An Riocht / Kingdom YC Notes

Football Round Up

In the Longstone Tournament on the twelfth night An Riocht beat Clonduff by five points, 2:11 to 0:12. Both teams were minus regulars due to holidays, Clonduff had eleven of the players who figured in their last league match and we had eight. Several minors were thrown in for the first time and coped well. Conor Walsh settled on the edge of the square and limited the dangerous John Fegan to three points from play; Fergal Doyle at half back proved a useful link to the attack; and Conor Sloan plundered 2:2 from top of the left. Of the others Johnny Mc Burney impressed between the posts; Neill Doran emphasized the importance of including a dependable place kicker; Liam McVeigh looked well able for centre field; and Stephen Flanagan kicked two memorable points from full forward.

After Neill Doran had opened the scoring with a long range effort, Conor Sloan won his own ball for the second then seized on a defensive error for our third. Clonduff hit back strongly and went four three ahead with two Fegan frees and points from play from Eugene Brannigan and Finbar Mc Conville.

Down the other end Stephen Flanagan pointed from distance and then Sloan got a touch on Doran’s cross for the opening goal. Flanagan added a point on the turn and when out in front proved difficult to dispossess. Eugene Brannigan weaved in for a reply but Liam McVeigh forced a good save at the expense of a point for An Riocht and before the break a Doran free and Kevin Flanagan from play put us 1:8 to 0:5 up.

Two Doran frees in the third quarter kept us ahead as Clonduff enjoyed their best spell in the match. Shane Ward, Fegan, Brannigan and McConville all made full use of time on the ball for points apiece and Johnny McBurney saved well from McConville before Fegan fisted over to leave a goal in it. McVeigh from play and Fegan from a free kept the result on a knife edge with McBurney denying first Peter Withnell then Ward but at the other end we were not as wasteful as Sloan followed in Paul Murney’s long punt to steer the ball low past the keeper for a clinching goal.

The Seniors lost in Rostrevor in the final league match before the holiday break. Dreadful shooting from play and placed balls kept the score down to four points to two at the break with An Riocht the worst culprits. It was the final quarter before Reds found their range with any consistency and ran in a late goal for a flattering ten point margin.

The Seconds lost to league leaders Burren. Having stayed with the visitors throughout the first half An Riocht lost this game in the period immediately following the break despite Gavin Finnegan making two good saves and even a strong finish could not redeem that third quarter collapse. Paddy Cole with 1:3 was our top scorer with Neill Doran chipping in with three points and of the other scores Ruairi Doran’s sideline point was the pick.

The Minors beat Castlewellan quite easily, 3:15 to 0:6. Goals from Paddy Cordell and Conor Sloan helped us to a 2:6 to 0:1 interval lead and when Liam Harper netted on the restart there was no way back for the home side. Ruairi Doran was commanding in goals, Gary Cuningham and Michael Rodgers sound in defence and Darren Cunningham and Sean Clarke a good pairing in midfield while all six forwards scored.

The U12 scored a good win in Glenn, 5:3 to 5:1. James Reilly (2), Stephen Curran , Ryan White and Sean Colgan bagged the goals with those winning points coming from Ronan McAlinden (2) and Adam White.

The U10 team played in Longstone and got good displays from Ciaran Cunningham, Declan Clarke, Tara Bowater, Nathan McComiskey and Colin McConville.

Hurling

Mourne Hurlers were part of the half time entertainment at the Christy Ring Cup match between Down and Westmeath in Newry on Saturday. A party of twenty plus attended from the Club. The Down Hurling Development Coaching Academy takes place on Mondays and Tuesdays in August at the various Mourne GAA grounds. Mourne Hurlers have organized a four mile ‘pier to pier’ puck on Saturday 30 July starting at Kilkeel beach and ending at Cranfield car park. Sponsor cards available from Joe Cunningham. Practice continues Saturdays at 2pm.

Coaching

Gaelic Games coaching at Dunavil continuing daily this week to Friday 22^nd July from 2pm to 5pm.

Summer Scheme

Daily updates from the Club. Contact Sheila on 41763681 for details. Highlights this week are Aeriel Runway high level ropes (senior) and archery on Wednesday (20^th), Fancy Dress Disco on Friday (22^nd), Aeriel Runway low level ropes (Junior) and archery on Monday (25^th), Canoeing on Tuesday (26^th), Dance and DJ workshops on Wednesday (27^th) and Raft building on Thursday (28^th).

Presentations

At the SELB Youth Service Awards evening Kingdom Youth Club recipients were: ‘Child Protection Awareness Training’ Karen Sloan, Rosemarie Curran, Roisin Doran, Mary McAlinden, Martin Donnelly, Wayne Morris, Damian Cunningham, Noel Fitzpatrick, Peter Morgan and Don Cole. ‘Rescue & Emergency Training’ Sheila Harper, Wayne Morris, Mary McAlinden, Conrad McAlinden, Karen Spiers, Karen Sloan, Roisin Doran and Rosemarie Curran. ‘OCN Youth Worker Qualification’ Sheila Harper and Wayne Morris. ‘Keystone Awards Operator Licence’ Sheila Harper, Lucinda Love, Cathy Spiers and Wayne Morris.

Football Fixtures

Sunday 24 July U12 An Riocht v Drumgath; U16 Replay Glasdrumman v An Riocht; Senior An Riocht v Longstone; Thirds Mitchels v An Riocht.

Monday 25 July U10 Atticall v An Riocht; Seconds Clonduff v An Riocht.

Tuesday 26 July U16 Mitchels v An Riocht

Wednesday 27 July U18 Burren v An Riocht

Thursday 28 July U14 An Riocht v Drumgath

Friday 29 July Senior Castlewellan v An Riocht

Camogie Fixtures

Camogie continues without a break and remaining Junior matches are Home v Ballycran, Away v Darragh Cross, Away v Liatroim, Home v Newry plus the Championship. Remaining U16 (minor) matches are Home v Atticall, Away v Clonduff, Away v Portaferry, Home v Kilcoo, Away v Ballyholland, Home v Liatroim plus the Championship.