angle. Sara Doyle scored a point for Carlow to reduce the deficit, but Duffy sealed victory for Down with a well-worked point.
You can get your tickets for the final at ticketmaster.com
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Organisers of next month’s Modern Tyres Ulster Rally are shaking things up a bit with more than a third of the competitive mileage taking place on new routes, as the organising Northern Ireland Motor Club Ltd (NIMC) look to intensify the challenge.This years rally takes place on Friday 18 and Saturday 19 August.
It promises to have a mix of everything from smooth and fast-flowing country roads to bumpy, tight and technical country tracks that are barely the width of a car in some places. As always, the weather is another curve ball drivers and co-drivers must overcome if they are to be successful.
The Friday element is completely changed to last year and will consist of one special stage in the Rostrevor area and a second on the outskirts of Banbridge. Run twice, these will total 32.36-miles, with the second pass more difficult as these will be played out as dusk arrives and darkness falls.
Saturday is the longest of the two days for competitors, both in terms of time and distance. Dotted between Armagh and the host city of Newry, six more speed tests weighing in at 65-miles await.
As always, rally goers will have unparalleled access to the cars and the stars at one of two town centre regroups: on the Friday afternoon (5pm) Banbridge Civic Building will provide the backdrop and from midday the following day it is the turn of the Armagh City Hotel to play host to the crews.
Returning Clerk of the Course Wayne Turkington says there was a general consensus amongst the organising team to give the route for this year’s Ulster Rally a fresh twist. “The reputation of the event is one that challenges and rewards those who take part in equal measure – and we feel the tweaks that have been endorsed for the forty sixth running of it build on that,” said Turkington.
“Friday’s stages have not been used on a rally for some time now and we expect these to ask all the right sort of questions of the crews. Saturday, meanwhile, takes us to more familiar territory.”
Being a counting round of the cross-border Irish Tarmac Rally Championship, the Motorsport UK British Rally Championship, and the FIA European Rally Trophy (ERT), a strong entry is expected for next month’s Modern Tyres Ulster Rally – a highlight of the local sporting calendar.
Up-to-date information for competitors intending to make the trip to Newry on Friday, August 18 and Saturday, August 19, is now available via the Sportity App using UR2023. A free spectator programme will be released online at the start of rally week.
You can also check out www.ulsterrally.com
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For GAA people Club is very important in so many facets of their lives. School liaison officer Diarmuid Cahill (48) from Greencastle, Co Down, is so involved with Kilkeel club An Ríocht it consumes his “every waking hour” and it doesn't stop there. Although his Dublin-born maths teacher wife Elaine (43) doesn’t come from a traditional GAA background, she’s been completely converted and is now a keen supporter who sits on the Fundraising and Events Committee.
The couple’s daughter Siofra (12) is also a member of the U14 camogie team, and also helps coach the U8s and U6s while seven-year-old son Fionn plays football, hurling and a bit of camogie, because An Ríocht “didn’t have a hurling team when he started”.
Diarmuid is an administrator for “the organisation as a whole”.
“From a club point of view, I do virtually everything,” he explained.
“I take photographs and I’m an advisor to the club. I’m very involved in funding applications. I’m a trustee of the youth club and I also sit on their PR committee.
“Outside the club, I’m the Down GAA County Treasurer, chair of the National Feile Committee, member of National Development CCC and member of the Ballykinlar Centre of Participation in Development Board.”
What Diarmuid does is “all voluntary” and although it leaves him with no free time, he couldn’t be happier.
“The club is very much about the community,” he said.
“If you want your children to benefit from it, it’s very important to be involved.
“My father Hugh was involved before me – he was club chair and County Board officer – and, at 91, he’s the oldest member.”
An Ríocht, which has a membership of around 800 people, majors on gaelic football and camogie, but this year they introduced ladies football and hurling.
“We also have the very active Kingdom Youth Club, of which I’m a trustee. And we have the Men Shed, the Women of Mourne and a health and wellbeing centre,” he said.
“Take Tuesday nights for example – it’s just a hub of activity from 3-11pm. It’s a conveyor belt; it’s like a bus station.”
Although he gives a lot to An Ríocht, Diarmuid gets a lot out of it too.
“It’s a club I grew up with,” he said.
“It’s very much about the community. It’s where your friends are.
“I see what my children get out of it, and it’s important to give back so that the next generation will benefit from it.’
Diarmuid said funding was vital for the club’s day-to-day running.
“It costs an awful lot to run a club so support of businesses, especially national brands like Fibrus, is crucial,” he said.
“It helps provide equipment and kit, which is very important.
“Income coming from sponsorship also helps pay for travel, such as buses to go to games etc.
“A lot of people probably don’t realise what it costs to run a sports club.
“You need finances to tick over so Fibrus coming in to support An Ríocht means they can kit our players, take part in competitions and tournaments and you’re able to travel the length and breadth of Northern Ireland and further afield.”
Fibrus are putting a spotlight on the inspiring people behind local sports clubs here with a new initiative called 'Fibrus Fans'. Fans are the parents, the grandparents, the sponsors, the physios, even the players themselves.
To find out if you are connectable to Fibrus Full Fibre broadband call 02890 993230 or visit www.fibrus.com
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Newry City AFC have signed up two new players from Glebe North FC ahead of the new season. Daragh Owens and Georgie Poynton have been training with the club this past few weeks.
Manager Gary Boyle believes the pair will give extra strength to his team. Commenting on the signings Boyle said “Georgie is a player who has played at the top level in the LOI. He is hugely experienced but at only 25 has his best years ahead of him. He has been regaining his fitness with us in pre-season and we have seen the quality he possesses. He is vocal, sets standards and has integrated with the group seamlessly.”
“Daragh is a young player who was recommended to us; he is ready to step up having excelled in the Leinster League. Technically gifted, composed in possession, with a great left foot. He has been terrific in preseason and we are thrilled to have him on board!”
Owens commented “I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to sign with Newry. I have really enjoyed the last few weeks both training and getting to know the lads. The standard has been very good since day one, so I’m just looking forward to getting the season underway and show what we can do.”
Poynton added “I have been really impressed by the club since coming in to train. The players and staff have been very welcoming. I’m delighted to be here and I am really looking forward to get going.”
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