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Cathal Fegan School of Taekwondo in Newry are running their annual TaeKwon Do Multi Sport Summer Camp in August. The camp is open to everyone aged 8 and over, not just members of the school. If you want to bring a friend or a family member that person will get the camp at a discounted rate.
The Summer Camp will run from Wednesday 16th August - Friday 18th August from 10:00am - 12:00pm in the Dojang Newry.
You must book as spaces are limited. Summer camp is £35 per person or £25 if you pay monthly fee with family discounts available.
The School amassed 76 medals in total at the European TaeKwon Do Championships in June including 26 golds.The Club came 3rd in the overall medal table.
You can contact them by email at gofitness@live.com
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Newry City AFC have signed another new player to their squad in advance of the 23/24 Sports Direct Season beginning this Saturday 5 August at 3pm with a home fixture against Loughgall.
Signing up Jordan Mooney which is subject to International Clearance, Newry City AFC Manager Gary Boyle said “Jordan is a player full of potential. This club is all about giving young players a chance to showcase their ability. We as a staff are confident we will be able to hone his talent and are delighted he has chosen to continue his development with us at Newry.”
Mooney is delighted to be given the chance to sign for Newry. "Since the first day of pre-season all the lads and staff have been nothing but welcoming and helpful. There is a great buzz about the place and I can’t wait to get going and show what I can do.” he said.
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A reader is looking to catch up with a fellow triathlete who he competed against years back. Bill McCausland from Omagh recalls one of his main rivals, John Brown who was based in Newry but originally from County Tyrone.
Bill explains "Many years ago I competed in triathlons and one of my main rivals was a John Brown. Apparently he was based in Newry or there abouts but was originally from Sixmilecross in Omagh Co.Tyrone.
"I have not heard nor seen John since I stopped competing in triathlons many years ago and would like to know if John is still about the Newry area and if any one knows his contact details."
If any of our readers has information please comment here or if contact details are available please private message them to us or email them to news@newry.ie
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As she prepares for her second appearance in a TG4 All-Ireland decider at Croke Park next weekend, Orla Boyle has waxed lyrical about the transformative effect that two members of the Down management team have had on ladies football within the Mourne County.
Just three weeks ago at the same venue, Conor Laverty fell just short in his bid to guide the Down men’s footballers towards a maiden Tailteann Cup title – goals from Ronan Jones and Jack O’Connor helping their opponents Meath to claim the spoils on a 2-13 to 0-14 final scoreline. Eight days from now, his former team-mates Mark Poland and Kevin McKernan will be hoping to go a step further with their female counterparts in the TG4 All-Ireland Junior Football Championship showpiece against Limerick.
Both of these players were starters on the last Down team to reach the Sam Maguire Cup final back in September 2010.
Despite chipping in with a point apiece, Poland (who was replaced by Laverty in the closing stages of the action) and McKernan were on the losing side that day as Cork emerged with the spoils by the slenderest of margins. Yet this passionate duo still have a strong feel for inter-county football and have been working alongside Down LGFA joint-managers Peter Lynch and Caoibhe Sloan as coaches throughout the current campaign.
“Peter and Caoibhe are brilliant, don't get me wrong, but having Mark and Kevin there. Two senior men that have played football in Down for a long time and their names are out there, they’ve definitely got Down ladies on the map in a way,” Boyle acknowledged.
“There’s people now actually talking about us. Before we were a sleeping giant as Mark Poland would always say, but they’ve definitely got us out there. Male footballers now want to actually come and watch Down ladies, which is credit to them boys.”
Following their relegation down to the junior grade at the end of 2022, Down have had their sights set on an automatic return to the TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Football Championship since the beginning of the year. It is in this second-tier competition that Boyle previously featured for Down at GAA HQ on September 28, 2014.
Lining out at right corner-back, Boyle played her part as the Mourne women convincingly secured the All-Ireland IFC crown with a 6-16 to 1-10 victory over provincial rivals Fermanagh. While Boyle admitted she is embracing the build-up to next weekend’s final a lot more than she did nine years ago, there is an element of that memorable triumph that continues to stick out in her mind.
“The moment that I’ll never forget is the parade around Croke Park. It was like an echo and the goosebumps that were just in your body, it was just unbelievable. Croke Park is like a dream come true, stepping onto the pitch. I do think the parade was a special moment for me, walking around with the team.
“I was fortunate to start corner-back that year at the age of 20. I was very young, but if I’m being totally honest, I don’t think I appreciated the build-up as much as I do this year. Maybe it’s an age thing, I don’t know. I just know now that they don’t come around often. We have to grab our chance while we can.
“We’re delighted to be in the final. It’s always a good day to be running out in Croke Park. It’s not something everyone gets to do and in our squad it’s probably the first time for many, to be fair. It’s everyone’s dream when you're a young age.”
Although there was a strong spread of scorers throughout the Down side in the 2014 final, it was the contribution of Kyla Trainor that really stood out for the winners of the game.
Introduced off the bench with 20 minutes gone in the contest, she proceeded to amass an impressive personal haul of 2-4. Having idolised Trainor when she was growing up, Boyle was pleased to be able to share in a county success with her RGU Downpatrick club-mate.
“I was lucky to play alongside her for club and county. When I got yellow carded in the final against Fermanagh in Croke Park, she was the first person over to me. When we went out for the second half, she was tapping me on the shoulder and she was like ‘Orla, forget about it, we have to go again.’
“Kyla is probably one of the smartest and most talented footballers I’ve ever seen. She has an ability to win games herself, but equally has the ability to bring other players on. She was a big help that year and has been a big help throughout my football career.”
With the exception of a brief dalliance with Irish dancing (“I was told I was heavy on my feet!”), Gaelic football has dominated Boyle’s life since her childhood. Indeed, as she illustrates, her passion for the sport has even extended into her professional career.
“Away from football, ironically football is still a big part of my life as a teaching assistant in Our Lady and St Patrick Primary School. The children are absolutely mad for football. I spend most of my time coaching the after school teams and taking PE in the school.
“I coach some of the underage teams in my club at the minute and on our summer holidays when the schools are closed, I would do wee summer camps around the Gaelic clubs in Downpatrick.”
Given it was only last month that they overcame Limerick in Group A of the TG4 All-Ireland JFC at Newcastle West, Down will believe that another win over Graham Shine’s Munster outfit is well within their grasp next weekend. However, speaking as one of the more experienced members of the squad, Boyle recognises that nothing can be taken for granted in a national decider.
“Limerick are a first class team and have serious strength. They were probably one of the hardest teams we played with their physicality coming through the middle. We’ll have to be at our best to get over the line, but that is what you want to be doing. You want to be coming up against the best,” Boyle added.
Report: Daire Walsh
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The 2023 M. Donnelly GAA All-Ireland Poc Fada Finals take place tomorrow Monday, August 7 starting 11.30am at their regular Annaverna mountain location in the Cooleys.
A total of 26 players (senior men, senior women, U-16 boys, U-16 girls) will return to the Annaverna mountain starting at 11.30am.
Kilkenny native and Clara club-man, Killian Phelan, caused something of an upset last year when he won the senior men’s Poc Fada at his very first attempt. He narrowly beat reigning champion Colin Ryan of Limerick into second place, and is looking forward to giving it his all again this year.
Phelan said “It was incredible to win it last year because it was neck and neck between myself and Colin Ryan the whole way around. The feeling when I knew I had won it last year was just unbelievable. I'm just hoping to give it a good go again this year."
The Poc Fada continues to be sponsored by Martin Donnelly who has been sponsoring the GAA Poc Fada for more than 25 years through his MD myclubshop.ie brand.
The Playing Order
Senior Hurling
1: Liam Watson (Ulster runner up)
2: Mark Fahy (Connacht winner)
3: Sponsors pick
4: Sponsors pick
5: Fionán Mackessy (Munster runner up)
6: Ronan Byrne (Louth)
7: Conor Woods (Ulster champion)
8: Matt Kenny (Leinster champion)
9: Pat Burke (Leinster runner up)
10: Brendan Quinn (Connacht runner up)
11: Colin Ryan (Munster winner)
12: Killian Phelan (Reigning champion, Kilkenny)
U-16 Hurling
1: Sean Og McLaren (Ulster champion)
2: Sean Kelly (Connacht champion)
3: Callum Lawlor (Leinster champion)
4: Rian Mulcahy (Munster champion)
Senior Camogie
1: All-Star selection
2: Katie MCormack (Musnter champion)
3: Hazel Austin (Leinster champion)
4: Susan Earner (Connacht winner)
5: Emma Mulvaney (Ulster champion)
6: Molly Lynch (Reigning champion, Cork)
U-16 camogie
1: Grace Fox (Leinster champion)
2: Alannah Farrell (Connacht champion)
3: Tiarna Kelly (Ulster champion)
4: Maryellen Holmes (Munster champion)
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The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Quarter Final between Armagh and Laois was held at Croke Park on 3 August 2003. Armagh were on a high after winning their first All Ireland Final back in 2002 and their loyal fans packed the Dublin stadium for the quarter final.
Oisin McConville was the top scorer of the day with 7 points while Diarmuid Marsden clocked up another 2.
On the day Armagh emerged victorious with two points to spare with a final score of Armagh 0:15 to Laois 0:13
Check out the photographs below.
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With just a week to go to the Modern Tyres Ulster Rally kicks off in Newry, who will be crowned the 2023 Irish Tarmac champion? And can anyone stop the Adrien Fourmaux juggernaut in this year’s British Rally Championship? Those two questions – and many more beside – are going to be answered at next weekend’s Modern Tyres Ulster Rally which gets underway from 3pm on Friday with a ceremonial start in the host city of Newry.
Based in Newry, the event takes place next Friday 18 and Saturday 19 August. Organised and promoted by Northern Ireland Motor Club Ltd, the Ulster Rally is the only event in the I|reland and the UK that brings the biggest and the best names in international rallying together in the one place for what promises to be the standout highlight of the province’s sporting calendar.
The closed-road classic has a reputation for attracting rallying’s top talent, including Arti Vatanen, Walter Rohrl, Jari-Matti Latvala, multiple World Rally Champion Sebastien Ogier, and Elfyn Evans.
Joining that list for the 46th running of the competition is Adrien Fourmaux, who is dovetailing his commitments with M-Sport Ford in the FIA World Rally Championship’s WRC2 support series with a full programme in the Motorsport UK British Rally Championship. So far, the young Frenchman has been untouchable on gravel and asphalt, chalking up victories on each of the first three rounds in England, Scotland and Belgium respectively alongside Alexandre Coria to top the BRC standings.
This is their first visit to the Ulster but given their experience of competing at the sport’s top level, the expectation is that they will be among the crews challenging for the win. Standing in their way is Garry Pearson and Daniel Barritt, with the Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 team-mates set to provide the main opposition as four-time British Rally Champion Keith Cronin has decided to miss this one.
Fourmaux, however, admits he is surprised at his own victory count so far. “Yes, of course I am,” he says, “because I know how high the level of competition can be in national championships. But it is important to remember the Championship is only three rounds old – it is still very young.”
Fourmaux and Pearson will share the stages with a group of ultra-fast and ultra-successful Rally2 drivers from the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship. Although not in direct competition with their counterparts from the British Rally Championship, bragging rights will be at stake for Josh Moffett (Hyundai i20 Rally2), Meirion Evans (Volkswagen Polo GTI R5), and Callum Devine who is aiming to wrap up a first title in fairy tale fashion by making it victory number five of the 2023 campaign.
Success on the penultimate round in Cork has placed Devine in the book seat, however, with there being points-and-a-half up for grabs over the two legs, reigning Irish Tarmac champion Moffett and last year’s Ulster victor Evans both stand a mathematical chance of spoiling Devine’s party.
Other drivers who could well have a say in the destination of the trophy is Jonathan Greer, James Ford and Robert Barrable in their respective Citroen Racing C3 Rally2 superminis, Cathan McCourt (Ford Fiesta Rally2), and Gareth MacHale (Volkswagen Polo GTI R5) – the son of Austin MacHale.
In Rally4 – a class for turbocharged front-wheel-drive cars – is also well represented. Kyle White, Shane Quinn, Charlie Wright, Letisha Conn and Stephen Waugh have all submitted their entries.
Clerk of the Course Wayne Turkington said: “The entry list reads like a who’s who of the very best local Rally2 talent and the appearance of Adrien Fourmaux only adds to the sense of excitement and anticipation. We are very privileged to be the sole event in the UK or Ireland where drivers from two top-flight international series come together to do battle. On top of that, all the main teams and manufacturers – Volkswagen, Citroen, Hyundai, and M-Sport Ford – are going to be represented so there is going to be a willingness on their part to win this illustrious competition.”
Organisers have previously confirmed that over a third of the competitive mileage for the 2023 instalment of the Modern Tyres Ulster Rally is new to increase the challenge. Across the two legs, crews can expect to face a blend of smooth and fast-flowing rural side roads to bumpy, tight and technical country tracks. And being Northern Ireland, the weather is another factor that could well come into play making tyre choice crucial. “The more I think about it the more I believe that this week’s Ulster Rally has everything competitors and fans could wish for,” added Turkington.
The Friday element is entirely different to 12 months ago. Consisting of one special stage in the Rostrevor area and a second on the outskirts of Banbridge, these are run twice and total 32-miles. At more than twice that competitive distance, Saturday is the longest leg of the entire weekend.
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.
Up-to-date information for competitors and fans is available via the Sportity App using password UR2023, whilst a free spectator programme will be released online www.ulsterrally.com at the start of rally week.
Modern Tyres Ulster Rally Top Seeds
1 Meirion Evans/Jonathan Jackson (Volkswagen Polo GTI R5)
2 Adrien Fourmaux/Alexandre Coria (Ford Fiesta Rally2)
3 Callum Devine/Noel O’Sullivan (Volkswagen Polo GTI R5)
4 Josh Moffett/Andy Hayes (Hyundai i20 N Rally2)
5 Jonathan Greer/Niall Burns (Citroen C3 Rally2)
6 Robert Barrable/Gordon Noble (Citroen C3 Rally2)
7 Cathan McCourt/TBA (Ford Fiesta Rally2)
8 Desi henry/Paddy Robinson (Citroen C3 Rally2)
9 Euan Thorburn/Keir Beaton (Volkswagen Pol GTI R5)
10 James Ford/Neil Shanks (Citroen C3 Rally2)
You can also keep an eye on their Facebook at www.facebook.com/ulsterrally
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Down have picked up their second TG4 All-Ireland Junior Football Championship title at the expense of Limerick. A 43rd-minute goal from substitute Orla Swail made the difference at headquarters.
Previous winners of the competition in 2000 against Galway the Ulster side have sealed an automatic return to the intermediate grade after suffering relegation at the end of 2022. Natasha Ferris amassed an impressive tally of 0-5 to supplement Swail’s clinical finish. Caoimhe McGrath kicked four points for their opponents but Limerick fell just short in their quest for a third junior title.
After Ferris had broken the deadlock with a routine free in the third-minute, Limerick opened their account with a superb individual point from play by McGrath. Promoted to the starting line-up following an impressive performance off the bench in their semi-final win against Fermanagh, McGrath subsequently knocked over a brace of frees to give Limerick an early two-point advantage.
Yet Ferris began this contest four points clear of Clare’s Fidelma Marrinan in the race for the ZuCar Golden Boot award and she contributed a quickfire 0-2 salvo to bring the Mourne women back on level terms.
While dead-ball specialist McGrath was on hand to restore Limerick’s advantage, Down regained control with back-to-back points from attackers Aimee O’Higgins and Ferris. This offered the Ulster champions a slender 0-5 to 0-4 cushion at the break, but this was wiped out by a Deborah Murphy point on the run straight after the resumption.
Her half-forward colleague Karen O’Leary also split the uprights moments later to move Limerick back into the ascendancy, only for O’Higgins to once again restore parity with her second of the day on 38 minutes.
In their last-four encounter with Carlow, it was a late goal by Swail that ultimately propelled Down towards victory and the Carryduff ace repeated those heroics by unleashing an unstoppable shot to the opposite net just five minutes after her introduction.
This suddenly moved Down three points ahead moving into the final-quarter and even though Iris Kennelly raised a white flag for Limerick, Graham Shine’s charges suffered a set-back when O’Leary was sin-binned on 54 minutes.
Ferris and Treaty corner-back Meadhbh McNamara traded scores in the closing moments, but Down – All-Ireland intermediate champions in 2014 – held out for a hard-earned triumph.
Scorers – Down: N Ferris 0-5 (2f), O Swail 1-0, A O’Higgins 0-2. Limerick: C McGrath 0-4 (3f), M McNamara, D Murphy, K O’Leary, I Kennelly 0-1 each.
Down: A McGivern; A Greene, C Byrne, O Boyle; N McKibbin, M Doherty, O Duffy; A Laverty, A Brogan; N Scullion, V McCormack, L Duffy; E Fitzpatrick, N Ferris, A O’Higgins. Subs: C Mulvenna for McCormack (h-t), O Swail for Fitzpatrick, P Smyth for Laverty (both 38), K McKay for O’Higgins (42), E Martin for Doherty (57).
Limerick: C Bateman; A Quaid, Y Lee, M MacNamara; G Lee, L Walshe, L Ryan; R Ambrose, F Bradshaw; D Murphy, K O’Leary, C Mee; L Coughlan, A Ryan, C McGrath. Subs: K Heelan for Bradshaw (32), I Kennelly for A Ryan (39), A O’Sullivan for McGrath (51).
Referee: Angela Gallagher (Dublin).
Final Score: Down 1-7 Limerick 0-8
By Daire Walsh
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Down joint manager Caoibhe Sloan said they knew they would have to dig deep to see off the challenge of Limerick in the TG4 All-Ireland junior final at Croke Park. Ultimately they prevailed, overcoming the Treaty County with a score of 1-7 to 0-8.
Sloan said she and the management were thrilled that all their hard work throughout the season paid off as they make an immediate return to intermediate after being relegated last year.
“We knew we were capable of it all year. We probably knew we were going in as favourites and we probably were talking that down a small bit,” said Sloan. “Trying to keep the girls grounded, keep us, the management,grounded. Make sure that we knew it didn’t actually count for anything being favourites. It was going to be a nip and tuck battle, and it was.
“Limerick were incredible. They were class, we expected them to be. It was going to be no easy battle. We knew we were going to have to go out and really go for it, and go after it.
“We didn’t settle well. We really didn’t. We came into it towards the end of the first half. Same again in the second half, they came out and scored. It was the secondquarter and the final quarter that we really kicked on.”
A 43rd-minute goal from substitute Orla Swail was the key score, while Natasha Ferris amassed an impressive tally of 0-5 to supplement Swail’s clinical finish.
Caoimhe McGrath kicked four points for Limerick but theyfell just short in their quest for a third junior title.
Down led by 0-5 to 0-4 at the break but this was wiped out by a Deborah Murphy point on the run straight after the resumption.
Her half-forward colleague Karen O’Leary also split the uprights moments later to move Limerick back into the ascendancy, only for Aimee O’Higgins to once again restore parity with her second of the day on 38 minutes.
In their semi-final win with Carlow, it was a late goal by Swail that ultimately propelled Down towards victory and the Carryduff ace repeated those heroics by unleashing an unstoppable shot to the opposite net just five minutes after her introduction.
This suddenly moved Down three points ahead moving into the final quarter and even though Iris Kennelly raised a white flag for Limerick, Graham Shine’s charges suffered a set-back when O’Leary was sin-binned on 54 minutes.
Ferris and Treaty corner-back Meadhbh McNamara traded scores in the closing moments, but Down – All-Ireland intermediate champions in 2014 – held out for a hard-earned triumph, leaving Limerick manager Shine to rue a narrow defeat.
“Absolutely gutted,” he said. “We weren’t good enough. We probably created a lot of chances in the first half and just didn’t take them. We found ourselves a point down going in at half-time. To be honest, we should have been four or five points up. Just that goal [from Orla Swail], it was sort of 50-50, a throw-in ball. It sucker punched us, that goal.
“To be honest, whoever was going to score a goal today was going to win, because both defences were well on top. When they got that goal we started chasing, but the clock goes down very fast when you’re chasing. I’m just disappointed for the girls. They’ve put in a ferocious effort. Not many people gave us a chance coming up today, but we knew coming up we’d have a great chance. We’ll have more days.”
Scorers – Down: N Ferris 0-5 (2f), O Swail 1-0, A O’Higgins 0-2. Limerick: C McGrath 0-4 (3f), M McNamara, D Murphy, K O’Leary, I Kennelly 0-1 each.
Down: A McGivern; A Greene, C Byrne, O Boyle; N McKibbin, M Doherty, O Duffy; A Laverty, A Brogan; N Scullion, V McCormack, L Duffy; E Fitzpatrick, N Ferris, A O’Higgins. Subs: C Mulvenna for McCormack (h-t), O Swail for Fitzpatrick, P Smyth for Laverty (both 38), K McKay for O’Higgins (42), E Martin for Doherty (57).
Limerick: C Bateman; A Quaid, Y Lee, M MacNamara; G Lee, L Walshe, L Ryan; R Ambrose, F Bradshaw; D Murphy, K O’Leary, C Mee; L Coughlan, A Ryan, C McGrath. Subs: K Heelan for Bradshaw (32), I Kennelly for A Ryan (39), A O’Sullivan for McGrath (51).
Referee: Angela Gallagher (Dublin).
Report By Daire Walsh
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